Top of main content

Frequently asked questions: Online Banking

My account

How do I check my balance?

  • Log on to see your list of accounts and their balances. 

 

How do I get back to the ‘My accounts’ page to see my list of accounts?

  • Select ‘Back to my accounts’ (top left). Or, you can select ‘Banking’ at the top and then ’My accounts’.

 

I don't recognize a transaction in my account. What should I do?

If you have a joint account or an authorised user on your account, please check with the joint account holder or the authorised user if the transaction has been made by them.

If you still don't recognize the transaction, select ‘Need help’ for the transaction in question to report the issue.

You can also contact us.

 

My card is lost/stolen. How do I let you know?

Please contact us immediately.

 

My security device is lost/stolen. What should I do?

Please contact us immediately.

 

I have lost/forgotten my HSBC Mastercard PIN. How do I get a new one?

You can order a new PIN through Online Banking:

  • Log on using your security device.
  • Select your Mastercard account.
  • Select ‘Manage’> ‘Card Services’> ‘Request a new Mastercard PIN’.

A new PIN will be mailed to you.

 

How can I get electronic notifications?

  • From the top menu, select ‘Banking’ > ‘My profile’> ‘Communication preferences’.
  • See ‘Getting your electronic notifications’, and select either ‘Message Centre’, ‘Email’ or ‘Text message’.
  • Read and accept the terms and conditions, and save your preferences.

 

How far back can I see my transactions?

  • In Online Banking, you can see transactions going back 180 days. To list them, select the relevant account.  
  • To see older transactions, scroll down and select ‘Show more transactions’.
  • For a customized list of transactions, use the ‘Search and filter’ tool.

 

How do I change how I get my statements?

  • From the menu, select ‘Banking’ > “My profile’> ‘Communication preferences’.
  • See ‘Statements and Important Notices’
  • Select ‘Online’ or ‘Paper’.
  • Read and accept the terms and conditions, and save your preferences.

 

How can I get a paper copy of my statement?

  • Select ‘Banking’ (top left) > ‘Documents’ > ‘Statements’
  • Select an account from your list your bank and/or credit card accounts. You can download up to 7 years of printable PDF copies of your statements.

For older statements, scroll down to ‘Request a printed copy’. For information on fees, see the Personal Service Charges / Statement of Disclosure.

Questions? Start a chat in online banking or on our mobile app, or call us at 1-877-621-8811.

 

Why can’t I see my RRIF?

While RRIFs in mutual funds are available in Online or Mobile Banking, RRIFs in bank accounts and term deposits are not at this time. If you don’t see your RRIF, please contact us – we’re happy to help.

Pay bills

How do I pay bills?

  • Select ‘Pay and transfer’.
  • Choose an account to pay from.
  • Select ‘Pay a bill’.
  • Select your payee(s).
  • Enter the amount(s) you want pay
  • If you’d like to make recurring future payments, choose ‘Yes’ for ‘Recurring’, select the frequency, the date of the first payment and the number of payments.
  • Select ‘Continue’.
  • Review the details and then confirm your payment.

 

How do I pay my HSBC Mastercard®?

If this is the first time you’re paying your HSBC Mastercard, you’ll need to add it to your 'My payees' list. 

Pay your HSBC Mastercard using your chequing or savings account (Canadian currency only):

  • Select ‘Pay or transfer’.
  • Select the account you are paying from.
  • Select ‘Pay a bill’
  • Select your HSBC Mastercard
  • Enter the amount and date, and then ‘Continue’.
  • Verify the details and confirm your payment.

 

If you pay your HSBC Mastercard bill using your HSBC chequing or savings account, you’ll be able to see the payment in the mobile app in 15 minutes as a pending credit card transaction; in Online Banking, the payment will take a few days to appear in your credit card transaction list. However, your payment will be credited to your card balance the same day, for interest purposes.

 

What if a company/organization does not appear in the bill payees’ list?

If the payee you're looking for isn't on our bill payee list, please contact that company directly to ask them to apply to HSBC’s Online Banking payment service.

