HSBC

HSBC has today (1 June) made its temporary Covid-19 opening hours permanent across its UK branch network. The move means a cut to hours at 122 branches based on their pre-Covid levels, with 26 of these outlets seeing opening hours fall by more than 30%. However, 148 branches will get a 30-minute boost to opening times. 

HSBC is to close 69 branches across the UK between July and October this year. The move follows the closure of a further 82 HSBC branches last year.

Debit and credit card users must ensure their bank or lender has their up-to-date contact details as new rules take force today that see card providers forced to check if it's really you making transactions. If your card firm can't reach you, your payment could be declined. Here's what you need to know.

HSBC customers who use the bank's app should carefully check the value of any transfers they make after it changed the way people enter payments, with some warning they nearly transferred thousands of pounds by mistake.

Former and existing HSBC, First Direct, John Lewis Finance and M&S Bank customers have been receiving payments from HSBC Banking Group – which the lenders come under – out of the blue over the past 10 months, and we still haven't really been told why. We've been pushing HSBC for answers and have put questions to the bank from ourselves and a former whistleblower to find out what's going on.

Debit and credit card users need to ensure their bank or lender has their up-to-date contact details as providers begin to roll out new measures to double-check it's really you making the transaction. If your card firm can't reach you, your payment could be declined - here's what you need to know.

HSBC, First Direct, M&S Bank and John Lewis Finance are making a second set of payments to some customers who have been in arrears in recent years. Having previously paid some customers compensation for substandard service, they're now issuing refunds – in one case paying out over £7,000 – for interest and charges that shouldn't have been due. So if you get a cheque out of the blue, DON'T bin it thinking it's a scam or spam.

M&S Bank customers whose current accounts are being closed this summer can now apply for the top cash switching incentives from its sister banks HSBC and First Direct no matter how long they’ve had their account.

HSBC and First Direct have cut the interest paid on their regular savings accounts from 2.75% to 1% for new customers, just days after MoneySavingExpert.com warned a rate reduction was on the cards. 

HSBC has raised fresh fears that it could be about to slash the interest rate on its regular savings account after accidentally sending emails to customers showing a reduced rate of just 1%, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal.