Discover the bank'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.
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 - Now
A new century
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. Michael Sandberg, HSBC Chairman, and Edward Duffy, Marine Midland Chairman, are pictured here signing the definitive agreement. 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.
Photograph of Michael Sandberg, HSBC Chairman (left) and Edward Duffy, Marine Midland Chairman
Front cover of Marine Midland's 1980 annual report
Excerpt from HSBC’s internal TV programme which focuses on the bank’s US strategy and features John Bond, newly appointed CEO Americas (later Group Chairman)
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 construction workers on site, 24 hours a day. The building remains an iconic symbol of HSBC’s commitment to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong skyline seen from across the harbour, with our new head office in the centre
Extract from a film showing the official opening of our new head office on the 7 April 1986
The steel structure of our new head office takes shape. Reproduced by kind agreement of Ian Lambot
HSBC is now a powerhouse in Asia-Pacific with a strong foothold in the US market. We still need a more significant European element to transform into a leading global operation. This arrives with the acquisition of Midland Bank (now HSBC UK) in one of the biggest banking deals in history. HSBC Holdings plc, headquartered in London, is formed to oversee the expanding group of subsidiaries. In the film clip, Group Chairman William Purves welcomes Midland Bank employees to HSBC.
Introduction by William Purves, HSBC Group Chairman, to a film welcoming Midland Bank employees to HSBC following the acquisition in 1992
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 Midland's traditional griffin logo has been replaced by the red and white Hexagon in 1997 – and the bank's name will change to HSBC in 1999
Part of a customer leaflet issued by first direct. Established by Midland Bank in 1989, first direct pioneered 24-hour telephone-only banking services in the UK
We announce the adoption of a unified global brand. More than 300 subsidiaries around the world are re-branded with the HSBC name and hexagon logo the following year. The hexagon had been introduced in 1983. Its design is inspired by the red and white bank flag that flew above our offices from the late nineteenth century.
Our hexagon logo
Final touches are made as we rebrand our 140 Broadway office in New York City
HSBC advertising takes to the road in Brazil
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.
HSBC branding on the front of the New York Stock Exchange on the day that HSBC Holdings plc is listed in the US
Photograph of a relationship manager and Premier client in Dubai. HSBC Premier launches in March 2000 as a pioneering global financial service for personal customers
The busy banking counter of our Bangkok office
