HSBC Credit Card Application: Requirements, Steps, and More

When it comes to credit cards, HSBC offers some of the most attractive and flexible options. Primarily, HSBC credit cards are for those who put a premium on lifestyle. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use them for everyday purchases. 

If you’re planning to switch to or get a new credit card, HSBC’s range is definitely worth looking into. Other than the excellent features and privileges that come with their cards, the application process is surprisingly easy. 

Here’s a simple guide to HSBC credit card application. We’ve also covered other important things you need to know about HSBC credit cards. 

Why Get an HSBC Credit Card? 

Looking for reasons to justify your HSBC credit card application? There are a lot of them. Here are some of the most noteworthy: 

👍 Annual Fee Waiver in the First Year

Three of HSBC’s credit cards come with a zero annual fee for the first year. This means you can enjoy the card’s features without paying for the initial membership fee. If you decide to go for the HSBC Premier Mastercard, which is the bank’s most exclusive credit card, you get to enjoy zero annual fee for life. 

👍 Fast Rewards Program

With HSBC, spending is always a rewarding experience. You can redeem gift certificates, air miles, and exclusive freebies using your bonus points. Its Accelerated Rewards Program offers one of the fastest earn rates in the market.

With the HSBC Red Mastercard, for instance, you earn 1 point for every ₱20 spend and 4x bonus points on online, shopping, dining, and overseas transactions. 

If you’re into earning rebates, HSBC offers the Live+ credit card. It earns you up to 8% cash back on dining transactions, 5% on shopping and entertainment, 2% on fast food spend, and 0.2% on all other transactions. 

👍 0% Installment on Shopping and Essential Purchases

If you love shopping, start your HSBC credit card application now. Enjoy 0% installment for up to 36 months at any of the bank’s partner merchants and buy big-ticket purchases, such as appliances, gadgets, and furniture, without paying additional interest.

HSBC’s 0% installment program applies to transactions related to education, health, beauty, and wellness as well. 

Read more: How Does a Credit Card Installment Plan Work in the Philippines?

👍 Travel Perks 

HSBC credit cards are some of the best travel credit cards out there, thanks to the following features: 

• Free travel insurance – Depending on your card, you may get free travel insurance coverage when you pay for your travel fare with your HSBC credit card. The Live+ Credit Card, for instance, has coverage of up to ₱10 million. 

• Access to home&Away Privilege Programme – The HSBC home&Away Privilege Programme gives cardholders access to deals and discounts at more than 27,000 establishments across 160 countries / regions / territories worldwide. 

• Fuel savings at Caltex – Go on road trips for less with HSBC’s partnership with Caltex. With your HSBC Red Mastercard, Live+ Credit Card, or Premier Mastercard, you get to enjoy a 6% rebate on your first Caltex fuel purchase and a 3% rebate for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, the HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back Credit Card gives you a 3% rebate when you gas up at participating Caltex stations nationwide.  

👍 Exclusive Dining Privileges

HSBC credit cards are a foodie’s buddy. For instance, the Live+ Credit Card gives you access to the Live+ Dining Programme, which curates a list of restaurants across Asia where you can get discounts of up to 15%. Currently, the program lists more than 200 restaurants across the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

👍 Reliable During Emergencies 

You can count on your HSBC credit card in case you’re dealing with a financial emergency. Through a cash advance, you can withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card. You can even make withdrawals abroad. 

👍 Convenient Payments

Because an HSBC credit card is contactless, you don’t have to swipe it to complete your transactions. Just tap your card at a designated credit card payment terminal here or abroad, and you’re good to go. Transactions worth ₱2,000 or below don’t even require a PIN or signature. 

You can also say goodbye to missed due dates with HSBC’s AutoCharge. Set up your account to automatically pay your bills. Major billers include PLDT, SkyCable, and Globe Telecom, among others. 

👍 Security Features

HSBC credit cards come with an EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) chip. This mechanism reduces the chance of your card getting compromised.

And if you’re shopping online, the HSBC Secure Pay feature adds another layer of protection. This includes password protection and personal message features powered by Mastercard SecureCode and Verified by Visa.

Related: 26 Most Common Credit Card Terms Every Cardholder Should Know

4 Steps to HSBC Credit Card Application in the Philippines

To complete the HSBC credit card application process in the Philippines, follow these four steps:

Step 1: Check If You're Qualified

Make sure you're eligible to apply for the credit card—this is the first and most important step in the entire application process.

