HSBC: Boosting Sustainable Financing Access for UK B-Corps

Access to capital plays a critical role in enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to scale and succeed.

HSBC has pledged to provide and mobilise between US$750bn and US$1tn in sustainable finance and investment by 2030.

In support of this ambition and to strengthen UK businesses, HSBC UK is extending upfront fee reductions to qualifying B Corp-certified SMEs.

Growth and resilience

Under HSBC’s Business Impact Initiative (BII), companies can benefit from discounted fees on lending and trade finance products, with facilities available from £300,000 (US$400,000) for a wide range of corporate uses.

“We are delighted to launch the HSBC Business Impact Initiative to help incentivise businesses that are increasingly expected by their customers, employees – and society at large – to be having a positive impact in their community and incorporate sustainability into their working practices, all while driving growth and building their own long-term resilience,” says Rob King, Head of Sustainable Finance & Transition at HSBC UK.

“B Corp certification verified by B Lab UK is a signal that a business is committed to its standards of social and environmental performance.

“Sustainable finance can be a critical enabler of this transition because it connects capital with sustainability outcomes—helping businesses fund decarbonisation, improve resource efficiency, and build climate resilience.

"Done well, it can help turn sustainability ambition into reality: reducing risk, improving operational efficiency, and opening new markets and customer opportunities as the economy shifts.”

What is a B Corp?

Certified B Corporations, known as B Corps, are businesses assessed for their social and environmental impact, alongside their commitment to transparency and accountability.

The certification is overseen by the non-profit organisation B Lab, which defines and maintains the standards and governance framework.

The UK is home to the world’s largest B Corp community, with more than 2,700 certified companies.

In the past year, UK B Corps recorded a 20% rise in turnover – almost seven times the growth rate of other SMEs.

Workforces within B Corp SMEs expanded by 11%, compared with just 2% growth across other SMEs.

Over the last decade, UK B Corps secured an average of £1.5m (US$2m) in growth funding, representing an 18% premium over the national average.

"By recognising businesses that meet verified standards of social and environmental practices, HSBC UK's Business Impact Initiative sends an important signal about the role finance can play in accelerating a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable economy,” says Rosalind Holley, Director at B Lab UK.

“As the challenges facing people and the planet become increasingly complex, collaboration between businesses, financial institutions and policymakers will be essential.

"We welcome initiatives that reward companies taking meaningful action and helping make responsible business practices the norm rather than the exception.”

HSBC's sustainable finance progress

HSBC’s 2025 financial results highlight how the bank is allocating capital across its global markets to support climate objectives through sustainable finance and investment.

It has directed more than US$100bn into sustainable finance and investment initiatives.

Serving approximately 41 million customers in 57 markets, HSBC ranks among the world’s largest financial institutions.

Through its focus on sustainable practices, the bank says it is helping to drive the transition toward a more inclusive and environmentally responsible financial system, reinforcing the role of institutional leadership in delivering global sustainability ambitions.