Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation- HSBC! (HSBC Private Banking)

Member Name: TheWriter

Product:	HSBC Private Banking
Date:	25/06/09 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Its a chinese bank- and I love China lol

Disadvantages: Its a bank

Everyone has a negative view of banks, especially these days due the credit crunch, mis-handling of customer's money, bank charges and so on. But we rarely hear the good stories about banks!

I have more than one account with different banks and HSBC is the best. Their customer service is always excellent--

one exception on one occasion with a woman who treated me as if i was stupid- hilarious when you consider my degree and other qualifications but ok, she works in a bank and thinks she's all that lol--

---other than that this is a brilliant bank (i mean we hate them all but in varying degrees right?)

HSBC offer evertyhing from credit cards to overdraft facilities, home insurance to mortgages and personal loans as well as business accounts. Uniqely, they also offer something different, Amanah Mortgages, which are Shariah compliant, for Muslims.

I dont know any other bank that offers this and it reflects HSBC being quite an advanced bank, catering for all types of customers.

I use HSBC's online banking and I find it really useful. In fact its the best online banking system i have (between all three of my accounts). Barclaycard for example has a silly system which involves a little box that looks like a mini calculator which I have to se everytime i want to transfer money- how irritating!

And Lloyds TSB are SO SLOW for transferring money that it would be quicker to hop in the car, drive into town, queue up for half an hour (Lloyds customer service being appalling) and then bank over the counter than to transfer money online!
HSBC in contrast is so quick that the money is in there instantly. They say it will take up to 2 hours but it never takes that long, its soo speedy.

Also, the online banking is so easy to use. I can set up direct debits or cancel them, check to see if wages have gone in or what my balance is.

Also, I can make quick payments and store the information for easy use next time. This might involve payments to friends or family as well as regular payments for bills or into other accounts.

Overall, HSBC is my favourite bank. They are polite and helpful (usually lol) in branch, the telephone customer serice is also excellent and if they mess up they apologise and put things right (refunding a bank charge for me within days). Highly recommended.

Summary: See review