Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC)

HSBC Holdings plc, a financial titan managing $3.2 trillion in total assets as of the third quarter of 2025, doesn't just run on balance sheets; it's anchored by its Mission Statement, Vision, and Core Values. You see the numbers-like the forecast for $43 billion or better in Net Interest Income for the full fiscal year 2025-but do you defintely know the principles that guide a bank operating in 64 countries to hit its goal of at least a 15% Return on Tangible Equity? How do the core values of 'We take responsibility' and 'We succeed together' translate directly into the strategic decisions that shape their global market presence? Let's break down the foundational statements that underpin HSBC's ambition to be the most trusted bank globally.

HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Overview

You're looking for a clear, no-nonsense assessment of a global financial giant, and HSBC Holdings plc is defintely one of them. The direct takeaway is this: HSBC is a universal bank that connects East and West, and its strategic pivot to focus on high-growth Asian wealth markets is paying off, driving its strong 2025 financial performance despite global economic headwinds.

HSBC's story begins in 1865 in Hong Kong, founded as The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to finance the growing trade between China and Europe. This historical mandate as a global connector remains its core identity today. The modern parent company, HSBC Holdings plc, was established in London in 1991 in preparation for the acquisition of Midland Bank, cementing its dual home markets in the UK and Asia. It's a massive operation, serving approximately 41 million customers across 62 countries and territories.

The bank offers a full suite of services across four main business segments: Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Corporate Centre. This means whether you are an individual needing a mortgage or a multinational corporation requiring complex trade finance, HSBC has a product for you. Its focus is now on simplifying its structure to concentrate capital on areas of competitive advantage, particularly its international wealth and premier banking services.

• Founded in 1865 to finance Asia-Europe trade.
• Operates across 62 countries; serves 41 million customers.
• Core services: Retail, Commercial, Investment Banking, and Wealth Management.

Strong Financial Performance in Q3 2025

The latest results, announced in October 2025 for the third quarter (Q3) of the fiscal year, show the strategy is working. HSBC reported Q3 2025 revenue of $17.8 billion, an increase of 5% compared with the same quarter last year. Here's the quick math: that revenue growth came despite a reported profit before tax decrease to $7.3 billion, which was largely due to a $1.4 billion increase in operating expenses from legal provisions related to historical matters. What this estimate hides is the underlying health of the core business, which is robust.

The real engine of growth is the Wealth segment. This is the main product sale driving the top line, especially within International Wealth and Premier Banking (IWPB) and the Hong Kong business segments, which saw higher customer activity and increased fee income. The bank is also benefiting from higher interest rates globally, which is boosting its net interest income (NII). In Q3 2025, the banking NII was $11.0 billion. For the full year 2025, management has upgraded its guidance for banking NII to $43 billion or better.

A key measure of profitability, the annualised Return on Average Tangible Equity (RoTE) for the first nine months of 2025, excluding notable items, hit 17.6%. This strong performance led the bank to upgrade its full-year 2025 RoTE target (excluding notable items) to mid-teens or better. That's a clear signal of confidence in their ability to generate strong shareholder returns.

HSBC as a Global Banking Leader

HSBC isn't just a big bank; it's a structural pillar of the global financial system. By total assets, it is the largest Europe-based bank, ahead of competitors like BNP Paribas, holding US$3.098 trillion as of September 2024. This scale makes it the 7th largest bank in the world by total assets. The bank's strength lies in its unparalleled international connectivity, particularly its deep, established presence in Asia. This gives it a first-mover advantage in capturing the region's rapidly growing wealth and trade flows. The bank's focus on its four simplified core businesses-Hong Kong, UK, Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB), and International Wealth and Premier Banking (IWPB)-is a direct move to capitalize on these strengths.

They are a universal bank, but their real value proposition is bridging the gap between global economies. So, they are not just reacting to market trends; they are actively shaping the flow of international capital. To understand the sophisticated investor base that trusts this global reach, you should keep Exploring HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why? in mind.

HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Mission Statement

You're looking for the bedrock of a global banking giant-the mission statement that guides every decision, from a retail mortgage in New York to a trade finance deal in Singapore. For HSBC Holdings plc, that guiding principle is clearly articulated as its purpose: Opening up a world of opportunity.

This isn't just a marketing slogan; it's the strategic filter for a bank that operates in over 60 countries and territories. It signals their commitment to connecting customers to global markets, enabling businesses to thrive, and helping individuals realize their ambitions. The ambition that flows from this purpose is to be the most trusted bank globally, which means putting the customer at the heart of every move.

In the complex world of international finance, a clear mission is defintely critical. It's what drives their focus on high-growth areas, like Asia and wealth management, and dictates how they deploy their capital, which saw an annualized Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE) of 18.2% in the first half of 2025, excluding notable items. Here's the quick math: a clear mission drives focused execution, which in turn delivers strong returns.

The mission breaks down into three core components that map directly to how HSBC creates value for its diverse stakeholders, from individual investors to multinational corporations. You can read more about the bank's evolution and structure here: HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Global Connectivity: Facilitating International Trade and Investment

HSBC's heritage is rooted in trade, and this component focuses on using its vast international network to connect businesses to new markets. This is where their unique advantage lies-acting as the financial bridge for cross-border commerce. They are, quite simply, a key facilitator of international trade and investment flows.

