International Banking FAQs

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International Banking FAQs

Common questions

Review the most common questions international customers ask before opening an account.

You may need an international bank if you’re a frequent traveler or if you move away from your home country for your career, family, or other quality of life reasons. HSBC can help foreign nationals new to the U.S., clients with financial or family commitments in a different country, safe haven seekers, and non-residents.

When you take advantage of HSBC’s global reach you can set up personal bank accounts before you leave your home country, view all of your global accounts online in one place¹, access unique benefits for international clients only, and more.

If you plan to open an account in the U.S. without living here, HSBC can help you if you meet certain non-resident criteria, such as:

Transferring to, or working for, a significant time in the U.S.
HSBC Group clients who have an established Premier², other Personal Banking relationship, Retail Business Banking, or Commercial Relationship with HSBC, anywhere that HSBC has a presence.
You are purchasing a property in the U.S. or own a home in the U.S.

If you plan on opening an account with us, or if you have questions you can contact the International Banking Center to discuss what we can do for you:

International Banking Center
Available Monday-Friday 7am-6pm ET (excluding bank holidays)

In the U.S.
877.850.4722
Outside the U.S.
+1.716.841.0613

If you do not have a Social Security Number, HSBC can help you open an account in the U.S. with a valid government issued ID, such as a passport and current proof of address (additional documents may be required).

All of our HSBC Credit Cards have no foreign transaction fees.

If you are a Premier or Jade client, you can also enjoy no foreign transaction fees on your HSBC Premier World Debit Mastercard® or HSBC Jade World Debit Mastercard® card³. For all other HSBC Debit Mastercard® cards, you can enjoy no transaction fees when making domestic purchases.

Find answers to additional questions about HSBC International Services

You can rely on HSBC wherever you travel.

While traveling internationally, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that the HSBC Group's ATMs and branch locations offer personal financial services in many countries. Emergency financial support is also available worldwide.

If you lose your wallet, you can receive an emergency encashment of up to US $10,000 or local currency equivalent⁴ for being an HSBC Premier² client.

With your HSBC Premier World Mastercard® credit card and HSBC Premier World Debit Mastercard® card, you won't be charged any foreign transaction fees for purchases.³

To inquire about international services, you can simply talk to your HSBC Premier Relationship Manager to discuss banking options abroad.

If you plan on opening a bank account in your destination country/region, you can even begin the account opening process prior to arrival⁵ through the International Banking Center by calling 877.850.4722 from within the U.S. or +1.716.841.0613 from outside of the U.S. Available Monday-Friday 7am-6pm ET (excluding bank holidays)

With Global Transfers¹, HSBC allows Premier and existing Advance clients to seamlessly transfer funds between their eligible international HSBC deposit accounts.

24-hour Personal Internet Banking is available for HSBC U.S. customers worldwide. Simply log on to Personal Internet Banking. Alternatively, you can call the HSBC Customer Service line 800.975.4722 or internationally call 1.716.841.7212 (7AM to 12 Midnight ET, 7 days a week).

HSBC Premier clients can call the HSBC Premier Banking Center at 888.662.4722 or for International 1.716.841.6866 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

To inquire about international services, you can simply talk to your HSBC Premier Relationship Manager to discuss banking options abroad.

If you plan on opening a bank account in your destination country/region, you can even begin the account opening process prior to arrival through the International Banking Center by calling 877.850.4722 from within the U.S. or +1.716.841.0613 from outside of the U.S. Available Monday-Friday 7am-6pm ET (excluding bank holidays)

As an HSBC client, you can receive Mastercard® services outside the U.S.

To apply for credit products abroad, please contact the International Banking Center today toll-free at 877.850.4722 or 1.716.841.0613. A representative will advise you what credit products are available with HSBC in the desired country and will assist you through the application process.

HSBC Bank USA, N.A. can transfer your HSBC credit history⁶ to the requested HSBC entity, which will be used in conjunction with your application information to process your credit application. Please be advised that customers must establish deposit relationships with all HSBC entities in order to be eligible for credit facilities with that entity.

