HSBC

I dont bank with this Joke but unfortunately had a business need to contact them. HSBC has literally the WORST service of any business bank I have encountered for corporate accounts in the $ 5−30M range. I tried both their consumer and business contact numbers, there is no option to speak to a representative, and it hangs up on you or goes to voicemail when you select options to open a new account. We cant even locate the local branch phone numbers to get questions answered. Will NOT be doing business here, what a JOKE.

HSBC is the most annoying bank in the entire world. It calls itself, «the World’s Local Bank,» yet they are so dysfunctional globally. I have a HSBC account because I need to do regular monthly transfers between my US and HK accounts. Otherwise, you wouldn’t pay me enough to use their service. The HK Bank don’t talk to the U.S. Bank. Other than the name being the same, one would almost mistaken them as separate entities. The so-​called «extra» security the bank enforce is beyond ridiculous and backward. It’s a lot of process for nothing.
Now back to this particular HSBC branch. The mortgage consultant who works here is incompetent. She keeps on misspelling my name on emails even though my name clearly appears on the application and all my documents about five million times. Mind you I am a Premier member and have no less than $ 100k USD in my account at all times. This is how personal they get with supposedly their top-​tier client?!? She insisted that I didn’t send her the requested documents only to find them in her email inbox a few minutes later. Then she said some information that I repeatedly replied is not true… And then she said «oh you’re right» afterwards without any apologies. Get your facts straight first before you use that kind of accusatory tone of voice! I was so frustrated with her and at the end, did not do the loan with her. Their rates are not the best.
Being a «Premier» really means nothing. There is no incentive to bank with HSBC. Will be closing my account as soon as I am able to. Taking my business somewhere else instead.
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Review #176

I wish I would have looked at these review before opening a corporate account here. Clearly, HSBC US doesn’t have any accountability. I get that retail and corporate banking is the lowest type of banking. However, if they can’t be bothered they should just not offer it and stop pretending to be «global.» The main complaint is incompetence and the lowest quality employees out of bank. At HSBC, they are truly dumb and uneducated. So so so so so dumb. Not just dumb, they simply don’t care and are not held accountable. They make huge devastating mistakes and management doesn’t care. Just don’t come here, turn away, run away fast! Their incompetence will ruin your company.

Terrible, non existent customer service. HSBC as a whole is not helpful at all. I’ve tried dealing with them in the city and I’ve dealt with them at their corporate office in Buffalo. I just simply wanted to open a checking again and the process was nuts, they tried to make me jump through 1000 hoops.

I have never come across a bank more badly-​run than this. I too have spent a total of hours on the phone, one time waiting one hour to speak to someone, and my issue has not been resolved. I am now trying to withdraw all my money and close my account with them — not easy!

I live in Hawaii — HSBC bank is BAD Globally. I agree with all the bad reviews here. I had to FLY to HK to wire money back to US and failed at that because THEY screwed up the wire. Instead of fixing it, I had FLY from Hawaii to the SF branch to authenticate my signature which they already have on file. Thus have spent 3 months trying to CLOSE the account and my money out — not successful — borderline CRIMINAL
The POLICIES are insane, Their internet banking is CAVEMAN era, the Staff GLOBALLY are completely like ROBOTS repeating the same thing over and over again and NOT giving you SOLUTIONS to the PROBLEMS the BANK creates.
This is one of the LARGEST banks in the world, They need to GO UNDER — another example of TOO BIG TO FAIL
Wish I can give it NEGATIVE Stars — basically FIVE Black Holes !! because the SUCK the life out of you.

Simply the worst banking experience in 30 years. Decrepit technology, arrogant and unmotivated robot staff… Definitely not the world’s local bank.
AVOID.

I would give hsbc zero stars if I could. My savings account money has been tied up for three months and they won’t give it back to me. I’ve been in contact with customer service TWELVE times for a total of 5 hours. I’ve been disconnected and put on hold for 45 minutes and my problem still cannot be resolved in a simplified and honest business transaction. This bank is a nightmare of a process and wouldn’t recommend it to my worst enemy. Stay away or be prepared to pull your hair out when you actually need them to do something besides take your hard earned money.
I will post this on every available forum and berate this company until my fingers are tired of typing. If someone from this horrid company would like to contact me and resolve my problem (in less than five minutes of my precious time) then I will stop posting this very truthful review all over the internet.

DO NOT try to refinance a mortgage through HSBC. I can’t believe their technology. They send you documents to sign through a «secure web portal» and the documents don’t download properly, they are repetitive, and make no sense. These people are still in the 1990’s with their technology. I also have not been able to speak to a human. I’ve left messages for my loan processor and have not received any call back even though their voice message states; «please leave a message and I’ll return your call before the end of the business day», two weeks later, I’m still waiting.
How does this bank even stay in business.

This place is terrible. They can barely speak english, and couldnt send a wire transfer after 1pm in the afternoon, with no indication on the website of any time limitation. Took me an hour and a half just to get there and now have to go back. Premier level was useless, they couldnt even take my information and let me sign then send the wire in the morning without me coming in again. I have NEVER been to a bank that could not wire money if they were open. Just HORRIBLE policies and the staff though friendly were barely able to communicate with me in english, and basically unhelpful. f i didnt need an international bank, I would move. And what kind of international bank can only wire money 4 hours a day.
Edit: I went back the next day and it was much smoother and well organized. The Teller Alice was very capable and friendly, so I gave them an extra 2 stars. Their policies need some work, but I cant blame the employees for that. Sadly they are the closest thing to a real international bank.