A concrete example of this is the performance of their Wholesale Transaction Banking business. In the first quarter of 2025, the fee and other income from this segment saw a strong increase of 13% compared to the same period in 2024, on a constant currency basis. This growth isn't abstract; it represents thousands of businesses using HSBC's expertise to manage their cash, make payments, and finance their supply chains across borders. That's real-world connectivity in action.

To be fair, navigating global markets is tricky right now, but this is where their core value of We succeed together comes into play, collaborating across boundaries to deliver a comprehensive solution. This focus on international banking is projected to help drive the bank's overall banking Net Interest Income (NII) to around $42 billion for the full fiscal year 2025.

Customer Focus: Delivering Tailored Financial Solutions

The second pillar is all about customer-centricity. The ambition to be the most trusted bank globally requires a deep commitment to providing financial solutions that address the specific, often complex, needs of individuals, businesses, and institutions.

For individual investors and high-net-worth clients, this means wealth management. HSBC has been aggressively growing this area, particularly in Asia. The results speak for themselves: Wealth fee and other income jumped by a significant 23% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior year, on a constant currency basis. This kind of growth shows that customers are choosing HSBC for personalized advice and products that help them meet their financial goals.

It's a simple truth: if you're not delivering what the customer needs, they move their money. The bank's strategy is to continually drive customer loyalty by focusing on excellence in outcomes. This aligns with their value to We get it done, moving at pace to make things happen for clients. The entire strategy is built on the premise that their success is directly tied to the financial success of their clients.

Sustainable Growth: Supporting Responsible Economic Development

The third and increasingly critical component is sustainable growth. This means supporting economic development while adhering to responsible environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. It's about taking the long view, which is a key part of their value: We take responsibility.

This is where the numbers get interesting and show a firm commitment despite a volatile market. In the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, HSBC provided and facilitated a total of $54.1 billion in sustainable finance and investments worldwide. This is a robust increase of 19% compared to the previous six-month period.

Here's what this investment looks like in practice:

• Financing renewable energy projects.
• Investing in green infrastructure development.
• Supporting climate-resilient initiatives.

This half-year figure pushes their cumulative total of sustainable finance and investments since 2020 to $447.7 billion, moving them closer to their ambitious 2030 target of providing between $750 billion and $1 trillion. What this estimate hides, still, is the complexity of the energy transition, but the sheer scale of the 2025 commitment is a clear action that supports their mission component.

HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Vision Statement

You're looking for the true north of a global giant, and with HSBC Holdings plc, the direction is clear: their ambition is to be the most trusted bank globally, which means putting customers at the heart of every decision. This isn't corporate fluff; it's a measurable strategic goal that underpins their entire 2025 operating model. Their purpose, the 'why' behind the ambition, is simple: 'Opening up a world of opportunity'.

To be the 'most trusted' means delivering on their financial targets, which for 2025 is a mid-teens Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE), targeting at least 15% excluding notable items. That's a strong signal to investors that the focus on Asia and wealth management is defintely paying off. The strategic pivot is real, and it's the engine driving that trust, connecting their global network to high-growth regions.

We Get It Done: The Execution Engine

The first core value, 'We get it done,' is all about execution, moving fast, and taking smart risks. For a bank with over 40 million customers worldwide, this translates into aggressive strategic realignment. We saw this play out in 2025 with the continued geographic refocusing, where they are exiting lower-margin markets in Europe and the US to reinvest capital into Asia and the Middle East.

Here's the quick math: this focus is driving tangible results in their core areas. The bank is forecasting Net Interest Income (NII) from banking to reach at least $43 billion in 2025, which is a key measure of their core lending and deposit-taking strength. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, they attracted $73 billion in net new invested assets, with a significant $42 billion of that booked in Asia. That's a massive capital flow, showing they are making things happen where the growth is hottest. This is how a global bank proves its value.

We Value Difference: The Global Network Advantage

A global bank like HSBC, founded on financing East-West trade, must value difference-it's integral to their business model. This value is about championing inclusivity, listening to different perspectives, and reflecting the diverse worlds of their customers. It's not just a feel-good statement; it's a competitive edge in cross-border transactions.

Their strategy to intensify wealth management in key Asian markets like Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China is a direct application of this value. By integrating Citigroup's retail wealth management portfolio in mainland China in Q1 2025, they added $3.6 billion in assets, directly leveraging their understanding of that market's unique needs. The bank also remains focused on cost discipline, targeting growth in operating expenses of approximately 3% in 2025, balancing investment in technology and staff compensation with the need for efficiency.

We Take Responsibility: Accountability and the Long View

Taking responsibility means holding themselves accountable and taking the long view. For a financial institution, this covers everything from capital management to climate strategy. Their Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio, a key measure of financial strength, stood at 14.7% in Q1 2025. This is a strong buffer, showing they are managing risk responsibly while pushing for growth.

