My experience with going in to big megabanks is that the 'internet' and 'branch' worlds are two completely separate worlds. I would expect HSBC at a branch to sit me down at a phone to talk to someone on their 800 number, like BoA does when I have a problem there.
If it would have helped, why would HSBC people on the phone not have suggested I go to a branch to resolve things?
I'm in New Zealand and haven't been into a bank once in 6 years (well, I did once but then found I could do what I wanted on the phone, so did). My wife and I have bought 2 houses and sold one 1 in this time. Papers signed at home by roving bankers and everything else by phone, email etc. Some things might require contact (business stuff?) but my stuff doesn't.
