A view shows the closed Fillmore-Glenwood branch of HSBC bank in Buffalo, New York, in this November 20, 2009 file picture. HSBC Holdings Plc on July 31, 2011 said it plans to shed nearly half of its underperforming US branch network, selling 195 branches to First Niagara Financial Group Inc for about $1 billion, and closing 13 others. The all-cash sale to First Niagara covers more than 40 percent of HSBC's roughly 470 US branches, including 183 in upstate New York, six in New York City suburbs and six in Connecticut. It also includes $15 billion of deposits, $2.8 billion of loans and $4.3 billion of assets under management. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - British banking company HSBC said Monday it will sell just under half its retail banking branches in the United States to First Niagara Bank for around $1 billion.

The bank said most of the 195 branches to be sold are in New York Upstate region, while six are in Connecticut. Six others are in New York State - four in northern Westchester County, and two in Putnam County.

HSBC currently owns over 470 bank branches throughout the US The sale to First Niagara is part of new chief executive Stuart Gulliver's strategy to cut back on retail operations in some parts of the world and instead focus on fast growing markets in Mexico and Turkey.

Niall Booker, chief executive of HSBC North America, said the deal fits in with the company's strategy "to align our US business with our global network and meet the local and international needs of domestic and overseas clients."

The bank is still dealing with the legacy of bad loans in the US from the 2003 acquisition of consumer lender Household International Inc. The acquisition made HSBC the biggest subprime lender in the United States at the time, which resulted in billions of losses to HSBC.

The sale will be carried out through HSBC's wholly owned subsidiary HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

As of 31 May, the branches held approximately $15 billion in deposits, $15 billion in gross assets _ including $2.8 billion in loans - and $4.3 billion in assets under management.

HSBC shares were up around 1.6 percent at 604 pence ($9.90)on the news.

The bank is also expected to release its half-year results later on Monday.