No I understand what the issue was but they literally wouldn’t help me with the problem because of it.
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I’m surprised that HSBC haven’t moved away from needing to go into a branch to upgrade to their Advance account.
I have been using the HSBC app but I much prefer the FD app. Despite all the improvements, I’m still not a fan of the HSBC app and will probably use another app soon.
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They’re slowly moving parts into the app like applying for savings accounts etc, so maybe that will come in due course.
I do wonder how long they’ll continue to offer this account, doesn’t really offer much over basic these days apart from the card colour.
In terms of CS, I’d say the only bank I’ve ever had better CS was FD itself. The in app chat is actually 24/7 and responsive which cannot be said for Lloyds and the CS even non premier I always recalled it being pretty decent.
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I moved from Australia to the UK about two years ago. My parents advised me to open an HSBC AU account (instead of Up, which has an app that puts Monzo to shame!) and use HSBC in the UK. They said that HSBC has helped them with things like buying their home when they returned to Australia after many years abroad.
I followed their advice and it had benefits at first: HSBC UK approved me for a credit card and overdraft based on my good Aussie credit score. HSBC UK also helped with some HSBC AU customer service things for me.
However, I’m trying to make more ethical choices and HSBC isn’t exactly squeaky clean. Would switching to Nationwide be detrimental? I’d be closing my oldest UK account and losing my “financial history” in the UK. Is there any truth to my parents’ advice about using a big global bank like HSBC to keep a running history?
Some quick searching online says…no!
You can keep HSBC open and not use it, use Nationwide and benefit from the age of your HSBC account.
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I add to that that I think it’s worth keeping your hsbc account as the international capabilities are superior in terms of multicurrency accounts, being able to open accounts overseas, instant overseas transfers, etc.
There’s no need to use them as your main bank though if you’d rather go elsewhere.
There’s a long-running rumour HSBC will sell their Australia business so the usefulness might change when/if they do.
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I’m gearing up to move the other direction and HSBC AU was amongst the first steps for that as they’re the only AU bank you can fully open before you turn up in Australia.
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As others have said, you can just keep your HSBC UK bank account open but largely unused.
You may want to keep using the credit card though as you may find getting another one less straightforward.
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Good luck with your move! Once your there I do really recommend you look at Up if you’re also after a neo bank to go alongside HSBC.
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I was thinking uBank to go alongside NAB (where I think my SMSF will live) but have looked at Up too.
Definitely because HSBC are the only bank who are setup to read your AU credit record (and also the only one in Australia who can read the UK credit record, though Amex will read across too if you’ve Amex in the other country).
I recommend against ubank. They used to be good, but have been on an enshittification trend the last few years and made lots of detrimental and disruptive changes to their products and features. My suggestion would be to look at Macquarie Bank; Up are good too though. IMO Macquarie is a bit more of a “grownup” less-nonsense offering, Up has a young-generation focus with some genuinely innovative features but also gimmicks that puts some people off.
That said, you can probably do everything you’d need through HSBC Australia. The 2% cash back on their debit card is even a good deal. Though their savings rates are pretty low in the market, and internet banking/mobile app is a bit of a dinosaur.
I had Maquerie on my list too.
Banking-wise HSBC seem fine, but their SMSF is just too limited, which is why I was looking towards NAB and maybe Commonwealth for that.
Coming up today in weird things on Apple Music - turns out HSBC produced these absolute bangers once upon a time.
Sounds of Mainland China is a little strange.
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The AI is on a right bēnder tonight automatically unquoting people and flagging 
What was it? 
It was a screenshot of the HSBC “Sounds of Home” album in Apple Music.
If that was AI then it needs turning off.
@AlanDoe what’s going on with flagging here recently please?
EDIT: The message says it was flagged by the community for moderator attention but this has to be the third or fourth post. I’m not writing anything in any way offensive so someone (Bot or Human) is flagging nearly everything I write.
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It’ll be the bot again.
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It’s going to give the @monzobot a bad name
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