AFP Announces HSBC will Sponsor Welcome Reception at 2006 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada

BETHESDA, MD – MAY 23, 2006 – The Association for Financial Professionals today announced that HSBC will sponsor the Welcome Reception for the 2006 AFP Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada to be held October 15–18.

Nearly 6,000 treasury and finance professionals will come together to keep pace with industry changes, educate one another and discuss the issues that are impacting business performance. The reception scheduled for Sunday, October 15, 2006 at Rain Nightclub, located at the Palms Casino Resort, will kick off the most comprehensive event in treasury and finance.

"The unique and focused content and critical exchange of information makes the AFP Annual Conference an industry best practice for the treasury and finance profession", said Jim Kaitz, President and CEO of AFP. "We are excited that HSBC will be an important part of ensuring this year’s Conference will be both memorable and beneficial to attendees."

"AFP provides companies and financial institutions with an annual platform in which to discuss critical issues facing corporate treasurers," said Michael Gallagher, head of global transaction banking for NAFTA member countries at HSBC. "Serving as a sponsor at AFP, underscores our commitment to being at the forefront of issues impacting our U.S. and international client base and helping them plan for the future."

HSBC provides a wide array of transaction banking products and services including cash management, trade services, supply chain, securities and bank notes. It ranks #2 globally in cash management including providing the best in-country client service (Euromoney’s 2005 Cash Management Poll).

Please visit the Conference website for both hotel and registration information at www.afponline.org/pub/conf/annual_conference.html

HSBC Bank USA, National Association
HSBC Bank USA, N.A. offers its 3 million customers access to global markets and services. The Bank provides a full range of commercial banking products and services to individuals, corporations, institutions and governments, through its personal financial services, private banking, commercial banking and corporate investment banking and markets segments. The Bank is also an international dealer in derivative instruments and has mortgage banking and brokerage operations.

AFP
The Association for Financial Professionals, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, supports more than 14,000 individual members from a wide range of industries throughout all stages of their careers in various aspects of treasury and financial management. AFP is the preferred resource for financial professionals for continuing education, career development, certifications, research, representation to legislators and regulators, and the development of industry standards. AFP Executive Programs provide timely and relevant news, peer exchange and exclusive forums for senior-level executives. Sponsored by the Association for Financial Professionals, the CTP designation is the globally recognized industry standard for treasury and a requirement for a changing profession. More than 16,000 professionals have earned AFP's certification since 1986. For more information about AFP, visit www.AFPonline.org.