HSBC in mainland China

Our services

HSBC is one of the largest investors among international financial institutions in mainland China, investing in sectors including banking, insurance, fund management, securities and financial technology.

HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, HSBC Group’s flagship entity in mainland China, has branches and sub-branches across more than 50 cities.

This is the largest service network covering the widest geographical reach by any foreign bank in the market.

With knowledge of mainland China and international operations, HSBC China is able to provide customers with a wide range of financial and banking services, including Wealth and Personal Banking (including Global Private Banking), Commercial Banking, and Global Banking & Markets.

Our history in mainland China

• In 1865, HSBC opened in Hong Kong and Shanghai to finance China’s trade with the rest of the world.
• In 1923, our grand new Shanghai office opened on the Bund, cementing HSBC’s position as Asia’s foremost bank.
• In 1949, after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, HSBC maintained a constant presence in mainland China with its Shanghai branch.
• In 1980, HSBC became the first foreign bank to open a representative office in Beijing following the Open Door policy.
• In 1996, HSBC’s Global Service Centre opened in Guangzhou.
• In 2000, HSBC’s General Representative Office for Mainland China opened in Shanghai.
• In 2000, the HSBC Technology China team was set up in Guangzhou.
• In 2004, HSBC acquired 19.9 per cent of Bank of Communications Limited, a transaction representing the largest single equity investment in a mainland China bank by a foreign bank.
• In 2006, HSBC Jintrust Fund Management Company Limited opened in Shanghai.
• On 2 April 2007, HSBC China started operations as a locally incorporated foreign bank.
• In 2007, HSBC Rural Bank began operations in Hubei, marking the first entry by an international bank into China’s rural market.
• In 2009, HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited commenced operations in Shanghai.
• In 2010, HSBC opened its new China head office building in the heart of Shanghai’s Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone.
• In 2017, HSBC Qianhai Securities Limited, the first joint venture securities company majority-owned by a foreign (HK-funded) bank, opened for business.
• In 2021, HSBC FinTech Company opened in Shanghai, the first fintech subsidiary set up by a foreign financial institution in mainland China.
• In 2024, HSBC China completed the acquisition of Citi’s retail wealth management portfolio in mainland China.
• In 2025, HSBC unveiled its new office tower in Qianhai, Shenzhen, which is also the Bank’s first wholly owned office complex in Southern China.