Grand opening of HSBC Bank Redmond branch includes neighborly gesture; donations given to Hopelink and Lake Washington Schools Foundation

By Mary Stevens Decker • January 29, 2010 4:21 pm
Marilyn Mason-Plunkett
Marilyn Mason-Plunkett

HSBC Bank USA, N.A., part of one of the world’s largest financial services organizations, has opened a new branch in downtown Redmond with a very neighborly gesture.

At a grand opening celebration Jan. 28, HSBC presented donations totaling $15,000 — $7,500 each — to the Lake Washington Schools Foundation and Hopelink.

A large and lively crowd, including representatives of those organizations, Redmond City Council, King County Metropolitan Council, Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce and others, gathered to help christen the brand-new, 3,800 square-foot banking facility at 15946 Redmond Way, Suite 101.

Dominic O’Hagan, West Coast regional president for HSBC Bank USA, N.A. said that when the bank sought a new location on the Eastside, “Redmond was at the top of the list. We are the world’s most international bank and we love Redmond’s international orientation. There are so many people here who grew up or did business overseas or travel a lot. They already know us. They say, ‘Thank goodness you’re here now!'”

Yet, while customers with Premier status, HSBC’s global personal banking service, will enjoy “instant recognition around the world,” said O’Hagan, “we are also the world’s local bank, anchored in the community.”

HSBC’s Redmond branch manager, Kamal Pillay is a banker with 10 years of professional experience in and around the Seattle area. He and his team have more than 50 years of combined banking experience and are able to serve customers in Hindi, Mandarin, Cantonese and Tagalog, as well as English.

O’Hagan added, “HSBC has one of the largest philanthropic programs in the world, promoting education and environment.”

The gifts to the Lake Washington Schools Foundation and Hopelink were perfectly in line with these causes, said O’Hagan: “Schools are the foundation of the community and Hopelink also educates people on topics such as financial literacy.”

Redmond’s new HSBC Bank offers a full range of financial services to both businesses and individuals. For more information, call (425) 202-2341 or visit www.us.hsbc.com.