I'll give you a concrete example of something that HSBC UK requires visiting the branch for: opening a Certificate of Deposit. That is, if you have money already in their bank, and you want to take some from your current or savings account and move it to a CD, you must do it in person at the branch. The CD would be in the same name as the account the money came from; there is no risk to the bank at all. Yet they require a scheduled appointment at a limited selection of branches.

So they can pitch other services to you?

HSBC is also not a competitive bank - they have some of worst interest rates on the planet. HSBC is telling their customers to take their business elsewhere without so many words.