Can I transfer money between all my HSBC accounts?

Transfers can be made to or from certain HSBC accounts, but not all.

Select ‘Pay and transfer’, select an account to transfer from, and then ‘Transfer between your accounts’. All the eligible Canadian and international (linked via Global View) HSBC accounts you can transfer to will be listed.

 

Can I transfer money to someone who is also an HSBC Bank Canada customer?

Yes, you’ll need to add them as a payee to your ‘My payee’ list. See the guide on adding a new payee.

 

What options do I have for transferring money to someone who is a non-HSBC Canada customer?

If you’re sending $7,000 CAD or less to someone with a Canadian bank account, you can send a free INTERAC e-Transfer.

If you're sending more than $7,000 CAD to someone in Canada, or an amount to a non-Canadian bank, you can send a wire transfer through Online Banking. See step-by-step guides on Sending a wire transfer to an existing payee and Adding a new wire transfer payee.

Future and recurring payments or transfers

How do I set up a future payment or transfer?

If you’re setting up a future payment to a new person or billing company, you’ll need to add the new payee to your ‘My payee’s list.

To set up a future-dated payment or transfer:

  • Select ‘Pay or transfer’.
  • Select a payment type in under ‘To’.
  • Choose from your list of payees.
  • Enter the amount.
  • Enter the date. If you’d like to make recurring future payments, choose ‘Yes’ for ‘Recurring’, select the frequency, the date of the first payment and the number of payments.
  • Select ‘Continue’, then verify and confirm your future dated payment details.

 

How do I cancel a future or recurring payment?

You can cancel a future payment at any time before it is processed.

To cancel a future payment:

  • Select ‘Pay or transfer’ .
  • Select ‘Future payments or transfers’ on the left
  • On the relevant payment, select ‘Show details’, and then ‘Delete payment’.

If a payment has already been made, it cannot be cancelled, and will show in your account’s transactions list.

 

How do I modify or edit a payment?

You can modify a payment any time before it is processed.

To edit a future or recurring payment:

  • Select ‘Pay or transfer’.
  • Select ‘Future payments or transfers’.
  • Find the relevant payment, select ‘Show details’ and then ‘Edit these details’.
  • Modify your payment and select ‘Save details’.

If a payment has already been made, it cannot be edited, and will show on your account’s transactions list. 

Removal of wire transfer payees

Why are you removing most wire transfer payees?

HSBC Canada is required to comply with federal government regulations on electronic fund transfers. Many wire transfer payees currently have missing or incomplete information. We’re revamping wire transfers to make it easier for you to select your wire transfer payee’s address and bank information. This will ensure wire transfer information is accurate and allow funds to be transferred more efficiently.

Not all wire transfer payee information will be removed as some of it is already accurate and complete. However, if you currently have wire transfer payees to whom you wire money regularly and plan to send them funds in the future, we recommend you log onto Online Banking and take a copy of your wire payee information.

 

When will you be removing wire transfer payees?

We’ll be removing most wire transfer payees in early 2023. If you currently have wire transfer payees to whom you wire money regularly and plan to send them funds in the future, we recommend logging onto Online Banking and saving your payees’ information now to make it easier for you to add them back to your My payees list in the future.

 

Does the removal of wire payees affect any other of my payees, such as INTERAC e-Transfer or bill payees?

No, your bill and INTERAC e-Transfer payees are not affected.

 

What happens to my future dated wire transfers I have already set up?

If you currently have future dated wire transfers, these will continue to be sent to your payee.

 

Where do I find my wire payees and how can I save a copy of their information before you remove it?

To find your wire payee’s information:

  1. Log onto Online Banking
  2. Select Pay or transfer > My payees
  3. View the relevant wire transfer payee
  4. Select all of the payee’s information, copy and paste into a document (e.g. Word, Pages, Notepad, TextEdit, email, etc.) and save; or take a screenshot of your payee’s information and save for future use

 

I had a wire transfer payee set up previously and can no longer find it. Can I retrieve my payee’s information?

