Hong Kong Monetary Authority - Premium Financing (2024)

The HKMA and the IA conducted a joint inspection on premium financing activities of insurers and licensed insurance intermediaries (including banks) in 2020 and published the key findings on 30 September 2021 covering areas on affordability assessment, risk disclosure, sales practice, etc.

On 1 April 2022, the HKMA issued a circular providing further guidance to banks in complying with the supervisory standards and requirements on premium financing activities stipulated in the circular issued by the IA on the same day when acting as licensed insurance intermediaries, as well as when acting as premium financing facility providers.

When a bank acts as a licensed insurance intermediary, it should:

  • assess whether the customer has sufficient financial resources to
    • pay at the outset the portion of the premium not financed by the premium financing facility,
    • meet all scheduled repayments of the premium financing facility (including principal and interest), and
    • repay the sum owed under the premium financing facility if demanded by the premium financing facility provider before maturity of the insurance policy;

In addition, when a bank acts as a premium financing facility provider, it should:

  • be mindful of imposing any conditions or costs under the premium financing facility that may deter the customer from exercising his/her cooling-off right;

  • promptly process the return of refunded premium from cooling-off from the insurer to the customer after netting of the outstanding amount and interest of the premium financing facility; and

  • where risk of over-leveraging exists, take into account whether the ratio of the loan amount of the premium financing facility to the customer’s existing own financial resources is within a reasonable level in its credit assessment, and disclose such ratio to the customer before the customer accepts the premium financing facility offer.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority - Premium Financing (2024)

FAQs

What are the pros and cons of premium financing? ›

Pros of premium financing include improved cash flow, access to higher coverage limits, and potential tax benefits. Cons include interest charges and the risk of defaulting on the loan.

Can go back in HK even though have unpaid loans before? ›

If whoever you owe knows you're there, they could file a claim, you might have your passport withheld and be prevented from leaving Hong Kong until a court-accepted form of agreement is made regarding repayment of your debt (of course including the principle owed, plus late fees and/or interest, court fees, and a fine, ...

What is the insurance premium financing agreement? ›

"Insurance premium finance agreement" means a promissory note or other written agreement by which an insured promises or agrees to pay to, or to the order of, an insurance premium finance company the amount advanced or to be advanced under the agreement to an insurer or to an insurance agent, in payment of premiums on ...

What is the process of premium financing? ›

Premium financing is an insurance funding arrangement where a policy holder borrows funds from a financial institution (usually a bank) to pay for the premium of a new insurance policy, and in doing so, assigns part or all of the rights under the insurance policy to the financial institution as collateral.

What is the interest rate for premium financing? ›

Personal loan vs insurance premium financing

If we compare personal loans and insurance premium financing, premium financing might be a better option than personal loans. “Typically, the interest rates for insurance premium financing range from 8% to 15%.

What are the problems with premium financed life insurance? ›

Life Insurance Premium Financing risks to consider:

These include interest rate fluctuation, market volatility and the possibility of collateral shortfall, which may lead to a margin call.

How long can a debt be chased in Hong Kong? ›

An action shall not be brought upon any judgment after the expiration of 12 years from the date on which the judgment became enforceable, and no arrears of interest in respect of any judgment debt shall be recovered after the expiration of 6 years from the date on which the interest became due.

What happens to unpaid loans after 7 years? ›

Although the unpaid debt will go on your credit report and have a negative impact on your score, the good news is that it won't last forever. After seven years, unpaid credit card debt falls off your credit report. The debt doesn't vanish completely, but it'll no longer impact your credit score.

Can debt collectors follow you to another country? ›

While debt technically won't follow you abroad, you may suffer several consequences for trying to flee from it: you may be sued and have your wages garnished; your credit score will suffer; you may have to pay taxes on your debt. These are just a few consequences of leaving the country with unpaid debt.

Is premium finance regulated? ›

In addition to these publications, Premium Finance lenders also have a regulatory obligation to comply with the FCA's requirements and expectations7 and to ensure the delivery of good customer outcomes.

What is an example of premium in finance? ›

"At a premium" is a phrase attached to situations where a current value or transactional value of an asset is trading above its fundamental or intrinsic value. For example, "Company X is trading at a premium to company Y." Or, "A commercial building was sold at a premium to its underlying value."

What is premium payment in finance? ›

Broadly speaking, a premium is a price paid for above and beyond some basic or intrinsic value. Relatedly, it is the price paid for protection from a loss, hazard, or harm (e.g., insurance or options contracts).

What are the benefits of premium financing? ›

Allows you to take advantage of falling rates and pay less interest. Early repayment saving money on interest charges. Switching premium finance lenders should also be easier if you have a variable rate loan.

When did premium financing start? ›

Rather than covering the entire premium payment upfront, the policyholder finances the cost of insurance coverage over time in installments. The concept began in the early 1900s when life insurers offered installment plans for policyholders who couldn't pay the entire premium upfront.

What is premium paying period? ›

Definition: Premium paying term is the total number of years for the policy holder to pay the premium. Definition: Policy term is normally equal to the premium paying term. However, some insurance policies give the insured the autonomy to choose a premium paying term lower than the policy term.

What are the pros and cons of financial services? ›

The Pros & Cons of a Financial Services Career
  • So what are the main pros and cons of a financial services career?
  • Strong Career Prospects (+) ...
  • High Stress and Long Hours (-) ...
  • Good Income Potential (+) ...
  • Regulatory Requirements (-) ...
  • Good Working Conditions (+) ...
  • Cyclical Nature (-)
Aug 30, 2023

What are the advantages and disadvantages of financing a car? ›

Benefits of taking out an auto loan
  • Spreads out the expense. Few drivers can purchase a car with cash. ...
  • Afford a better car. ...
  • You own the car at the end. ...
  • May improve your credit score. ...
  • Monthly payments can be expensive. ...
  • Risk of damaging your finances. ...
  • Your vehicle's value depreciates. ...
  • Stuck with the same car for longer.
Mar 4, 2024

What are the pros cons of debt financing equity financing? ›

Because equity financing is a greater risk to the investor than debt financing is to the lender, debt financing is often less costly than equity financing. The main disadvantage of debt financing is that interest must be paid to lenders, which means that the amount paid will exceed the amount borrowed.

What are the benefits of insurance premium funding? ›

Premium funding gives businesses the ability to pay their insurance premiums in regular instalments, rather than in one large lump sum payment. That means more cash flow, more flexibility, and in turn, more opportunity.

References

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