Cater Allen Limited vs HSBC UK Bank plc
HSBC UK Bank has a blended long-term credit rating of AA-. Cater Allen has no public long-term credit rating from S&P, Moody's or Fitch. That is common for smaller UK banks and is not in itself a sign of weakness. Cater Allen and HSBC UK Bank hold separate banking licences, so eligible savings with each are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person separately. In the CMA's August 2026 service quality survey, 58% of HSBC UK Bank's personal customers would recommend it for overall service; Cater Allen is not one of the brands surveyed.
Cater Allen Limited
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HSBC UK Bank plc
S&P, Moody's, Fitch
Rating History Comparison
Comparison Summary
| Metric | Cater Allen Limited | HSBC UK Bank plc | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Rating | N/A | AA- | N/A |
| Normalized Score | 0 | 83 | -83 points |
| Agencies | N/A | S&P, Moody's, Fitch | Different |
| Outlook | N/A | Positive | Different |
| Trend | Same | ||
| Investment Grade | No | Yes | Different |
Service record and deposit protection
| Measure | Cater Allen | HSBC UK Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Would recommend for overall service (CMA survey, Aug 2026, personal, GB) | not surveyed | 58% (rank 11 of 17) |
| Would recommend for online and mobile banking | not surveyed | 75% (rank 7= of 17) |
| Banking complaints per 1,000 accounts (FCA) | not published | 2.26 (2026 H1) |
| Complaints upheld by the bank | not published | 59% |
| Major operational or security incidents reported to the FCA, last 12 months | not collected | 1 (to Jun 2026) |
| Banking licence (FCA reference) | 178737 | 765112 |
Cater Allen and HSBC UK Bank hold separate banking licences, so eligible savings with each are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person separately.
Survey: CMA / Ipsos, share of each brand's own customers who would recommend it (full rankings). Complaints: FCA firm-level data for the licence holder (all banks). Incidents: figures each bank must publish under the FCA's BCOBS 7 rules (all banks). A service score is about experience, not financial strength.Frequently asked questions
Is Cater Allen or HSBC UK Bank financially stronger?
HSBC UK Bank has a blended long-term credit rating of AA-. Cater Allen has no public long-term credit rating from S&P, Moody's or Fitch. That is common for smaller UK banks and is not in itself a sign of weakness. A credit rating is an agency's opinion of a bank's ability to repay its debts, not a guarantee, and it says nothing about service.
Do Cater Allen and HSBC UK Bank share FSCS protection?
Cater Allen and HSBC UK Bank hold separate banking licences, so eligible savings with each are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person separately.
Which has better customer service, Cater Allen or HSBC UK Bank?
In the CMA's August 2026 service quality survey, 58% of HSBC UK Bank's personal customers would recommend it for overall service; Cater Allen is not one of the brands surveyed. A service score reflects customers' experience, not the bank's financial strength.
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