HSBC Premier clients can call the HSBC Premier Banking Center toll-free at 888.662.4722 or for International 1.716.841.6866 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Customers are also welcome to visit the HSBC International site, select the country of choice and select the Contact Us tab to access the direct customer service line.

For clients located outside of the U.S. - Our products and services are not specifically directed at individuals located in the European Union. Our U.S. representatives, as well as our public website, us.hsbc.com, provide products and services governed by U.S. laws and regulations. Our products and services, as well as their specific terms and conditions, are subject to change and may not be available in all territories or to all customers. If your product requires a contract, application, disclosure, or other document to be signed, such document(s) will be deemed executed in the U.S. and only acted upon after you have signed them and they have been received by HSBC in the U.S. If you are not located in the U.S., the laws and regulations of your country of residence could affect the offering, negotiation, discussion, provision, and/or use of HSBC U.S. products and services. If you are not a U.S. resident, please read the specific cross-border product and service disclaimers, which are available on the Cross Border Disclosure page of our public website available at www.us.hsbc.com/crossborder.
Deposit products are offered in the U.S. by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Member FDIC. Lending products are offered in the U.S. by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Investments and certain insurance products, including annuities, are offered by HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (HSI), member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. Whole life, universal life, term life, and other types of insurance are provided by unaffiliated third parties and offered through HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

1 Global View and Global Transfers are only available for HSBC Premier and existing HSBC Advance clients and are not available in all countries. Foreign currency exchange rates and local country limitations may apply. Transfers from HSBC accounts from outside the U.S. may be subject to transfer fees. Access to U.S. Personal Internet Banking through Global View from outside the U.S. may be limited.

2 To qualify for an HSBC Premier relationship, you need to open an HSBC Premier checking account and maintain balances of $75,000 in combined U.S. Dollar personal deposit accounts and investment* balances OR recurring direct deposits totaling at least $5,000 from a third party to an HSBC Premier checking account(s) per calendar month OR an HSBC U.S. residential mortgage loan with an original loan amount of at least $500,000. Business owners may use their qualifying HSBC U.S. Dollar commercial balances to qualify for a personal Premier relationship. A monthly maintenance fee of $50 will be incurred if one of these requirements is not maintained.

3 There are no foreign transaction fees for purchases made in foreign countries using your HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Mastercard® credit card.

4 HSBC Premier clients can receive an emergency encashment of up to U.S. $2,000 or local currency equivalent immediately or up to U.S. $10,000 or local currency equivalent upon authorization from local country. You will just need to show proper identification at any HSBC branch. Encashment is dependent on available balance; local country limitations may apply.

5 International account opening is not available in all countries and is subject to approval based on local regulations and policies of country or application.

6 Portable HSBC Credit History is not available in all countries.

HSBC Mastercard® credit cards are issued by HSBC Bank USA, N.A., subject to credit approval and require a U.S. HSBC Premier relationship. To learn more, speak with an HSBC Premier Relationship Manager.

HSBC Debit Mastercard® cards are issued by HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

United States persons are subject to U.S. taxation on their worldwide income and may be subject to tax and other filing obligations with respect to their U.S. and non-U.S. accounts. U.S. persons should consult a tax adviser for more information.

* Investments and certain insurance products, including annuities, are offered by HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (HSI), member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. HSI is an affiliate of HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

Mortgage and home equity products are offered in the U.S. by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and are only available for property located in the U.S. Subject to credit approval. Borrowers must meet program qualifications. Programs are subject to change. Geographic and other restrictions may apply. Discounts can be canceled or are subject to change at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Deposit products are offered in the United States by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Member FDIC.

Find answers to questions about HSBC International Services

Common questions

What are the advantages of an international bank?

Can I open an HSBC U.S. account if I am not a U.S. Resident or U.S. Citizen?

What documents do I need? Is a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) required?

Are there any foreign transaction fees on the debit and/or credit card?

Find answers to additional questions about HSBC International Services

I plan to travel internationally. How can HSBC help?

I plan to relocate internationally. What do I need to do?

How do I transfer funds between my HSBC accounts in different countries?

How do I access my U.S. account internationally?

How do I open an HSBC deposit account in another country?

How do I open an HSBC credit account (e.g., credit card) in another country?

How do I contact HSBC when I am outside of the United States?

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