HSBC UK credit cards compared: rewards and Premier

Which HSBC UK credit cards does HSBC list?

HSBC UK lists balance transfer credit cards, purchase credit cards, credit-builder credit cards, rewards credit cards and Premier cards on its credit cards page. [1] HSBC describes its featured Rewards Credit Card as earning reward points on eligible purchases. [1]

HSBC's featured cards, with the representative figures it publishes, as of 18 October 2026: [1]

HSBC also lists a separate Premier cards category. [1] The earning rules and benefits of the HSBC UK Premier World Elite Mastercard are set out on the Premier World Elite Mastercard page, and the reward currency itself is covered on the HSBC Rewards UK page.

HSBC also publishes an explainer on air miles and a guide to using a credit card overseas. [1]

How does the Rewards Credit Card compare with the rest of the range?

On the numbers HSBC publishes, the Rewards Credit Card carries a higher purchase rate than the Balance Transfer Credit Card and the Purchase Plus Credit Card, and a lower one than the Classic Credit Card: 26.9% p.a. variable, against 25.9% on the Balance Transfer Credit Card, 24.9% on the Purchase Plus Credit Card and 29.9% on the Classic Credit Card. [1] The representative APR figures on the same page match those purchase rates for each card. [1]

HSBC defines APR as the annual cost of borrowing over a year on a credit card or loan, taking into account interest and other charges such as an annual fee. [1] Rates are variable, so the figures above are the ones published as of 18 October 2026. [1]

HSBC states that there is no interest on any balance you clear by the payment due date, and that interest is charged on any balance left unpaid after that date and will show on a later statement. [1] To compare cards in a structured way, see the card selection framework.

What changes when you withdraw cash or travel with the card?

An HSBC credit card can be used to withdraw cash at ATMs, but HSBC says you will usually be charged for doing so, and interest on cash withdrawals is added daily until the balance is paid off. [1]

Payments are allocated in a set order: interest, charges and fees first, then cash advances, then instalment plans, then purchases, then balance transfers. [1] Where items in those categories carry different interest rates, the highest rate is paid off first, so the most expensive debt clears first; if two categories have the same interest rate, the oldest transactions are paid off first. [1]

For spending outside the UK, HSBC publishes a separate guide on using a credit card overseas, covering how to stay safe and reduce fees and charges while travelling. [1]

How do you apply for an HSBC UK credit card?

HSBC's eligibility checker shows which cards you are likely to be accepted for, along with an estimated credit limit, without affecting your credit score. [1] HSBC says an application will usually need your address details for the last three years, your income and employment history, and your bank account details, and that issuers also take account of your age, your credit score and whether you are a UK resident. [1]

According to HSBC there is no limit on how many credit cards you can have, and the important thing is that you manage them responsibly; it also publishes a guide to taking a second card for different spending needs. [1] Balance transfers are subject to approval and a balance transfer fee may apply. [1]

Exceptions and limits

• The interest-free balance transfer periods are limited: up to 36 months on the Balance Transfer Credit Card at a 3.09% fee (minimum £5) and up to 17 months on the Purchase Plus Credit Card at a 3.49% fee (minimum £5), and HSBC says a balance moves to the standard interest rate when an introductory rate ends. [1]
• Each representative example is based on an assumed credit limit: £1,200 for the Balance Transfer, Purchase Plus and Rewards cards, and £1,000 for the Classic Credit Card. [1]
• Cash withdrawals are usually charged and attract daily interest, so they behave differently from purchases on the same card. [1]
• Balance transfers need approval and may carry a fee, so the advertised interest-free period does not remove the transfer cost itself. [1]
• HSBC describes the Rewards Credit Card as earning reward points on eligible purchases. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Does HSBC UK offer a rewards credit card?

Yes. HSBC describes its featured Rewards Credit Card as earning reward points on eligible purchases, with a purchase rate of 26.9% p.a. variable and a representative 26.9% APR variable based on an assumed £1,200 limit. [1]

What is the difference between the Rewards Credit Card and Premier cards?

HSBC lists rewards cards and Premier cards as separate groups in its credit card menu. [1] The Premier range is described in detail on the Premier World Elite Mastercard page.

Can I check my eligibility without affecting my credit score?

Yes. HSBC's eligibility checker shows which cards you are likely to be accepted for and an estimated credit limit without affecting your credit score. [1]

What does it cost to take cash out on an HSBC UK credit card?

HSBC says cash withdrawals are usually charged, and interest on cash withdrawals is added daily until the balance is repaid. [1]

Is there a limit on how many HSBC credit cards I can hold?

HSBC says there is no limit on how many credit cards you can have, and stresses managing them responsibly. [1]

Related pages

Programmes: HSBC Rewards UK, HSBC UK Premier World Elite Mastercard. Guides: card selection framework. Glossary: frequent flyer terms.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers HSBC UK consumer credit cards only; HSBC's business and corporate cards, and credit cards issued by other UK banks, are not covered here.

1. HSBC UK credit cards: range, representative examples and card guidance, checked 18 October 2026