HSBC Unveils New Premises in Chinatown, San Francisco

METTAWA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HSBC Bank USA, N.A, (NYSE: HBC) part of one of the world’s largest financial services organizations, has officially opened the doors to its latest full-service retail branch, situated in the heart of Chinatown, San Francisco. This brand-new facility is located close to the original site of the first HSBC branch in the U.S., which opened for business in 1866. The addition of San Francisco Chinatown extends HSBC Bank USA’s network in California to a total of 35 branches, employing scores of local people and serving tens of thousands of customers.

“CES has been an educational anchor in Chinatown for more than 40 years, and we intend to steer the course of our next 40 years, and beyond, in partnership with HSBC.”

Today’s announcement is a further example of HSBC’s strategy of expanding in select towns and cities throughout the U.S. Since 2006, more than 90 branches have been opened in communities across such states as California, Florida, New Jersey and Washington, as well as maintaining a strong presence in New York. With some 30,000 employees and over four million customers, HSBC-North America is one of the ten largest bank holding companies in the United States by assets.

HSBC Group’s presence in over 80 countries and territories is perfectly aligned to San Francisco’s Chinatown district, with its high concentration of internationally connected individuals and businesses that benefit from both an on-the-ground HSBC branch presence and its extensive global reach.

Paul Lawrence, CEO, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., said, “HSBC has an extremely long history in Chinatown dating back over 140 years and its strong international connections made it the obvious place in which to enhance our San Francisco branch network. As ‘The world’s local bank’, we fully understand the importance of serving the Chinatown community locally while helping them to make the most of opportunities globally.”

Located at 933 Grant Avenue, the brand-new, 5,350 square-foot facility features three teller stations, a Premier banking center, ATM, safe deposit box facilities and weekend hours, as well as the latest in customer-friendly design.

Operating initially with a staff of seven locally employed banking professionals, the Chinatown branch provides a full range of financial services to both businesses and individuals including Premier,¹ HSBC’s global personal banking service. This offers international recognition, worldwide support, wealth management, ² insurance, mortgages, ³ a credit card, ⁴ access to a relationship manager and ‘Global View,’ a unique online service which allows customers to access and manage all of their international Premier accounts in one place.

Branch manager Janet Chen is a career banker with 13 years professional experience in and around the San Francisco area. Janet and team are able to serve customers in three dialects of Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese and Tai Shanese) as well as English. Between them they offer more than half a century’s worth of combined banking experience.

This evening, HSBC will mark the occasion of its Chinatown launch with a VIP Grand Opening Ceremony, during which two checks totalling $15,000 will be presented to support the Gordon J. Lau School⁵ and Community Education Services (CES)⁶.

Marlene Callejas, Principal, Gordon J. Lau School, said: “The generous support of our community neighbors such as HSBC, helps us accomplish our mission of educating children.”

“By reaching out into the San Francisco Chinatown community with such generosity and dedication to building long-lasting relationships with community-based organizations, HSBC’s presence in Chinatown will indeed be a catalyst for social progress,” said Darin Ow-Wing, Executive Director of Community Educational Services. “CES has been an educational anchor in Chinatown for more than 40 years, and we intend to steer the course of our next 40 years, and beyond, in partnership with HSBC.”

Media inquiries to Neil Brazil on 847-208-4319 or at [e-mail]

Note to editors

(1) HSBC Premier is a premium financial management service offering a range of banking, investment and financing solutions. To qualify for HSBC Premier, you need to open a Premier Checking account and maintain $100,000 in combined personal deposit and investment balances. Business owners may use their commercial balances to qualify for personal Premier membership. A monthly maintenance fee of $50 will be incurred if minimum balance requirements are not maintained.

HSBC Premier offers international recognition and support, international services, credit card rewards and protection around the world, and financial planning and wealth management through access to a Premier Relationship Manager. With Premier Centres in 42 countries and territories, HSBC Premier breaks down banking barriers allowing customers to seamlessly bank anywhere in the world.

Within the United States, HSBC Premier Centers can be found in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Westport, CT., and White Plains, NY.

In addition to Premier Relationship Managers in branches, there are over 250 Premier Centers worldwide. For more information visit: HSBCPREMIERUSA.com.

(2) Securities and Annuity Products are provided by Registered Representatives and Insurance Agents of HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC, a registered Futures Commission Merchant, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Markets (USA) Inc. and an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc. Insurance products are offered through Insurance Agents of HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank USA, N.A., and an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc. Products and services may vary by state and are not available in all states.

(3) Mortgage products are offered through HSBC Mortgage Corporation (USA) a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Equal Housing Lender.

(4) Credit cards in the U.S. issued by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. or HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A. and are subject to approval.

(5) Gordon J. Lau School in Chinatown has a culturally and ethnically diverse student population. It believes that all children can learn. Students are provided with continuous learning opportunities that develop basic academic skills and emphasize positive social growth and interaction.

(6) Community Education Services (CES) was created in 1969 by young activists in San Francisco to increase the educational achievement, employment success and community leadership of recently arrived Chinese immigrant teenagers. Since then, CES has expanded its mission so that it now annually provides educational, arts, career readiness, fitness, music, outdoor education, mentoring, youth leadership and other services to over 2,500 children and youth of all backgrounds at thirteen school and community sites in San Francisco.

About HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

HSBC Bank USA, N.A. is the principal subsidiary of HSBC USA, Inc. It has more than 470 bank branches throughout the United States, with over 370 in New York State. The Bank also operates in Florida, California, Washington, D.C. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, Illinois, Connecticut and Virginia. HSBC is the principal subsidiary of HSBC USA Inc., an indirectly-held, wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. HSBC USA Inc. is one of the nation's largest bank holding companies by assets. Deposits in the United States are offered by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Member FDIC.