HSBC tightens home loans policy
Print Edition
EUROPE’S biggest lender HSBC will no longer provide mortgages to some Chinese nationals who buy real estate in the United States, a policy change that comes as China is battling to stem a swelling crowd of citizens trying to get money out of the country.
An HSBC spokesman in New York said the new policy went into effect last week, roughly a month after China suspended Standard Chartered and DBS Group Holdings Ltd from conducting some foreign exchange business.
China’s stock market slump and slowing economic growth have encouraged Chinese individuals and companies to try to shift money offshore for higher returns, a headache for the country as the capital outflows undermine efforts to prop up the yuan and domestic investment.
Realtors of luxury property in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver said more than 80 percent of wealthy buyers have ties to China.
In the United States, real estate agents and regulators say Chinese buyers often prefer to purchase property in cash and they are the biggest foreign buyer.
Data from the US’ National Association of Realtors shows they bought US$28.6 billion of property in 2015, up from US$22 billion in 2014.
HSBC declined to clarify which clients would be affected by the change beyond describing the policy as impacting some Chinese nationals.
Luxury homes news website Mansion Global said it would affect Chinese nationals holding temporary visitor “B” visas if the majority of their income and assets are maintained in China.
In Vancouver, an HSBC spokeswoman said HSBC’s Canadian arm already had similar policies in place and was actively reviewing those policies in the context of the local regulatory environment to determine if and what changes are necessary.
She added that the bank has a very conservative risk appetite and favors customers with strong ties to Canada, or who are building strong ties to Canada.
China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange said late last year that it would soon launch a system to monitor foreign exchange business at banks and put people who tried to purchase more foreign currency than is allowed on a watch list.
Those found trying to buy above the maximum US$50,000 in foreign currency a year would be placed on a watch list, according to SAFE.
“HSBC fully complies with all applicable regulations in the markets in which it operates and constantly reviews its policies to protect its customers and support the orderly and transparent operation of financial markets,” a statement from the London-based bank said.
HSBC’s pivot away from lending to some Chinese nationals abroad comes as other international banks clamor to lend more to wealthy Chinese.
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