TC006431)
70005194408, Form NR1 70003597831 & Form ND2A series)
25-03-03263), and London Stock Exchange filings of Wise plc (LON: WISE).
Founded in London in 2011 by Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus and listed on the London Stock Exchange as Wise plc (LON: WISE), Wise revolutionized international money transfers by replacing hidden bank FX markups with the real-time Reuters mid-market exchange rate. Through 86hc.com's registered office co-location audit at Room 1922, 19/F, China Building, 29 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, we verify that Wise operates a three-entity corporate cluster at this Central address[1][2]:
- Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited (CR No.
2894123, BRN71378989, inc. 19 Nov 2019 asTransferWise Hong Kong Limited, renamed 8 Apr 2021): Holds HK Customs MSO Licence No.25-03-03263, operating personal/business remittances, FPS local clearing, and Wise Platform institutional partnerships; - Wise Financial Services Hong Kong Limited (CR No.
3525471, BRN77804524): Dedicated vehicle for expanded financial services in Hong Kong; - Wise Assets Hong Kong Limited (CR No.
3686368, BRN79426958): Dedicated subsidiary structured for the group's Wise Assets / Yield product line.
1. The Central China Building 3-Entity Cluster (Room 1922, 19/F) & LSE Parent Wise plc
Auditing Room 1922, 19/F, China Building, 29 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong via the 86hc.com Commercial Building Intelligence System reveals Wise plc's three active Hong Kong subsidiaries[1]:
| Statutory English Name & Dossier | CR No. | BRN | Incorporation & Name History | Regulatory Status & Group Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited (Formerly: TransferWise Hong Kong Limited) | 2894123 | 71378989 | Inc. 2019-11-19 Renamed 2021-04-08 | Holds HK Customs MSO Licence (25-03-03263); operates HKD FPS local clearing, cross-border remittances, and Wise Platform API integrations. |
| Wise Financial Services Hong Kong Limited | 3525471 | 77804524 | Active HK Subsidiary | Co-located at Room 1922, 19/F China Building for expanded APAC financial services. |
| Wise Assets Hong Kong Limited | 3686368 | 79426958 | Active HK Subsidiary | Dedicated legal entity ring-fencing asset and yield products from core MSO remittance clearing. |
2. Why Wise Is a Customs MSO (25-03-03263) Rather Than an HKMA Bank — Plus Wise vs. HSBC TT Cost Audit
In Hong Kong, Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited is regulated by the Customs and Excise Department under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615) as a Money Service Operator (MSO Licence No. 25-03-03263), rather than by the HKMA as a licensed bank under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155)[2][3]. Consequently, funds held in Wise are protected via 100% client fund safeguarding in Tier-1 banks rather than the HK$800,000 Hong Kong Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS):
| Audit Dimension | Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited (Customs MSO: 25-03-03263) | Traditional HK Licensed Banks (e.g., HSBC HK / OCBC HK) (HKMA Cap. 155 Licensed Bank) |
|---|---|---|
| FX Rate Benchmark | 100% Real-Time Mid-Market Rate (Zero hidden FX spread above Reuters/Google spot rate) | Bank TT Board Rate (Typically includes 0.4%–1.2% spread on majors, up to 2.0%+ on exotics) |
| Transfer Fee Structure | Transparent upfront variable fee (typically 0.35%–0.55% on HKD to USD/GBP/EUR) | Online wire fee (HK$50–HK$115) + intermediary correspondent bank charges (US$15–US$35) |
| Settlement Speed & Rails | Direct local HKD Faster Payment System (FPS) funding; over 60% of transfers arrive in under 20 seconds via local liquidity pools | FPS, CHATS & global SWIFT network; international TT wires typically settle in T+1 to T+3 business days |
| Deposit Protection & Credit | 100% Segregated Safeguarding (Not covered by HK$800,000 DPS; no cheque books or Letters of Credit) | Covered by HK$800,000 DPS; full trade finance, L/C issuance, and corporate revolving credit facilities |
3. ICRIS Dossier Forensics: 24 Statutory Filings (2024–2025 Barcodes)
Below are the 8 most recent statutory filings recorded at the Hong Kong Companies Registry for Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited (CR No. 2894123)[1]:
| Filing Date | Form Code | Statutory Document Title & Governance Notes | ICRIS Barcode | Pages / Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-01 | Form NAR1 | Annual Return 2025 (Form NAR1) 6th anniversary statutory return detailing Wise plc shareholding, paid-up capital, and active directors. | 70005194408 | 11p · Inspect |
| 2025-11-26 | Form ND2A | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director (Form ND2A) | 70005176810 | 3p · Inspect |
| 2025-09-05 | Form ND2A | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director (Form ND2A) | 70004933845 | 3p · Inspect |
| 2025-01-23 | AMEND | Typographical or Clerical Amendment to Registered Document | 70004338536 | 3p · Inspect |
| 2024-12-03 | Form NAR1 | Annual Return 2024 (Form NAR1) | 70004213632 | 12p · Inspect |
| 2024-09-16 | Form ND2A | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director (Form ND2A) | 24001660285 | 3p · Inspect |
| 2024-09-02 | Form ND2A | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director (Form ND2A) | 24001652378 | 4p · Inspect |
| 2024-03-05 | Form NR1 | Notice of Change of Registered Office Address (Relocation to Room 1922, 19/F, China Building) | 70003597831 | 1p · Inspect |
4. Wise HK Account Compliance Rules & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
To prevent automated algorithmic AML freezes on Wise Business or Personal accounts in Hong Kong (see also our HK Bank Account Rejection & Risk Remediation Guide), corporate users must strictly avoid unauthorized crypto P2P transfers, never commingle personal and corporate funds, and retain signed B2B invoices and contracts for transfers exceeding HK$100,000.
Q1: What is Wise's licensed legal entity name, CR number, and MSO licence number in Hong Kong?
Wise operates in Hong Kong through Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited (incorporated on 19 November 2019 as TransferWise Hong Kong Limited and renamed on 8 April 2021), CR No. 2894123, BRN 71378989, holding HK Customs MSO Licence No. 25-03-03263 at Room 1922, 19/F, China Building, 29 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.
Q2: What are Wise Financial Services Hong Kong Limited and Wise Assets Hong Kong Limited?
Both are co-located sister subsidiaries of Wise plc at Room 1922, 19/F, China Building: Wise Financial Services Hong Kong Limited (CR: 3525471, BRN: 77804524) and Wise Assets Hong Kong Limited (CR: 3686368, BRN: 79426958).
- Hong Kong Companies Registry (ICRIS): Statutory Registers of Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited (CR No.
2894123, 2025 Form NAR170005194408, Form NR170003597831), Wise Financial Services Hong Kong Limited (CR No.3525471), and Wise Assets Hong Kong Limited (CR No.3686368). - Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department: MSO Register under Cap. 615 AMLO —
WISE PAYMENTS HONG KONG LIMITED, Licence No.25-03-03263. - Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board & UK FCA: Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance (Cap. 581) & UK FCA Register (
Wise Payments Limited, FRN:900507). - Wise plc (LON: WISE) Annual Reports & HK Terms:wise.com/hk ↗.