Our strategy
Our strategy supports our ambition to be the most trusted bank globally, putting customers at the heart of everything we do.
For over 160 years, we have provided peace of mind because we help meet our customers’ financial needs and support them to achieve their goals with the best products and services, while navigating the complexities of the global market.
We inspire our customers’ trust and confidence, connecting businesses with our deep international network and heritage, and supporting them with the stability and strength of our balance sheet.
We enable a high-performing culture with a diverse workforce that is delivering focused sustainable growth, best customer experiences and exceptional value for our shareholders.
Our priorities
Drive customer-centricity
We’re intensely customer-centric – delivering excellence in outcomes, driving loyalty, and serving our customers for the long term through the depth of what we offer as a franchise.
Deliver focused sustainable growth
As a leading international bank, we’re driving long-term, sustainable growth, focused on areas of our competitive strengths.
Be simple and agile
We make informed decisions in an agile manner – adapting to change by staying relevant, driving simplification and being future ready through technology and digitisation.
HSBC 160th anniversary: Building relationships that last
Duration: 00:03:55
Speakers:
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Taha Ebrahim
CEO, Abdoolally Ebrahim Housewares
LinkedIn (opens in new window) -
Irene Lee
Executive Chairman, Hysan Development Company Limited -
Sammy Lee
Executive Chairman, Lee Kum Kee Group
LinkedIn (opens in new window) -
Tin Pui Yip
Heritage Manager, Archives, HSBC
LinkedIn (opens in new window)
[Text on screen]
HSBC 160th Anniversary
[Taha]
Abdoolally Ebrahim is the fifth client of HSBC, and what I understand is we are today the oldest customer of HSBC.
[Irene]
The relationship between Hysan and HSBC runs deep.
It has endured throughout the years, throughout all the ups and downs.
[Sammy]
Lee Kum Kee’s partnership with HSBC began in 1955 and has lasted 70 years.
[Text on screen]
Taha Ebrahim
CEO, Abdoolally Ebrahim Housewares
[Taha]
Abdoolally Ebrahim started as a commodity and textile trader way back in 1842.
[Tin]
I'm going to show you our very first customer ledger.
[Text on screen]
Tin Pui Yip
Heritage Manager, Archives, HSBC
[Taha]
My great-great-grandfather came into the bank on the 13th of March 1865, deposited HK$14,800, and the relationship with HSBC has been there ever since the entire 160 years.
[Sammy]
Lee Kum Kee was founded in 1888.
My great-grandfather stumbled on a recipe for oyster sauce.
[Text on screen]
Sammy Lee
Executive Chairman, Lee Kum Kee Group
[Sammy]
His name was Lee Kum Sheung, so he established Lee Kum Kee.
During our first one hundred years, we focused on promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide through our sauces.
Now, we keep on innovating and diversifying our businesses.
[Text on screen]
Irene Lee
Executive Chairman, Hysan Development Company Limited
[Irene]
The Hysan business started in 1923 when my grandfather, Lee Hysan, bought a large piece of land with the intention of transforming that from a barren coastline with mountains to a vibrant commercial hub.
[Sammy]
Initially, we had two products, oyster sauce and shrimp paste.
Now, we have 300 different products which are sold in more than 100 countries and regions.
How old is this product?
[Staff member]
It’s from the 1970s.
[Sammy]
With HSBC’s global connectivity, whenever our business needs to expand into overseas markets, we need HSBC’s help.
Like HSBC, Lee Kum Kee is a century-old enterprise, and both organisations are customer-centric, continuously providing high quality levels of service.
[Irene]
HSBC is a bank that understands its customers and has stayed close to us.
The bank and Hysan were always together.
They helped us finance most of our buildings, if not all.
Today, we continue to honour our grandfather's vision, and you see that we have a vast, bustling, busy, must-visit destination in the middle of Hong Kong.
And that is today's Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay.
[Taha]
It was not until 1961 when we pivoted ourselves and became a pioneer of the housewares industry here in Hong Kong.
The bank has been instrumental in supporting us in many dimensions, which stands testament to this amazing old relationship that we have together.
[Sammy]
We need this reliable, long-term partnership.
I believe HSBC continuously provides valuable professional advice and support for our business and family wealth management.
Lee Kum Kee strives to be the most trusted enterprise for a healthier and happier world for the next one thousand years and beyond.
[Irene]
We continue to be committed to Hong Kong.
This is our legacy, and in many ways, this is where HSBC, our bank, is our partner because together we feel we can resonate with the heritage of Hong Kong.
[Taha]
Visiting the archives and witnessing the historic ledger has been a profound experience for me.
I've been thunderstruck and totally in awe.
It's a humbling reminder for me of the long-standing relationship and friendship that we have with HSBC.
[Text on screen]
HSBC 160th Anniversary
HSBC | Opening up a world of opportunity
© HSBC Group 2026
Our organisational structure
We have simplified our organisational structure to accelerate delivery against our strategic priorities. The HSBC Group operates through four businesses:
Hong Kong
UK
Corporate and Institutional Banking
International Wealth and Premier Banking
HONG KONG & UK
Our Hong Kong and UK businesses serve our two home markets.
In Hong Kong specifically, where HSBC was founded, we are capturing growth through two iconic brands, HSBC and Hang Seng Bank, which enhances the strength of our franchise and market-leading position.
We also have a fast-growing insurance business in Hong Kong, leveraging the inflows that are propelling Hong Kong to become the leading international wealth hub.
We're focused on growing our customer base through the acquisition of new-to-bank international customers, and driving wealth sales and digital usage.
In the UK, we combine domestic scale with global connectivity, with a leading retail, commercial and innovation-focused bank, which continues to build market share. We remain focused on delivering a best-in-class customer experience.
Customers in Hong Kong and the UK with global banking needs are able to access the power of our international network through our CIB and IWPB businesses, which are anchored in these two leading international financial centres.
CIB
CIB is an international wholesale bank with significant competitive advantages, such as the strength of our balance sheet and our international network.
It has the products and expertise required to serve the global banking needs of international corporate clients, particularly in transaction banking, where we continue to invest.
These strengths enable us to better capture global and intra-regional flows as supply chains reconfigure, new trade routes emerge, economies grow, and customers’ expectations of financial services evolve.
The future economy will require financing and investment in sectors such as advanced technologies, specifically digitisation, computing and AI, as well as clean energy and healthcare. CIB is well positioned to facilitate this by helping entrepreneurs to secure the capital they need to build the businesses of the future and by supporting our customers as they look to decarbonise.
IWPB
IWPB is ideally placed to serve the increasing number of affluent and high-net-worth customers – especially those with international banking needs who seek new investment opportunities to help them to protect and grow their wealth.
Our recognised brand, financial strength and complementary global footprint serve to reinforce HSBC‘s position in the world’s fastest-growing wealth markets. We also have an asset management business with distinct specialism, offering customers access to investment opportunities across asset classes.
Our unique positioning enables us to drive customer acquisition and increase take-up of wealth products, as well as growing our share of corridor flows.
Our strategy in action
We’ve opened our first health and wellness centre in Singapore
In partnership with Raffles Medical, we’ve opened a health and wellness centre, exclusively for HSBC customers, within our wealth centre in The Star Vista mall.
Content last updated: 05 December 2025