HSBC is to apologize to US lawmakers for failing to have appropriate controls in place to ensure it did not facilitate the financing of terrorism and other criminal activities, transgressions that analysts estimate may cost it up to $1 billion in fines.

In an internal memo to staff ahead of the British bank’s scheduled appearance in front of the US Senate’s investigative panel on July 17, Stuart ­Gulliver, chief executive, wrote: “Between 2004 and 2010, our anti-money laundering controls should have been stronger and more effective, and we failed to spot and deal with unacceptable behavior.”

He said it was “right that we be held accountable and that we take responsibility for fixing what went wrong”.

His comments came a week after Bob Diamond was forced to resign as chief executive of Barclays in the wake of the bank being hit with a record fine for rigging borrowing rates. Mr. Diamond and Marcus Agius, the outgoing chairman, have both apologized for the behavior of those involved.

Mr. Gulliver warned that HSBC was likely to face further action from other US authorities in coming months.

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