HSBC Advance Mastercard® Credit Card

At a Glance

A capable rewards card that combines an introductory 0% APR period, points for everyday purchases, and an appealing sign-up bonus, the HSBC Advance Mastercard® credit card offers more benefits than drawbacks as part of your daily rotation.

Ideal for Those Who:

• Frequently dine out at restaurants
• Make frequent entertainment purchases in the form of music or sporting event tickets, tourist attractions, amusement parks, or movie tickets
• Are looking for a credit card you can use for foreign transactions without having to pay extra fees
• Plan to transfer a balance or make a large purchase in order to save on interest payments

HSBC Advance Mastercard® Card Review

As a rewards card, the HSBC Advance Mastercard® fares comparably with the competition of no annual fee cards. HSBC Advance cardholders earn 2X Rewards Points on new, net dining and select entertainment purchases and 1X points on all other purchases made with the card.

Beyond the ability to earn rewards on everyday purchases, the Advance Card also comes with a special sign-up bonus. New accounts earn an introductory 3X points on dining and select entertainment purchases and 2X points on all other purchases in the first 12 months from account opening (up to $25,000 in spending).

HSBC Rewards offers a flexible redeeming structure for its cardholders with this card, allowing you to cash out your points for gift cards, products from hundreds of partnered retailers, or even travel booking such as flights, hotel stays, and car rentals.

If you decide to plan a trip using your accumulated rewards – or even by using your card traditionally – you can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees, so feel free to use the HSBC Advance wherever Mastercard is accepted abroad.

0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers

Like any other card wishing to stand out, the HSBC Advance Mastercard® offers a few extra welcome incentives. If you’ve been eyeing a big-ticket purchase, you may want to consider using this card to pull the trigger, as you’ll have 12 interest-free months to pay off the balance.

The promotional offer also applies to balance transfers. In addition, you can vacation with peace of mind if the unexpected occurs while flying or driving, as the card includes insurance coverage for both rental vehicle incidentals and airline carrier accidents.

No Annual Fee for HSBC Checking Customers

All of these pluses come at the price of a $45 annual fee, which is waived the first year. However, if you’re a U.S. HSBC client with a Advance or Premier checking account, the annual fee is waived entirely.

HSBC Platinum Mastercard® with Rewards HSBC Advance Mastercard® Card?

The HSBC Advance Mastercard® more than holds its own against stiff competition in the rewards credit card space. The 2X points on dining and entertainment, plus 1X on everything else aren’t exceptional but are capable of providing value to existing HSBC Advance or Premier bank account holders. For everyone else, however, the $45 annual fee just doesn’t provide enough value for money.