Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
HSBC Classic Credit Card vs National Bank of Kuwait Cards
HSBC Classic Credit Card
Higher score in this comparison
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
What sets them apart
| Compare | HSBC Classic Credit CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | National Bank of Kuwait CardsReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | KWD 30 |
| APR | 29.9% | 12%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.99%Lower | 3% to 5% |
| Rewards type | None | Points |
| Perks | Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments, Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app, Offers and discounts via homeandaway.hsbc.com, Freeze and unfreeze the card and check the balance in the app or online banking, Credit limit of up to £1,000, may be increased automatically | NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts, Flexible payment, NBK Secure Shopping, Minimum card limit KD 250 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 17 to 36 months | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 3.09% to 3.49% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- HSBC Classic Credit Card scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Founded is lower at HSBC Classic Credit Card: 1836 vs 1952.
- National Bank of Kuwait Cards is available in 12 more countries.
- APR is lower at National Bank of Kuwait Cards: 12% vs 29.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at HSBC Classic Credit Card: 2.99% vs 3% to 5%.
- Perks: only HSBC Classic Credit Card offers Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments, Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app.
- Perks: only National Bank of Kuwait Cards offers NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts, Flexible payment.
- Support channels: only HSBC Classic Credit Card offers Chat.
- Support channels: only National Bank of Kuwait Cards offers Email.
- Features: only HSBC Classic Credit Card offers Multi currency, Travel.
Our verdict on each
HSBC Classic Credit Card
The HSBC Classic Credit Card suits anyone in the UK who wants a plain credit card with purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act and no rewards to track. The annual fee is £0, while borrowing costs sit at an APR of 29.9%, the real cost to watch.
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
National Bank of Kuwait Cards suits a Kuwaiti cardholder who wants to borrow at a low rate and earn points from a long-established bank, rather than someone chasing a fee-free account or cheap foreign spending. The Classic credit card charges interest at 12% on balances.
Score breakdown
| Area | HSBC Classic Credit Card | National Bank of Kuwait Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Cost rests on borrowing and foreign spend: an APR of 29.9% and a currency conversion fee of 2.99% outweigh a fee free holding cost. | 9.0HigherInterest of 12% is low against the credit median 20.85%, but KWD 30 and 3% to 5% add yearly and travel costs. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 9.2 |
| Trust | 10.0Higher | 9.7 |
Spending 1,000 abroad
HSBC Classic Credit Card
29.9
2.99% of 1,000
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
30 to 50
3% to 5% of 1,000
HSBC Classic Credit Card comes out 0.1 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Licences and countries
| Country | HSBC Classic Credit Card | National Bank of Kuwait Cards |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 765112 | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for National Bank of Kuwait Cards: 12.
Sources behind this comparison
HSBC Classic Credit Card
- hsbc.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- about.hsbc.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
- nbk.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | HSBC Classic Credit Card | National Bank of Kuwait Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 89 of 1336 | 107 of 1336 |
| Credit cards | 88 of 1020 | 104 of 1020 |
| Travel cards | 54 of 443 | 75 of 443 |
| Student cards | 9 of 62 | 12 of 62 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | HSBC Classic Credit Card | National Bank of Kuwait Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Multi currency, Travel | Rewards |
| Audience | Business | Student, Kids |
| Legal entity | HSBC UK Bank plc | National Bank of Kuwait |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Kuwait |
| Founded | 1836Lower | 1952 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Debit cards
| Fact | HSBC Classic Credit Card | National Bank of Kuwait Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Debit |
| Card network | Visa | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HSBC Classic Credit Card | National Bank of Kuwait Cards | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 29.9%highest quarter | 12%lowest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.99%highest quarter | 3% to 5%highest quarter | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 17 to 36 monthshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 15 |
| Balance transfer fee | 3.09% to 3.49%above the median | Not confirmed | 3 |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
HSBC Classic Credit Card
Pros
- The annual fee is £0, and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0 with the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) at $0, so a yearly charge does not decide between them.
- Purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act comes as standard, joined by contactless payments and the option to add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, so phone, chat and a help centre are all available.
Cons
- The APR is 29.9% in the UK, well above the site median of 20.97%, so a carried balance is expensive.
- Currency conversion costs 2.99% on foreign purchases, while the Wise card charges 0%.
- The rewards type is none, so spending earns nothing back, and 49.5% of the cards on the site do pay cashback.
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
Pros
- Points rewards run through the NBK Rewards Program, with instant discounts and NBK Secure Shopping listed in NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment.
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a phone call, an email or the help centre are all available.
- The bank behind the cards is National Bank of Kuwait, founded 1952 and based in Kuwait, so the counterparty is a long-established bank.
Cons
- The Classic credit card charges an annual fee of KWD 30, where Wise charges £0 and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0.
- Currency conversion runs 3% to 5% on foreign spend, above the site median 1% and the upper quartile 2.5%.
- Credit limits start at the minimum card limit listed in NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment, so a large planned balance will not fit at the outset.
Who each suits
HSBC Classic Credit Card
Who it suits
- People who pay the balance in full each month and want no yearly charge: the card's audience is business, and 66.1% of the cards on the site share that aim.
- Anyone who wants purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act and phone, chat and help centre support on the same card.
- Borrowers clearing an existing balance inside the interest free transfer window of 17 to 36.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for regular overseas spending: the Wise card charges a currency conversion fee of 0% against 2.99% here.
- Not a first credit card. 45.7% of the cards on the site serve applicants with poor credit, so the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), with an annual fee of $0, is the secured route to weigh.
- Not for reward hunters, since the rewards type is none. A cashback card serves better, and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, with an annual fee of $0, is a secured comparison rather than a rewards one.
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
Who it suits
- Kuwaiti adults who want a bank credit card and can carry the annual fee of KWD 30.
- Borrowers who keep balances short and care most about the interest rate of 12%.
- Households that want one bank for spending and borrowing together, since a debit card sits alongside the credit card (debit).
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who pay in other currencies: conversion runs 3% to 5%, so Wise suits spending abroad better.
- Anyone who wants no annual charge: Wise charges £0 and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0.
- Cardholders who want a fee-free card to rebuild credit, where the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) charges $0.
Current offers
HSBC Classic Credit Card
Current offer
Bonus
Get £500 with an HSBC Premier Bank Account: GBP 500
New customers only. Subject to eligibility and T&Cs. Credit subject to status. The £500 welcome bonus offer can be withdrawn at any time.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | HSBC Classic Credit Card | National Bank of Kuwait Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | No | Yes |
| China | No | Yes |
| Egypt | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Kuwait | No | Yes |
| Lebanon | No | Yes |
| Qatar | No | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | No | Yes |
8 of 13 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
HSBC Classic Credit Card
Does the HSBC Classic Credit Card charge an annual fee?+
No. The annual fee is £0, and the card is built around a no annual fee model, so holding it costs nothing to keep. The Varo Believe Secured Credit Card and the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) also charge no annual fee, at $0 and $0.
What rate do I pay if I carry a balance?+
The APR is 29.9%, against a site median of 20.97%, so interest on this card runs well above the typical figure on the site. That is the number to watch, because the card costs nothing to hold. Repaying the balance in full each statement means no interest is charged.
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
What does the Classic credit card cost each year?+
The annual fee on the credit card is KWD 30. That cost lands every year the account stays open, so anyone who keeps the card mainly for a single large purchase should weigh it against the interest saving. Wise and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card both charge £0 and $0.
What rate do I pay for borrowing?+
Purchases and balances on the credit card are charged at 12%. On the site's ranking of brands by interest rate, the card sits at position 27 out of 133, which puts it among the cheaper names on the list. The credit group median is 20.85%.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
HSBC Classic Credit Card
National Bank of Kuwait Cards