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
1980 - Marine Midland takeover
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Diversification and growth are key aims as we enter the 1980s. We start by taking a 51 per cent stake in Marine Midland in the US. Marine is one of the biggest banks in New York State and we take full ownership in 1987. Marine Midland absorbs HSBC's New York branches and is renamed HSBC Bank USA in 1999. Here we see Michael Sandberg, HSBC Chairman and Edward Duffy, Marine Midland Chairman, signing the definitive agreement.
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John Bond, newly appointed CEO Americas, being interviewed by Barry Whalen, explains HSBC’s focus in New York in 1987.
1980 - Marine Midland takeover
John Bond, newly appointed CEO Americas, being interviewed by Barry Whalen, explains HSBC’s focus in New York in 1987
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1986 - New Hong Kong landmark
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Our new head office is officially opened at 1 Queen's Road Central. The futuristic and ground-breaking design is the vision of architect Norman Foster. It requires 27,000 tonnes of structural steel and up to 4,500 workers on site, 24 hours a day. The building remains an iconic symbol of HSBC’s commitment to Hong Kong.
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Extract from a film showing the official opening of our new head office on the 7 April 1986.
1986 - New Hong Kong landmark
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1992 - Midland Bank acquisition
1992 - Midland Bank acquisition
Introduction by William Purves, HSBC Group Chairman to a film welcoming Midland Bank employees to HSBC following its acquisition.
Midland Bank employees at a branch reception desk. Midland's traditional griffin logo has been replaced by the red and white Hexagon in 1997, and the bank's name will change to HSBC in 1999
The Midland Bank acquisition brings first direct to the HSBC family. Established in 1989, it was the first bank to provide 24-hour telephone-only services to the UK
Staff outside the London Chinatown branch in 1999, marking its transfer to HSBC's UK bank network. The branch had been opened by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in 1977
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1998 - Global rebranding programme
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We announce the adoption of a unified global brand. More than 300 subsidiaries are re-branded with the HSBC name and hexagon logo the following year.
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Final touches are made as we rebrand HSBC's 140 Broadway office in New York City.
1999 - New York Stock Exchange listing
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In the late 1990s and early 2000s we continue to grow rapidly with expansion in mature and emerging markets. Notable acquisitions include Crédit Commercial de France (now HSBC Continental Europe) and Grupo Financiero Bital (now HSBC México). Business also continues to flourish in Asia and the Middle East. HSBC Holdings plc shares begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1999.
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We launch HSBC Premier, the first global financial service for personal customers in March 2000.
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The acquisition of Crédit Commercial de France (now HSBC Continental Europe) in July 2000 enables us to build a strong platform for growth in the eurozone.
1999 - New York Stock Exchange listing
HSBC branding on the front of the New York Stock Exchange on the day that HSBC Holdings plc was listed in the USA
The acquisition of Crédit Commercial de France (now HSBC Continental Europe) in July 2000 enables us to build a strong platform for growth in the eurozone
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