# HSBC

Summary updated: 2026-10-03T22:03:07.489952Z
Canonical: https://finbar.com/research/companies/hsbc

## Overview

HSBC is a global banking and financial services group serving personal and wealth customers, businesses, and corporate and institutional clients. Its activities include banking and lending, wealth services, payments and transaction banking, trade finance, and markets services. [1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P95248867)[2](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/hsbc-and-wealth)[3](https://www.gbm.hsbc.com/en-gb/about-us?lang=en-US%3Fid%3D%3D%3D) The group’s stated purpose is “Opening up a world of opportunity.” [4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P81192236)[5](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are)

HSBC reported operations in 56 countries and territories at the end of 2025, with Hong Kong and the UK among its principal markets. [6](https://www.hsbc.com/-/files/hsbc/investors/hsbc-results/2025/annual/pdfs/hsbc-holdings-plc/260225-annual-report-and-accounts-2025.pdf)[7](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-markets) It traces its origins to 1865, when the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was established to support trade. [8](https://history.hsbc.com/index.php/history) In 2025, net operating income before expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges was US$68.274 billion; this banking income measure is not conventional sales revenue. [9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2991458) HSBC reported 211,479 full-time-equivalent employees at 31 December 2025. [10](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-people/inclusion-at-hsbc/global-representation-data?tabs-section-2=tab-0&tabs-section-3=tab-0)
[1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P95248867)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P81192236)[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2991458)[2](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/hsbc-and-wealth)[3](https://www.gbm.hsbc.com/en-gb/about-us?lang=en-US%3Fid%3D%3D%3D)[5](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are)[6](https://www.hsbc.com/-/files/hsbc/investors/hsbc-results/2025/annual/pdfs/hsbc-holdings-plc/260225-annual-report-and-accounts-2025.pdf)[7](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-markets)[8](https://history.hsbc.com/index.php/history)[10](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-people/inclusion-at-hsbc/global-representation-data?tabs-section-2=tab-0&tabs-section-3=tab-0)

## Products & services

HSBC’s product range includes wholesale transaction banking services such as Global Payments Solutions (GPS), Global Trade Solutions (GTS) and Securities Services, alongside wealth services including investment distribution, insurance, private banking and asset management. Its reported product-related fee categories also include funds under management, cards, credit facilities, account services, broking, unit trusts, underwriting, global custody, remittances, import/export and insurance agency commissions. [11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728442)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677413)

GPS supports payments and collections, liquidity management, foreign-currency and clearing services, cash-flow forecasting and treasury APIs. HSBC describes digital connectivity through HSBCnet, host-to-host, SWIFTnet and APIs; its US payments page states reach of up to 130 currencies and 175 markets, based on HSBC data as of December 2023. [13](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/global-payments-solutions)[14](https://www.business.us.hsbc.com/en/solutions/payments) GTS offerings include trade and supply-chain finance, guarantees, import/export and open-account solutions, receivables finance and working-capital support. [15](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/global-trade-solutions)[16](https://www.business.us.hsbc.com/en/products-and-solutions/trade)

HSBCnio provides connections between banking data and capabilities and HSBCnet, spreadsheets, ERP platforms and AI tools, including API and ERP/TMS integration. HSBC Evolve supports FX execution, exposure management, analytics, trade tracking and post-trade services. [17](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/hsbc-nio)[18](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/evolve) Its Global Markets products include credit, rates, equities, foreign exchange, derivatives clearing, structured products and emerging-markets services; financing and advisory offerings include debt and equity capital markets, leveraged and acquisition finance, and capital-raising solutions. [19](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/global-markets)[20](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/financing-and-advisory-services)
[11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728442)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677413)[13](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/global-payments-solutions)[14](https://www.business.us.hsbc.com/en/solutions/payments)[15](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/global-trade-solutions)[16](https://www.business.us.hsbc.com/en/products-and-solutions/trade)[17](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/hsbc-nio)[18](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/evolve)[19](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/global-markets)[20](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/financing-and-advisory-services)

## Geographic presence

HSBC describes its operating footprint as spanning 56 markets. Its reporting also identifies significant presences associated with Hong Kong, the UK, the Middle East, North America and Mexico; the latter locations are evidenced by named legal entities and should not be read as a complete list of operating markets. [7](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-markets)[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T6581462)

HSBC reports Hong Kong and the UK as geographic business segments, alongside CIB and IWPB, which are business-line segments rather than regions. The report therefore does not provide a directly comparable revenue split across all countries or regions; legal-entity results for specific countries should not be treated as customer-location revenue. [9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2991458)[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T6581462)
[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2991458)[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T6581462)[7](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-markets)

## Business segments

HSBC reports five businesses: Hong Kong, UK, Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB), International Wealth and Premier Banking (IWPB), and Corporate Centre. Hong Kong and UK focus on personal and commercial banking in their respective markets; CIB serves corporate and institutional clients, while IWPB serves individuals and families with banking and wealth needs. [22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728810)[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728811)[24](https://www.hsbc.com/careers/our-business-areas-and-teams/corporate-and-institutional-banking)[25](https://www.hsbc.com/careers/our-business-areas-and-teams/international-wealth-and-premier-banking)

By profit before tax (PBT), approximate contributions to Group PBT for the six months ended 30 June 2026 were Hong Kong 26.3%, UK 17.1%, CIB 37.1%, IWPB 13.4%, and Corporate Centre 6.1%. These are HSBC’s published constant-currency shares; PBT is used to compare each business’s contribution to Group profit. [26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728812)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677453)
[22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728810)[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728811)[26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728812)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677453)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677453)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677453)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677453)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677453)[24](https://www.hsbc.com/careers/our-business-areas-and-teams/corporate-and-institutional-banking)[25](https://www.hsbc.com/careers/our-business-areas-and-teams/international-wealth-and-premier-banking)

