Hwatai Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. (Hwatai Bank) is a solid force in Taiwan's financial market, with its "integrity-based, service-oriented" philosophy to demonstrate outstanding performance in the fields of retail banking, SME finance and wealth management. Originated from the Taipei Second Credit Cooperative established in 1917, it has gone through the stages of Taipei Quanye Credit Union (1946) and Taipei Second Credit Cooperative (1966), and was officially transformed into a commercial bank on January 1, 1999 in accordance with the "Standards and Measures for the Restructuring of Credit Cooperatives into Commercial Banks", headquartered in 10-12 Floors, No. 33, Section 3, Zhongshan North Road, Taipei City, Taiwan. As a listed company on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (stock code: 2807), Huatai Bank serves approximately 500,000 customers and has become a model for small and medium-sized banks in Taiwan with its local business model and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Basic Bank Information
Huatai Bank is a commercial bank, privately owned, originated in 1917, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, located at 10-12th Floor, No. 33, Section 3, Zhongshan North Road, Taipei City, Taiwan. Founded by local entrepreneurs in Taipei, the bank was restructured into a commercial bank in 1999, and completed the first general meeting of shareholders in 2001, elected the second board of directors, and established a modern governance structure. The major shareholders include institutional investors and public shareholders, and the holding structure operates in the form of an independent company, with Lin Baiyi as the chairman. Huatai Bank is strictly regulated by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan and is required to comply with the Banking Act and international financial standards to ensure operational transparency and the safety of customer funds. Its deposits are protected by Taiwan's deposit insurance system, with a maximum coverage of NT$3 million per depositor. The Bank's SWIFT code is HWTBTWTP and the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is 5493003NOCSC6LUWUF03. Huatai Bank has about 30 branches in Taiwan, covering Taipei, Tainan, Kaohsiung and other places, with a total of about 800 employees in 2024.
Deposit & Loan Products
Deposits
Huatai Bank offers a wide range of deposit products to meet the savings needs of individual and SME customers:
Fixed deposits: 12 currencies such as NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR, USD and RMB are supported, with deposit terms ranging from 1 month to 5 years, and the minimum deposit amount is NT$5,000. In 2025, the fixed deposit interest rate will vary according to the maturity, such as about 1.225% for 1 month, 1.5% for 3 months, 1.8% for 6 months, 2.0% for 1 year, and 2.5% for 2 years (based on the average interest rate of the five major banks in Taiwan).
Featured products:
high-yield savings account: such as "Huatai Uni Savings Account", which provides an annualized interest rate of up to 1.5%, and needs to maintain a balance of more than NT$100,000 with no monthly fee.
Large Certificates of Deposit (CD): Support flexible tenor, suitable for large amount of money customers, the interest rate needs to be queried through the branch or app, and the early withdrawal penalty is 90 to 180 days of interest.
Customers can check the "Cloud Interest Rate" offer through the "Huatai Mobile Banking" app or online banking, and the deposit products support instant opening and interest rate calculation, and some accounts provide free transaction fee discounts.
Demand Deposits: Including checking accounts and savings accounts, such as "Huatai Current Account", the minimum account opening amount is NT$1,000, and the basic annualized rate of return (APY) is about 0.05%-0.3%, and the latest interest rate needs to be confirmed through branch or online banking. Demand deposits are divided into interest-free accounts (minimum balance of NT$10,000, suitable for individuals and businesses) and interest-bearing accounts (minimum balance of NT$1,000, maintaining a daily balance of NT$5,000 or NT$10,000 to earn interest).
Loans
Huatai Bank provides a comprehensive range of loan products to meet diversified financing needs:
mortgages: Fixed- and variable-rate mortgages with a loan amount of up to 80% of the value of the property and a repayment period of up to 30 years. In 2025, the fixed interest rate will be as low as 1.6% (3-year term), the floating interest rate will be based on the minimum lending rate (MLR, about 5.5%), and cash rebates and insurance discounts will be provided, and the application will require a credit score of 660 or more and an annual income of more than NT$30,000.
Car Loans: Support financing for new and used cars, with a loan amount of up to NT$3 million, a term of up to 72 months, an annualized interest rate (APR) as low as 1.88%, and a credit score of 660 or above.
Personal Line of Credit: Includes Huatai Personal Loan (APR as low as NT$5.99% and maximum amount of NT$1.5 million) and asset-backed overdraft (up to NT$95% of collateral market value), with a monthly salary of at least NT$30,000 and a good credit history.
Flexible repayment options: Mortgages and personal loans offer no penalty for early repayment, weekly or bi-weekly payment plans, and a revolving line of credit for flexible debt management.
All loans are subject to bank approval, and customers are required to provide credit history, proof of income and asset information, subject to the terms of the loan agreement. The bank's SME lending services, such as bill discounting and commercial bill acceptance, provide additional support to local businesses.
