HSBC in Mauritius

Our services

Over the past two decades, HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited has achieved significant success in fund management and cross-border lending. As part of one of the largest global banking networks, HSBC in Mauritius leverages its extensive international reach to serve customers locally and globally, facilitating connections to various opportunities. A remarkable 90 per cent of its business is inbound, underscoring its commitment and dedication to excellence in service and strategic growth.

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited offers a range of global banking services, including corporate banking with tailored solutions for funding needs in both local and foreign currencies. It plays a pivotal role in the Mauritius Global Business sector, having established one of the first Offshore Banking Units in 1991. HSBC provides comprehensive trade services and financial facilities, particularly benefiting Freeport and global business companies operating out of Mauritius.

For global investors, HSBC offers an array of financial products, such as multi-currency accounts and deposits, foreign exchange and treasury services, and efficient funds transfer options like HSBCnet with Face ID recognition. Additionally, HSBC provides e-banking and instant payments, trade finance, multi-currency corporate lending, global custody services, green finance, and escrow accounts. The bank is committed to being a leading choice for innovative sustainable finance solutions and actively supports its customers in their transition to net zero, aligned with HSBC’s broader environmental ambitions.

Our history in Mauritius

The history of the HSBC Group in Mauritius begins in 1859, when the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London, and China (the forerunner of the Mercantile Bank Ltd) established a branch in Port Louis. The bank helped to finance the construction of the Port Louis to Curepipe railway network in 1864.

In 1865, the Chartered Mercantile Bank decided to close the branch owing to difficult business conditions in India. For the next half century Chartered Mercantile Bank was represented in Mauritius by the Blyth Brothers and Co Ltd, which today trades as Ireland Blyth Ltd, IBL.

In 1892, the Chartered Mercantile Bank was renamed The Mercantile Bank of India Limited and in 1916 it bought the Bank of Mauritius, then a commercial bank. The Mercantile Bank of India Ltd acquired not only the business of the old Bank of Mauritius, but also its historic building in Place d’Armes. The name was changed to Mercantile Bank Ltd, and the Bank conducted business from its main office at Place d’Armes from 1916 to 1983.

In 1959 the Mercantile Bank was bought by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and in 1983 the name of the Group’s operations in Mauritius was changed from the Mercantile Bank Ltd to Hongkong Bank. In 1999, the international brand name HSBC was established, and we are now known in Mauritius, as we are elsewhere, simply as HSBC.

HSBC Group history timeline