Midland Bank was founded in Birmingham during the UK Industrial Revolution in 1836. It became one of the largest banks in the world in the 1920s and 1930s.

HSBC was founded in 1850, and its character has been shaped by the experiences of the past century and a half. The bank believes in capital strength, strict cost control, and building long-term relationships with customers.

The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China was founded in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1853.

In 1864, Thomas Sutherland, a young Scotsman working in Hong Kong, founded HSBC after being inspired by an article on Scottish banking. Recognizing the growing trade in Hong Kong, China, and Japan, Sutherland saw the need for improved local banking facilities.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited was founded in Hong Kong on March 3, 1865. It was the first locally owned bank to operate based on Scottish banking principles.

In early 1866, six out of Hong Kong's 11 foreign banks collapsed due to bank runs, as customers panicked and rushed to withdraw their funds. HSBC, however, managed to survive this crisis and gained a reputation for its resilience.

HSBC was established over 150 years ago, with a rich and distinctive legacy. Visitors can explore unique archives, exhibitions, and take virtual tours to delve into the history of HSBC.

In 1874, HSBC issued China's first public loan, marking a significant milestone in the bank's involvement in government finance and infrastructure projects.

HSBC was established in 1875, and has a rich heritage spanning over 150 years. The bank offers unique archive collections, exhibitions, and virtual archives tours for visitors to explore.

In 1881, HSBC opened a branch in Lyon, a significant silk import location in Europe. Leveraging its Asian roots, HSBC could provide financing for trade routes on both ends. This move marked HSBC's expansion into Eurozone business.

In 1887, HSBC had staff members working in Fuzhou, China, showcasing its early presence and operations in the region.

Celebration of the merger of City Bank with London and Midland Bank, now known as HSBC UK, depicted on a menu cover from 1898. The merger transformed Midland Bank into a leading London institution, expanding its reach and influence in the banking sector.

In 1899, a letter addressed to 'T.J., China' arrived at Thomas Jackson's desk in England, showcasing his international reputation. Thomas Jackson, who served as HSBC's Chief Manager three times between 1876 and 1902, led the bank through challenging times with wise investments and innovative foreign exchange practices, transforming HSBC into Asia's leading bank. His ethical business practices earned him the trust and loyalty of his staff and the local community.

Guy Hillier played a crucial role in establishing HSBC's reputation in China at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1907, HSBC issued a Chinese railway bond certificate, reflecting its involvement in financing infrastructure projects in China.

The Mercantile Bank of India branch in Delhi started operating in 1912, serving as a place for customers to make small deposits. This branch later became significant for HSBC's expansion in India.

In 1923, HSBC opened a new office in Shanghai, expanding its presence in Asia. This strategic move allowed the bank to further establish its operations in the region.

Maxwell Haymes started working at HSBC in 1928 after receiving training at the London office.

In December 1941, following advances by the Japanese army, HSBC was compelled to close down a significant portion of its operations in Asia. Despite the challenging circumstances, the bank's employees displayed remarkable bravery by assisting customers until the last moment.

Sir Vandeleur Grayburn, the Chief Manager of HSBC in the 1930s, was captured in Hong Kong in 1941 by occupying troops and held at the Sun Wah Hotel. Despite his efforts to help staff interned in Stanley camp by smuggling in money for food and medical supplies, he was discovered. Grayburn tragically passed away in prison in August 1943 due to meningitis and septicaemia.

After the war, HSBC relocated its head office to Hong Kong and actively participated in the reconstruction of the local economy. The bank supported the transformation of Hong Kong into a manufacturing hub by providing loans for the establishment of cotton mills and textile factories.

The British Bank of the Middle East, now known as HSBC Bank Middle East, opened branches in Sharjah in 1953, expanding its presence in the UAE.

In 1955, HSBC established The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation of California due to the increasing trade links between the US and Asia after World War II.

The British Bank of the Middle East played a crucial role in financing the construction of the first Al Maktoum Bridge in 1962, connecting Deira to Dubai.

During the 1965 Chinese banking crisis, Hang Seng Bank was impacted and HSBC stepped in to rescue it by acquiring a majority stake in the business.

In 1967, HSBC received its first computer, the IBM 360, at its head office in Hong Kong. This marked the beginning of computerizing customers' accounts and revolutionized banking by allowing customers to access their accounts at any HSBC branch in Hong Kong.

