Yes and still do it you have them.
The Santander Zero account was opened to all customers not just those with mortgages.
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Even if I was a happy Santander Zero customer, I don’t think even that would keep me from upgrading to a modern (Starling) whole banking experience.
HSBC Expat works well for small transactions, so I did not look for another backup when Citi exited UK/Jersey retail banking.
Standard Chartered also still have a retail service in Jersey. Standard Bank, as mentioned by another poster, is probably a decently accessible option.
Of course a lot more options open up if we are considering private banking, but those accounts should never be used for everyday transactions.
For things that UK banks don’t cater well for. e.g. I have some savings in USD I keep at HSBC Expat that earn ok interest. I haven’t found a good equivalent within the UK.
There’s other reasons that aren’t applicable to most people in the UK: more favourable tax conditions, or for whatever reason you want to keep money outside the country you’re resident in.
Wise is good, but it still falls in the “not a bank” category.
I wouldn’t say it’s a strange opinion. It’s reality. In the UK you can have as many accounts as you want, and they won’t cost you a thing. You can use your card and make payments, all for free.
My account in Panama has no maintenance fee but a $3 debit card monthly fee, $2 insurance monthly fee, $11 annual online banking fee.
When I had an account in Ireland it was €20 annual maintenance fee, 30c ATM fee, 20c per transaction for non-contactless payments with my card…
I’m surprised how many people would use Wise and Revolut for their main account, knowing they are not real banks. Wish I was that confident.
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It could go either way (re: currency fluctuation). This is income I was paid in USD, and it’s not certain I’ll exchange it to GBP, so keeping it this way works for me.
Some of us would get paid in other currencies. I prefer to keep my USD, rather than exchanging them for GBP unless I need to for something urgent.
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Honestly I’d recommend this for most people. Wise is all around easier to setup/operate/better value. I still use it for exchanging (better rates than HSBC). But I won’t/don’t keep my savings in them (because of the “not a bank” thing).
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The primary exposure/reference currency is not always the currency of your home country.
Fun fact - My last UK mortgage in GBP is considered a foreign currency mortgage and comes with a risk disclaimer.
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So what’s the best way to send money into HSBC One in Hong Kong?
If you bank with HSBC: log in to HSBC HK Online Banking and find the relevant section to link your HK and UK accounts. Complete the on screen steps and wait 24-48 hours. Then you can transfer between all the HK accounts (HKD and all the currencies) and your UK accounts instantly and at a great rate, fee free too.
If you don’t bank with HSBC: Wise is very good. Set your FPS receiving email/mobile on the HSBC HK app and choose the account you want the money to go in to. Then pay it from Wise using those details. Note if you do this you will have to always convert from HKD to the other currencies (if you’re not saving in HKD). Doing it the first method (if you bank with HSBC) is a lot easier and better imo
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The best way Global View and Global Transfers after you link your HSBC UK and HK accounts, without exchanging currencies.
Realistically, not much.
One big plus of having an EU based account is that you don’t get hit with non EU fees in ATMs. Czech Republic charges just under £7 for withdrawals from a UK card but nothing if you use an EU issued one. Those fees seem to be getting more common.
Wise is a UK card, so gets hit with that £7 charge.
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Another great Brexit Benefit /s
Since this discussion branched off the card design thread, presumably most people here are in it for the rather lovely-looking card.
It’s very nice to have if you travel, though, since MasterCard often does promos for Asia-issued cards.
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What I’m waiting for is the day when one of our illustrious band is detained by customs. “Yes, I have 37 bank accounts. No, honestly, I’m not an international fraudster. Well, no, I don’t have a good reason to have so many. I’m just collecting them”. 
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Gatwick Airport questioned my wallet.
What was the contents of your wallet?