HSBC opens two NRI banking centres in London

London, Jun 12 (UNI) In order to expand its non-resident Indian (NRI) services in the UK, HSBC has opened two new NRI banking centres, in Leeds and Manchester, increasing the total number of UK centres to five.

''The number of new NRI customers joining HSBC in the UK has grown at double-digit rates over the last two years. The UK market now represents 20 per cent of our global NRI customer base and prospects for further growth look good,'' HSBC Head of Personal Financial Services (India) Nicholas Winsor said.

The NRI service mean customers gain access to free internet banking, which includes the free remittance facility as well as online statements. The online service has grown by more than 70 per cent this year alone, he added.

HSBC first began offering services to UK NRIs in 1992 in Leicester and 10 years later opened its second centre in South Kensington to serve more than 4,30,000 NRIs living in London.

In 2003, the bank opened a third centre in Birmingham.

The new Manchester branch can provide services to over 72,000 NRIs in the area while the Leeds office Row will be available to a market of over 10,000 NRIs.

In addition to the UK offices, HSBC serves NRIs through 13 international NRI centres located in New York, Hong Kong, Dubai, Oman, Riyadh, Bahrain, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

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