HSBC Reviews 148

HSBC can not be trusted. The bank got heavily fined for example for money laundering and violating the Bank Secrecy Act. They have been winding down their operations outside of Asia. This means trying to get rid of their non-Asian customers. They do that by, for example, insisting on customers to provide non-existent documents in numerous customer reviews. When you fail to do that, they will freeze your account making it very difficult to get your money back.

Avoid HSBC if you are not living in Asia and want to keep your money safe. Their non-Asian customers are no longer welcome. HSBC can not be trusted.

Abysmal. One of the worst experiences I have ever had with any organisation and that is really saying something in modern Britain,

I was considering moving my offshore account from another large UK bank due to their appalling service and then I discovered HSBC. I cannot call the Jersey number as for some reason my 'phone won't allow me to. So I called several numbers provided by HSBC on their own website. *Every single number*, *even* those listed for use by *Non-HSBC customers* asks you for your HSBC account details. Even when you call a number suggested by HSBC for those people who DO NOT HAVE an HSBC account.

There is no means of communication with HSBC if you are not an existing customer, uless of course you write a letter or visit a branch, and I very much doubt that either of those methods would elicit any sort of meaningful response.

In short, I will bow to the inevitable and remain with the wretched bank I am currently using and forego the pleasure of parking money with HSBC.

I’m thinking about becoming an ex pat hsbc customer. However, I was very concerned when I read all the negative reviews relating to customer service, inefficiency, antiquated systems, delays, costly telephone calls and frozen accounts. And unlike other companies I’m not sure if HSBC is using the feedback on here to improve its service. I phoned today to try to find a little more information and it didn’t instil much confidence and like you all say, costly phone calls. I haven’t read any feedback regarding the online chat service. Is this not a good service for helping us resolve problems without the frustration of knowing it’s increasing the phone bill? Today I asked them about this but I am not able to use this until I am a customer so I can’t seem to get any advice except for what’s available to read online. I also asked what sort of accounts do they want and why are they freezing them. I didn’t really get a clear answer.

The security protocols the bank uses must have been decided why Noah was at work. Amongst the security questions: "when did you last log on". Who on earth remembers that. Try and talk to someone and you are subjected to numerous security questions, just to talk. They really don't want customers to contact them, and even worse they don't listen and don't care. Anyway, I was going to invest quite a large sum with them, but will not now.

Do not go near this bank I am trying to receive a statement from a closed account and all i got is call centre staff who refuse to transfer me to compliance. We have sent all the id verification and tracked and received and they are denying they have got it even though
I have signed notice of receipt. 6 phone calls and no further forward shocking. Staff also refuse to give complaints process! Shocking we have funds left in Limbo and cannot get passed the call centre. They were awful when we were customers so should expect nothing less really!

After 5 years with HSBC Expat, I genuinely believed I was dealing with a professional and reliable institution—until the day they abruptly asked me to close my account due to “new country restrictions,” without ever providing a clear or written explanation.
What followed was unacceptable. My accounts, activities, and investments were fully blocked, leaving me unable to access my own funds. Transferring my money to another bank took over 4 weeks, during which I was forced to spend hundreds of dollars on international phone calls just to get basic updates.
To make matters worse, my assigned relationship manager completely stopped responding to my calls and emails. After the account closure, HSBC Expat refused to communicate with me via email altogether, insisting that all discussions happen only by phone.
Even more concerning, I was asked to provide my destination bank details verbally over the phone, including a long IBAN, instead of through a secure written or documented channel. This approach effectively left no written trace of critical instructions, which is deeply troubling for a financial institution handling client funds.
What is even more alarming is that I personally know dozens of other HSBC Expat clients who faced the exact same situation at the same time—accounts frozen, forced closures, no explanations, and weeks of uncertainty. This clearly points to a systemic issue, not an isolated case.
Throughout this entire process, I recorded all phone calls and retained all account statements and correspondence, purely to protect myself and maintain an accurate record of events. Sadly, this was necessary due to the lack of transparency and accountability shown.
This experience made me feel powerless—as if my money was locked away with no accountability. The service was impolite, unprofessional, and handled without any empathy.
I can confidently say this has been my worst banking experience ever, and I will never engage with any HSBC-branded institution again. Thankfully, I’m out now.
If you currently hold an account with HSBC Expat, I strongly urge you to consider closing it and moving your funds to a more transparent and trustworthy institution—before you are forced into the same situation.