While past transaction information can be helpful, it is always best to check with your payee to confirm their details are up to date, including their complete physical address (no PO boxes), and their bank details, i.e. IBAN, or account number and SWIFT code.
You can find your wire transfer payee’s account number in your previous transactions. You can look in your:

  1. Transaction history – this goes back 6 months:
     - In the app, log on, select the relevant account and scroll through your transactions.
     - In Online Banking, log on, select the relevant account and then ‘Search and filter’.
  2. Statements – these go back 7 years:
     - In the app, log on, select the relevant account and ‘View statements’.
     - In Online Banking, log on and select ‘Statements'.

     

What upgrades are you making to wire transfers?

We’re revamping wire transfers to make it easier for you to select your payee’s address and bank information. This will ensure wire transfer information is accurate and allow funds to be transferred more efficiently.

 

How do I get a higher limit (between $50,000.01 and $150,000 CAD or equivalent) for my wire transfer payee?

See details on wire transfer limits.

Steps for setting up a higher limit wire transfer payee:  

  1. Add your wire transfer payee and save it to your My payees list
  2. Call us at 1-877-621-8811 to have the higher limit authorized for your wire payee

 

Are HSBCnet customers affected by the removal of wire transfer payees?

No, HSBCnet customers are not affected.

Send a wire transfer

I need to send money to someone. Should I send an INTERAC e-Transfer or a wire transfer?

If you’re sending S7,000 CAD or less to someone with a Canadian bank account, you can send a free INTERAC e-Transfer.

If you're sending more than $7,000 CAD to someone in Canada, or an amount to a non-Canadian bank, you can send a wire transfer through Online Banking. See the step by step guides on sending wire transfers to existing and new payees.

For fees, refer to Personal Service Charges / Statement of Disclosure.

 

Before I log on to send a wire transfer to a new payee, what do I need?

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • Available funds – Enough to cover the transfer and any fees charged by HSBC and any of the banks involved in the transfer.
  • Up-to-date contact info  – Check your email and phone number: log on to your account, select your name (top right), and then ‘Update personal details’.
  • A security device – You’ll need one to generate a code during the transaction.
  • Your payee’s details – Their full physical address (no PO boxes).
  • Your payee's bank details – Your payee’s IBAN number, OR your payee’s account number plus their bank’s SWIFT code.
     

How do I send a wire transfer?

If this is the first time you're sending a wire transfer to your payee, you’ll need to add them to your ‘My payees’ list. See the guide on Adding a new wire transfer payee.

If you have sent a wire transfer to your payee before, you can find their name in your list of payees and send the wire transfer right away. See the guide on sending a wire transfer to an existing payee for more details.

We’re also available to help, especially for more complex transactions. Call us at 1-877-621-8811 or visit a branch.

 

How much can I send by wire transfer in Online Banking?

Limits in Canadian dollars:

  • The maximum you can send in wire transfers to all payees every business day is $200,000 CAD.
  • The default maximum you can send to a single payee in a single wire transfer is $50,000 CAD. However, you can call us at 1-877-621-8811 to raise this limit to $150,000 CAD.
  • If you request a higher limit for your wire transfer payee (between $50,000.01 and $150,000 CAD) and we approve it, you’ll be able to send them wire transfers up to the new limit as often as needed, up to the daily wire transfer maximum (all wires to all payees) of $200,000 CAD.

To send under $50,000.01 CAD, log onto Online Banking with your security device, add your payee and send the funds right away.

To send between $50,000 and $150,000 CAD, log onto Online Banking with your security device, add your wire transfer payee to your ‘My payees’ list. Next, call us at 1-877-621-8811 to raise the limit for this payee - up to a maximum of $150,000 CAD. Once we've authorized a higher limit for your payee, log on to Online Banking and send your payee a wire transfer up to their new limit.

To send more than $200,000 CAD, you'll have to send more than one wire transfer over more than one business day.

