Christine Cisco and Patrick Signor, formerly vice presidents and financial advisors at HSBC, are now part of RBC Wealth. The duo, who will again be working together at RBC, said in a statement that the relatively unstable environment at their former bank was the main reason for their shift. 

In August 2011, HSBC sold all branches in the upstate New York area, including 11 in the north country, to First Niagara Financial Group. However, First Niagara had said that it plans to sell off some of the branches, including those in Washington and Arsenal streets in Watertown and in Evans Mills, Adams, Carthage, Alexandria Bay, Potsdam, Massena, Malone, Lowville and Saranac Lake. 

"With the announcements, I felt it was a perfect opportunity to find a better environment for me and my clients," said Cisco. 

This isn't the first time HSBC advisors left the firm due to uncertainty related to the sell-off. Early this year, Elizabeth Fipps resigned as senior vice president and market manager of the HSBC North Country/Mohawk Valley market to join the Samaritan Foundation in Northern New York. Jeffrey Fallon, previously a VP and business relationship manager, also left to join Community Bank.