London - HSBC published a full-page letter in British newspapers on Sunday to offer its "sincerest apologies" for past practices at its Swiss private bank, which has been accused of helping clients to evade tax.
Europe's biggest bank admitted failings in compliance and controls in its Swiss operation after media reports that said it had helped wealthy customers to conceal millions of dollars of assets up to 2007.
Britain's Treasury Committee has called the bank's chairman and chief executive to give evidence on the matter on Feb. 25, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Friday.