Under the agreement, Microsoft will provide HSBC with certificates for three-year priority support subscriptions to Novell's SuSE Linux Enterprise Server.
HSBC hopes that this standardisation will cut costs and improve interoperability with its existing Windows systems.
"The Microsoft-Novell agreement is a great catalyst to helping us reduce the complexity of our Linux environment as we standardise our Linux infrastructure with SuSE Linux Enterprise and continue to extend the use of Microsoft Active Directory," said Matthew O'Neill, group head of distributed systems for HSBC's global IT operations.
Microsoft and Novell teamed up in November to help make Windows and Linux more compatible and solve some of the interoperability issues when using a combination of Linux and Windows systems.
Roger Levy, vice president of open platform solutions at Novell, will join HSBC's Open Source Software Committee as a non-voting advisor.
"The ability of HSBC to reduce complexity, simplify support and increase its IT agility is a testament to the mission of Novell's agreement with Microsoft to help customers win," he said.
"Novell is pleased to become HSBC's trusted Linux partner, and standardising Linux on SuSE Linux Enterprise Server will give the company a rock-solid foundation that will seamlessly interact with its Windows environment."
HSBC's contract follows a similar deal signed in January between Microsoft and Wal-Mart to supply the retail giant with SuSE Enterprise Server.
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