HSBC

HSBC in brief

• Rank: #6 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #1 of 9 in Banking & Financial Services.
• WCRC Power Score: 72.56 out of 100.
• Founded: 1865, by Thomas Sutherland.
• Owner: HSBC Holdings plc, London, England.
• Leadership: Georges Elhedery, Group Chief Executive.
• Latest revenue: $71.0bn revenue (FY2025, year to Dec 2025, +5.0%), group revenue of HSBC Holdings plc, as per company filings.

What makes HSBC powerful

HSBC is one of the few banks that can move money, trade finance and wealth across most of the world's large economies under one brand. In 2025 it generated US$71.0 billion of revenue excluding notable items, up 5%, and profit before tax on the same basis rose 7% to US$36.6 billion.

Under group chief executive Georges Elhedery the bank has been simplified, an approach that plays to its strongest assets, a dominant Hong Kong franchise and a network that connects trading partners across Asia, the Middle East, the UK, Europe and the Americas. With US$1.8 trillion of customer deposits and US$2.1 trillion of wealth balances, it has the funding and client base to keep growing fee income. Return on tangible equity excluding notable items reached 17.2% in 2025.

HSBC held US$1.8 trillion in customer deposits and US$2.1 trillion in wealth balances at the end of 2025.

Why HSBC ranks #6

HSBC ranks 6th with a WCRC Power Score of 72.56, between AstraZeneca above and GSK below. Its strongest pillars are Positioning and recall (82) and Digital and financial (80), reflecting a global brand with US$71 billion of revenue excluding notable items and strong digital banking. Product and innovation (72) is solid, but Trust (64) and Sustainability and governance (66) hold it back, as its Hong Kong and China exposure and past conduct issues weigh on perceptions.

The Achilles' heel

HSBC's reliance on Hong Kong and its links to mainland China is both its engine and its biggest risk. Any escalation in US-China tension, sanctions pressure or further weakness in Hong Kong commercial property would hit earnings and could force awkward political choices. Reported profit before tax fell 7% in 2025 because of notable items, a reminder that restructuring has costs.

The 2026 story

HSBC reported its 2025 annual results on 25 February 2026. Revenue excluding notable items rose 5% to US$71.0 billion and profit before tax on that basis rose 7% to a record US$36.6 billion, while reported profit before tax fell 7% to US$29.9 billion because of notable items. Return on tangible equity excluding notable items was 17.2%. Group chief executive Georges Elhedery said the bank was "building a simple, agile, growing HSBC to generate high returns."

Pillar profile

Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.

Versus its nearest rivals

Questions people ask

Also featured in

• Most powerful Banking & Financial Services brands
• Top 10 Best British Brands
• UK's 50 Most Valuable Brands
• Biggest British Brands by Revenue
• Iconic British Heritage Brands
• Most Famous British Brands
• Most Innovative British Brands
• Most powerful brands in England

Key facts

Sources

• Revenue figure published by HSBC Holdings plc
• Company website, official announcements and press releases
• Published interviews and statements by the leadership
• WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data