In 1972, HSBC established a merchant banking arm, which broadened its range of financial services. This strategic decision enabled HSBC to offer a more comprehensive suite of services to its clients.

In 1979, HSBC established an office in Guangzhou, marking the beginning of its presence in China to support the country's economic development and foreign investment initiatives.

In 1980, HSBC made a significant move by purchasing a majority stake in the American bank, Marine Midland. Marine Midland, founded in 1850 in Buffalo, played a crucial role in financing US trade and grew to be a prominent bank in New York State. This acquisition marked HSBC's expansion outside Asia and set the stage for its transformation into a global banking institution.

In 1983, HSBC introduced its iconic hexagonal logo, inspired by the traditional flag pattern of the bank. The logo featured two arrow-shaped triangles at each end, transforming the century-old flag design into a modern and abstract symbol representing the connections between East and West.

In 1984, HSBC became the first international bank since 1949 to be granted a comprehensive banking license in mainland China. This marked a significant milestone in HSBC's development in China, showcasing its commitment to the country's economic and social progress.

In 1986, HSBC opened its new headquarters in Hong Kong, showcasing a ground-breaking design by British architect Lord Norman Foster. The construction of the building required a massive amount of resources and manpower, with 27,000 tonnes of structural steel and one million square feet of cladding.

HSBC acquired a 51 per cent stake in Marine Midland in the late 1970s and eventually obtained full ownership in 1987, as part of its expansion in the US market.

HSBC was registered as a regulated bank with the Banking Commissioner of the Government of Hong Kong, marking an important milestone in its history.

HSBC Holdings plc was established in London as the parent company of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. This transformation was in preparation for acquiring Midland Bank in the UK.

The acquisition of Midland Bank by HSBC in 1992 helped HSBC achieve its long-term goal of establishing a significant presence in Europe, complementing its extensive business network in Asia-Pacific and North America.

As part of the takeover conditions for the acquisition of Midland Bank, HSBC Holdings plc relocated its world headquarters from Hong Kong to London in 1993.

HSBC expanded its presence in South America with the purchase of Banco Bamerindus of Brazil for $1 billion, strengthening its position in the region.

In November 1998, HSBC announced the adoption of the HSBC brand and the hexagon symbol as the unified brand in all markets where HSBC operates, aiming to enhance recognition by customers, shareholders, and staff worldwide.

HSBC increased its presence in the United States by acquiring Republic National Bank of New York for $10.3 billion, further solidifying its position in the American market.

In April 2000, HSBC acquired Crédit Commercial de France, a large French bank, for £6.6 billion.

In July 2001, HSBC purchased Demirbank, an insolvent Turkish bank.

In July 2002, HSBC USA, Inc. acquired a portion of Arthur Andersen's tax practice through a new subsidiary, Wealth and Tax Advisory Services USA Inc. (WTAS).

In August 2002, HSBC acquired Grupo Financiero Bital, SA de CV, Mexico's third largest retail bank for $1.1 billion.

In November 2002, HSBC expanded in the United States by acquiring Household Finance Corporation (HFC) for £9 billion (US$15.5 billion).

In April 2003, the new headquarters of HSBC Holdings at 8 Canada Square, London officially opened.

In July 2003, HSBC agreed to acquire 82.19% of the Korean fund administrator, Asset Management Technology (AM TeK), for $12.47 million.

In September 2003, HSBC bought Polski Kredyt Bank SA of Poland for $7.8 million.

In June 2004, HSBC expanded into China by acquiring 19.9% of the Bank of Communications of Shanghai.

In December 2004, HSBC acquired Marks & Spencer Retail Financial Services Holdings Ltd for £763 million.

In August 2005, HSBC acquired Metris Inc, a US credit card issuer for $1.6 billion.

In October 2005, HSBC acquired 70.1% of Dar es Salaam Investment Bank of Iraq.

In April 2006, HSBC bought the 90 branches in Argentina of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro for $155 million.

Since the end of 2005, HSBC has been recognized as the largest banking group globally by Tier 1 capital, as stated by The Economist in June 2006.

In July 2006, HSBC announced the acquisition of Westpac's sub-custody operations in Australia and New Zealand for $112.5 million.

