Understanding how and why we use Cookies
We use cookies on our website (hsbc.com) to create the most effective website possible for our users. Among other things, the cookies we use allow us to improve your experience when using our website and to ensure the website performs as you expect it to.
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them on hsbc.com and what benefits they bring.
On local websites which are linked from this site, cookies may be used to allow you to log on to Internet Banking, choose log-in preferences, and apply for products and services online and use financial tools. Please bear in mind that HSBC Group members will have their own privacy and cookie policies that will govern their use of cookies on local sites and any information you submit on a local site. Please read carefully any local site and/or product terms and conditions before using the local site or product.
As you may be aware, recent legislation requires websites to gain visitors' consent to use certain cookies. As a group, HSBC is working to implement appropriate changes to its websites as soon as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Do cookies mean I could get cold calls or junk mail?
We never use the data gathered through cookies on this site to contact you via post, email or phone and we do not use cookies on this site to show you financial product and/or service advertising as HSBC Holdings plc does not offer financial services or products.
Our local sites, to which we provide links from this site, may use cookies to show you subtly tailored content of things they think you might be interested in, for example in relation to products and services provided by members of the HSBC Group and their agents. Local site cookie policies will explain how they use cookies to show you tailored content.
Can cookies pass on my personal information to others?
We will not share any personal information gathered through cookies on this site with third parties.
We do use 'analytics' cookies on this site to help us make our website better for those who visit it regularly and in doing so we do share certain limited information with our third party 'analytics' providers but none of that information can be traced to an individual.
Our local sites may share personal information gathered through cookies on their local sites, for example where you have given them express consent to do so by applying for a product or service and in accordance with the local site cookie policy.
Do cookies compromise my security when I'm logged on to Internet Banking?
Internet Banking is not offered on this site but we do provide you with the ability to link to local sites to access your Internet Banking. As stated in the Terms and Conditions, your use of local sites, including Internet Banking, is governed by the local site terms and conditions and any applicable product terms and conditions, including the cookie policy shown on the local site. In fact, many of the cookies used on local sites are used purely to provide important security features such as protecting your data and your accounts.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are sent to and stored on your computer, smartphone or other device for accessing the internet, whenever you visit a website. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user's device. On this site, the cookies we use include 'analytics' cookies, to analyse how users use this site to help us make our website better for those who visit it regularly, and 'load-balancer' cookies, which are essential to ensure performance of the site.
Local sites may use cookies for a variety of other reasons including to determine preferences, let users navigate between pages efficiently, verify the user and carry out other essential security checks. Local site cookie policies will explain how they use cookies.
Some of the functions that cookies perform can also be achieved using similar technologies. This policy refers to 'cookies' throughout, however is to include these alternate mechanisms.
More information about cookies can be found on allaboutcookies.org
How cookies make our websites safer and easier to use
Cookies are used for a variety of reasons, such as to improve the functionality and performance of this site and safeguard your privacy when browsing our local sites. They can allow you to use functions such as being able to find and compare mortgages and use secure online application forms. If you leave a secure session window open when logged in to Internet Banking, cookies will enhance your security by prompting you to end, and/or automatically ending, your secure session.
We use 'analytics' cookies on this site to help us make the site better for those who visit it regularly. They help us work out what users like and don't like and how we can improve things for you.
When we include links to other websites, please bear in mind they will have their own privacy and cookie policies that will govern the use of any information you submit. We recommend you read their policies as HSBC Holdings plc is not responsible or liable for their privacy practices.
How we work with trusted third parties
Third parties are trusted suppliers to HSBC Holdings plc and include those partners who provide important functionality to our websites.
In relation to local sites, third parties may include local suppliers to HSBC Group members, such as website insurance policy providers.
We will not share any personal information gathered through cookies on this site with third parties but local sites may do so in accordance with their own cookie policies.
How you can manage your cookies
The browsers of most computers, smartphones and other web-enabled devices are typically set up to accept cookies. If you wish to amend your cookie preferences for this site, any local sites or any other websites, you can do this through your browser settings. Your browser's 'help' function will tell you how to do this.
However, please remember that cookies are often used to enable and improve certain functions on our site. If you choose to switch certain cookies off, it is likely to affect how our site works.
For more information about how to disable cookies, visit allaboutcookies.org.