Hong Kong's waterfront, 1880
HSBC history
HSBC was born from one small idea – a local bank serving international needs. In March 1865, HSBC opened its doors for business in Hong Kong, and today we serve around 58 million customers in more than 80 countries and territories.
The experiences of the past 148 years have formed the character of HSBC. A glance at our history explains why we believe in capital strength, in strict cost control and in building long-term relationships with customers. HSBC has weathered change in all forms – revolutions, economic crises, new technologies – and adapted to survive. The resulting corporate character enables HSBC to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
More about HSBC’s history
What’s in the archives
The archives of HSBC reflect its long and colourful history. Find out what's in our archive collections and how to access them.
View our gallery
Explore our heritage through our exhibitions of archives, artefacts, photographs and paintings.
Publications and fact sheets
Looking for publications and resources on our history? Use the resource centre to access and download digital documents and information.