royal bank of scotland isn't HSBC though - dp works for RBS. They own NAtwest. They've got the customer friendly promotion running.
If I banked with HSBC I would consider moving to a bank that seemed to want my service.
Banks are a business, yes, but they still make money off poorer customers especially if they have loans/overdrafts.
Some people aren't going to want to bank with a company that treats them overtly as second class customers. They will go to another bank that promotes friendly service. They want to know that their bank values them as a customer. HSBC clearly don't unless you have a certain amount of money - so many of those who don't will go elsewhere. I think they will lose quite a bit of business from this.