Digital service experience
Huatai Bank's mobile banking app "Huatai Mobile Bank" is the core of its digital services, which is available for download on iOS 14.0 and above and Android 9.0 and above devices, with an App Store rating of about 4.4 and a Google Play rating of about 4.2, and users praise it for its quick launch (within 2 seconds) and intuitive interface (Huatai Mobile Banking app). Core features include:
real-time transfers: support real-time transfers in NTD through the Taiwan interbank transfer system, with a daily limit of up to NT$1 million, international remittances covering more than 100 countries, and low-rate transfers in cooperation with Western Union.
Bill management: Support online bill payment, automatic deduction and e-statement, and classify transaction records in real time.
Investment tool integration: Support stocks, funds, bonds and derivatives inquiries through Huatai investment platform, provide real-time market data and investment advisory services. The
online banking platform "Huatai Personal Internet Banking" supports a variety of browsers and provides similar functions, and customers can complete the account opening within 5 minutes through the application or official website. The app supports accessibility features such as dynamic font adjustment and VoiceOver compatibility for visually impaired and hearing-impaired customers. Some users reported occasional stability issues, but the bank continued to optimize the user experience.
Technological innovation
Huatai Bank is making steady progress in the fintech sector, leveraging its information technology division to drive digital transformation:
AI customer service: Introducing an AI-driven customer service system to analyze transaction behavior and detect fraud risks in real time , with plans to launch a virtual assistant in 2025 that will support 24/7 inquiries and personalized financial advice.
Open Banking API Support: Follows the Open Banking Framework of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, participates in the third phase of Open Banking, integrates with third-party service providers, provides account management and financial services interoperability, and supports 35 deposit, credit card, and loan-related services.
Other innovations: support for QR code payments, mobile check deposits, partnerships with security providers to protect DNS infrastructure from DDoS attacks, and online service stability. In 2024, the bank will invest NT$500 million to upgrade its cloud technology and data analytics platform to improve operational efficiency.
Featured Services & Differentiation
Huatai Bank is known for its localized services and SME support:
SME support: Provide customized loans and cash management services through Huatai SME Services, participate in the SME Financing Guarantee Program of the Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission, with loan approval in as fast as 10 seconds and up to NT$3 million, focusing on supporting SMEs in Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung.
Wealth Management: Providing individual pension funds, unit trusts and insurance brokerage services (through its subsidiary, Huatai Bank Insurance Brokers) to meet the needs of middle and high-net-worth clients, and won the "Best Wealth Management Bank" award by Excellence Magazine in 2014.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance: The bank strengthened its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures and was recognized by the Financial Supervisory Commission in 2024 for ensuring compliance and customer trust.
Community Contribution: Through the Huatai Bank Foundation, we will support education and charity projects, donate NT$2 million for community development in 2023, hold financial literacy lectures, and improve the financial management ability of young people.
Innovative Deposit Products: Launched "13-month and 15-month Fixed Rate Time Deposits with Prepaid Interest" to provide customers with unique high-yield options.
Market Position & Honors
Huatai Bank is one of Taiwan's small and medium-sized commercial banks, with total assets of about NT$250 billion in 2024, ranking in the middle and lower reaches of Taiwan's 38 banks, but has a solid position in the field of SME finance and community services. The bank has about 30 branches serving about 500,000 customers, mainly in Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung. In 2023, banks reported a 6% increase in deposit balances, a 5% increase in loan balances, and a non-performing loan ratio remaining below 0.2%, indicating that they are operating soundly. Huatai Bank's innovation in wealth management and customer service has allowed it to remain competitive in the regional market. Key accolades include:
2014 Excellence Magazine's "Best Customer Service Bank" award.
2014 Excellence Magazine's "Best Bank for Wealth Management" award.
2014 Taipei City "Outstanding Healthy Workplace Award" (the only non-financial holding bank to win).
2014 "Golden Peak Award Top Ten Outstanding Enterprises".
Huatai Bank's solid financial performance and regional focus have made it a benchmark for small and medium-sized banks in Taiwan.
Conclusion
Huatai Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. has become a stable star in the financial market of Taipei and the southern region with its 100-year heritage, localized services and innovative financial products in Taiwan. It offers a wide range of deposit and loan products, including high-yield savings accounts, term deposits, and flexible mortgages and personal loans, to meet the diverse needs of its customers. In terms of digital services, the "Huatai Mobile Banking" app has been well received for its efficient real-time transfer and bill management functions. Technological innovations, including AI customer service, open banking APIs, and mobile payment platforms, demonstrate its forward-looking digital transformation. With its SME support, wealth management services, anti-money laundering compliance and a number of industry accolades in 2014, Huatai Bank continues to demonstrate solid competitiveness and unique influence in Taiwan's regional financial market.
Note:
specific interest rates and product details may vary due to market changes, please check the official website of Huatai Bank or contact the bank directly for the latest information.
