HSBC banking services will be suspended from this afternoon (30), as the final stage of transferring its consumer banking operations to Nations Trust Bank PLC begins.

The bank confirmed that its corporate services will continue as usual.

Nations Trust Bank PLC recently notified the stock exchange of an agreement to acquire the retail banking business of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in Sri Lanka for Rs. 18 billion plus relevant taxes.

A binding sale and purchase agreement has been signed between the two parties regarding this transaction.

HSBC issued a set of special instructions for customer convenience during the transition.

HSBC bank branches, foreign exchange centres, and atm services will close as scheduled at 3:00 pm today.

Existing HSBC accounts, debit and credit cards, as well as internet and mobile banking services, remain functional only until 7:00 pm tonight.

All cards and digital platforms will cease to operate entirely after 7:00 pm.

Services will go completely offline from 7:00 pm due to the final stage of the system migration.

Customers will be unable to access accounts, use ATMs, utilise credit cards, or access online banking facilities during this period.

Once services resume, all operations will function under Nations Trust Bank PLC, and customers have been informed of the specific times that these services will commence.

The bank advises customers to plan their cash requirements and payments in advance during this period of suspended service.