Household bank credit card is one of the worst credit cards I have had the chance to encounter.  They get you with a bonus 0.00% APR than out of nowhere it goes to 15.00% and a month later 29.99%.  This is all happening while you pay each and every bill on time - never later.  No reason for this.  They also have this policy where they hold the money you pay for 14 days.  They can keep their card.  I'll use cash.

maryannd821

Middletown, NY

I tend to ignore online ads when I'm web browsing simply because they are everywhere and I'm usually focused on something else.  However, the ad from **HSBC Direct** (www.hsbcdirect.com).could not be ignored - **5.05% APY Online Savings; Learn More!** So I did.  I went to the website and found an unbeatable interest rate when you open an online account.  You can start the account with as little as one dollar and you don't need a minimum balance.  Unlike other online banks you are not required to open a checking account to take advantage of the savings program.  Additionally, there are no bank fees that will eat into your account balance.  And since keeping more money in your savings is the whole point, I couldn't see a downside to giving it a try. I followed the lengthy--but straightforward--steps to opening the account online.  The application process seems designed to increase security by ensuring that you are who you say you are.  At that time, I set up my checking account (at another bank) to connect to the new HSBC account. With a few clicks of the mouse, I can easily transfer money out of any of my checking accounts to fund my HSBC savings.  The transfers can be set up automatically so that you can move money into your savings on specific dates and with specific amounts.  Or, you can make transfers at any time, for any amount when you want to add to your savings balance.  I've not incurred any fees either from HSBC or my local bank for making the transfers.  When I make a transfer the money is not credited instantly - it takes a couple of banking days to process and HSBC keeps you fully updated on its progress via email.  There is also the option of making deposits via mail, and withdrawing and depositing at any HSBC ATM.  I receive notification when my monthly statement is available and I can access and save the statement to my computer, and/or download the data to Quicken. With easy online management, electronic funds transferring, and of course, one of the best interest rates available, HSBC Direct has earned my business and customer loyalty.

LoveisJoy

Chicagoland, IL

I have used HSBC local branches for years. HSBC Direct, now called Advance is the online side of HSBC. Everything is VERY easy to use and there are really very few fees, and those are for rare things like bank to bank EF transfers and money orders. You get a higher interest rate online, its currently .85% I went to a local bank, they were offering .1% on the same type of account, so it still is 8X more than a local bank. I really like the fact that the HSBC Advance program refunds ATM fees, up to like $200 a year. Saves me time, and I don't worry about paying $23 to get $20. $1 to open the account, no fees, ever. The only bad thing is if you are an HSBC online customer ONLY, you are treated a bit second-class in an HSBC branch. For them to give you cash over the counter (you can still use the ATM of course at no fee) it costs you $1. You cannot write checks against your online account either.

AndrewLoniak

New Windsor, NY

Account Central for Direct Merchants Bank has poor customer service for email. I want to cancel my credit card with them because I can no longer afford to use it. I want to do this online because I am hearing-impaired and also have no phone. I would also be willing to request cancellation of the card via snailmail. I keep incurring high interest charges and while I realize I still need to make the monthly payments on the card, I have been overlimit for a long time and do not ever intend to use the card again. I simply want the convenience of canceling the card by either email or snailmail but they are not answering my emails. I now pay my monthly bill via their online site, Account Central. I got the card several years ago only because I needed a new computer and Apple was offering this card. It turned out it wasn't anywhere near enough to buy the computer, so I ended up buying a computer from a friend instead. Unfortunately I needed some things and being bad with money, soon became overlimit and due to being low-income could not pay more than the minimum. Late payments sometimes happened because of irregular paydays, and that's how I got in much deeper than I would have liked to. Are they ignoring my requests because they want to keep charging late payments, interest, etc. if the card is still technically active? Here is more of their contact info. HSBC Card Services, 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas, CA 93912 AccountCentral@email.hsbcusa.com Payment Address: Standard Mail: Payment Center PO Box 60136 City of Industry, CA 91716-0316 Overnight Mail: Payment Center 941 Corporate Center Drive Pomona, CA 91769

