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 headquarters

HSBC Center, ICON Ebene
Level 5, Office 1 (West Wing)
Rue de L’Institut
72202, Ebene

Telephone: +(230) 403 8333

Our CEO

Greg Lowden

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’s future strategy

Discover our new repositioning strategy, crafted to align with shifting market dynamics. We’re emphasizing innovation, strengthening customer connections, and staying ahead of trends to drive growth. This is how we are forging a path towards a more sustainable and dynamic future.

HSBC metro wrapping

Introducing the LRT Wrapping Branding Campaign. We are the first in the ASP region to go for this bold move. This initiative showcases our commitment to sustainability, using trains as moving canvases to enhance our brand presence and promote environmental awareness.

2024

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) - 30 September 2024 English PDF 295.08 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 30 September 2024 English PDF 36.83 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended - 30 September 2024 English PDF 116.82 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) - 30 June 2024 English PDF 813.30 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 30 June 2024 English PDF 29.01 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended - 30 June 2024 English PDF 117.60 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 31 March 2024 English PDF 31.34 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended - 31 March 2024 English PDF 118.13 KB

2023

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Annual Report 2023 English PDF 8.68 MB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended - 29 December 2023 English PDF 325.20 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 30 September 2023 English PDF 1.14 MB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 September 2023 English PDF 309.38 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2023 English PDF 510.74 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 June 2023 English PDF 198.55 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 31 March 2023 English PDF 205.84 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2023 English PDF 463.84 KB

2022

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Annual Report 2022 English PDF 7.56 MB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 31 December 2022 English PDF 193.46 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2022 English PDF 551.93 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 September 2022 English PDF 198.77 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2022 English PDF 416.05 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 Jun 2022 English PDF 198.80 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2022 English PDF 542.61 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2022 English PDF 14.74 KB

2021

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Annual Report 2021 English PDF 5.11 MB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2021 English PDF 676.47 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2021 English PDF 549.40 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2021 English PDF 19.23 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2021 English PDF 342.41 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2021 English PDF 189.01 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2021 English PDF 332.69 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2021 English PDF 198.66 KB

2020

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Annual Report 2020 English PDF 6.53 MB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2020 English PDF 17.95 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2020 English PDF 342.63 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2020 English PDF 17.31 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2020 English PDF 334.26 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2020 English PDF 13.99 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2020 English PDF 295.10 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2020 English PDF 17.72 KB

2019

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited Annual Report 2019 English PDF 2.25 MB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2019 English PDF 13.49 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2019 English PDF 282.25 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2019 English PDF 13.34 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2019 English PDF 281.47 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2019 English PDF 13.51 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2019 English PDF 202.90 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited- Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2019 English PDF 13.13 KB

2018

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited Annual Report 2018 English PDF 11.26 MB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2018 English PDF 13.91 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2018 English PDF 233.71 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2018 English PDF 14.17 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2018 English PDF 214.19 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2018 English PDF 14.10 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2018 English PDF 209.85 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2018 English PDF 37.70 KB

2017

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Financial Statement - December 2017 English PDF 85.25 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2017 English PDF 37.62 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2017 English PDF 233.08 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2017 English PDF 229.41 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2017 English PDF 223.73 KB

2016

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Audited Annual Report - December 2016 English PDF 132.60 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2016 English PDF 269.40 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2016 English PDF 266.23 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2016 English PDF 330.95 KB

2015

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Financial Statement - December 2015 English PDF 97.26 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2015 English PDF 237.56 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - September 2015 English PDF 193.25 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2015 English PDF 268.29 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2015 English PDF 106.59 KB

2014

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Financial Statement - December 2014 English PDF 540.14 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2014 English PDF 125.42 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2014 English PDF 105.92 KB

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2014 English PDF 91.24 KB

2013

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Financial Statement - December 2013 English PDF 817.52 KB

2012

HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited - Financial Statement - December 2012 English PDF 318.81 KB

2024

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) - 30 September 2024 English PDF 325.02 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 30 September 2024 English PDF 35.99 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended - 30 September 2024 English PDF 165.17 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) - 30 June 2024 English PDF 318.84 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 30 June 2024 English PDF 32.80 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended - 30 June 2024 English PDF 160.29 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 31 March 2024 English PDF 36.22 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended - 31 March 2024 English PDF 160.43 KB

2023

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Annual Report 2023 English PDF 11.31 MB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended- 29 December 2023 English PDF 418.07 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - 30 September 2023 English PDF 1.23 MB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 September 2023 English PDF 400.25 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2023 English PDF 535.55 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 June 2023 English PDF 289.79 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 31 March 2023 English PDF 308.72 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited – Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2023 English PDF 378.41 KB

2022

The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Annual Report 2022 English PDF 9.68 MB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 31 December 2022 English PDF 289.86 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2022 English PDF 526.19 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 September 2022 English PDF 289.98 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited – Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2022 English PDF 542.77 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited – Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for the quarter ended 30 Jun 2022 English PDF 290.03 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited – Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2022 English PDF 489.44 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2022 English PDF 15.13 KB

2021

The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Annual Report 2021 English PDF 4.94 MB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2021 English PDF 13.60 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2021 English PDF 550.83 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2021 English PDF 19.07 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2021 English PDF 289.34 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2021 English PDF 280.43 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited – Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2021 English PDF 276.48 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2021 English PDF 289.65 KB

