Best HSBC Credit Cards
- Best for cash back: HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- Best for 0% intro APR offer: HSBC Gold Mastercard® credit card
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Check out the best credit card offers from HSBC below. HSBC offers simple card structures with great benefits. Compare offers side by side and apply online for the credit card that is right for you.
See the best credit card offers from HSBC below.
$150 Cash Back Intro Bonus for new HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card customers who spend $2,500 or more in new, net card purchases during the first 3 months from credit card account opening.
$150 Cash Back Intro Bonus for new HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card customers who spend $2,500 or more in new, net card purchases during the first 3 months from credit card account opening.
Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by CreditCards.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the bank's website for the most current information.
One of the largest banks in the world and the biggest in Europe, HSBC's history dates back to serving as a locally owned bank in Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning in 1865. Today, it holds an impressive global reach. Its competitive credit cards rival the more familiar cards from the likes of Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, offering expansive benefits in addition to superior rewards. Here, we look at:
A Britain-based bank, HSBC was founded in 1865 to bridge trade between Europe and China. Called Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, the bank opened in Hong Kong in March 1865, and in Shanghai a month later. Originally a locally owned bank, today, it spans the world.
HSBC, the seventh largest bank in the world, according to S&P Global Intelligence, is also Europe's largest, with $2.37 trillion in assets in 2017. Here is where HSBC stands in the world:
Rank | Bank | Assets | Country |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Industrial & Commercial Bank of China | $3.47 trillion | China |
2 | China Construction Bank Corp. | $3.01 trillion | China |
3 | Agricultural Bank of China | $2.81 trillion | China |
4 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group | $2.72 trillion | Japan |
5 | Bank of China | $2.61 trillion | China |
6 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $2.49 trillion | U.S. |
7 | HSBC Holdings | $2.37 trillion | U.K. |
8 | BNP Paribas | $2.19 trillion | France |
9 | Bank of America | $2.18 trillion | U.S. |
10 | Wells Fargo & Co. | $1.93 trillion | U.S. |
Source: S&P Global Intelligence
HSBC's global reach spans commercial banking, wealth management and more.
The HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard competes against cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, with 1.5% back on all purchases and a $150 sign-up bonus after a $2,500 spend within the first 3 months. This card also offers a 10% anniversary bonus on all cash rewards, a rare treat.
What we love about this card – It's not every day that you find a cash back card with no foreign transaction fee. This card can be ideal for online shopping with international vendors or for foreign travel, as it is also rich in travel and shopping benefits, including price protection and pre-trip planning assistance.
Card | HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
---|---|---|
Sign-up bonus | $150 / $2,500 spend in 3 mths | $150 / $500 spend in 3 mths |
Ongoing rewards | 1.5% * $2,500 * 12 mths = $450 | 1.5% * $2,500 * 12 mths = $450 |
Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
Anniversary reward | $450 + $150 * 10% = $60 | N/A |
Total value at end of first year | $660 | $600 |
Although there is no 0% offer on purchases, the HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard delivers a competitive 15-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers (then variable APR of 15.24%, 19.24%, or 25.24%).
While there are no ongoing rewards or sign-up bonuses, that's not why you would want this card. With the HSBC Gold Mastercard, you can get a whopping 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers and purchases, which rivals the Citi Simplicity Card. That means you'll pay no interest going into 2020. There's also a generous late fee waiver and no penalty APR.
What we love about this card – As generous as the 0% APR is, there's another advantage to this card – the variable APR starts as 13.24%, well below the national average. The rate goes up to 21.24%, which is still well under the high rate for many balance transfer cards. So, if you find that you may need to go over a few months, know that your interest charges would be more manageable with this card.
Card | Interest rate | Monthly payment | Balance | Number of additional months | Interest paid |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HSBC Gold Mastercard | 13.24% | $200 | $5,000 | 8 | $65.28 |
Citi Simplicity Card | 15.99% | $200 | $5,000 | 8 | $79.75 |
With no foreign transaction fee and a minimum of 1:1 redemption for cash and points, the HSBC cards strike a chord for the world traveler. There's also the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard credit card, with a 50,000-point sign-up bonus after a $4,000 spend in 3 months that becomes a whopping $750 in air travel, and the HSBC Premier World Mastercard credit card's 35,000-point sign-up bonus after a $3,000 spend in 3 months, which becomes $400 in air travel.
For the HSBC Cash Rewards card, there's also the 10% anniversary bonus earned each year. For example, if you earned $500 in cash, you'll receive an additional $50 anniversary bonus. There's no limit on the amount of cash rewards you can earn and no expiration date.
Here's how the rewards on the Cash Rewards Mastercard can be redeemed:
This can be used toward travel, purchases and more.
Choose from hundreds of gift cards from a wide selection of dining, travel, shopping and entertainment merchants.
Choose from leading brand name reward items, including electronics, luggage, kitchenware, sports gear and more.
Fly on most major airlines with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. Search, book and pay for flights, hotels, and car rentals using the HSBC online travel rewards site. Or request a statement credit, within 90 days, to reimburse a travel purchase when you book your own travel with your card.
Other cards, such as the Premier World Elite Mastercard, allow you to redeem points for flights, reservations and car rentals through the bank's travel portal or as a statement credit.
Here are other benefits you can get with your HSBC card, according to the card issuer:
Laura is an editor and writer at CreditCards.com. She has written extensively on all things credit cards and works to bring you the most up-to-date analysis and advice. Laura's work has been cited in such publications as the New York Times and Associated Press. You can reach her by e-mail at laura.mohammad@creditcards.com and on Twitter @creditcards_lm.