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HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

about.us.hsbc.com

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Re: HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

#11
HSBC also previously exited mass market retail banking in Japan, Korea, Brazil, and Turkey.

(There's probably more, these are just the first ones I found.)

Japan (actually exited both mass market and Premier retail banking): https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/02/24/business/hsbc-t...

Korea: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324853704578587...

Brazil and Turkey: https://www.ft.com/content/85642fcc-e50d-11e4-bb4b-00144feab...

Re: HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

#12

Basically says they’re bailing out of the US consumer market to focus on high net worth individuals and accounts. Basically the “1%”. Executives are quoted, implying that the reason is due to their inability to compete in that market, but I wonder if that’s really why. I’m thinking that with US debt being so high (both consumers and the federal government), millions of job openings going unfilled, an end to eviction…

I don't think the plan to exit the US consumer market was because of the pandemic. I remember there had been talks of exiting the US market even in 2019 ( random article I pulled up after a google search -https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/hsbc-... ). I think their US banking operations had been performing badly for some time now. Maybe the pandemic could have accelerated things.

Re: HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

#14
I signed up for HSBC a few years back thinking they were a good “international” banking choice for people with ties abroad. Sure there are (were) HSBC locations in other countries but they wouldn’t treat you any different than a stranger on the street unless you had $100,000 in accounts there. Their international transfers and account opening services were very meh.

Around the same time, I adopted Transferwise (now just wise.com) which offers faster and cheaper transfers, and account-like functionality (holding a balance in different currency to avoid rate fluctuations and access to native bank transfers) which is exactly what I wanted HSBC for but light years ahead. Wise.com is still what I recommend for frequent travelers, expats, sending money to family, etc.

Re: HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

#15

Basically says they’re bailing out of the US consumer market to focus on high net worth individuals and accounts. Basically the “1%”. Executives are quoted, implying that the reason is due to their inability to compete in that market, but I wonder if that’s really why. I’m thinking that with US debt being so high (both consumers and the federal government), millions of job openings going unfilled, an end to eviction…

They hardly wanted to deal with US customers before the pandemic. Plus they’ve been busted for fraud or money laundering, had to pay giant fines, and didn’t have the most positive brand recognition after that in US market.

US cards have been remarkably well accepted globally for a long time now, likely because the 3 big card processors are American, and American’s general need for banking abroad is probably covered by the bank they already have.

Re: HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

#16
post #11

HSBC also previously exited mass market retail banking in Japan, Korea, Brazil, and Turkey. (There's probably more, these are just the first ones I found.) Japan (actually exited both mass market and Premier retail banking): https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/02/24/business/hsbc-t... Korea: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324853704578587... Brazil and Turkey: https://www.ft.com/content/85642fcc-e50d-…

[deleted]

Re: HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

#18
post #6

HSBC is by far the worst banking experience I ever had. I only signed up for the generous sign up bonus. The app was very, very dated and only worked half the time. The website seemed to redirect you about 50 times on login, again, failing half the time. I could go on and on about how awful things were designed, but will not in the interest of time. I couldn't wait to get that money out and close it up. It's like the…

Same, finally after a year of random issues I asked that my accounts be closed. They ended up just cutting me bank checks for the entire balance but left the accounts open which triggered monthly dues and ultimately a negative balance they wanted to collect on. Took the branch manager over an hour to figure out how to fix everything.

Re: HSBC exits US mass market retail banking

#19
post #6

HSBC is by far the worst banking experience I ever had. I only signed up for the generous sign up bonus. The app was very, very dated and only worked half the time. The website seemed to redirect you about 50 times on login, again, failing half the time. I could go on and on about how awful things were designed, but will not in the interest of time. I couldn't wait to get that money out and close it up. It's like the…

I empathize with the login process being clunky. That and I think they gave me $500 for putting in $5k for 3 months. I recall calculating it was something like a “46% annualized return or 1.10 ^ 4”, for 3 months, on 5k, with FDIC insurance to boot…
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