HSBC to wind down retail banking in Russia

MOSCOW, April 25 (Reuters): Europe's largest bank, HSBC, has decided to close its retail banking operation in Russia and concentrate on servicing corporate clients, a document obtained by the news agency showed Monday. "We encourage all customers to close their HSBCPremier and HSBC Plus accounts before June 30, 2011," the document said. HSBC will follow British Barclays, which earlier this year said it will sell its Russian unit and focus on investment banking, as it was unable to compete in local retail business.