## Company history

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation opened in Hong Kong on 3 March 1865, following Thomas Sutherland’s proposal for a bank to support trade between Asia, Europe and North America; it opened an office in Shanghai the following month. In 1959, it expanded beyond its original base by acquiring the British Bank of the Middle East and Mercantile Bank in India. [28](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/global-archives/the-hongkong-and-shanghai-banking-corporation-1)[29](https://history.hsbc.com/history/timeline/era-3)

HSBC expanded in the United States through its acquisition of a majority stake in Marine Midland Bank in 1980, completing full ownership in 1987. HSBC Holdings was established as the group’s holding company in 1991; it acquired Midland Bank in 1992 and moved the holding company’s headquarters to London that year. Further major acquisitions included Republic New York Corporation and Safra Republic Holdings in 1999, Crédit Commercial de France in 2000, and Household International in 2003. [30](https://history.hsbc.com/history/timeline/era-4)[31](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/global-archives/hsbc-holdings-plc)[32](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766829-special-issue-of-group-news-in-may-1999-announcing-the-impending-acquisition-of-republic-new-york-corporation-and-safra-republic-holdings)[33](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766833-front-cover-of-the-august-2000-edition-of-group-news-welcoming-credit-commercial-de-france-ccf-to-hsbc)[34](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766835-front-page-from-group-news-in-april-2003-announcing-the-acquisition-of-household-international)

In October 2024, HSBC announced a four-business structure, which took effect on 1 January 2025. [35](https://www.hsbc.com/news-and-views/news/hsbc-news-archive/we-are-simplifying-to-accelerate-our-strategy)
[28](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/global-archives/the-hongkong-and-shanghai-banking-corporation-1)[29](https://history.hsbc.com/history/timeline/era-3)[30](https://history.hsbc.com/history/timeline/era-4)[31](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/global-archives/hsbc-holdings-plc)[32](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766829-special-issue-of-group-news-in-may-1999-announcing-the-impending-acquisition-of-republic-new-york-corporation-and-safra-republic-holdings)[33](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766833-front-cover-of-the-august-2000-edition-of-group-news-welcoming-credit-commercial-de-france-ccf-to-hsbc)[34](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766835-front-page-from-group-news-in-april-2003-announcing-the-acquisition-of-household-international)[35](https://www.hsbc.com/news-and-views/news/hsbc-news-archive/we-are-simplifying-to-accelerate-our-strategy)

## Sources

1. [HSBC — Full financial report (2025 Y), p2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P95248867)
2. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/hsbc-and-wealth)
3. [www.gbm.hsbc.com](https://www.gbm.hsbc.com/en-gb/about-us?lang=en-US%3Fid%3D%3D%3D)
4. [HSBC — Full financial report (2025 Y), p2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P81192236)
5. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are)
6. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/-/files/hsbc/investors/hsbc-results/2025/annual/pdfs/hsbc-holdings-plc/260225-annual-report-and-accounts-2025.pdf)
7. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-markets)
8. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/index.php/history)
9. [HSBC — Full financial report (2025 Y), p306](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2991458)
10. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/our-people/inclusion-at-hsbc/global-representation-data?tabs-section-2=tab-0&tabs-section-3=tab-0)
11. [HSBC — Full financial report (2026 H 1), p7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728442)
12. [HSBC — Full financial report (2026 H 1), p90](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677413)
13. [www.business.hsbc.com](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/global-payments-solutions)
14. [www.business.us.hsbc.com](https://www.business.us.hsbc.com/en/solutions/payments)
15. [www.business.hsbc.com](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/global-trade-solutions)
16. [www.business.us.hsbc.com](https://www.business.us.hsbc.com/en/products-and-solutions/trade)
17. [www.business.hsbc.com](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/hsbc-nio)
18. [www.business.hsbc.com](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products/evolve)
19. [www.business.hsbc.com](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/global-markets)
20. [www.business.hsbc.com](https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/products-and-solutions/financing-and-advisory-services)
21. [HSBC — Full financial report (2025 Y), p87](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T6581462)
22. [HSBC — Full financial report (2026 H 1), p31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728810)
23. [HSBC — Full financial report (2026 H 1), p31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728811)
24. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/careers/our-business-areas-and-teams/corporate-and-institutional-banking)
25. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/careers/our-business-areas-and-teams/international-wealth-and-premier-banking)
26. [HSBC — Full financial report (2026 H 1), p31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P145728812)
27. [HSBC — Press release (2026 H 1), p8](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T16677453)
28. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/global-archives/the-hongkong-and-shanghai-banking-corporation-1)
29. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/history/timeline/era-3)
30. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/history/timeline/era-4)
31. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/global-archives/hsbc-holdings-plc)
32. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766829-special-issue-of-group-news-in-may-1999-announcing-the-impending-acquisition-of-republic-new-york-corporation-and-safra-republic-holdings)
33. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766833-front-cover-of-the-august-2000-edition-of-group-news-welcoming-credit-commercial-de-france-ccf-to-hsbc)
34. [history.hsbc.com](https://history.hsbc.com/collections/snapshots/building-the-business/breaking-news-headline-acquisitions/1766835-front-page-from-group-news-in-april-2003-announcing-the-acquisition-of-household-international)
35. [www.hsbc.com](https://www.hsbc.com/news-and-views/news/hsbc-news-archive/we-are-simplifying-to-accelerate-our-strategy)

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