HSBC Branch Brings the World to Diamond Bar

Visiting the HSBC branch in Diamond Bar is a global experience.

Between the seven employees that work there, English, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Japanese, and Hindi are all spoken. On the walls are photos of customers and locations around the world, and often, there are special events held for employees that explore various cultures.

“We are very focused on the internationally connected,” Sherry Su, vice president and branch manager, said. “Diamond Bar is a very diverse community, and residents can find benefits from our bank.”

“We value the differences and diversity and culture,” Tina Hwang, first vice president and area market manager, Southern California district, said.

The Diamond Bar branch, at Diamond Hills Plaza, has been open since September 18, 2006. 

“When we first opened, it was very slow in this plaza,” Hwang said. “Now there are more stores and you sometimes can’t find a parking space.”

The branch provides general banking, investment services, mortgages, wealth management, trusts, estate planning, and more.

“We offer a full range of accounts for all income levels,” Neil Brazil, vice president of public affairs, said. “We just really feel we make a difference in the international dimension.”

HSBC has its headquarters in London, with 7,500 offices in 87 countries. There are just 41 branches on the West Coast, with the closest to Diamond Bar in Walnut and Rowland Heights. The company was attracted to Diamond Bar because it has such a broad range of potential clients. 

“There are a lot of internationally connected businesses and individuals in Diamond Bar,” Hwang said. 

Many local clients use the bank’s Premier services, which includes help when relocating abroad, online banking that allows users to manage all accounts, free ATM access around the world, and a preferred rate of exchange.

“It’s a really unique, global view,” Brazil said. “It’s a relatively niche market for us."

Premiere membership can be passed among relatives, and many international students attending area schools like Cal Poly take advantage of that.

“Parents are in their home country, and they come here and open their accounts with us,” Su said. “We provide the same service for all family members.”

Although there is a focus on the international, the Diamond Bar branch gives back locally.

“HSBC is very focused on the local community, and we support schools, culture, and education,” Hwang said. “We’ve donated to the Diamond Bar Community Foundation and Castle Rock Elementary.”

Diamond Bar has several banks scattered throughout the city, but HSBC feels that it stands out.

“They key is we’re not looking to compete head on with the Chases and Wells Fargo’s of the world,” Brazil said. “We don’t want to be on every street corner.”