HSBC Internet banking ...
 

No, I haven't misunderstood the thread title should be, but I just wanted to express my dissatisfaction with a computer/internet issue ... and realise that there's no troubleshooting possible to my problem, except for biting the bullet rather than aiming it elsewhere (hence my rant!).

I received the following email yesterday ... and don't think (unfortunately :{:E) that it's a scam ...

We're upgrading the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app to keep it secure. This means from early 2026, the app will no longer work on devices below Android 10.0. Until then, you'll still be able to use your device. You just won't get any more app updates from November onwards. If this includes your device, you'll no longer be able to access our digital banking services.

What you need to do now:

If you'd like to continue to use digital banking and keep paperless statements, you can either:

• Download the mobile app on a device running Android 10 or above or
• Get in touch to order a physical Secure Key so you can use online banking - see 'What if your device isn't compatible?' section below for contact details

If you don't do either, we'll start sending your statements by post.

So my trusty telephone that does all I want, without any additional bells and whistles, will now have to be put out to grass as it only has Android 9, and doesn't seem to be upgradeable (not that I would usually need it). Buying a new phone does not come cheap ... I don't have the knowledge to discern between 'safe' 'reliable' or 'secure' makers, nor the various multiple features and versions that they have. It really gets in my craw to have to consider buying a new phone just to continue internet banking (remembering that I do not live in the UK so can't 'just pop down to my bank'). Their suggested work round is a 'physical security key' which has to be acquired by telephoning a UK number (ALWAYS ENGAGED) to get what seems very close to the physical 'key' that they phased out a few years ago ... reinventing the wheel??

Would any forum members kindly like to point me to reasonable phones that are capable of Android 14 or higher, without compromising my data and being able to turn off any helpful interactive AI chat bots already installed? I'd be most grateful, and suggestions from where these phones could be safely acquired would also be appreciated.

Very many thanks in advance ....from your impoverished techie froggy dinosaur who is just struggling with updating to Windows 11 after many years of happiness on XP, 7 and 10!!

Do you need anything that the app does that you can't do on their website based Internet banking?

Other than that the obvious choice for a low risk Android phone is Google themselves but it will be full of AI gizmos.
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Manufacturers are now starting to offer update guarantees, sites like gsmarena will tell you how many future Android versions the manufacturer says they'll support.

Not advice as such but I bought a Samsung A54 from Amazon last year which was "last year's" model - cost me around £200 or so. Running Android 15 on it, plus all the Apps I use regularly. Unfortunately there are various AI things creeping in unasked which I largely ignore and haven't yet had the courage to disable in case they take extreme umbrage with me...

I only use my laptop at home for banking - credit card details are on phone for purchases but not via Google Wallet.

I need to use my phone with my computer to enter log on security codes and transaction codes .... so it seems to me (but I could be not only ignorant but very wrong) that my phone has to work with the computer to get my banking wishes realised ....

If that is not the case, please tell me!!! Many thanks !

Sorry, just tried, and failed, to login to my very old HSBC account. I hadn't realised that they'd built the 2FA into the app. That's monumentally stupid (and potentially insecure) of them. I'll be moving my account to Halifax.

In your position I'd just get them to send you a hardware 2FA dongle if you can ever get through on the phone.

Being tight I have never spent more than £40 on a phone. Can't remember how much the current phone cost (Moto G9 Play) but it was under £40 on eBay. It is Android 11.
It would be suitable to HSBC, I don't know why and I would not do online banking on a phone not getting security updates. But many do.

What is Android 10 ?? I do not indulge in "" internet banking "". Go to a branch when I need to, not very often.... Endeavour to use real paper cash as much as possible. Even been known to write a cheque....!!

Planemike ... I'm not in the UK so it's expensive to pop into a local branch !

Remember HSBC Expat will cease servicing/issuing cheques fromthe end of THIS month - Sept. More problems with no consultation.

They're expensive, not user friendly and there are better banks out there.

S

TBH banks don't WANT personal customers. Unless you have millions on deposit you cost more than your account is worth to them. The steady erosion of service at almost every mainline bank is well known and documented.

For me the penny dropped (sorree...) 25 years ago when talking to Barclays about a Business deal and they said they didn't want any new business under £ 50 mm as "it wasn't going to make them enough money"

OK - I've capitulated and will be buying a mid-range Samsung next week ... Android 15. But miffed (ok so it's a bit light on feeling intensity) that I have to, yet again, surrender something that works well for the tasks it was intended for because one of the 'bells and whistles' needs updating. However, on the bright(er) side, the battery should last a great deal longer between charges!