HSBC Hong Kong is great, but their US subsidiary is horrible. Don’t ever open a bank account here, even we are Premier clients, we are not being treated any efficiently.

Be aware. HSBC is trying to get people by offering so called «Premier Service». Don’t be fooled. The mentality is that we are a big bank worldwide and you are lucky to be doing business with them. I am in the process of getting a mortgage. I am well qualified, with good credit, have the down payment. But I have been put through hell due to «delay in loan processor». And I was told in the end of the day I should be happy when I get a mortgage!
**Update 08/​07/​2015
— As a result of the mortgage issue, I want to minimize working with bank and cancled my credit card in ⁰¹⁄₂₀₁₅. It took me about 6 months to get it done and to receive a check for credit balance.

Mediocrity seemd to be an enduring trait. Just tried to charge me a «monthly management fee» on a closed account with zero balance. So the balance is zeroed out in order to close it, then you charge a «monthly management fee» and then find the account is now overdrawn. Overdrawn by how much … guess what, the monthly management fee!

Absolutely the WORST BANK in San Francisco and GLOBALLY. THREE (3) Years ago I setup a business account with MIKE YNION Sr VP who seemed to be interested in securing my business account from Citibank and provided EMPTY assurnances of HSBCs superior service that would support my business based in the Asia Pacific.
I provided an initial deposit in Q1 2011 with the intent of transfering all assets from CitiBank to HSBC once I was established in Asia. Immediately after opening my account and attempting to contact Mike or ANY HSBC staff for support, I quickly realized that NO ONE was there to help.
Issues:
–Mike set-​up the wrong business account (Premier account with NO FEES) which has bilked money from my initial deposit over a 2.5 year period.
–I have tried to close the account and have spoken to customer service COUNTLESS times… their response… you need to personnaly go the the bank and discuss the issue… I LIVE IN ASIA! I CANNOT GO INTO THE BANK IN SAN FRANCISCO! HSBC Customer services then states… Oh then someone from the bank will call you… NEVER HAVE I HAD A CALL RETURNED and I have a USA DIRECT TOLL FREE LINE.
–Wanted my money from the fees returned prior to closing my account but again have not been able to contact anyone and I have a PREMIER ACCOUNT. PATHETIC.(From the Fee-​less Première account. In fact Mike said… if any fees are associated with this account just let him know and they will be returned… I should have gotten that in writing)
So here I am 3 years later still dealing with the incompetence which is HSBC. NEVER! NEVER! open andaccount at this pathetic bank.

I don’t have a problem with the staff at this branch and in fact it was only in coming to this branch that I got anything moving. It is the bank in general that are terrible.
I applied to a US account from HSBC UK before moving to the US and it took over 3 months to even receive my account details. They refused to send the account to the US because I had initially registered with a UK address but then nothing ever arrived to the UK so they agreed in the branch to change to the US. Three days after my debit card and other bank details arriving and me therefore transferring some money into the account, they informed me they would be closing the account. I assume this is because I didn’t pay any money in soon enough but I didn’t even receive details of the account!
My husband and I are both closing our accounts here and moving to a US bank. HSBC are great in the UK but absolutely terrible over here.
I have been waiting a month for a response to my letter of complaint.

Here’s my letter to the banker we worked with over the course of SIX WEEKS to get one account open at HSBC — truly one of the worst «customer service» experiences ever! (we’ve since shut the account)
Hi,
I wanted to let you know that last Friday I visited a newly opened Chase branch on Divisadero @ Oak in the Haight/​Hayes Valley — it took all of one hour to open two business and one personal account (you might recall we struggled for six weeks with HSBC).
The Chase manager also told me that Delaware good standing certificate should have been ordered by HSBC (for $ 10) rather than us (for $ 100).
I wanted to share my experience of how extraordinarily awful HSBC’s process was, and how easy Chase made it do business.
If I was you… unless HSBC is ready to radically change its procedures I’d be looking for another employer.

Hi;
I went to Oakland and SF, both are horrible. It is a real shame HSBC in France or Brazil are great. Used them for years, and international services are good. The Branch in SF I went to is pure garbage.

Only marginally better than the other one on Grant.
The tellers are not well trained.
I can’t believe it takes seven to ten days to get a replacement debit card– Wells Fargo not only gets it to you in 2 days, but will give you a temporary replacement card INSTANTLY. How awesome is that? No awesomeness from any HSBC out here though.

This review is of this particular branch. Overall HSBC does some things well, like being a global bank has its advantages. However this branch is the worst I’ve ever been into. Simple tasks cannot be done properly or timely.
Even setting up an appointment with someone at the branch seems to require a degree in rocket science, annoying when you seem to be dealing with monkeys!
Steer clear of this branch!

No better bank exists for global banking. I have not paid any fees or bank account charges ever. I have used their branded ATMs in: 1.) Salalah, Oman 2.) PV, Mexico 3.) Xiamen, Shanghai, Beijing, China 4.) Tokyo, Japan 5.) Dubai, UAE And I’ve used other bank ATMs with no fees all throughout Eastern Europe (Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, Romania, Hungry, etc) And SE Asia. No fees ever. Now, as for using this as a home bank in SF, that’s a different story. People, why not use Wells Fargo here? Go for the home team. But when abroad, this bank is your friend on a 5-​star level.