Understanding how and why we use cookies
We use cookies on our site (www.hsbcprivatebank.com and any regional sites including www.hsbcprivatebank.com/uk) to create the most secure and effective website possible for our customers. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them and what benefits they bring.

As you may be aware, recent legislation requires websites to gain visitors’ consent to use certain cookies. We’re working to implement appropriate changes to our website as soon as possible.

What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are sent to and stored on your computer, smartphone or other device for accessing the internet, whenever you visit a website. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s device. At HSBC, we use cookies for a variety of reasons, such as to determine preferences, let users navigate between pages efficiently, verify the user and carry out other essential security checks. Some of the functions that cookies perform can also be achieved using similar technologies. This policy refers to ‘cookies’ throughout, however is to include these alternate mechanisms.
 
More information about cookies can be found on allaboutcookies.org.

How cookies make our website safer and easier to use
Cookies are used for a variety of reasons, such as to safeguard your privacy when browsing the site. If you leave a secure session window open when logged in to Internet Banking, cookies will enhance your security by prompting you to end, and/or automatically ending, your secure session.

Cookies can also allow us to tailor the content of our website to suit your interests. For example, instead of displaying promotional messages about products you already have, they let us show you other services you may be interested in.

Finally, we use ‘analytics’ cookies to help us make our website better for those who visit it regularly. They help us work out what users like and don’t like and how we can improve things for you.

When we include links to other websites, please bear in mind they will have their own privacy and cookie policies that will govern the use of any information you submit. We recommend you read their policies as HSBC is not responsible or liable for their privacy practices.

How we work with trusted third parties
Third parties are trusted suppliers to HSBC, and include our web analytics providers who provide generic usage statistics to allow us to improve this site.

When you visit our website, you will only be served HSBC-branded advertisements. We only use cookies from third parties in order to provide our customers with HSBC products and services. The only time cookies would enable us to share your information is when you have given us express consent to pass it on to a trusted third party.

How you can manage your cookies
The browsers of most computers, smartphones and other web-enabled devices are typically set up to accept cookies. If you wish to amend your cookie preferences for this website or any other websites, you can do this through your browser settings. Your browser’s ‘help’ function will tell you how to do this.

However, please remember that cookies are often used to enable and improve certain functions on our website. If you choose to switch certain cookies off, it is likely to affect how our website works. For example, if your browser is set to disable ‘session’ cookies, although you will still be able to view our public website, you won’t be able to log on to Internet Banking.

More information about how to disable cookies, visit allaboutcookies.org

More about your privacy
To find out more about how HSBC protects your privacy when using our website, see our Website Terms and Privacy Statement.

Do cookies mean I could get cold calls or junk mail?
We never use the data gathered through cookies to contact you via post, email or phone. We may use cookies to show you subtly tailored content on our site of things we think you might be interested in, but only in relation to HSBC products and services. You will never see advertising on our website from anyone other than HSBC group companies and our agents.

Can cookies pass on my personal information to others?
The only time we may share personal information gathered through cookies, is when you have given us express consent to do so by applying for a product or service.

Do cookies compromise my security when I’m logged on to Internet Banking?
The cookies we use are completely safe and secure. In fact, many of them are used purely to provide important security features such as protecting your data and your accounts.

Can cookies allow others access to my computer’s hard drive?
The cookies we use cannot look into your computer, smartphone or web-enabled device and obtain information about you or your family or read any material kept on your hard drive.

If I use a public computer, will someone be able to get my details from the cookies?
Our cookies cannot be used by anyone else who has access to the computer to find out anything about you, other than the fact that someone using the computer may have visited a certain website. Our cookies do not in any way compromise the security of Internet Banking.

More information about cookies can be found on allaboutcookies.org.