HSBC UK review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
HSBC UK suits UK account holders who want a fee free debit card for daily spending and a Classic credit card that costs nothing to hold. Borrowing and travel are the catch: 29.9% on the credit card and 2.75% in conversion fees abroad.
Key facts
- Best for
- A £0 monthly fee card plus a £0 fee credit card from one bank.
- Monthly fee
- £0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 2.75% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card network
- Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- HSBC UK Bank plc (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1836 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Chat, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Multi-currency, Travel
- Audience
- Business, Students, Kids
- Official website
- hsbc.co.uk
Credit cards
- Annual fee
- £0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- APR
- 29.9% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 2.75% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Rewards type
- None (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Balance transfer intro period
- 17 to 36 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Balance transfer fee
- 3.09% to 3.49% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- 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 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card kind
- Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- HSBC UK Bank plc (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1836 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Chat, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- No annual fee
- Features
- Multi-currency, Travel
- Audience
- Business, Students, Kids
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App Store
Pros and cons
Pros
- The debit card runs on the visa network with a £0 monthly fee.
- The credit card has a £0 annual fee and purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act.
- Balance transfers cost 3.09% to 3.49% for 17 to 36, worth weighing against your current card.
- Freeze and unfreeze the card, check the balance in the app, and pay contactless.
Cons
- Currency conversion is the weak point at 2.75%, ranking 207 of 259 brands.
- 29.9% on the credit card sits above the 20.97% seen across the cards compared.
- Rewards on the credit card are none, so spending earns nothing back.
Who it suits
- UK residents wanting a fee free debit card for daily spending and a credit card in the same app.
- People who pay contactless, add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay, and freeze it from the app.
- Households wanting one provider across a business, student or kids account, listed under business, student and kids.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, for frequent currency conversion: 0.1% against 2.75% here.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if a secured card with a $0 monthly fee suits you better.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), if a secured Visa card with a $0 monthly fee fits your spending.
How HSBC UK compares
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 8.9
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 8.8
HSBC UK vs Qonto_AT9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.7
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 8.9
9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 9.6
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.1
HSBC UK vs Rahalaitos luottokorttikampanja9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.8- 9.5 vs 8.8
- 9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.8- 9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.3
9.5 vs 8.2
9.5 vs 8.0
9.5 vs 8.0
Where HSBC UK is available
- Available
- United Kingdom
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does the HSBC UK debit card cost to hold and spend?+
The current account carries a £0 monthly fee, so holding it costs nothing. Spending abroad is the expensive part, with currency conversion at 2.75%. The debit card runs on the visa network, so it works at home and overseas.
What does the Classic credit card cost?+
The annual fee is £0 and the APR is 29.9%, so a carried balance is among the pricier options around. Rewards are none, so nothing comes back on spending. The card is issued by HSBC UK Bank plc.
What protection comes with the credit card?+
The credit card from HSBC UK Bank plc carries purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act, plus contactless payments, adding the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the mobile banking app, and offers and discounts.
Can I transfer a balance and what does it cost?+
The listed offer puts balance transfers at 3.09% to 3.49% for 17 to 36. The intro period matters more than the headline rate, since 29.9% applies once it ends. Check the end date and keep the amount within your credit limit.
Who is the bank built for?+
business, student and kids are the audiences served, and the current account sits with HSBC UK Bank plc in the GB. A debit card covers daily spending while the Classic credit card covers borrowing at 29.9%.
What if the card goes missing?+
You can freeze and unfreeze the card, and check the balance, from the app or online banking. If you would rather speak to someone, support runs on chat, phone and help centre, so phone and chat sit alongside the help centre.
Is this card any good for spending abroad?+
It is built for travel, with multi currency and travel as the listed features, and the visa network takes the card outside the UK. The catch is 2.75% on conversion, above the 1% seen across the cards compared here.
Sources
- about.hsbc.co.uk/history-timeline checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“1836 The Birmingham and Midland Bank opens for business ... established by Charles Geach in Union Street in the city of Birmingham on 22 August.”
- hsbc.co.uk/credit-cards checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Balance transfer fee, Balance transfer intro period
“Balance Transfer Credit Card ... (3.09% fee, min £5); Purchase Plus Credit Card ... (3.49% fee, minimum £5)”
- hsbc.co.uk/credit-cards/products/classic checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Annual fee, APR, Card kind, Pricing model, Perks, Rewards type
“Good news! There's no annual fee for the Classic Credit Card”
- hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/bank-account checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Monthly fee
“Your eligible deposits with HSBC UK Bank plc are protected up to a total of £120,000 ... UK residents only”
- hsbc.co.uk/help checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Support channels
“Student Account; Children's Account; Business accounts”
- hsbc.co.uk/international/using-your-card-abroad checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Features, Currency conversion fee, Card network
“You can use your HSBC debit and credit cards easily outside the UK”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.