News Release

HSBC Names Crooke, Keating to Upstate Management Roles

HSBC Bank USA, N.A. has realigned its upstate New York management team to better respond to the needs of its retail and commercial customers in the region

9 March 2006

March 9, 2006—Buffalo --HSBC Bank USA, N.A. has realigned its upstate New York management team to better respond to the needs of its retail and commercial customers in the region.

Paulette M. Crooke has been named executive vice president for upstate Retail Banking. In this newly created role, she will have responsibility for overseeing all of upstate’s retail banking services including the personal and small business segments. A Syracuse native, Crooke has been with HSBC for over 30 years and has worked in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown and Manhattan. Most recently, she served as executive vice president of operations.

Brian E. Keating, who has served as regional president for Western New York since 1992, has been named Executive Vice President for upstate Commercial Banking. He will be responsible for managing and expanding HSBC’s upstate commercial middle market banking operations. With 35 years of commercial banking experience, Keating will serve as the senior point of contact for HSBC’s largest upstate commercial relationships, providing leadership and expertise.

"The growing demands of the retail business, including the exponential growth of small business banking, as well as the changing demands of commercial banking, have dictated that it no longer made sense to manage the business on a limited geographic basis," said Brendan McDonagh, chief operating officer of HSBC Bank USA. "This new structure will allow executive management to dedicate specialized resources and management focus to both retail and commercial businesses which can only benefit our customers."

Kenneth D. Bell, who has served as HSBC’s Central Region President since June 2004 and Rochester Region president since April, 2000, has announced his plans to retire

May 1. Bell joined HSBC as a result of the acquisition of First Federal Savings and Loan Association in 1997 and has held a variety of management and executive roles in retail and commercial banking during his tenure.

"Community service and board participation have been two of the most rewarding aspects of my tenure with HSBC," said Bell. "I am looking forward to being able to devote more time to these efforts."

Nina Tyzik, who has served as Capital Region President since June 2004, will be taking on another leadership role within the organization, which has not yet been announced. She has been with HSBC since 1991.

HSBC has been serving customers in Upstate New York since 1850. With more than 380 branches in New York State, it has the state’s largest branch network and is its No. 1 SBA lender.

About HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

HSBC Bank USA, N.A. has nearly 400 branches in New York State, a network of branches in Florida and California and a number of branches in other states. Throughout the U.S., the bank serves more than 3 million individual and business customers with a full range of financial products and services. It is the principal subsidiary of HSBC USA Inc, one of the nation's largest bank holding companies by assets and an indirectly held, wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. For more information about HSBC Bank USA and its products and services visit http://us.hsbc.com.

 

Media Contacts

• Kathleen Rizzo Young
• kathleen.rizzo.young@us.hsbc.com
• HSBC - North America
• (716) 841-5003