HSBC harnesses differences of opinion, thinking styles, background and culture to drive greater creativity, sustainable business growth, and commercial success.
Razan Hasan
Chief Risk Officer of Wealth and Personal Banking, HSBC Bank Canada
The importance of supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in the community is increasing exponentially in our progressively more diverse and connected world. The significance is even greater for a global organization like HSBC, that serves over 40 million customers in 64 countries and territories around the world through its global businesses. Consistent with this global marketplace, HSBC understands the importance of fostering a culture that embraces and promotes diversity, equity, and where customers and employees alike, feel valued, and respected
Diversity and inclusion as core values
“Diversity and inclusion are part of our DNA,” says Raza Hasan, Chief Risk Officer of Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC Bank Canada. “Being a global organization, it’s important for us to have a workforce that reflects that global nature.”
HSBC’s commitment is reflected in its diverse workforce. Globally the bank has around 238,000 employees who speak 144 different languages. In Canada, 43% of employees identify themselves as a visible minority. and half of HSBC Bank Canada’s Board of Directors and senior leadership roles are held by women. “It really starts from the top,” says Hasan, who was recently named as one of EMpowers Top 100 Ethnic Executives for 2020.
The bank’s diversity initiatives include a Diversity & Inclusion Council, Employee Resource Groups, unconscious bias training, mentorship programs, and more. This diversity encourages different perspectives and fresh ideas, benefiting HSBC’s customers, business, and employees by promoting innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth.
There’s still work to be done, however. HSBC recently made a global commitment to improve opportunities for Black and ethnic minority employees and to boost the diversity of its senior leadership.
A passion for community building
HSBC also supports diversity and inclusion within the community at large. “In 2019, we donated $4 million to various community programs that were accessed by 126,000 people and that helped 455 businesses to grow,” says Hasan.
The bank also supports employees with a paid day for volunteering with their preferred charities, as well as donations to charities that they actively volunteer with. “The HSBC Volunteer Fund contributed over $100,000 to various charitable causes in 2019,” says Hasan. “People can use the program to get involved in the community and in things they’re passionate about.”
The programs that HSBC supports reflect the diversity of its workforce and the communities in which it operates, including a program aimed at helping newcomers to develop their financial literacy and numeracy skills.
Supporting newcomers in Canada
Supporting newcomers is part of HSBC’s commitment to diversity. Its Newcomers Program provides banking solutions that meet newcomers’ needs, allowing them to build a credit history in Canada and settle more quickly. “We’re able to offer credit cards with no credit history to our new-to-Canada clients, overdraft protection and also a mortgage, which is a very comprehensive program compared to a number of our competitors,” says Hasan. The program also includes up to $1,000 in cash bonuses and no monthly banking fees for 12 months and if someone is moving to Canada, they can set up a new chequing account in advance before they arrive using our International Account Opening Program.
HSBC’s diverse, global customers want to see themselves reflected in HSBC’s offerings, and the bank has delivered with a diverse workforce and innovative, inclusive products. In an increasingly complex world, its approach to diversity and openness to different perspectives aims to connect customers to the kinds of opportunities, products, and services that work for them.