Galomorro

San Francisco, CA

To the contrary of the glowing praise issued by TheBard, I found this bank to be difficult, no strike that, impossible to call in Chicago in order to reach anyone to answer a question about a draft I received from London, drawn against a commercial account.  This was after I called the customer service (800) 975-4722 number, reached a representative who took my information, called a "local" branch somewhere in Illinois, at a location I had never heard of, just to be told that "they were unable to entertain my requirements at that location", that they didn't have the resources to cash a check, and I should go elsewhere!  This was relayed through the rep, not directly by the branch since I was denied the opportunity to speak directly with the branch. I then called directory assistance, was given the 71 S. Wacker, Chicago IL number(which the rep had no knowledge of....) at (312) 357-3900, and reached a recording.  This turned out to be another dead end.  I wasn't permitted (electronically) to get past the recording (the system did not recognize "1" to reach an operator but was given access by pressing "2" to reach the bank directory which I couldn't use due to the fact that I didn't have a banker in place with a telephone number)!  A case of if you don't have a banker with a known extention already in place, go elsewhere.  I was referred by my primary bank in the first place, to either open an account or cash the draft, since they knew that I regularly travel to or thru the UK, on business, and this was a very logical approach to my banking requirements.  However, since HSBC is so direct about not being interested in my business, I feel that there are others out there in the same situation who would be well served by being forewarned not to waste their time (between my bank visits, telephone calls, directory serches, etc I have expended over 2 1/2 hours) going through the effort to establish a working relationship with HSBC.  Simply follow their advice and go elsewhere right from the start and save the time  and trouble. Wayne

WayneC

Oak Park, IL

***Bottom-Line:*** Overall I am very satisfied with **HSBC**, the large bank with small bank interest rates.  Saving for your children's future, the concept seems simple enough, but the actual practice can be daunting with every other avenue your hard earned dollars traverse.  So when I finally did manage to start setting aside a little money every month I wanted the highest rate of return possible.  Once again the Internet offered up the answer in the form of **HSBC USA Bank**, which offers an on-line saving account yielding a wonderful 5.05% annually.        Few Americans have probably heard of the *Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation* (HSBC) Bank, but it is the second-largest banking concern in the world with its headquarters in London. **HSBC**, which bills itself as the *"World Local Bank,"* has assets in excess of 1.7 trillion dollars, and has claims to have more 9,500 offices worldwide.  The *HSBC Direct Saving Account* I opened for my daughter could be started with a dollar and touted no minimum balance, no monthly fee, and 24-hour online access. At the time it was the best rate on the Internet; now HSBC is offering 6.0% APY until June.  I filled out the application on-line and received my account seconds after competition.  I could fund the account via check or electronic transfer; I choose the latter. The account comes with an ATM Card but access to an actual ATM machine is very limited because curiously enough **HSBC** is not a part of any of *STAR Network*.  So the only ATM machine I can use is located 40 miles away in downtown *Chicago*.  And **HSBC's** footprint outside of *New York City*, *Miami*, *Los Angles, and San Francisco* areas is very limited.  My experience with customer service-(800) 975-4722-has been pleasant, despite the (sometimes) high wait times.  The personnel are friendly and knowledgeable.  Overall I am very satisfied with **HSBC**, the large bank with small bank interest rates.    

TheBard

Aurora, IL

i had a online savings with hsbc and when they lost my deposit they were surprised that i put a stop pay on the check that was mailed they later found the check after a few weeks and then they tried to deposit it anyway and closed my account with them trying to say i wrote a bad check what do they expect you to do when they tell you that they lost the check you mailed in as a deposit and at the time they told me they lost it i told them that i would need to put a stop pay on it because who knows where it went if they do not have it they need to be reasonable and not close your account when they cause you to put a stop pay on a deposit because they lost it  

jamieg25

Sioux Falls, SD