News Release

HSBC Bank USA Opens New Branch in Boca Raton

10 January 2000

The new office, located in the Regency Court at Woodfield Shopping Center, offers a host of financial products and services designed to meet the diverse financial services needs of customers. In addition to offering traditional personal banking products, the new HSBC office provides brokerage services, along with investment, annuity and insurance products. Personal bankers and financial consultants are also available to provide expert advice about portfolio management, treasury and structured products, as well as trust and estate planning services to high net-worth individuals and families.

To further serve customers' needs, the office features an investment lounge where consumers can check their portfolios and research investments through Internet-connected PCs, a stock ticker, financial periodicals, and reference books and newspapers. The lounge is offered through HSBC's broker-dealer subsidiary, Republic Financial Services Corporation (RFSC).

"This office provides customers with a superior portfolio of products and services that draw upon HSBC's global expertise and the long tradition of private banking services offered by Republic National Bank of New York," said Youssef Nasr, president and CEO of HSBC Bank USA. "Combining this with our dedication to delivering superior customer service we provide consumers with a singular banking experience."

The new office is one of seven branches in Florida HSBC obtained through the acquisition of Republic National Bank of New York on December 31, 1999.