HSBC has rubbished press reports that it is
planning to launch an online platform along the lines of
Facebook.

In a report on 8 November, UK-based marketing
publication PRWeek said that HSBC is “putting social
media at the heart of its UK business growth strategy, with an
ambitious blueprint to create a dedicated digital offering”.

PRWeek said that HSBC is planning to create a new
online platform catering to non-financial customer needs, quoting
an ‘industry source’ saying that HSBC wants to set up “their own
version of Facebook”.

But a spokesperson from HSBC told RBI, “We certainly
have no plans to set up a platform similar to Facebook.”

The plans are laid out in a “confidential 35-page pitch document
drawn up by HSBC and obtained by PRWeek” the article
states, adding that the project is in the early stages and HSBC is
looking for an agency to help establish the new proposition and to
develop a social media strategy.

It has also been reported that “a full pitch process is expected
to take place next month”.

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However, the HSBC spokesperson told
RBI:

“What PRWeek have seen is a ‘mock
brief’ which was sent to a number of PR Agencies ahead of us
creating a roster of agencies which we could use should we ever
need help with our social media crisis communications
work.  

HSBC has stressed that it is not pitching for
any business, not setting up a rival platform, will not be awarding
any retainer, and is “simply seeing what PR Agencies can offer
us.”