HSBC UK unveils wealth centre to attract affluent clients
The $5m hub, located on the top floors of Smithson Tower in the heart of St James's, is intended to serve as a premium destination for the bank's Premier and Private Banking clients.
Moreover, the move is part of HSBC's larger aim to extend its wealth management footprint in the United Kingdom, building on the success of its Asian and other global financial hubs.
The new workspace takes up the seventh and eighth floors of the historic skyscraper and includes customised conference areas for relationship managers to welcome customers by invitation only. It also has an open-plan event room on the eighth level for private lectures, educational sessions, and networking gatherings.
Christopher Dean, Managing Director of Premier, Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC UK, said: 'Our brand-new wealth centre is a significant anchor point in the UK; a prestigious location for us to both welcome our customers and open international corridors.
'We know that as people work through financial milestones, their wealth needs tend to become more sophisticated. While a stand-out digital offering remains essential, and we continue to invest in enhancing those capabilities, our customers really value face-to-face interactions and deeper relationships when it comes to managing their finances. The centre is a dedicated space for us to offer customers this valued face-time.
'Our data also shows that Premier customers value the branch network, which is why we're also investing in creating premium spaces for our Premier customers in more than 50 branches, maximising opportunities for those in-person moments that matter.'
The decision comes as HSBC UK aims to become one of the top five wealth managers in the country. To further this goal, the bank is renovating 50 of its flagship branches to incorporate dedicated Premier lounges. Belgravia, Muswell Hill, Leeds Park Row, and Leicester have already had their sites updated, with more planned before the end of the year.
At the same time, the bank is expanding rapidly, with plans to hire 50% more Premier relationship managers and similar positions around the country.
This surge in investment is coupled with recent service enhancements, including a reduction in the financial advice fee for Premier customers to 1%, the rollout of a new switching incentive, and a lowered threshold for accessing Premier Investment Management.
HSBC has a long history of developing wealth centres around the world. In the last year, it has opened comparable hubs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and mainland China. According to the bank's global data, affluent consumers are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolios globally, with the UK remaining a top three investment destination.
"HSBC UK unveils wealth centre to attract affluent clients" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.
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