To reduce the number of wire transfers and associated fees, add your payee to your ‘My payees’ list, then call us at 1-877-621-8811 to raise the limit for your payee to $150,000 CAD. Once your payee’s new limit has been approved, you can send more than one wire transfer up to the daily wire transfer maximum (all wires to all payees) of $200,000 CAD. You can set up all the wire transfers at once: send the first wire transfer up to $150,000 CAD before the cut-off time on the current business day, and then set up subsequent wire transfers dated for future business days.

To send the full amount yourself, and not request a higher daily limit for your payee, you can send multiple wire transfers under $50,000 CAD over a number of business days. However, you and your payee may be charged wire transfer fees by all of the banks involved in each wire transfer.

Important!

  • If you're sending a wire transfer in a foreign currency, ensure it is within the Canadian dollar limits listed above.
  • Ensure your wire transfer amount can cover any fees charged by HSBC Bank Canada, and any other banks involved in processing and receiving your wire transfer(s).

 

What are the cut-off times for sending a wire transfer?

Cut-off times for wire transfers depend on currency:
Currency
Cut-off time on a business day
Canadian dollars (CAD) to all countries
4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT
US dollars (USD) to all countries
3:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm PT
All other foreign currencies to all countries
6:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm PT
Cut-off times for wire transfers depend on currency:
Currency
Canadian dollars (CAD) to all countries
Cut-off time on a business day
4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT
Currency
US dollars (USD) to all countries
Cut-off time on a business day
3:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm PT
Currency
All other foreign currencies to all countries
Cut-off time on a business day
6:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm PT

A wire transfer sent after the cut-off time will be processed the next business day.

When you send a wire transfer during business hours, it may take 15 minutes or longer for the transaction to show in your account. When you send a wire transfer after the cut-off time, you’ll see the funds withdrawn the next business day.

 

What currencies can I send?

You can send wire transfers in the following currencies:

AUD – Australian dollar

CAD – Canadian dollar

JPY – Japanese yen

CHF – Swiss franc

CNY – Chinese yuan

DKK – Danish krone

EUR – Euro

 

GBP – Pound sterling

HKD – Hong Kong dollar

INR – Indian rupees

MXN – Mexican peso

NOK – Norwegian krone

NZD – New Zealand dollar

PHP – Philippine peso

SAR – Saudi riyal

SEK – Swedish krone

SGD – Singapore dollar

TBH – Thai baht

TRY – Turkish lira

USD – US dollar

ZAR – South African rand

What do I need to know about sending a wire transfer to China?

A wire transfers to a person in China can only be sent in non-Chinese currencies, e.g. USD, CAD, etc.

A wire transfer sent to China in Chinese Yuan (CNY) can only be sent to a commercial entity for commercial purposes.

When you select 'CNY' as the currency you are sending to China, you will be prompted to select from the 'Purpose of payment' list:

  • /BUSINESS/GOODS TRADE – for cross-border goods trade
  • /BUSINESS/SERVICE TRADE – for cross-border service trade
  • /BUSINESS/CAPITAL TRF – for cross-border capital transfer
  •  /BUSINESS/CAPITAL ACC TXN – for a current account transaction
  •  /BUSINESS/CHARITY DONATION – for a charitable donation

 

I’m sending a wire transfer to Mexico. What information do I need? 

An 18-digit CLABE is required. Without a CLABE, your wire transfer may be cancelled by the receiving bank. Enter the CLABE in the 'Account number' field.


I’m sending a wire transfer in Mexican pesos (MXN) to a payee outside of Mexico?

First, you’ll need to create a new wire payee with your payee’s information and bank details, and save it.

To send the wire transfer:

  1. Select ‘Pay and transfer’.
  2. Select the account you are transferring funds from, ‘Wire transfer’ and then select the payee you just created.
  3. Enter the amount of the transfer, the purpose of payment and the date.
  4. In the ‘Note to payee’ field, enter the intermediary bank account number and then the SWIFT (8-11 digits, no spaces). e.g. 0123456789ACIOMXMMMMD
  5. Select ‘Continue’.
  6. Review and confirm your wire transfer.