I joined HSBC Expat several years ago and relied on it for my job savings. After years of using their service without issue, I unexpectedly received an email informing me that I needed to close my account.
While closing an account may be within their rights, the way they handled the process was utterly pathetic and felt incredibly unprofessional. I felt as though I were dealing with a crime organization rather than a reputable bank.
The Major Issues:
Immediate Lockout: They locked me out of my banking functions without warning and didn't even allow me to initiate transfers to my own external bank accounts.
Incompetent Support: Their customer service team was completely unprepared to handle the account closure request. It took me several frustrating weeks and numerous calls to sort out what should have been a straightforward process.
Recommendation: Do not trust this bank with your money. The lack of professionalism and the stress they caused by restricting access to my own savings was staggering. I am so glad I am finally done with them

Me and many customer at HSBC Expat as well as HSBC UK suffering from review team, they holding our bank account for long time, you can withdraw any single cent, you under pressure by answering hundreds questions for each single transaction.
For anyone who is suffering from either HSBC Expat or UK, please join this group HSBC UK Complaints and service in Facebook
We are escalating this topic and highlight in social media, official media and newspaper,
Please join and raise your voice

Utter incompetence

The worst banking experience I have ever had. They operate at 1970s level, there must be serious lack of investment in their back end as its takes them a minimum of 7 days and about 6 phone calls where I was out in hold for 15 minutes at a time only to be told I had to call back in 48 hours and this was to fix a minor problem. I feel sorry for their customer service staff as they have to deal with frustrated customers like me. I am now going to find an alternative bank.

I think HSBC Expat is possibly the worst bank I have ever used. I was lied to by my Client Rep constantly over the 3 months I had my account. The support staff do what they can be seem to be unable to do anything useful except "set up a callback".

I would avoid HSBC Expat, probably better off keeping your money under your bed

To echo other comments, we are a small family who had our bond terminated and account frozen with no notice. It is the savings account for our very young child future education. The bank bounced us between help desks and nobody took ownership of our problem. The HSBC expat bank has real contempt for small families and has made this experience as painful as possible for us. Please please please if you have small children and need reasonable access to the money avoid this bank. They will make things as difficult as possible for you, especially if you have children, their is a culture of contempt that I cannot and donot wish to be part of or understand.

As an extra point, note that HSBC Expat does not monitor or feedback to comments here. Generally the companies with better customer support do, are very quick to admit a mistake has been made and help fix the problem. I am and have sung the praises of companies that are proactive to fix problems and credit staff members where possible... e.g. trip.com and scan.co.uk, very proactive customer support. HSBC Expat getting things right is not that difficult, just care and listen to people. Many people understand processes need to be followed and are willing to work with you to find a way foward. Just dont show contempt for us, treat us like people. I have much better things to do with my time like caring for my family, but I hope this comment saves other families from the stress we have had to endure.

My experience with HSBC Expat echoes what others have already said about poor service and mismanagement.
I was contacted by someone who said he was my Relationship Manager and promised to help with an incoming transfer and keep me informed. Despite this, the transfer was rejected due to “KYC” issues, and I was never told until I chased both HSBC and the sending bank. I was later informed that this person was not even assigned to my account, leaving me with no proper point of contact.
Following this, my account was placed under full restriction, blocking all incoming and outgoing payments. Emails went unanswered, I was given no timeline and now HSBC has decided to close my account, without resolving the issues or addressing the financial losses I have incurred, including fees, lost interest and wasted time.
This demonstrates a complete lack of communication, accountability and customer care. Stay away from these guys if you want to protect your sanity. They seriously ruin the HSBC name and I am considering closing all my other HSBC accounts as well.

