Estate planning at HSBC
How to protect 10 HSBC accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Phone716-841-7394
Toll-Free1-877-394-4722
Mailing Address
HSBC Premier Service Center, P.O. Box 22, Buffalo, NY 14240
General Support
Wealth Services Desk
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone716-841-7394
Toll-Free1-877-394-4722
Mailing Address
HSBC Premier Service Center, P.O. Box 22, Buffalo, NY 14240
General Support
Wealth Services Desk
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Bereavement
Phone716-841-7394
Toll-Free1-877-394-4722
Mailing Address
ATTN: Legal Paper Processing, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., 2929 Walden Ave, Pole C84, Depew, NY 14043
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
HSBC offers 10 consumer accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 8 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Understanding the transfer methods available for each account type helps families keep assets out of probate and ensure they pass to the right people.
Beneficiary designations at HSBC can be managed in branch and by mail, typically taking 2-3 weeks (mail processing). Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
There are two sides to estate planning at HSBC: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 10 account types at HSBC.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
6-step process, 8 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Because HSBC serves a limited number of states, procedures for trust funding and beneficiary changes may differ depending on your location. Verify availability before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. HSBC provides separate guidance for estates involving non-U.S. resident decedents, including transfer certificate requirements. As a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, the bank is well-positioned to coordinate across jurisdictions for clients with international assets.
HSBC Premier requires at least one of: $75,000 in combined U.S. consumer and qualifying commercial deposit and investment accounts, $5,000 minimum monthly direct deposits, an active HSBC U.S. residential mortgage loan with an original loan amount of at least $500,000, or HSBC Private Bank status. A $50 monthly maintenance fee applies if requirements are not met. Up to 4 family members at the same address may qualify for Premier benefits.
HSBC requires a paper form for beneficiary changes. Download the Change or Remove Beneficiary Kit from the HSBC website, complete it with full legal names, dates of birth, relationships, and allocation percentages, then submit by mail to the HSBC Premier Service Center (P.O. Box 22, Buffalo, NY 14240) or in person at an International Wealth Center. Beneficiary changes cannot be made online. Allow 2-3 weeks for mail processing.
Yes. Deposit accounts (checking, savings, CDs) and brokerage accounts can be retitled to a revocable living trust. IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust but can name a trust as beneficiary. Trust retitling must be initiated in-branch at an International Wealth Center or by mail; it cannot be completed online. You will need a certified copy of your trust agreement or Certificate of Trust, and government-issued ID for all trustees. Allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
Yes. IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust during the account holder's lifetime, but a trust can be named as the IRA beneficiary. To designate a trust as beneficiary, complete the Change or Remove Beneficiary Kit with the trust name, date established, and tax ID number. Submit the form by mail or in person at an International Wealth Center.
HSBC Self-Directed Brokerage, provided through HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., offers access to stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds at $10.99 per equity/ETF trade. The platform currently supports individual brokerage accounts only; IRA accounts require calling the Wealth Services Desk at 1-888-809-3802. Options trading and margin trading are not available. An HSBC Premier checking account with online banking access is required.
HSBC operates approximately 21 International Wealth Centers across 7 states: California, Washington D.C., Florida, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington. The largest presence is in New York and California. Following the sale of 80+ retail branches to Citizens Financial in 2022, HSBC no longer operates traditional retail banking locations in the United States.
Sources
Data sourced from HSBC primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone716-841-7394
Toll-Free1-877-394-4722
Mailing Address
HSBC Premier Service Center, P.O. Box 22, Buffalo, NY 14240
General Support
Wealth Services Desk
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone716-841-7394
Toll-Free1-877-394-4722
Mailing Address
HSBC Premier Service Center, P.O. Box 22, Buffalo, NY 14240
General Support
Wealth Services Desk
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Bereavement
Phone716-841-7394
Toll-Free1-877-394-4722
Mailing Address
ATTN: Legal Paper Processing, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., 2929 Walden Ave, Pole C84, Depew, NY 14043
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your HSBC accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
