The History of HSBC

HSBC Holdings also known as The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation is a market leader amongst various banking groups in the world today. Ranked fifth largest as a company in Forbes Global 2000, it also has the distinction of being one of the leading companies in banking. HSBC headquarters is located in the London's Canary Wharf on the HSBC tower. The founding member of HSBC is The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, which was established by Thomas Sutherland, a Scot, in 1865.

The HSBC bank is ranked second in the world in terms of assets. As of Dec 31, 2006, HSBC has $1.861 trillion in assets as compared to Citigroup, which has $1.884 trillion. Nearly 22% of HSBC’s earnings are derived from Hong Kong, which is one of its major operational base.

Known as the world’s local bank, HSBC has a history of helping millions of customers globally to meet their financial goals. They have understood the importance and functioning of different markets through their experience in international trade. As a result, HSBC has grown into a company or banking institution that has the deepest respect for different cultures and people connected to these cultures. Their motto is to look at their customers as individuals and strive towards providing them with a personalized service and credit card products that will fit each of their specific needs.

Since their founding in 1865, HSBC has grown into one of the largest financial institutions in the world with 9,500 offices in 79 countries. All HSBC card members are treated as a part of the HSBC family, and are guaranteed worldwide recognition and acceptance supported by buying power. Their credit cards have been designed to manage the needs and requirements of everyday life, which can range from paying a phone bill to buying groceries. HSBC’s vision is to work towards developing an accessible, dependable, and innovative financial service product that will help customers and create relationships that will last a lifetime.

Corporate Responsibility & Community Service

At HSBC, corporate responsibility translates into managing their business responsibly and sensitively to achieve long-term success. As part of their corporate responsibility efforts, HSBC strives to remain a catalyst in the progress of the different communities served by them. They have laid focus on education and the environment. Thgrough their community services and corporate responsibility, HSBC strives to build strong, enduring relationships with various organizations, businesses and individuals and provides the necessary resources to sustain long-term results. HSBC made a social investment of $31.4 million in 2006 in the US.

One of the core areas in community services of HSBC includes supporting various environmental initiatives that focus primarily on climate changes, freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity. They provide financial support to various organizations focusing in conservation, field research, and environmental education.

One of the most popular HSBC cards is the HSBC Platinum MasterCard with Cash or Fly Rewards. The prominent feature of this card includes:

You can earn a point every time you spend a dollar
You can earn Redeemable points that can be exchanged for roundtrip air tickets with no expiry dates
You can get up to 1% cash back on redeeming the points earned
Platinum benefits like a purchase protection and car rental insurance
There is no annual fee and an introductory APR of 0% on balance transfers. The APR is valid for 12 months