HSBC has announced a strategic evaluation of its retail banking operations in Egypt, as part of its ongoing worldwide restructuring efforts, according to a Reuters report.
The bank, which initiated a major overhaul last year, is looking to streamline its international presence and has stated that it “will consider all options for the retail banking business, and no decisions have been made.”
It has emphasised the significance of Egypt as a key market with growth prospects.
However, the review will be limited to retail banking and will not affect HSBC’s wholesale banking activities or any other operations in the country.
As part of its reorganisation, HSBC has started to phase out its mergers and acquisitions, as well as certain equities businesses in the Americas and Europe.
Additionally, the bank is conducting strategic reviews of its retail operations in Indonesia, Australia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and is proceeding with the sale of its retail business in Bahrain.
Recently, HSBC and its subsidiary HSBC Asia Pacific have announced a proposal to take Hang Seng Bank private in a transaction valued at HK$106.1bn ($13.63bn).
The plan involves HSBC Asia Pacific acquiring all shares held by minority shareholders at HK$155 ($19.92) per share, which would lead to the delisting of Hang Seng shares from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
This offer represents a 33% premium over the undisturbed 30-day average closing price and values Hang Seng Bank at HK$290bn ($37.2bn).
In July 2025, HSBC declared its intention to withdraw from its International Wealth and Premier Banking (Retail Banking) operations in Bangladesh.
HSBC’s Sri Lanka branch signed a binding agreement in September, to transfer its retail banking operations to Nations Trust Bank (NTB).
