diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/keytips/keytip_table.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/keytips/keytip_table.rs
index d14af141b..5303298bc 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/keytips/keytip_table.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/keytips/keytip_table.rs
@@ -92,6 +92,25 @@ pub fn item_letter(prefix: &str, target: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
     sequences_for(target).into_iter().find(|seq| seq.len() == prefix.len() + 1 && seq.starts_with(prefix))
 }
 
+/// True when `prefix` is the group level of a menu control: some of `target`'s sequences finish
+/// one key below it (Borders' "HB" before HBA..HBW). The menu opens there, as Excel's does, so its
+/// item letters show.
+pub fn opens_menu(prefix: &str, target: &str) -> bool {
+    !prefix.is_empty() && is_group_level(prefix) && sequences_for(target).iter().any(|seq| seq.len() == prefix.len() + 1 && seq.starts_with(prefix))
+}
+
+/// The badge for a menu item that runs `target` with `params` (compact JSON, as `keytips.json`
+/// writes it): its finish sequence one key below the prefix. Items sharing one command (the
+/// Borders presets) are told apart by their params.
+pub fn item_letter_with(prefix: &str, target: &str, params: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
+    SEQUENCES.iter().find_map(|(seq, entry)| match entry {
+        Entry::Finish(Action::CommandWith(id, p)) if *id == target && *p == params && seq.len() == prefix.len() + 1 && seq.starts_with(prefix) => {
+            Some(*seq)
+        }
+        _ => None,
+    })
+}
+
 /// Badge sequences for a command control: every sequence for `target` that continues from the
 /// current prefix (the painter strips the prefix, so the remaining letters show).
 pub fn control_badges(prefix: &str, target: &str) -> Vec<&'static str> {
@@ -197,6 +216,16 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(group_extension("E", &["dialog:pasteSpecial"]).is_empty(), "the finish letter paints on the menu item");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn menu_levels_and_item_letters_with_params() {
+        assert!(opens_menu("HB", "home.borders"));
+        assert!(!opens_menu("H", "home.borders"), "the tab level shows the HB badge, not the menu");
+        assert!(!opens_menu("", "home.borders"));
+        assert_eq!(item_letter_with("HB", "home.borders", "{\"preset\":\"all\"}"), Some("HBA"));
+        assert_eq!(item_letter_with("HB", "home.borders", "{\"preset\":\"bottom\"}"), Some("HBO"));
+        assert_eq!(item_letter_with("H", "home.borders", "{\"preset\":\"all\"}"), None);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn item_letter_is_one_level_deep() {
         assert_eq!(item_letter("HV", "dialog:pasteSpecial"), Some("HVS"));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/ribbon/home.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/ribbon/home.rs
index c061dfac3..34369be51 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/ribbon/home.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/ribbon/home.rs
@@ -158,7 +158,11 @@ pub(super) fn home(app: &mut SheetApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
                 act(app, "home.borders", json!({"preset": app.grid.last_border.clone()}));
             }
             ba.widget_info(|| egui::WidgetInfo::labeled(egui::Role::Button, ui.is_enabled(), "Border presets"));
-            egui::Popup::menu(&ba).show(|ui| {
+            // Alt, H, B opens the menu with each item's letter, as Excel's does (#2964); a letter
+            // or Esc changes the prefix, which closes it again (`ribbon_keys`).
+            let prefix = app.keytips.prefix().unwrap_or_default().to_owned();
+            let keyed = keytip_table::opens_menu(&prefix, "home.borders");
+            egui::Popup::menu(&ba).open_memory(popup_command(keyed, ba.clicked())).show(|ui| {
                 for (label, preset) in [
                     ("Bottom Border", "bottom"),
                     ("Top Border", "top"),
@@ -175,13 +179,21 @@ pub(super) fn home(app: &mut SheetApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
                     ("Top and Double Bottom Border", "topDoubleBottom"),
                     ("Inside Borders", "inside"),
                 ] {
-                    if crate::border_preview::preset_button(ui, label, preset).clicked() {
+                    let item = crate::border_preview::preset_button(ui, label, preset);
+                    if let Some(sequence) = keytip_table::item_letter_with(&prefix, "home.borders", &json!({"preset": preset}).to_string()) {
+                        keytip(app, ui, sequence, egui::pos2(item.rect.right() - 10.0, item.rect.center().y));
+                    }
+                    if item.clicked() {
                         app.grid.last_border = preset.to_string();
                         act(app, "home.borders", json!({"preset": preset}));
                     }
                 }
                 ui.separator();
-                if ui.button("More Borders…").clicked() {
+                let more = ui.button("More Borders…");
+                if let Some(sequence) = keytip_table::item_letter(&prefix, "dialog:formatCells") {
+                    keytip(app, ui, sequence, egui::pos2(more.rect.right() - 10.0, more.rect.center().y));
+                }
+                if more.clicked() {
                     app.open_dialog("formatCells", json!({"tab": "Border"}));
                 }
             });
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/keytips.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/keytips.rs
index b4418018a..68056f9ea 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/keytips.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/keytips.rs
@@ -768,3 +768,29 @@ fn border_keytips_without_a_command_stay_silent() {
         assert_eq!(borders(&h, "A1"), Default::default(), "H,B,{k:?} must not draw a border");
     }
 }
+
+/// #2964: Alt, H, B opens the Borders menu (Excel shows it with each item's letter) instead of
+/// leaving nothing on screen; a letter then picks its item and the menu closes, and Esc backs out.
+#[test]
+fn borders_keytip_opens_the_borders_menu() {
+    let mut h = harness(selected("A1:B2"));
+    sequence(&mut h, &[Key::H, Key::B], false);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().keytips.prefix(), Some("HB"));
+    assert!(egui::Popup::is_any_open(&h.ctx), "Alt, H, B opens the Borders menu");
+    assert!(h.query_by_label("All Borders").is_some(), "the menu's items show");
+    letter(&mut h, Key::A, false);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(!egui::Popup::is_any_open(&h.ctx), "picking an item closes the menu");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().keytips.prefix(), None);
+    assert!(sides(&h, "B2").iter().all(|s| *s != gridcraft_engine::model::BorderStyle::None), "A applied All Borders");
+
+    let mut h = harness(blank());
+    sequence(&mut h, &[Key::H, Key::B], false);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(egui::Popup::is_any_open(&h.ctx));
+    key(&mut h, Key::Escape);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().keytips.prefix(), Some("H"), "Esc backs out to the Home letters");
+    assert!(!egui::Popup::is_any_open(&h.ctx), "and closes the menu");
+}