HSBC Platinum review

The annual fee is $95, which places it at 287 of 301 brands ranked on that cost and well above the €0 median. The fee is the main ongoing cost, so the points weighting only makes sense if you use the card heavily.

Purchases and cash advances price at 19.99% to 24.99%, above the 19.29% typical rate for rewards cards in the comparison and above the 20.97% site median. The card kind is credit, so a balance left uncleared grows at that rate.

The currency conversion fee is 0%, which ranks the card 1 of 181 brands on that measure and ahead of the 1% site median. Paired with points that weight travel, this is what makes the card useful on trips taken in several currencies.

Rewards are points rather than cash back. Points weight fuel and groceries most heavily, travel next and everything else at the base rate, with Rewards for Miles transfer to airline and hotel partners alongside the listed perks such as statement credits and purchase protection.

The issuer is HSBC Bank USA, National Association, based in the US and licensed as FDIC cert 57890. Purchase Assurance on items bought with the card is one of the listed perks, and it is product cover that sits alongside the banking licence rather than part of it.

Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, so phone, chat and a help centre are all available. Phone is also the most common channel among rewards cards in the comparison at 77.5%, so the route in is a familiar one.

Balance transfers cost 5% on top of the $95 annual fee. Combined with the 19.99% to 24.99% rate range, a transferred balance is the most expensive way to hold debt on this card, so clearing balances in full suits it better.

It fits US cardholders who spend on fuel, groceries and travel and pay in more than one currency, since the currency conversion fee is 0%. It fits less well anyone sensitive to an annual fee of $95, or who needs a rate below the 19.99% to 24.99% range.