The birth of a bank
HSBC was born from one simple idea – a local bank serving international needs. In March 1865, HSBC opened its doors for business in Hong Kong, helping to finance trade between Europe and Asia.
We have been supporting our customers for more than 150 years. Today, we serve more than 40 million personal, wealth and corporate customers worldwide in 64 countries and territories.
The experiences of the past century and a half 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.
The bank 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.
History timeline
Learn how a local Hong Kong bank became one of the world’s largest financial services organisations.
Did you know?
HSBC has developed a number of traditions over its years in business and employed people who would later find fame in other fields. For example:
- The bank’s name is derived from the initials of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, the founding member of HSBC
- HSBC’s red and white hexagon symbol was developed from the bank’s original house flag which was in turn based on the cross of St Andrew
- The HSBC lions are nicknamed Stephen and Stitt after senior managers from the 1920s
- The comic author P G Wodehouse, creator of Jeeves and Wooster, spent two years working at HSBC’s London office. He was recorded as being late for work 20 times in his first year
Key moments in our history
The opening of China
How Guy Hillier cemented HSBC’s reputation in China at the turn of the 20th century.
Local staff, local knowledge
HSBC staff from many different backgrounds have contributed to the bank’s success.
HSBC sets out net zero ambition
Find out how we plan to help build a thriving low-carbon economy.
Insight
Five climate trends for 2021
HSBC’s Daniel Klier examines the themes likely to dominate the run-up to the COP26 conference in November.
A dose of optimism
Vaccine breakthroughs should usher in a brighter dawn for global economic prospects for 2021, says HSBC’s Janet Henry.
Decisive decade ahead for climate finance
Progress has been made in the five years since the Paris Agreement – but bigger changes are coming.