Acqn of Bon-Ton card accts

HSBC Holdings PLC
24 June 2005


                     HSBC TO ACQUIRE BON-TON PRIVATE LABEL
                              CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS

The Retail Services business of HSBC North America Holdings Inc is to acquire
the private label credit card accounts and related assets of The Bon-Ton Stores,
Inc., a United States-based retailer operating 139 department stores and two
furniture stores under the Bon-Ton and Elder-Beerman names.

Subject to regulatory approval and other conditions, HSBC will pay the value of
the customer account balances, estimated to be US$300 million for the quarter
ended March 2005, together with a five per cent premium. HSBC and Bon-Ton expect
to close the transaction in July 2005.

HSBC and Bon-Ton will enter into a seven-year agreement in which Bon-Ton will
participate in the revenue generated by the credit sales.

"Our new partnership with Bon-Ton is an important win for HSBC Retail Services,
and we are proud that they chose us as their private label credit provider,"
said Joseph Hoff, chief executive officer, HSBC Retail Services. "We look
forward to building a successful relationship with Bon-Ton, and are confident
that our expertise in credit, marketing analytics and customer loyalty will help
them continue to grow and build upon their business success."

Notes to editors:

1. HSBC Retail Services
HSBC Retail Services is a leading issuer of private label (merchant branded)
credit cards in the US. This business provides flexible, customised credit card
solutions for many of the world's premier retailers and manufacturers and has
over 60 active merchant relationships. For more information, visit
www.hsbcretailservices.com.

2. HSBC - North America
HSBC - North America comprises all of HSBC's US and Canadian businesses,
including the former Household businesses. The company's businesses serve more
than 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.

3. HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc serves over 110 million customers worldwide through
approximately 9,800 offices in 77 countries and territories in Europe, the
Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of
US$1,277 billion at 31 December 2004, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking
and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's
local bank'.

4. Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 139 department stores and two furniture stores
in 16 states from the Northeast to the Midwest under the Bon-Ton and
Elder-Beerman names. The stores carry a broad assortment of quality brand-name
fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as
distinctive home furnishings. For further information, please visit the investor
relations section of Bon-Ton's website at www.bonton.com/investor/home.asp.
                                   




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange