Student credit cards
Aimed at students, this credit card can help you with your finances during your studies. It comes with a £500 credit limit which should be easier to manage than a higher credit limit.
HSBC credit cards
Compare a range of credit cards from HSBC
MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker not a lender. You must be 18 or over and a UK resident.
Who is HSBC?
HSBC is one of the world’s biggest banks, providing customers with everything from current accounts to mortgages. And, as you’d expect from a global banking brand, it also offers a full range of credit cards to suit every wallet.
What types of cards do HSBC offer?
Unsurprisingly as one of Britain’s biggest banks, HSBC offer a variety of credit cards, such as:
-
-
Travel credit cards
For frequent flyers, HSBC offers travel credit cards which you can use to earn reward points for travel-related perks. Options range from free-fee cards to cards with annual fees for existing customers with enhanced benefits.
-
Credit builder
Targeted at those who are new to credit, HSBC’s Classic Credit Card can help you build your credit rating as it comes with a relatively low credit limit and no annual fee.
-
Rewards
You can earn rewards points on eligible purchases with HSBC’s Rewards Credit Card – including a bumper points haul on your first purchase. Also comes with an introductory interest-free period for balance transfers and purchases.
How to pick the best HSBC credit card?
There’s a wide range of HSBC credit cards designed for specific financial goals. The best HSBC credit card for you will depend on how you plan to use the card.
If you’ve never used credit before: If this will be your first credit card then HSBC’s credit builder card or Student Credit Card could be a wise choice. These cards both have low credit limits and don’t carry an annual fee, which can make them easier to manage than other cards aimed at more experienced borrowers.
You travel often: If you’re regularly abroad then you can benefit from HSBC’s travel credit cards, which come with perks such as airport lounge access and the ability to use your card abroad.
Need an all-rounder: HSBC’s Purchase Plus Credit Card offers up to 18 months of interest-free purchases and up to 16 months of interest-free balance transfers. The card carries a 3.49% fee.
Trusted Service Awards Winners
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Am I eligible for a HSBC card?
As HSBC offers many different types of credit cards, the eligibility requirements for each one will vary. However, for most of their credit cards you’ll need to meet the following criteria*:
18 and over
A UK resident
Have an annual UK taxable income or pension of £6,800 or above
Hold a current account that isn’t just an HSBC Basic Bank Account
*Meeting the criteria does not guarantee acceptance
How to compare credit cards with MoneySupermarket
Comparing credit cards couldn’t be easier with MoneySuperMarket. Our eligibility checker tool will show you the cards you’re most likely to be approved for – and we'll protect your credit using a soft search.
-
Tell us about yourself
We'll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
-
We browse the market
We'll sift through dozens of offers from across the market, and show you the cards we think will suit you best
-
Pick the card you want
You'll be shown a range of cards, which you'll be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
Can I get an HSBC credit card with bad credit?
That depends on your circumstances. But it’s worth noting that HSBC’s range of credit products includes credit-builder cards, which are designed for the needs of people with impaired credit ratings.
That means they should be easier to get. But it's important to be mindful that, as someone with a worse-than-usual credit rating, you’ll typically be offered a lower credit limit and higher APR than someone with a better credit profile.
How can I get in touch with HSBC?
You can reach HSBC on 03457 404 404, or on 03457 707 070 if you’re a Premier customer.
Its standard customer support service’s opening hours are 08:00 to 20:00 every day. Customer support for Premier customers is open 24/7.
How long will it take to receive an HSBC credit card?
Once you've applied and been approved for an HSBC credit card, you can expect your new card to arrive within seven working days. Your PIN will usually follow separately a few days later.
If your card hasn’t turned up after a week, it’s worth giving HSBC a call to check on its status – especially if you need it in a hurry.
Pay off as much as you can – in full if possible
It’s best to pay off your entire credit card balance every month if you can afford to – this way you won’t pay interest and you can avoid building up debt. If you can’t afford to pay off the full balance, you must pay off at least the minimum monthly payment – ideally more.
Don’t miss payments
Avoid missing credit card payments – credit card providers will often charge a penalty if you miss a payment and you also risk harming your credit score.
Set up a direct debit to pay your credit card balance
Setting up a direct debit could be a good way to ensure you pay off at least the minimum amount of your credit balance each month.
Don’t apply for new credit cards too often
Each time you make an application for a credit card, it leaves a record – known as a ‘hard search’ - on your credit report. Too many applications can make lenders think you are in desperate need for credit and your application may be rejected.
Get credit cards that offer rewards
Some credit cards have extra benefits that reward you when you use them a certain way. While some of them can be tempting, it’s better to get a credit card that will give you rewards for the way you spend already.
For example, an airmiles credit card. or one that earns you Avios travel-related points, is only going to be useful if you’re a regular flyer, but if you’re a regular shopper at a particular high street store, there might be a credit card that gives you cashback for shopping there.
Be careful when travelling overseas
If you’re planning to use your credit card overseas, check whether or not you’ll be charged for doing so. Many credit cards charge fees for foreign transactions, so it can be a good idea to look for a card that won’t charge you for using it abroad.
Don’t use your credit card for cash withdrawals
Some credit cards will charge a fee if you use them to take cash out of a cash machine, and on top of that you’ll be charged interest from the moment you receive your money. Avoid using your credit card for cash withdrawals unless it’s an emergency.
Protect yourself from fraud
Credit card fraud, like any fraud, is serious – you should always take care when using your credit card and be careful where you keep it. Never tell anyone your PIN and regularly check your statements every month – or if your credit card has an app, check that regularly - to make sure there are no surprises.
Credit card deals comparison
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might be able to find a better deal if you look through offers from different providers before taking one out. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to search through multiple credit card deals and compare them by a range of factors, including their interest rates and any benefits and rewards they come with.
All you need to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation, and our Eligibility Checker will show your chances of being accepted for different credit cards. This won’t affect your credit score, so you can run a check without any worries.
Once you know which card you want, you can normally apply by phone, online, or in person if the provider has a high street branch. However, when you do apply, the provider will usually run a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report – to confirm whether they’ll give you the card. If you’re accepted they’ll tell you your credit limit and interest rate, and soon you’ll be ready to start using your credit card.
How we work
MoneySuperMarket gives you lots of clever ways to save a lot, by doing very little.
Take control of your credit score by checking and improving it for free with Credit Score
Never overpay again with Energy Monitor, our energy monitoring service
Earn rewards of up to £130 per year when you make a qualifying purchase with SuperSaveClub
So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy a product, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
But you might have other questions. Do we provide access to all the companies operating in a given market? Do we have commercial relationships or ownership ties that might make us feature one company above another?
We commit to providing you with clear and informative answers on all points such as this, so we have gathered the relevant information on this page.
Reviewed on 12 Dec 2025 by
