Retail Banking - Work Placement

About the business area

Retail Banking at HSBC helps millions of customers manage their everyday finances while planning for longer-term goals like saving, investing and building financial confidence. It involves large-scale, customer-focused banking, giving people the tools, guidance and digital services they need at different life stages

Who you are

You’re curious, solutions-focused and motivated by making things work better for customers and teams. You don’t need to be a business expert yet — what matters is your mindset, your openness to learning and your interest in customer experience. You could be a great fit if you enjoy working with different people, asking smart questions and getting to the heart of what needs to change. You communicate clearly, think analytically and like turning complexity into practical ideas. You’re proactive, not passive — you spot opportunities, bring suggestions forward and want to make an impact. If you’re interested in digital, data and improving banking for everyday customers, this could be a strong fit.

What you'll do

You’ll work with teams across Retail Banking to improve customer journeys, strengthen our digital proposition and enhance the service we provide. You could support Products and Propositions teams by reviewing product ranges, customer service activity, marketing campaigns or complaints, using data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Working with colleagues across customer, product and delivery teams, you’ll help shape practical changes that make banking simpler, smarter and more customer-focused. The Work Placement also includes structured assessments aligned to securing a graduate role, giving you opportunities to demonstrate how you think, collaborate and deliver through project work, presentations, interviews or skills-based evaluations.

What you'll learn

You’ll develop your confidence through a combination of role-specific training, hands-on experience, coaching and ongoing development. Throughout the placement, you’ll deepen your understanding of business operations, develop an obsession with customers, build effective stakeholder relationships and see how transformation projects create lasting value for Retail customers and the wider bank. You’ll gain practical insight into how a Retail Bank uses data, customer insight and structured problem-solving to improve experiences, support change and help teams make informed decisions. The placement is designed to give you a rounded understanding of both the role and the wider business context in which Retail Banking operates. By the end of the Work Placement, you’ll have a clearer view of how a Retail Bank impacts on customers, the skills needed to succeed and the career opportunities the Retail Bank could lead to. 

Where you'll work

You’ll work in Retail Banking, alongside teams focused on customer journeys, digital banking, AI and products and propositions. It’s a collaborative environment where customer, product and service teams work together to improve how HSBC supports customers day to day. You’ll be part of a professional office culture that values teamwork, customer focus and practical problem-solving. Expect exposure to a business that combines digital innovation with strong service abd customer foundations across a broad retail banking environment.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, you must:

• Available to work full time for 12 months commencing June 2027
• Will have completed your undergraduate studies by July 2029
• Able to complete a placement programme as part of your undergraduate studies, graduating in 2029
• On-track to obtain a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent to this)
• Be in your penultimate year of undergraduate study
• Fluent in English
• Legally permitted to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme and beyond the end date, without requiring HSBC visa sponsorship 

Please provide your achieved or expected final undergraduate degree result using the grading system used by your university (e.g. 2:1, First Class, GPA 3.5/4.0, 75% or local equivalent).

We only accept one application per recruitment cycle so please take time to explore our opportunities before applying as we may not be able to transfer your application to other vacancies.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we may close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. 

Additional information

This particular program does not satisfy the Home Office eligibility criteria for visa sponsorship. We therefore can only progress applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they are eligible to work in the UK without HSBC sponsorship for the full duration of, and beyond, the programme end date. We cannot progress applications from candidates who apply with a graduate visa as you would not be eligible for sponsorship by HSBC when your current visa expires. You will need to confirm what visa you hold, if any, and its expiry date when you apply for us to verify your eligibility when you apply.