HSBC pilots special operation arrangement on weekends at three branches
HSBC has recently seen a significant increase in the number of overseas Hong Kong people and non-local residents using branch services, as the number of visitors to Hong Kong surges following COVID-19 restrictions lifting in early February. The number of new-to-bank customers who are non-local residents in February already returned to the monthly average in the first half of 2019.
To accommodate customer needs, HSBC will pilot a special operation, opening 7 days a week, at three HSBC Hong Kong branches, including Ocean Centre HSBC Jade and Premier Centre, Park Lane Premier Centre, and Kwun Tong Branch, effective Saturday 25 March 2023 to serve pre-booking customers during weekends.
Janet Pang, Head of Distributions, Wealth and Personal Banking, HSBC, Hong Kong, said, “After the removal of all COVID-19 restrictions, the daily average branch traffic of non-local residents in February more than doubled from January, largely driven by the increasing number of mainland China customers; hotline enquiries about account opening also rose 100 per cent in February from a month earlier. We hope to offer the best customer convenience through piloting a 7-day operation at three branches, considering the usual arrival peak for mainland China and overseas visitors on weekends and the growing demand for banking services. In addition to staff training, we plan to expand our international banking services and insurance teams serving mainland China customers by 40 per cent through temporary staff redeployment and new hirings.”
According to an HSBC survey conducted earlier this year, 60 per cent of Mainland China visitors who intended to visit Hong Kong shortly after the full resumption of normal travel were coming for handling personal financial matters, second only to leisure travel. This shows that Hong Kong is still a key financial centre in the eyes of mainland Chinese. HSBC's survey last year also showed that residents in the Greater Bay Area continued to show a strong interest in cross-boundary investment, with 98 per cent of mainland China residents keen on opening accounts or holding investment products in Hong Kong.
Apart from re-arranging weekend operations, HSBC continues to support customers’ wealth and health needs via a series of measures:
- HSBC reopened its Hong Kong International Airport Premier Centre earlier this year. In mid-January, HSBC also became the first bank to set up its branch at the restricted area of the Departure Hall in the Hong Kong International Airport, enabling travellers to manage their personal finances while waiting for their flights
- There are also 30 GBA Wealth Management Connect Centres across the territory, with specialists to provide customers with cross-boundary investment solutions
- HSBC launched HSBC HK RM Chat in January, so that customers could contact their Relationship Managers and teams via WeChat and WeChat for easier access to dedicated services
- Free limousine service is provided to HSBC Jade clients visiting HSBC Wealth Centre at K11 ATELIER or Hysan Place. The adjacent HSBC Life Para-medical Centre offers vaccinations and medical check-ups for customers to enjoy a one-stop experience in financial management and insurance services.
Recommended news