The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation officially ended consumer banking operations in Sri Lanka on Thursday, completing the transfer of its retail banking division to Nations Trust Bank, Newswire reported.

HSBC branches, express banking centres and ATMs closed at 3:00 pm. Accounts, debit and credit cards and digital banking remained accessible until 7:00 pm, after which all HSBC consumer cards and online platforms ceased to operate. Approximately 200,000 premier banking customers — including credit-card holders and personal loan clients — will officially transition to NTB from May 1, 2026.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka approved the handover in December 2025, and a Binding Sale and Purchase Agreement signed between the two banks in September 2025 has now been finalised. NTB earlier disclosed it was acquiring the business for Rs. 18 billion, framing the deal as a catalyst for its next growth phase.

“HSBC Sri Lanka Facebook page will be closed today. We sincerely thank you for the trust you have placed in HSBC over the years and for being part of our enriching online community,” the bank said in a statement, also confirming the closure of its official Sri Lanka social media presence.

HSBC has advised customers to plan ahead for a temporary service interruption during the final cutover, with systems unavailable until NTB brings them back online. The exit ends decades of consumer banking presence in Sri Lanka by one of the country’s oldest foreign banks; HSBC’s commercial and corporate banking lines on the island are unaffected by the retail divestment.

NTB confirmed on Monday, May 4, that the transfer had been completed effective May 1, with HSBC Sri Lanka customers integrated and HSBC staff absorbed. The acquisition adds seven branches — including Bambalapitiya, Flower Road, Union Place and Pelawatte as dedicated Private Banking Centres, plus Nugegoda, Jaffna and Kandy — bringing NTB’s network to 96 branches. Selected branches will open on Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10 from 9 a.m. to noon to support the transition, EconomyNext reported.

Sources: Newswire, EconomyNext — May 4 completion.