The powerful board of multinational banking giant HSBC Plc will be in Bermuda at the end of the month with plans to stage their next meeting here.

HSBC, which is the world?s second largest bank by market capitalisation, bought up the Island?s largest bank ? the Bank of Bermuda ? last February for a $1.3 billion price tag.

News that the board meeting will be held here makes this the second time that powerful HSBC chairman Sir John Bond has come to the Island within a year.

It also brings the rest of HSBC?s heavyweights here to see the recent acquisition.

A bank spokesperson yesterday confirmed the visit.

?Bank of Bermuda will host the HSBC Holdings Plc board of directors meeting here in Bermuda from January 26 to 29.

?During their visit the board will engage in discussions with Government and business leaders, bank clients, staff and board members,? she said.

News that Sir John is coming back to Bermuda so soon will be a surprise for some after he signaled last January that his trips here would not likely be frequent.

At the time, Sir John said you can?t visit the Island without wanting to come back, but added that as most of his business was to do with problems, he did not expect to be needed back here anytime soon.

Yesterday the bank spokesperson said the board?s visit should be seen as one that ?reinforces the importance of the Bank of Bermuda and Bermuda within the HSBC Group?.

Sir John and group CEO Stephen Green will be joined by bank chairman Joseph Johnson and CEO Philip Butterfield for a Press briefing during the week.