Does HSBC personalize the online "You might be interested in" banners?

dougz_2

I was intrigued to see that their online banking recently started suggesting I "might be interested in" a Premier account. Do they think I'm loaded or something!?

Sometimes it suggests a personal loan, which leads me to wonder if perhaps that might mean they like my credit rating so I would be likely to be approved if I actually wanted one sometime?

These banners appear under your accounts after you log in, so I was wondering if they are indeed specific to the customer, or does everyone just get the same random suggestions and I am reading way to much into it?

ShelfStacker_3

They are, AFAIK, specific to the customer. The system recommends certain things for you based on transactional/behavioural history, and displays these in various ways, including internet banking. Whenever a member of staff accesses your account, some of these recommendations are displayed in a sidebar as prompts. Some of these are mundane (use Internet Banking, go green) others recommend specific courses of action or products (for instance we have a new one for people who frequently exceed their overdraft limit, recommending they have an IR to prevent it happening in future) and others have preferential rates that can be offered to the customer.

In general, it will only offer products that are suitable or advisable for the customer concerned. Whether you get accepted for the loan however depends on other factors, like your general credit score and affordability.

milfordmadness

dougz wrote: »

I was intrigued to see that their online banking recently started suggesting I "might be interested in" a Premier account. Do they think I'm loaded or something!?

Sometimes it suggests a personal loan, which leads me to wonder if perhaps that might mean they like my credit rating so I would be likely to be approved if I actually wanted one sometime?

These banners appear under your accounts after you log in, so I was wondering if they are indeed specific to the customer, or does everyone just get the same random suggestions and I am reading way to much into it?

LOL, mine simply has; mobile top-ups, InvestDirect & Needs help with direct debits & s/o's - no lending based stuff....

Oh wll, hi-ho

dougz_2

So it sounds like if I followed the banner to the loans page to apply for a loan it would then still ask the usual questions related to affordability such as income and outgoings etc, so I would not be ahead really.

What about overdraft, is that the same, or is some amount pre-approved by the system at all? I don't have or need one, but am just curious what they would allow me, but when I clicked on the link the first step it just asks me how much I want. If you say an amount, what is the next thing it asks, or does it then simply say yes or no to the request?

ShelfStacker_3

dougz wrote: »

So it sounds like if I followed the banner to the loans page to apply for a loan it would then still ask the usual questions related to affordability such as income and outgoings etc, so I would not be ahead really.

All it means is that your behavioural score is at a level where they think you could probably get accepted for a loan. No more, no less. You could get recommended for a product and then declined - it isn't unknown.

What about overdraft, is that the same, or is some amount pre-approved by the system at all? I don't have or need one, but am just curious what they would allow me, but when I clicked on the link the first step it just asks me how much I want. If you say an amount, what is the next thing it asks, or does it then simply say yes or no to the request?

I'm not sure. AFAIK we've stopped doing pre-approved or indicative limits for most customers. When I've called up telephone banking for an overdraft, I've been advised after the application has been put through of the amount the bank is willing to give me, and if I want that instead of what I applied for. Whether that happens on Internet Banking I'm not sure.

milfordmadness

dougz wrote: »

So it sounds like if I followed the banner to the loans page to apply for a loan it would then still ask the usual questions related to affordability such as income and outgoings etc, so I would not be ahead really.

What about overdraft, is that the same, or is some amount pre-approved by the system at all? I don't have or need one, but am just curious what they would allow me, but when I clicked on the link the first step it just asks me how much I want. If you say an amount, what is the next thing it asks, or does it then simply say yes or no to the request?

Hi, see my previous post ( #4) for details of the HSBC overdraft system/screens. (full thread: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1486271)

I thought Halifax gave you the indicative amount - not HSBC.....

TRaven

ShelfStacker wrote: »

(for instance we have a new one for people who frequently exceed their overdraft limit, recommending they have an IR to prevent it happening in future).

What is an IR? I assume the R = Review?

milfordmadness

TRaven wrote: »

What is an IR? I assume the R = Review?

Immediate Review? Instant Review?

The usual acronym for Interest Rates is IR but this may be a HSBC internal acronym.....

ShelfStacker_3

Individual Review. As in, someone sitting down with you and talking about products that may benefit you, and any plans/financial worries you have and ways the bank could help you rectify them. What Inactive semi-accurately terms a "sales pitch". I'm not sure what would be done/recommended for exceeding the OD though.

milfordmadness

ShelfStacker wrote: »

Individual Review.

LOL we guessed everything but that one!!! Cheers SS for clearing that one up for us....

milfordmadness

allthingsconsidered2009 wrote: »

In my experience the answer to this question is not the case. My online banking has never suggested any borrowing products to me and yet I have a high Behaviour Score and recently got approved for CC, loan, overdraft etc etc

is this hsbc you're referring to? How did that work then lol? do you know SS and done a direct commission deal haha

Is you online banking like mine with the green top up mobile link and that? Mine never shows any borrowing but then i'm a new customer of 3mth so my beh/score will be low if anything at all..... SS, would I have a behaviour score after such a small period of time?