In December 2007, HSBC acquired the Chinese Bank in Taiwan.

In February 2008, HSBC was honored as the world's most valuable banking brand by The Banker magazine.

In May 2008, HSBC acquired IL&FS Investment, an Indian retail broking firm.

In March 2009, HSBC announced the shutdown of the branch network of its HSBC Finance arm in the United States, leading to nearly 6,000 job losses.

On September 23, 2010, Michael Geoghegan announced his resignation as the chief executive of HSBC. Stuart Gulliver succeeded him as the new chief executive.

On April 25, 2011, HSBC made the decision to close its retail banking operations in Russia and scale back its private banking presence to a representative office.

On November 9, 2012, Indian activist Arvind Kejriwal claimed to have details of 700 Indian bank accounts concealing black money worth ₹60 billion with HSBC in Geneva.

On May 11, 2013, HSBC's new chief executive Stuart Gulliver revealed plans to refocus the bank's business strategy, including a significant reduction in operations, especially in the retail sector, to save $3.5 billion by 2013.

In June 2014, HSBC Life (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of HSBC, agreed to sell its £4.2 billion UK pensions business to Swiss Re.

In November 2014, Belgian Prosecutors accused HSBC of tax fraud and money laundering for aiding clients in moving money to offshore tax havens. HSBC later settled the case by agreeing to pay $336 million.

In February 2015, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists revealed HSBC's involvement in tax evasion schemes through the Swiss Leaks. The bank faced allegations of profiting from business with tax evaders and pressuring media to suppress negative stories.

In June 2015, HSBC was fined by Geneva authorities after an investigation into money laundering within its Swiss subsidiary.

In August 2015, HSBC announced the sale of its Brazilian unit to Banco Bradesco for $5.2 billion due to years of disappointing performance.

HSBC began winding down its operations in Brunei in April 2016, as part of the bank's network optimization.

In July 2016, HSBC executives were charged with a $3.5 billion currency scheme defrauding clients and manipulating the foreign exchange market. One executive was convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy, while HSBC agreed to pay a $101.5 million fine.

On 20 March 2017, The Guardian reported that HSBC was among the banks implicated in the Global Laundromat scandal, involving the laundering of KGB-related funds out of Russia.

On 1 October 2017, Mark Tucker succeeded Douglas Flint as the group chairman of HSBC, marking the first time a non-executive and outside chairman was appointed by the group.

In October 2017, HSBC announced that John Flint would succeed Stuart Gulliver as Group Chief Executive on 21 February 2018.

On 5 August 2019, Noel Quinn was appointed as the interim Group Chief Executive of HSBC after John Flint's departure.

In January 2020, HSBC agreed to a $2.4 million settlement for a lawsuit regarding spam phone calls received by customers.

In February 2020, HSBC revealed plans to cut 35,000 jobs worldwide due to a 33% decrease in corporate profits in 2019.

In June 2020, HSBC publicly backed Beijing's controversial new national security law for Hong Kong, drawing criticism from pro-democracy activists and human rights organizations.

In October 2020, HSBC pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050 and provide significant funding to support the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.

In June 2022, HSBC revealed plans to sell its business in Russia, awaiting approval from the Russian government with a projected loss of $300 million.

In July 2022, HSBC became the first foreign lender to establish a Chinese Communist Party committee in its Chinese investment banking subsidiary, HSBC Qianhai Securities.

In November 2022, HSBC announced its withdrawal from the Canadian market, with Royal Bank of Canada acquiring HSBC Canada for $13.5 billion.

In February 2023, HSBC announced a significant rise in profits for the last quarter of 2022, although pre-tax profit decreased due to the cost of selling its French retail banking operations.

In May 2023, HSBC rejected a proposal to spin off its Asia business into a Hong Kong-listed entity, backed by its largest stakeholder Chinese insurer Ping An.

In June 2023, HSBC declared plans to relocate its world headquarters from Canary Wharf, London to a building near St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London.

In December 2023, HSBC Asset Management announced the acquisition of Singapore-based Silkroad Property Partners, expanding its real estate fund management capabilities in the region.

HSBC introduces retail tokenized gold products in Hong Kong, offering customers a new way to invest in gold through tokenization.

HSBC has introduced gold-tokenized products to enhance the RWA sector.