Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
HSBC UK vs Qonto_AT
Qonto_AT
HSBC UK
Higher score in this comparison
Where HSBC UK and Qonto_AT differ
| Compare | HSBC UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Qonto_ATReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | €9 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | 2%Lower |
| Card network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | from 30 |
Same on both: Card type (Debit).
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Key differences
- HSBC UK scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at HSBC UK: 1836 vs 2017.
- Qonto_AT is available in 7 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Qonto_AT: 2% vs 2.75%.
- Support channels: only Qonto_AT offers Email.
- Features: only Qonto_AT offers Virtual card.
- Audience: only HSBC UK offers Student, Kids.
Our verdict on each
HSBC UK
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.
Qonto_AT
Qonto suits sole traders and small companies that want a euro account with a Mastercard card and an annual fee of €0. The account itself costs €9 a month and overdraft borrowing runs at 17.5%, so the card only pays off if you use it.
Score breakdown
| Area | HSBC UK | Qonto_AT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8The £0 monthly fee and £0 annual fee are both free, but 2.75% abroad and 29.9% on borrowing pull the score down. | 9.1Higher |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 10.0Higher | 8.2 |
Licences and countries
| Country | HSBC UK | Qonto_AT |
|---|---|---|
| France | Not confirmed | FR_ACPR PSD_PI FR_ACPR!68677 |
Additional countries for HSBC UK: 1. Additional countries for Qonto_AT: 8.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | HSBC UK | Qonto_AT |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 74 of 1336 | 9 of 1336 |
| Credit cards | 76 of 1020 | 7 of 1020 |
| Business debit cards | 18 of 201 | 2 of 201 |
| Travel cards | 40 of 443 | 7 of 443 |
| Business credit cards | 10 of 92 | 2 of 92 |
Sources behind this comparison
HSBC UK
- hsbc.co.uk: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- about.hsbc.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Qonto_AT
- qonto.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | HSBC UK | Qonto_AT |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi currency, Travel | Multi currency, Virtual card, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business, Student, KidsCovers more | Business |
| Legal entity | HSBC UK Bank plc | QONTO |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | France |
| Founded | 1836Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Credit cards
| Fact | HSBC UK | Qonto_AT |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | €0 |
| APR | 29.9% | 17.5%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | None |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Balance transfer intro period | 17 to 36 months | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 3.09% to 3.49% | Not confirmed |
| 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 | Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost, Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans), Apple Pay and Google Pay compatible, 24/7 support in France, 7 days a week elsewhere |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HSBC UK | Qonto_AT | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 2%above the median | 1% |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €4 |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | from 30highest quarter | 8 |
Median across 387 listed cards.
Pros and cons
HSBC UK
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.
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.
Qonto_AT
Pros
- Annual card fee of €0, and card insurance covers travel, business purchases and fraud.
- Multi-currency, virtual card and travel features come with the Mastercard.
- Deferred debit is available at no extra cost on Plus and X Cards.
Cons
- The account charge of €9 a month sits above the site median €0.
- Conversion at 2% is above the site median 1%.
- Spend earns nothing back, with a rewards type of none.
Who each suits
HSBC UK
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.
Qonto_AT
Who it suits
- A sole trader or small company paying staff and suppliers from the same euro account.
- Businesses spending across from 30 currencies that keep a balance in each.
- Teams wanting a virtual card for subscriptions next to a physical Mastercard.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after cashback on spend, since the rewards type here is none, so Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) is worth a look.
- Anyone without a company behind the account, as Qonto is built for business customers and Wise serves personal money.
- Anyone building a credit record first, for whom Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is the secured option.
Current offers
HSBC UK
Current offer
Bonus
Get £220 when you switch to an HSBC Bank Account: £220
Open a Bank Account in the mobile banking app and, within 60 days, complete a full switch (including 2 Direct Debits) using the Current Account Switch Service, pay in £2,000 and spend £500 on your debit card. New customers only, HSBC Bank Account only (Basic Bank Account not eligible); cashback paid within 60 days once all qualifying criteria are met; UK residents only; not available to customers who have held an HSBC UK or first direct current account since 1 January 2023; offer may be withdrawn at any time.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Qonto_AT
Current offer
Free trial
1-month free trial on Qonto business account plans: 1 month free
Offered on the Basic, Smart and Premium business account plans; displayed prices are monthly equivalents billed annually
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | HSBC UK | Qonto_AT |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| Portugal | No | Yes |
| Spain | No | Yes |
8 of 9 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
HSBC UK
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.
Qonto_AT
What does a Qonto business account cost each month?+
The account itself is billed at €9 a month, while the card carries an annual fee of €0. Overdraft borrowing is charged at 17.5%, and currency conversion on the card costs 2%. Card spend itself adds nothing, so the running cost depends on borrowing and on how often you pay in another currency.
Who supervises Qonto in France?+
Qonto is supervised in France by ACPR (Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution), recorded as 16958. The French register lists the same authority as PSD_PI FR_ACPR!68677, and France is the headquarters country. Both entries point to the same French body, so the account sits under a single named supervisor.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Qonto_AT
HSBC UK