HSBC is preparing a major expansion of surveillance at its new City of London headquarters, including thousands of additional cameras and biometric access systems, according to internal documents reviewed by Reuters.
The bank’s “global security strategy”, outlined in a May 2025 presentation by its protective security team, shows plans for a fourfold increase in surveillance cameras compared with its current Canary Wharf headquarters, alongside the doubling of biometric readers that control access to sensitive sites.
Surveillance overhaul
The new City HQ is expected to house about 1,754 cameras, up from roughly 444 devices installed at HSBC’s Canary Wharf offices. Biometric readers — devices used to verify staff identity before entry — will rise from 350 to 779.
HSBC, Europe’s largest bank by assets, also plans to introduce full-hand recognition technology at its most sensitive offices in the UK and the United States. Staff will be able to use personal mobile phones, fitted with HSBC’s approved software, as digital badges to access buildings, the presentation showed.
The bank employs more than 210,000 people worldwide, including over 31,000 in Britain.
Security vs privacy
HSBC said the upgrades reflect its commitment to safety. “The safety and security of our people is at the forefront of everything HSBC does,” a spokesperson told Reuters. “We regularly risk assess every building and, dependent on identified risks and vulnerabilities, we continue to invest in the latest cutting-edge technology to safeguard our colleagues, customers and visitors in line with industry standards.”
But the measures have triggered concerns among employees, some of whom are reluctant to use personal devices for corporate security access. According to a person with knowledge of the policy cited by Reuters, as of late 2024 most UK staff had not yet adopted the biometric and digital access systems, which were first introduced in 2022.
Privacy advocates have also warned that increased monitoring may erode workplace trust. The Institute for Public Policy Research, a London-based think tank, noted in a May 2025 report that advances in surveillance technology risk undermining employee wellbeing if not properly regulated.
Rising surveillance budgets
The security overhaul comes with a significant financial outlay. Internal figures show HSBC has tripled its surveillance budget for the London move to about US$15 million. The expansion is driven partly by security risks cited in the documents, including thefts at Canary Wharf and rising crime levels near the new City site.
The project is overseen by Diane Marchena, HSBC’s global head of protective security, who reports directly to Chief Operating Officer Suzy White. Both declined to comment when approached by Reuters.
HSBC has also partnered with Israeli security technology company Octopus, which is already rolling out surveillance systems in London and Hong Kong, with planned extensions to India and Mexico later this year.