RNS Number:7881T
HSBC Bank PLC
02 January 2004

                         HSBC BANK PLC - BOARD CHANGES

William Dalton (60), retired as a Director and Chief Executive of HSBC Bank plc
on 31 December 2003. His successor, Michael Geoghegan (49), has been appointed
to the Board of HSBC Bank plc as a Director and Chief Executive with effect from
1 January 2004.

William Dalton continues as a Director of HSBC Holdings plc until he retires
from the Group at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting on 28 May 2004.

Robin Monro-Davies (63), formerly Chief Executive Officer of Fitch Ratings, has
been appointed a Non-Executive Director of HSBC Bank plc with effect from 1
January 2004.

Notes to editors:

Biographical Details
Short biographies on Michael Geoghegan and Robin Monro-Davies are below.

HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Bank plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc which, with over
9,500 offices in 79 countries and territories and assets of US$983 billion at 30
June 2003, is one of the world's largest banking and financial services
organisations.

                              Michael F Geoghegan
                                Chief Executive
                                 HSBC Bank plc

Michael Geoghegan was appointed a Director and Chief Executive of HSBC Bank plc
on 1 January 2004, having previously been President of HSBC Bank Brasil S.A. -
Banco Multiplo, and of HSBC Investment Bank Brasil S.A. and HSBC Seguros S.A.

He joined the HSBC Group in 1973 and, since then, has spent 12 years in North
and South America, eight years in Asia, seven years in the Middle East and three
years in Europe.

He arrived in Brazil in March 1997 to establish the Group's operations in the
country following the creation of Banco HSBC Bamerindus S.A. He was appointed a
Group General Manager of HSBC Holdings plc in the same year.

In January 2000 he became responsible for all of HSBC's business throughout
South America and chaired the Group's Regional Executive Committee.

In October 2000 he became President of HSBC Investment Bank Brasil which
resulted from the Group's acquisition of CCF and the incorporation of certain
activities of HSBC Brasil.

Mr Geoghegan was born on 4 October 1953 in Windsor, UK, and was educated in the
United Kingdom and Ireland. In June 2003 he was honoured with a CBE (Commander
Of The British Empire) by her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his
contribution to British business interests in Brazil.

Married with two sons, his interests include distance running, renovating old
houses, restoring antique furniture, watching rugby and horse racing. He also
speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

                               Robin Monro-Davies
                     Non-Executive Director, HSBC Bank plc

Robin Monro-Davies (63), was appointed a Non-Executive Director of HSBC Bank plc
on 1 January 2004.

Mr Monro-Davies joined the Royal Navy in 1958 where for 10 years he was an
officer and pilot. He left the Royal Navy in 1968 to study Business at
Massachussets Institute of Technology. In 1971 he began a new career in
investment analysis and portfolio management at Reich and Tang.

In 1972 he moved to Fox-Pitt Kelton (FPK), one of the UK's leading independent
brokerage and research houses, becoming joint Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in
1976. In 1978, Mr Monro-Davies was appointed CEO of IBCA, FPK's newly
established independent bank credit rating business, in addition to his role as
FPK's CEO.

He continued as CEO of IBCA following his retirement from FPK in 1992,
developing the business to become Fitch IBCA, the world's third largest rating
agency. Mr Monro-Davies retired as CEO of Fitch at the end of 2001 but remains a
Director. He is a Board Member and Chairman of the Audit Committee of AXA UK,
and Chairman of MergerMarket, a small financial services company.

Mr Monro-Davies was born in London, England, in September 1940. He was educated
at St Paul's School, London, and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Business from Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. He is married with two children.


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