How long does it take to open HSBC Bank account?

Northwind56

Has anyone any experience with opening an HSBC Bank account?  My wife  and I both applied for single Bank accounts, not Advance (to get the £75 on offer) on the 7th of January and have heard nothing  since from HSBC no texts and no letters.  So I rang them at start of February and was told to ring again in a week if I hadn't heard anything. So rang again and was told that he, (bloke on phone) would send a message to the application department, and  a week later, still nothing.  Has anyone else had problems opening this account.

eskbanker

Northwind56 said:

How long does it take to open HSBC Bank account?

Much longer than everyone expects!

Northwind56 said:

Has anyone any experience with opening an HSBC Bank account?
[...]  
Has anyone else had problems opening this account.

Yes, read through all the HSBC threads on this board and most say the same thing....

Shedman

Wife applied for a standard account on 18 Jan.  No email or anything to acknowledge application.  Got a text on 1 Feb to say that they were still processing the application and she would hear further from them shortly...but still not heard anymore so yes they are bl**dy slow (or just incompetent).  Never known an account (or even a rejection) take so long and we've opened dozens of accounts over the years.

Speedbird676

Unless you apply in branch... open within an hour, card received two days later.

PRAISETHESUN

My experience was that it took a few weeks for the account to open, and a bit longer to get it fully up and running - probably a month from application to getting access to internet banking. A lack of communication is also usual - if you want updates then you should give them a call, but otherwise the forms, etc, will turn up by snail mail sooner or later.

water4444

I would recommend going into the branch, firstly things happen a lot quicker, secondly you are likely to be assigned to the actual branch sort code. What difference does this make? none, but it is a nice touch to have the local branch address on your cheques. Thirdly, you will meet face to face with someone at the branch, my local one gave me his HSBC email address and said to email with any issues.

Incidentally I only ended up opening the account up in branch because when I applied online I got sent a letter saying sorry you will need to visit the branch before we can continue with your application. Glad I did in the end. He also gave me an advanced account straight away without the need for documents (wage slips etc) or proof of wages as I have seen in the past. I don't recall how long the card took to arrive however, maybe three or four days. I don't buy any of this HSBC are very selective with customers.

Shedman

Well finally they've open the wife's account...got the Welcome Pack email today so only took 5 1/2 weeks!  Not that she's got the account number yet though ...couldn't possibly get it all at once 😂.  Unbelievably slow!   Still at least a bright spot in an otherwise lousy week so far what with the stock market falls, kitchen fitter nearly slicing off his finger, central heating packing up and now discovering a leak under the bathroom floor .....

DigForVictory

Online, slow.
In person, much faster. The lady at the branch helped my lad install the banking app on his phone, while he was there!
Almost certainly worth making an appointment to go in face to face, they can try & sell you extra things & you can be more certain they have the right information the first time.