Is HSBC any good?
In our latest customer satisfaction survey, HSBC received a customer score of 73% for its stocks and shares Isa, putting it joint 12th out of 25 providers.
HSBC has two distinct platforms for DIY investors. Its Global Investment Centre brand offers fund investing, while a wide range of stocks, investment trusts, gilts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is available on its InvestDirect platform.
You’ll need to be an HSBC current account customer and registered for online banking to use these services. Customers can also sign up to HSBC InvestDirect Plus to gain access to US equities and receive frequent trading discounts.
Unusually, HSBC’s platforms don’t offer any interest on uninvested cash in your account, and it also charges exit fees – £15 per line of stock on HSBC InvestDirect.
Customers can benefit from branch access and British Sign Language from home or in branch, as well as text relay on calls.
There is no minimum investment for share dealing on InvestDirect, but there is a £50 a month minimum for Global Investment Centre funds (except for mobile investment goals, which start at £1).
Visit HSBC to find out more about its accounts, services and investment options.
Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an investment platform before committing to any financial products.
- Find out more: Best investment platforms in the UK 2025
HSBC stocks and shares Isa star ratings in more detail
What do customers say about HSBC?
Comments from HSBC customers that took part in our survey include:
- ‘Straightforward, with clear guidance on processes. Never made any mistakes with my transactions.’
- ‘The platform is pretty easy to use and the costs involved are minimal.’
- ‘Everything you need is online, but presentation and navigation is a 1990s design. It looks a bit antiquated.’
Visit HSBC to find out more about its accounts, services and investment options.
How much does HSBC cost?
You can invest in a stocks and shares Isa or general investment account on both of HSBC’s platforms, which have different fees.
Platform charge:
- £10.50 per quarter for InvestDirect
- 0.25% of the annual value of your portfolio for Global Investment Centre
Trading charge:
- £10.50 for shares and exchange-traded funds with InvestDirect
- No charges for trading funds with Global Investment Centre
Foreign exchange charge:
Usually this applies to each trade of investments denominated in another currency, for example US stocks, on top of fund and trading charges.
How much would I pay to invest with HSBC?
We’ve estimated the cost of investing over the course of a year in an HSBC stocks and shares Isa, assuming that you make four purchases and four sales each year.
Costs will vary depending on how much you invest and whether you trade funds or shares.
Table notes: Annual charges include platform fee and any trading charges. We have not included other charges that might apply, such as foreign exchange fees or fund management charges that are levied by fund managers, as these vary depending on the specific investments you hold. Fund management fees can range from less than 0.1% for some passively managed ‘tracker’ funds, to 1.25% or more for actively managed funds or investment trusts. * With Global Investment Centre ** With InvestDirect
Read our comparison of investment platform charges to see how much investing with HSBC costs for a range of portfolios.
If you’re thinking of using HSBC to take an income from your pension in a drawdown plan, read our comparison of pension drawdown charges.
What can you invest in with HSBC?
HSBC accounts and services
Find out more about HSBC by using the links below to view their accounts and services:
Investments on HSBC
Correct as of January 2024
Is HSBC good for ethical investors?
Funds on HSBC’s Global Investment Centre are sorted by fund manager and you can’t filter them, but they have ‘Ethical’ listed under sector where applicable.
There is no detailed information provided to give you a better idea of each fund’s investment criteria, such as the top 10 holdings or a sector breakdown.
- Find out more: Ethical investing explained
Is your money safe with HSBC?
HSBC is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
When you invest with an investment platform that’s registered with the FCA, your money will be ring-fenced and should be returned if a company goes bust, without you having to wait alongside other creditors.
If ring-fencing failed, you would be compensated by the FSCS.
The FSCS will cover up to £85,000 of investments per person, per platform. You can claim for free online; there’s no reason to use a claims management company.
You won’t be compensated for investments falling in value, or if a company in which you hold shares goes bust, unless this poor performance resulted from bad advice given by a regulated Independent Financial Advisor that has since gone bust.
- Find out more: How the FSCS works