The 'Honkers and Shankers' defaulting to paper copies would almost persuade me to return to them (last used in 64 !). My lot (Lloyds) have converted me to 'paperless' in spite of my refusal to sign up for it ! :mad:
There's much blather about 'Freedom of Speech' nowadays, but little said about freedom of action, when we are being forced into purchasing and using these hand-held idiot boxes simply to carry out day-to-day activities ! :mad: :mad: :mad:
All very well for the phone manufacturers' profits but yet more costs to the consumer !:ugh:

Couldn't agree with you more Cornish Jack. +1 :ok:

I use the Nationwide. Internet banking doesn't require a phone for 2FA (useful if you want to access your account and you're out of coverage, which is patchy in Lincolnshire), you get a paper statement monthly, human beings reply to the phone promptly, and if all else fails there are branches, which they are pledged not to close. All this and £ 100 credited to your account each year.

You must be 'loved' (not) but the chap on the ads at present!!!

I had 3 Sonos speakers and a Sonos amplifier which provided music around the house. I used my IPhone to drive them. One day after an update I was informed that because my phone was too old the Sonos app would no longer work. No problem, plenty of dedicated remotes on auction sites. I bought four of them. One for each device only to discover that Sonos had bricked them in a recent update. No wonder they were cheap. There was uproar on the forums, Sonos squashed it by claiming the remotes were a fire hazard. Well there was nothing wrong with the phone so it stayed and the Sonos stuff was auctioned and I bought a lovely old Exposure amplifier with the proceeds. I would recommend staying well clear of Sonos gear, I will never buy any equipment which can be remotely tampered with. I also can't believe that organisations like banks can't make their apps compatible with old phones. I appreciate there may be security concerns but it is all surely a matter of writing the code? For similar reasons, I will only buy music that I can hold in my hand. No downloads.

You may be pleased to hear that the CEO of Sonos walked the plank after some disastrous updates.

You'll get on fine with your new Samsung - if you can ignore the AI crap which is appearing everywhere one turns. Vastly improved battery 'life' should be yours to enjoy if my recent experience is anything to go by.

Pleased to hear it. The number of online complaints was huge. The remote control units were some of the best made electronics iI have seen. It's a shame, I really enjoyed listening to the outfit.

@FOR Yes, I seem to be turning off a lot of inviting proposals ... and discovering new ones through the notifications ... so the 'off' setting is getting plenty of use! Mind you, I do fear I might also be turning off something useful! Getting used to the new sounds I've chosen though is taking its time ... and yes, it's great not having to charge my phone every night. Even better ... the suspected spam suggestions for the many unsolicited calls I receive. Glad I'm not the only person resisting AI crap! Thanks for the encouragement! Much appreciated.

Oh, but ..... getting the HSBC mobile app to accept my new phone was a palaver, now requiring photographing ones passport and a selfie (with a nod ? !) as well as changing the password; Stressful but successful, not like my French bank account which ultimately required a visit to my branch and getting the bright young thing behind the reception to help me to unfreeze my account and change my phone on the remote banking bit. Another 'old person' syndrome problem for GenZ to observe.

If there is a vulnerability in the OS it may well be impossible to protect it in application code.

Maybe you folk who use HSBC UK could answer a question for me - I’m having trouble getting the facts from them directly.
I’m a Premier customer with HSBC accounts in two Asian countries. I use the excellent Global Transfers system to send money between those two instantly and for free.
Last week I opened a HSBC UK account. My first ‘test transfer’ of 10 EUR into my UK account was expected to land in my Euro currency account - in Euro.
Instead I got £8 STG in the ‘main’ Premier account!
I’ve just spent the best part of an hour on their (human) chat system trying to get an explanation for this - or what did I do wrong/need to do to get it right. But no joy. The chatter person had no explanation.
Any of you know the trick?

If anyone is still interested, I found a solution to that HSBC Global Transfers prob.
After much digging on the HSBC UK website (and wasted time chatting online with a rep) I found that there are two alternative types of foreign currency accounts - the Primary account allows subsets of foreign currencies called 'Global Money', but foreign currency can't be transferred directly into them, it gets sent to the main GBP account first and auto converted. A complete nuisance.
The solution is to dig around and find out how to set up a 'HSBC Currency Account' where you can nominate favourite currencies, obtain a specific account number, and then transfer directly into it without any auto conversions.
I don't see the point of these different 'products' really, and even their own reps don't seem very au fait with them. Perhaps you can only set up the 'HSBC Currency Account' if you are a Premier customer, which you need to be to use their 'Global Banking' system.
Good luck.

Killaroo.

Leave HSBC in any/all of its guises as quickly as you can. The bank doesn't know it's own products, can't help properly and continues to fudge.

There are (many) better banks out there.

S

I don't trust any of them very much. The only attraction for me with HSBC is the Global Banking Online system which (when you figure it out) allows free and instant transfers in any currency - between your own foreign accounts. For mobile workers that's a huge benefit. What other bank has that?

Not a bank per se, but Wise is terrific for having and transferring money in different currencies, and you can set up virtual bank accounts in various countries which can be addressed as local entities by foreign banks. Low fees, good exchange rates...

I use Wise and really like it. But unfortunately the country I currently abide in places currency controls on it. You aren’t allowed to hold more than 5K USD (equiv) in your Wise account. That cripples it for me.
By the way, you also cannot open a Wise account in many countries - including Hong Kong!