 

How long does it take for my payee to receive my wire transfer?

It can take approximately 2-5 business days for your wire transfer payee to receive the funds. However, there may be delays if additional information is required to process the transaction.

 

What can delay my wire transfer?

In some cases, HSBC Bank Canada, the intermediary bank and/or the receiving bank may require additional information, including the reason for the wire transfer. A wire transfer may be delayed beyond HSBC’s control.

 

What can cause my wire transfer to be rejected?

Wire transfers can be rejected by your payee’s bank due to incomplete information. Common reasons include:

  • incorrect address for the payee
  • for wire transfers to Canadian banks, not providing a transit number
  •  for wire transfers to Mexico, not providing the 18-digit CLABE (Clave Bancaria Estandarizada) in the ‘Account number’ field

 

How much does it cost to send a wire transfer?

Fees for wire transfers depend on your account type and the amount of the wire transfer. Refer to Personal Service Charges / Statement of Disclosure.

 

What exchange rate will I get for my wire transfer through Online Banking?

For wire transfers under $50,000 CAD or the equivalent, you'll get the rate shown on-screen during the transaction.

For wire transfers between $50,000 and $150,000 CAD or the equivalent, we’ll get your wire transfer request through  Online Banking , but we will process the transaction manually. The exchange rate you see online is indicative only; the exchange rate you get may be different at the time we process your transaction.

 

Who can help me with a wire transfer?

You can use MOBA, our digital banking chat bot to get help with your transaction or to connect with an agent.

Receive a wire transfer

What information do I need to provide to someone who is sending me a US dollar wire transfer to my HSBC Canada account?

To ensure your money arrives quickly, provide the this information to the sender:

  • Correspondent Bank: Citibank

SWIFT Code: CITIUS33

  • Destination Bank: HSBC Bank Canada

SWIFT Code: HKBCCATT

 

Can I receive a wire transfer in USD or other currencies?

As an HSBC Bank Canada customer, you can receive wire transfers in USD and a number of other foreign currencies. Refer to the full list of currencies and routing information.

 

Where can I find information on the intermediate / correspondent banks used by HSBC Bank Canada?

These are the intermediary/correspondent banks we use.

 

Which types of HSBC accounts can I receive money into?

You can receive wire transfer funds directly into your chequing or savings accounts in Canadian dollars, US dollars, Euros, British pounds, Hong Kong dollars or Chinese yuan.

To minimize the impact of exchange rates, you can open a foreign currency savings account to receive your wire transfer: find out more about Foreign Currency Savings Accounts. To open a foreign currency savings account right away, log on to Online Banking, scroll down to the bottom and select ‘Open a savings account now’.

 

How can I find out the status of my incoming wire transfer?

You can ask the sender to inquire with their bank on the status of the transfer.


Will I be pay fees/service charges for my incoming wire transfer?

HSBC charges specific fees for wire transfers – see Personal Service Charges / Statement of Disclosure. Other banks which may be involved in processing the transfer may charge additional fees.

HSBC InvestDirect

How do I access the HSBC InvestDirect site?

Go to www.investdirecttrading.hsbc.ca and log on using your HSBC Online Banking username and password (it’s one and the same).

Another easy way to access the HIDC InvestDirect website is through HSBC Online Banking. Log on to hsbc.ca, select Banking (top left) > ‘My investment accounts’ > ‘HSBC InvestDirect accounts’.  

® Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used pursuant to license.

HSBC InvestDirect is a division of HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of, but separate entity from, HSBC Bank Canada. HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC). HSBC InvestDirect does not provide investment advice or recommendations regarding any investment decisions or securities transactions.

Investment products do not guarantee profits and contain varying levels of risk and complexity. Investors should understand the nature and risks of each product and carefully consider each investment in the context of their individual risk tolerance and return objectives before investing. 

Listening to what you have to say about services matters to us. It's easy to share your ideas, stay informed and join the conversation.