HSBC credit card review
What do HSBC credit cards offer?
HSBC offers a range of credit cards including a competitive 0% balance transfer, 0% purchase, credit builder and a reward deal.
The HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card offers up to 26 months interest-free on balance transfers with a 3.49% fee. The card has a representative APR of 24.9% (variable).
HSBC also offers a Purchase Plus Credit Card - an all-rounder card offering up to 18 months interest-free on purchases, and 16 months interest-free on balance transfers with a 3.49% fee. The card also has a representative APR of 24.9% (variable).
These two deals are open to people who don't hold a current account with HSBC. Some of HSBC's other credit cards including its Reward Credit Card and its Classic Credit Card require a current account with the provider.
How does HSBC compare to other providers?
HSBC achieved an average customer score of 69% in our latest credit card satisfaction survey, coming joint 14th out of 31 providers, alongside Bip.
- Find out more: visit our guide to the best and worst credit card providers to read the full survey results and compare HSBC's score with other companies
Is HSBC a good credit card provider?
Our survey also reveals how HSBC customers rated the provider across five categories:
| Customer satisfaction category | HSBC star rating |
|---|---|
| Customer service | |
| Application process | |
| Clarity of statement | |
| Transparency of charges and penalties | |
| Ability to manage account online or via mobile app |
Table notes: star ratings are out of five and show the level of satisfaction for each category. We carry out this survey annually and update our review pages accordingly. Jump to the section on how we review HSBC to find out more about our research.
Your HSBC credit card questions answered
Grace, our credit card expert, answers the top questions people have about HSBC credit cards.
Does HSBC offer an eligibility check?
HSBC offers an eligibility checker on its website that can tell you how likely you are to be accepted before you apply.
It does a 'soft search' of your credit file and won't impact your credit rating.
Where are HSBC cards accepted?
HSBC credit cards are issued on the Visa network so can be used in millions of places in the UK and abroad.
Can I use HSBC credit cards abroad?
You will be able to use any HSBC credit card abroad, but you will be charged foreign usage fees, so check the terms and conditions to understand the costs.
If you want a credit card suited to foreign spending, check out our guide to the best travel credit cards.
How we review HSBC
Here's some more information about our research and the terms we use in this review.
Customer score
Our customer scores for credit card companies are based on an online survey of 3,775 members of the public in October 2023.
The score is calculated using a combination of overall satisfaction with the brand and the likelihood of recommending it to a friend.
Star ratings
We also ask credit card customers to rate brands on five categories including customer service, application process, clarity of statement, transparency of charges and ability to manage the account online or via a mobile app — so you can get an idea of the quality of service you might receive before you sign up.
Star ratings for each category are calculated independently of each other and the provider customer score.
Providers must receive a minimum sample size of 40 respondents to be included in our customer satisfaction tables.
- Find out more: Which? symbols, logos and ratings explained
Why should you trust Which? research?
We’re not influenced by third parties. We work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer – nobody else. See our statement of editorial independence for more.
Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of a provider before committing to any financial products.