Our 160 year timeline
Discover HSBC's origins and its development into one of the world’s largest financial services organisations.
Explore the five eras below to uncover 160 years of great stories.
Explore the eras
Era 1: 1865 - 1899
Foundation and branching out
Era 2: 1900 - 1949
Growth and challenges
Era 3: 1950 - 1979
New opportunities
Era 4: 1980 - 1999
Global reach
Era 5: 2000 - present
A new century
1902 - Chief Manager Thomas Jackson retires
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Thomas Jackson retires, having led HSBC for three periods since 1876. We had faced financial difficulties when he first took the role. We were prospering by his first retirement in 1888. Twice more, in 1890 and 1893, we fell on hard times and Jackson returned to, in his own words, set the bank ‘on an even keel’. This photograph shows the overseas staff at head office in 1902. Thomas is seated in the centre of the front row with his successor, John Smith, to his right.
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Front page of the Journal of the American Asiatic Association issued in June 1900. It records a dinner held in New York to honour Thomas Jackson for his services rendered 'in the development of trade in the Far East'
1902 - Chief Manager Thomas Jackson retires
Overseas staff at head office in 1902. Thomas Jackson is seated in the centre of the front row with his successor, John Smith, to his right
Front page of the Journal of the American Asiatic Association issued in June 1900. It records a dinner held in New York to honour Thomas Jackson for his services rendered 'in the development of trade in the Far East'
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1923 - Lions make their debut
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A pair of bronze lions – Stephen and Stitt – are commissioned to guard our new premises in Shanghai in 1923. They arrive as we are busy expanding our branch network, thanks to the flourishing rubber and tin trade in Asia. The board also invests in several other impresssive new bank buildings to underline our confidence in the region.
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Stephen and Stitt soon became popular figures in the community. Passers-by stop to rub their paws hoping for good fortune and prosperity
1923 - Lions make their debut
Stephen and Stitt soon became popular figures in the community. Passers-by stop to rub their paws hoping for good fortune and prosperity
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1935 - Commitment to Hong Kong
1935 - Commitment to Hong Kong
Part of the main banking hall's mosaic ceiling, symbolising trade between East and West. It was designed by Russian artist Podgoursky.
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1941 - Head office captured
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Our Hong Kong office is taken over by the Japanese army in December 1941, and management is temporarily transferred to London. Employees across the network show tremendous courage, staying at their posts until the last minute to help customers. Many are captured and interned. In this memo, Arthur Morse reflects on the moment he decided it was necessary to take control of the bank as Acting Chief Manager in London.
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Diary and documents kept by employee Maxwell Haymes during his internment at a civilian camp in the Philippines between 1942 and 1945
1941 - Head office captured
Acting Chief Manager Arthur Morse describes the moment he took control of the bank from London in December 1941. He reflects that “no more unpleasant duty has ever fallen to the lot of any Official of our Bank”
Diary and documents kept by employee Maxwell Haymes during his internment at a civilian camp in the Philippines between 1942 and 1945
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1946 - Duress notes honoured
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Head office returns to Hong Kong after the war. The Japanese military had compelled our staff to sign and issue banknotes during occupation. Without legal backing these 'duress notes' are essentially worthless. We accept the loss and announce we will honour the notes. This restores public confidence in the currency and is critical to Hong Kong’s economic reconstruction
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Extract from a film showing victory celebrations taking place in front of our head office in Hong Kong in September 1945. The footage was captured by Bertram Walter Bradbury, Chairman of the Dairy Farm and Cold Storage Company, after his release from internment at Stanley
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Extract from HSBC's 1946 annual report showing which branches have re-opened
1946 - Duress notes honoured
Extract from a film showing victory celebrations taking place in front of our head office in Hong Kong in September 1945. The footage was captured by Bertram Walter Bradbury, Chairman of the Dairy Farm and Cold Storage Company, after his release from internment at Stanley
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