HSBC is removing social distancing restrictions for investment bankers and traders in Canary Wharf and rolling out 'refresher weeks' for employees returning to the office, as the UK lender pushes for a wider return after a sustained period of working from home.

Staff within HSBC's global banking, markets and securities services units will "start to return to regular seating configurations to meet the needs of their businesses", according to a memo sent earlier in September to employees in the UK.