I wish I had read the negative comments here before I opened an account with HSBC Expat!
I wish I could give it a minus 5. I was told to update my CRS before I could place a fixed time deposit. I was given a pdf file to update my CRS. IT wise, I was unable to do so with the pdf given so I sought help from its apps. The staff member was nice and I did update at last. Oh yes, I was told the update would take 5-7 working days or I could make long distance calls the same day to place a fixed deposit. Not every client can make long distance calls within the time specified. That's me. So I waited. 7 working days. Sorry, I am still unable to place a fixed time deposit. I turned to the support on the apps. Seems no one could help. I was told to wait another 24 hours for an email.
I am still waiting. I thought I had been using a bank 300 years ago. How long do you think I should wait?

The bank has been blocking the money since April 2025 – that's eight months now. Within the first week of receiving the information from the bank, they received a document regarding the origin of the money I deposited – still no information on how they will resolve the matter. They also started asking about transfers to my other private accounts – their questions included: "What was the purpose of the transfer to Daniel Platkowski?" – "Don't they see that this is a transfer to another bank, to my private account, and my name is there?"

Do they really work there?

HSBC – who do you employ to assess risk? How do you interpret the regulations? Wake up!

WHY ARE YOU HOLDING CUSTOMERS' MONEY HOSTAGES?

ISN'T IT SUFFICIENT TO SUBMIT A QUESTION TO THE CUSTOMERS WITHOUT BLOCKING THE MONEY?

This bank – you should be afraid – lack of trust – blocking an account without any serious basis!
Look at other reviews – I had 9,000 euros blocked – I had no money to live on – I had to borrow money at interest.

And I see here that people had smaller amounts blocked – is this bank playing a joke on its customers?

Is this bank perhaps bankrupt and having to save itself by taking over customers' money?

I unfortunately faced issues trying to get an MT103 with HSBC, even as a premier customer it was a nightmare dealing with the offshore help center, once it escalated to the local team in the UK it was great, very supportive and collaborative.
This bank could easily be the BEST choice for expats if they could finally get their act together at the offshore call center

Worst banking industry I have ever dealt with, if i could rate them lower than a 1 I would!, I cannot get my bank statements for year 2025 as i need them soon for USA tax returns! NO one ever answers the phone on the HSBC expat (premium) account! and if you do get someone they are highly unqualified to answer questions! do yourself a favor and never join this bank!

Closed my account for no reason, and they won't let me withdraw my money. It's been weeks and they haven't replied my emails. do NOT open an account with them.

This bank is beyond incompetent. My first bad experience was unbelievable yiu couldnt make it up. I lost my phone panicked and called. I was taken throgh no security whatsoever and they confirmed my money was safe. At that realisation I asked why they hadn’t confirmed my identity and asked to report the issue to management. The guy pretended to put me through then listened and pretended he would discipline the person! Himself. When I caught him out and reported the issue to the CEO it was investigated and I was told they wouldn’t sack him but retrain him! They were horrified and tgst call being uppermost in my mind I got a call at the weekend querying a mere 2,300 transfer which they’ve now reversed because I ended the call because I didn’t like the operators manner. Something about the call was off. It seems their call centre staff are inadequate and now I have all this aggro because all I did was transfer money to my own verified accounts and having passed security and confirmed I wasn’t made to do it by a third party I now clearly have to waste my time calling to get this fixed. Once I’ve spent all my inheritance I’ll be free of this wretched bank. Whst a dreadful thing to say because dealing with them is painful

A bank even failed to generate a tiny single monthly statement, it's a joke. I failed to get an individual bank account monthly statement for an inter-bank transaction. The statement supposed to be generated by request. I therefore requested it via customer service and they have promised it take 1-2 working days to process. After that, I have got nothing, just nothing more than 2 working days during the week. I contact them again and they saw my request and know it was not processed. I now have zero trust on them. Absolutely zero. They didn't explain why it is not processed or causing a delay. Due to the delay of the transaction, it is costing me financial losses.