2020

The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Annual Report 2020 English PDF 7.81 MB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2020 English PDF 103.47 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2020 English PDF 291.94 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2020 English PDF 82.44 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2020 English PDF 280.70 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2020 English PDF 73.46 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2020 English PDF 294.74 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2020 English PDF 77.97 KB

2019

The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch Annual Report 2019 English PDF 3.00 MB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2019 English PDF 78.10 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2019 English PDF 203.46 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2019 English PDF 72.88 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2019 English PDF 199.97 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2019 English PDF 73.10 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2019 English PDF 171.94 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2019 English PDF 48.51 KB

2018

The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch Annual Report 2018 English PDF 12.44 MB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2018 English PDF 72.86 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2018 English PDF 183.18 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - September 2018 English PDF 48.96 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2018 English PDF 296.52 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - June 2018 English PDF 49.27 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2018 English PDF 235.93 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - March 2018 English PDF 66.08 KB

2017

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Financial Statement - December 2017 English PDF 317.43 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Liquidity Coverage Ratio - December 2017 English PDF 66.04 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2017 English PDF 196.36 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2017 English PDF 189.18 KB

2016

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Audited Annual Report - December 2016 English PDF 155.50 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2016 English PDF 204.21 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2016 English PDF 203.95 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2016 English PDF 266.76 KB

2015

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Financial Statement - December 2015 English PDF 97.13 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2015 English PDF 187.67 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income - September 2015 English PDF 171.91 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2015 English PDF 372.94 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2015 English PDF 138.21 KB

2014

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Financial Statement - December 2014 English PDF 557.15 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - September 2014 English PDF 98.33 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - June 2014 English PDF 51.28 KB

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Unaudited Interim Financial Statements - March 2014 English PDF 49.22 KB

2013

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Financial Statement - December 2013 English PDF 848.16 KB

2012

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - Mauritius Branch - Financial Statement - December 2012 English PDF 309.48 KB

 

ESG contact

For any queries regarding our environmental, social and corporate governance approach, please email rumila.thummanah@hsbc.co.mu, our Business Sustainability lead in Mauritius.


HSBC Group history timeline

1865
 
2024

Hong Kong harbour, Chinese artist, early 1860s

Staff in Fuzhou, China, 1887

Portrait of Thomas Jackson, around 1890

Chinese railway bond certificate, 1907

Staff in military uniform, First World War

Hong Kong building, 1965

Prison camp diary of HSBC staff member Max Haymes, 1943

Hong Kong garment factory, around 1950

Persian banknote, early 20th century

UK cash machine, around 1970

HSBC office, New York, 1999

HSBC lion, London, present day

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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited opened in Hong Kong on 3 March 1865 and in Shanghai one month later. It was the first locally owned bank to operate according to Scottish banking principles.

By 1875 HSBC was present in seven countries across Asia, Europe and North America. It financed the export of tea and silk from China, cotton and jute from India, sugar from the Philippines and rice and silk from Vietnam.

By 1900, after strong growth under Chief Manager Thomas Jackson, the bank had expanded into 16 countries and was financing trade across the world. Bullion, exchange and merchant banking were important features of the bank’s business.

In the early 20th century, HSBC widened the scope of its activities in Asia. It issued loans to national governments to finance modernisation and infrastructure projects such as railway building.

The First World War brought disruption and dislocation to many businesses. By the 1920s, however, Asia was beginning to prosper again as new industries developed and trade in commodities such as rubber and tin soared.

The 1930s brought recession and turmoil to many markets. Nonetheless, HSBC asked architects Palmer and Turner to design a new head office in Hong Kong: “Please build us the best bank in the world.” The cutting-edge art deco building opened in 1935.

The bank faced one of its most challenging times during the Second World War. Staff in Asia showed huge courage in the face of adversity. Many became prisoners of war. Only the London, Indian and US branches remained in full operation.

At the end of the war, HSBC took on a key role in the reconstruction of the Hong Kong economy. Its support helped established manufacturers as well as newcomers to Hong Kong grow their business.

By the 1970s the bank had expanded through acquisition. HSBC bought Mercantile Bank and The British Bank of the Middle East in 1959. In 1972 it formed a merchant banking arm, extending its range of services.

In the 1980s HSBC bought Marine Midland Bank in the US. In 1992, the newly created HSBC Holdings plc made a recommended offer for full ownership of the UK’s Midland Bank. Following the acquisition, HSBC moved its headquarters to London.

In 1998, the bank announced it would adopt a unified brand, using HSBC and the hexagon symbol everywhere it operated.

Our purpose – Opening up a world of opportunity – explains why we exist. We’re here to use our unique expertise, capabilities, breadth and perspectives, opening up a world of opportunity for our customers.

The significant opportunity of the private credit sector Opens in new window

19 November 2024

The private credit market has existed as an asset class for decades and looks set to continue to grow, says Scott McClurg.

Fashion or finance - skills, not subjects studied, matter to us Opens in new window

8 November 2024

Hiring future talent for the skills they have, rather than the subjects they have studied, creates a more diverse workforce and gives us a competitive edge, says Noel Brown.

University spinouts power the UK innovation economy Opens in new window

7 November 2024

The UK’s innovation economy remains the envy of Europe and the role universities play in this should not be overlooked, says Simon Bumfrey.