Their long view also includes a commitment to becoming a net zero bank by 2050, which requires supporting customers to decarbonise. This is a huge undertaking, but it's a necessary strategic move to manage future climate-related financial risk. If you want a deeper dive into the ownership structure and long-term capital strategy that supports these goals, you should check out Exploring HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?.

We Succeed Together: Connecting Capital and Ideas

The final value, 'We succeed together,' is the operational translation of their purpose-connecting customers to opportunities across boundaries. It means collaborating across the organization to deliver the full promise of their unique breadth. For example, the strong Q1 2025 annualized RoTE of 18.4% (excluding notable items) was driven by robust activity in Wealth and Foreign Exchange, showing the different business segments are collaborating effectively to drive profitability.

The simplification of their structure into four core businesses, effective January 1, 2025, is a concrete action to accelerate this collaboration and strategic execution. They are breaking down silos to make possible what they cannot do alone. That's the kind of organizational clarity that makes a difference on the balance sheet.

HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Core Values

As a seasoned analyst, I look at a company's core values not as marketing fluff, but as the operational blueprint for risk and opportunity. For HSBC Holdings plc, these values-We get it done, We value difference, We take responsibility, and We succeed together-are currently being tested by a massive, multi-billion dollar restructuring and a shifting global risk landscape. Your job is to see how the numbers connect to the rhetoric.

The firm's strategic focus for 2025 is clear: simplify the structure, drive growth in Asia and the Middle East, and double down on digital. This is how the bank is mapping its values to its financial targets, like achieving a return on average tangible equity (RoTE) of at least 15% by year-end 2025. This isn't just about profit; it's about executing a global strategy with precision.

We get it done

This value is about being decisive, entrepreneurial, and dynamic-it's the engine behind the firm's efficiency push. You can see this in the aggressive cost-cutting and digital transformation targets. The bank is committed to delivering a whopping $1.5 billion in simplification savings from its reorganization by the end of 2026, which forces teams to move fast. They plan to cut an additional $2 billion in costs this year alone, a clear signal that the old ways of working are out.

Digitalization is where the rubber meets the road. HSBC plans to increase its investment in digitalization to 21% of operating expenses in 2025, up from 19% in 2021. This is not a small bet. They have over 600 artificial intelligence (AI) use cases in operation right now. A quick example: the generative AI assistant in Corporate and Institutional Banking now supports 3 million client interactions annually, reducing turnaround times and making the bank easier to deal with. That's how you get things done in a global business-you automate the complexity.

We value difference

Valuing difference is a commercial imperative, not just a social one; a global bank needs to reflect the 40 million customers it serves. Diversity of thought is a risk mitigator and an innovation driver. The firm has set explicit, public targets for 2025 to ensure its leadership reflects its global footprint.

• Targeting 35% women in senior leadership roles by the end of 2025.
• Aiming for 3.4% of leadership roles to be held by Black heritage colleagues across the UK and US by 2025.
• The internal inclusion index score hit 78% in 2024, surpassing the 75% target.

The bank is also backing this with concrete action, like supporting 11,000 entrepreneurs each year through its partnership with the Black Business shows in the UK. This isn't just internal headcount management; it's about building a more inclusive ecosystem for customers, too.

We take responsibility

For a major financial institution, taking responsibility has two major components: financial crime compliance and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. The bank's massive scale means its actions have a profound impact, and the near-term data shows a strong focus on de-risking the business.

On the compliance front, the investment in AI is paying dividends. Advanced AI-driven systems have delivered a 50% increase in suspicious transactions intercepted over the past year. The Dynamic Risk Assessment system, co-developed with Google, is finding two to four times more financial crime with greater accuracy and has reduced false positive cases by 60%. This improved efficiency frees up investigators to focus on real threats. In a decisive move to tighten its anti-money laundering (AML) framework, HSBC also offboarded approximately 1,000 clients from its Swiss banking operations in 2025.

In terms of the planet, the bank provided US$54.1 billion of sustainable finance and investments in the first half of 2025 alone. This is a clear commitment to their goal of facilitating between $750 billion and $1 trillion in sustainable finance by 2030. You can learn more about the firm's financial stability and its role in the global economy here: Breaking Down HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

We succeed together

This value is the core of HSBC's identity as a global trade bank, connecting customers across borders. It means breaking down internal silos to deliver the full network to a client. In 2024, the Global Trade Solutions (GTS) franchise facilitated $857 billion of cross-border commerce. That is a huge number, and it's why they are consistently voted the world's best trade finance bank.

They are making this cross-border flow faster and more seamless. The HSBC Trade Solutions (HTS) digital platform is now deployed in 21 markets, serving over 40,000 clients, and can achieve straight-through processing in as little as 15 seconds. Furthermore, the bank expanded its tokenized deposit service to corporate customers in the US and the UAE in the first half of 2025, which allows for near-instant, 24/7 movement of funds across its global network. This connectivity is a competitive advantage, especially as they focus on high-growth corridors like the Middle East, where the trade finance franchise facilitated $59.3 billion in cross-border trade in 2024.