24-hour culture means no rest for the business night owls
26 October 2005
The rise of the UK’s 24-hour society has resulted in businesses managing their finances into the small hours.

Research by HSBC Bank into its business internet banking customers has discovered that every week night, more than 1,500 customers log on between 2300 and 0600 hours. HSBC’s business banking experts say that the trend reflects the increasing demands of 24-hour Britain, where companies are expected to respond to customer demands around the clock.

"Our lives have been transformed over the last 20 years," says Simon Wainwright, head of business banking at HSBC. "Technological advances and government legislation mean we can now shop, eat, drink, exercise, fill up our cars, watch television or even see a doctor 24 hours a day. And our working week is getting longer. More UK employees work over 45 hours a week than in any other part of Europe, whilst changing family trends mean that the traditional nine-to-five day, five days a week is fast disappearing.

"Businesses are taking advantage of the internet to respond to the 24-hour economy. More than 120 new customers apply for an HSBC business account online every week and nine out of ten small businesses, the backbone of the UK economy, have internet access.

"Businesses that bank online can respond quickly to customer demand, move quickly to capitalise on market opportunities and keep direct control of their cash flow."

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