HSBC to open London ‘wealth centre’ in effort to draw in premier clients

Aimed at those with 100,000 to 2m, service in Mayfair will offer personalised banking and exclusive events

HSBC is to launch its first UK wealth centre" in London's upmarket Mayfair district, offering more personalised banking services and exclusive events such as wine tastings as part of a drive to win more rich customers.

The lender will take up two floors of the 16-storey Smithson Tower at 25 St James's Street - close to the Ritz Hotel and Fortnum & Mason department store - as part of a wider revamp of HSBC's premier-tier bank service. Aimed at the sought-after mass affluent" market, premier is a tier below private-banking clients and targets customers with 100,000 to 2m in income, assets or deposits.