worst customer experience trying to open a bank account. I have crossed international borders with my temporary passport without any problems but HSBC for some reason won't accept it?! all government institutions, including the British government, have accepted my passport since it is a valid, government issued passport so HSBC had no valid reason deny me a bank account. When asked what the issue is, their employee said: the tenure of your passport. However, they accept non-temporary passports that expire at the same time as my temporary passport so that obviously doesn't constitute a valid reason. Plus, after completing one of their online applications for a bank account, I waited for 3 weeks for a phone call to arrange a meeting but that never happened. then, i had to call myself and start completing the form via phone, AGAIN! so why do they even have the option of online applications if you never attend to your customers anyways?! Conclusion: horribly bureaucratic without any solid reasoning behind it.