Press Release

HSBC - North America Appoints Beverley Sibblies

3 November 2004

Will Lead All Consumer Finance Accounting Activities

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill., Nov. 3, 2004 - HSBC - North America announced today the appointment of Beverley Sibblies as senior vice president and chief accounting officer of Household International, Inc., effective November 1.

In that role, Ms. Sibblies will lead all accounting activities for the company, including financial planning, management reporting, accounting controls, accounting policy research, external reporting and financial information systems. She will report to Simon C. Penney, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, HSBC North America Holdings Inc.

Sibblies brings more than 17 years of audit and financial services experience to the position. Prior to joining the company, she served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for EMC Mortgage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bear Stearns. Prior to that, she served as a partner in the financial services practice of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. She began her career at Deloitte, formerly, Deloitte Haskins & Sells, with whom she spent fourteen years.

"Beverley brings a wealth of knowledge and many strengths to this role, including her financial industry expertise and leadership ability," said Penney. She received a bachelor’s degree from Queens College, Flushing, New York and is also a certified public accountant.

About HSBC - North America
HSBC - North America includes all of HSBC’s U.S. and Canadian businesses, including the former Household businesses, and has assets approaching $300 billion. The company’s businesses serve more than 60 million customers in five key areas: personal financial services, consumer finance, commercial banking, private banking, and corporate investment banking and markets. Financial products and services are offered under the HSBC, HFC and Beneficial brands. For more information, visit: www.hsbcnorthamerica.com.

• James Pieper
• james.e.pieper@us.hsbc.com
• HSBC
• 847-564-7665