ADDISON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 700 employees of Prospect Heights-based HSBC - North America (NYSE:HBC), family and friends took part this weekend in the world's largest charity bowling event, raising nearly $400,000 for Junior Achievement of Chicago, an affiliate of the world's largest and fastest-growing non-profit economics education organization.

The Chicago-area event, held at Stardust Bowl in Addison, is the largest component of the annual nationwide HSBC-JA Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser that benefits Junior Achievement affiliates across the country. Stardust Bowl boasts one of the country's largest 10-pin bowling centers, with 84 consecutive bowling lanes.

The Addison event began Saturday, March 25 at 10 p.m. CST, ending
Sunday at 5 p.m.

"I'm delighted that my colleagues step up year after year in support of Junior Achievement and its programs for students in the region that HSBC - North America is proud to call home," said HSBC - North America Group executive Tom Detelich. "Funds raised through the Bowl-A-Thon event, together with the hard work of JA staff and dedicated volunteers, will fund economics education for an additional 24,000 young people throughout the area."

"HSBC's Bowl-A-Thon is another example of its long-standing commitment to improving the lives of the future business and community leaders of this country," said Sandy Daffe, president, Junior Achievement of Chicago. Their strong support for Junior Achievement of Chicago programming continues to enhance the educational opportunities available to these children and will help bring JA to 320,000 students in the Chicago-area this school year."

International bowling champion Diandra Asbaty joined HSBC employees in the event, providing bowling lessons Sunday morning to students from Wesley Elementary School in Addison. Asbaty is a member of the Team USA bowling squad and an international gold medalist. HSBC employee volunteers have presented JA economics education programs to Wesley Elementary students for more than 10 years.

This year's Bowl-A-Thon was the twentieth involving HSBC and JA. In the first event in 1987, HSBC and its employees raised $6,900 for Junior Achievement's Chicago affiliate. Since then, HSBC-JA Bowl-A-Thon participants have raised more than $3 million for JA of Chicago, benefiting 150,000 students in the metropolitan area.

Nationally, HSBC and its employees have raised more than $5 million for JA affiliates, including more than $900,000 raised in 2005 alone.

In addition to the Addison event, HSBC also hosted more than 20 Bowl-A-Thon events for JA at locations throughout the United States, including in New York, Tampa and San Diego.

About Junior Achievement

JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and entrepreneurship. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA Worldwide offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today, 142 offices reach approximately four million students in the United States, with more than three million students served by operations in 96 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

About HSBC - North America

HSBC - North America comprises all of HSBC's U.S. and Canadian businesses, including the former Household International businesses. The company's businesses serve nearly 60 million customers in five key areas: personal financial services, consumer finance, commercial banking, private banking and corporate investment banking and markets. Financial products and services are offered under the HSBC, HFC and Beneficial brands. For more information, visit www.hsbc.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

Contact:

Rahsaan Johnson
HSBC - North America
847-564-7946, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mobile: 312-731-3059 after hours and weekends

Junior Achievement of Chicago
Alyssa Krachon
312-715-1300 Ext.259
Mobile: 773-610-6930

HSBC -- North America

HSBC -- North America

HSBC North America comprises all of HSBC's U.S. and Canadian businesses, including the former Household International businesses. The company's businesses serve nearly 60 million customers in five key areas: personal financial services, consumer finance, commercial banking, private banking and corporate investment banking and markets. Financial products and services are offered under the HSBC, HFC and Beneficial brands. For more information, visit: www.hsbcusa.com.

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