Home / Blog / Founder’s POV / How Banking Process Automation is Reshaping Sri Lanka’s Financial Sector
HSBC’s recent exit from Sri Lanka’s retail banking sector is more than simply another multinational leaving; it’s a strategic portfolio realignment. HSBC has announced 11 divestments so far this year, including retail banking in Malta and Sri Lanka. This is part of their global policy to “exit businesses with the intention to redeploy the costs where we don’t see growth,” as stated in their Q3 2025 financial report.
This isn’t a story of failure; it’s a story of changing strategies. HSBC had been in Sri Lanka for 133 years, but it chose to sell its retail operations to Nations Trust Bank because it believed the market might grow and expand, not because it was concerned about making a profit.
Some people see this as just an acquisition of business lines, but the real story is the big change happening in banking operations all around the world:
There are two things that banks can’t deny:
The HSBC exit shows how standard banking processes are being completely redesigned. Previously, screening, approvals, compliance rules, and making internal decisions required whole teams. Digital-first strategies are no longer just nice to have; companies need them to stay in business.
The real issue for Nations Trust Bank as it adds HSBC’s portfolio of almost 200,000 retail consumers is not getting more customers, but integrating its operations. The acquisition gives the chance to skip old processes by automating them.
This change isn’t just because HSBC is leaving. Recent changes in the market, including Standard Chartered’s talk about a strategic alliance with DFCC Bank, show that the industry is changing and that process efficiency will be key to staying ahead.
The banking sector’s future belongs to institutions that can:
Vezpr’s ATS (Applicant Tracking System) may assist HSBC’s employees in moving to Nations Trust Bank easily by using its automation features to make onboarding, integration, and operational efficiency easier.
In short, Vezpr’s ATS can help Nations Trust Bank quickly absorb HSBC’s retail workers by automating onboarding and compliance workflows, integrating operational duties, and giving real-time strategic insights. This automation lets Nations Trust Bank use technology to handle the complexity of this large-scale banking change while still focusing on high-value human interactions and client experiences.
This approach fits with the larger trend in the industry, where automating processes is important for protecting profits, lowering operational risk, and getting a competitive edge in Sri Lanka’s changing financial sector.
The message is clear: banking’s future won’t be won by those with the most branches, but by those who master process excellence through strategic automation. As Sri Lanka’s financial sector emerges from economic challenges, the institutions that thrive will be those that simplify, digitize, and automate their core operations while preserving the human touch where it matters most.
Imthiyaaz Hassim is the Founder and CEO of Vezpr, an AI-powered hiring platform, and Co-Founder of Sixer Video. Known for his entrepreneurial mindset and focus on digital innovation, he builds modern solutions that enhance recruitment and creative workflows. His leadership blends strategy, technology, and a passion for impactful products.
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