Finance
HSBC to sell Bahrain retail banking operations as restructuring progresses
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 18, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Quick Summary
HSBC sells its Bahrain retail banking to BBK as part of a global restructuring, focusing more on Asia and cutting low-return markets.
HSBC Sells Retail Banking Operations in Bahrain Amid Restructuring
(Reuters) - HSBC on Tuesday agreed to sell its retail banking operations in Bahrain to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) amid a global restructuring at the bank.
The deal will see a transfer of retail loans, deposits and accounts of about 76,000 customers to BBK, which is majority owned by the governments of both the countries.
Financial details of the transaction, which excludes its corporate and private banking businesses Bahrain, were not disclosed.
HSBC has been scaling back its worldwide operations, exiting dozens of low-returning consumer banking activities, combining some of its commercial and investment banking businesses, and overhauling its leadership structure.
The lender has laid off about 40 investment bankers in Hong Kong, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported earlier on Tuesday.
The bank said last month it was preparing to wind down its M&A and some equities businesses in Europe and the Americas, accelerating a shift towards Asia in its biggest retrenchment from investment banking in decades.
The Asia-focused bank is due to report its full-year results on Wednesday. HSBC might unveil annual cost savings worth $1.5 billion with its results, the Financial Times reported last week.
(Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru and Hadeel Al Sayegh in Dubai; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Jan Harvey)
Key Takeaways
- •HSBC sells Bahrain retail operations to BBK.
- •Part of HSBC's global restructuring strategy.
- •Deal includes transfer of 76,000 customer accounts.
- •HSBC focuses on Asia, exits low-return markets.
- •Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions about HSBC to sell Bahrain retail banking operations as restructuring progresses
1What did HSBC agree to sell?
HSBC agreed to sell its retail banking operations in Bahrain to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK).
2How many customers will be affected by the sale?
The sale will affect approximately 76,000 customers, transferring their retail loans, deposits, and accounts to BBK.
3What is HSBC's broader strategy regarding its operations?
HSBC has been scaling back its worldwide operations, exiting low-returning consumer banking activities and focusing on its commercial and investment banking businesses.
4What financial details were disclosed about the transaction?
Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but it excludes HSBC's corporate and private banking businesses in Bahrain.
5What cost savings might HSBC announce?
HSBC might unveil annual cost savings worth $1.5 billion with its upcoming full-year results.