General requirements include the following:

• With a gross annual income of at least ₱200,000 for Red Mastercard, Live+ Credit Card, and Gold Visa Cash Back. 
• Primary cardholder of a credit card issued by a bank in the Philippines for at least 12 months
• For Premier Mastercard, applicants should satisfy any of the following: 
  • An HSBC Premier^[1] bank account – You must have a total relationship balance (TRB) of ₱3 million or its foreign currency equivalent. 
  • Employee banking solution – If you take this route, the bank will require you to present valid proof of income and credit your gross monthly salary of at least ₱300,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) into your HSBC account.
  • Home loan – Your home loan must be worth at least ₱6 million. If you get approved for this loan, you may upgrade your account to HSBC Premier.

Step 2: Prepare All Requirements

HSBC will process your credit card application only when you’ve submitted all the required documents. Since some documents take a while to obtain, especially government-issued ones, it's best to prepare them first before you proceed with applying for an HSBC credit card.

📋 HSBC Credit Card Requirements:

• Accomplished application form
• Proof of identity with your complete name, picture, and birthday (at least one of the following: passport, driver’s license, SSS/TIN ID, NBI Clearance, or Voter’s ID)
• For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs): Certificate of Employment, work permit or working visa issued in the country/territory of residence, OFW card issued by POEA, or POEA Certificate

Step 3: Decide Which Credit Card to Apply For

Next, choose the most suitable HSBC credit card for you. Examine your options carefully by comparing important features such as the following:

• Annual fee: Consider whether you can afford the cost or not
• Rewards and cashback: These should apply to categories you frequently spend on (e.g., travel, shopping, dining, etc.)

Check out the features and benefits of the following HSBC credit cards:

💳 HSBC Red Mastercard

Features and Benefits:

• 1 bonus point for every ₱20 spend
• 4x bonus points on online, shopping, dining, and overseas transactions
• 6% rebate on your first Caltex fuel purchase and 3% fuel rebates year-round

Fees and Charges:

• Minimum monthly income: ₱16,666
• Annual fee: ₱2,500 
  
• Interest rate: 3% 

If you’re looking for a no-frills credit card that you can use for daily transactions, consider the HSBC Red Mastercard. It may be basic, but it has a generous earn rate of 1 bonus point per ₱20 spend, which means you can earn rewards points fast. What makes it more exciting is that you can earn 4x points on certain transactions, even including online purchases! 

💳 HSBC Live+ Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• Up to 8% rebate on restaurant transactions
• Up to 5% rebate on shopping and entertainment spend
• Up to 2% rebate fast food spend
• 0.2% rebate on all other transactions 

Fees and Charges:

• Minimum monthly income: ₱16,666
• Annual fee: ₱5,000
• Interest rate: 3% 

The HSBC Live+ Credit Card is for cardholders who put a premium on their lifestyle. Foodies, shopaholics, and travel aficionados will benefit from the card’s cashback system. With this credit card, you can earn up to ₱1,250 per month or up to ₱15,000 per year. 

💳 HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back 

Features and Benefits:

• 5% rebate on dining transactions
• 0.20% rebate on all other transactions
• 3% rebate on Caltex fuel purchases

Fees and Charges:

• Minimum monthly income: ₱16,666
• Annual fee: ₱2,500
• Interest rate: 3% 

A straightforward rebate card, the HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back lets you earn up to 5% cashback on dining transactions. It also earns you 1% rebate on back-to-school and overseas transactions during specific periods of the year. 

💳 HSBC Premier Mastercard 

Features and Benefits:

• 3x bonus points on local shopping or dining transactions
• 4 bonus points for every ₱20 spend on overseas purchases
• 1 air mile for as low as ₱25 spend
• Membership to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
• Free travel insurance 
• 6% rebate on your first Caltex fuel purchase and 3% fuel rebates year-round

Fees and Charges:

• Minimum monthly income: ₱300,000 (gross)
• Annual fee: No annual fee for life 
• Interest rate: 3% 

The HSBC Premier Mastercard is for those who want to enjoy the finer things in life. If you love traveling and shopping abroad, this card earns you 4 bonus points whenever you spend ₱20. You can also earn air miles, which you can use to redeem free flights.

Related reading:

• Fly for Free When You Convert Your Credit Card Points to Miles
• How to Save Money on Gas: Credit Card Rebates, Loyalty Perks, and More

Step 4: File Your Application

For more convenience, it is recommended you file your HSBC credit card application online. You can easily apply for an HSBC credit card through the Moneymax website!

Alternatively, you can also go to the HSBC Credit Cards page^[2] on the bank's official website and click the Apply for credit card button under your chosen credit card.

Completing the online application form takes about 10 minutes. To speed up the process, prepare your valid ID number and existing credit card number beforehand. 

You'll receive an email requesting you to submit supporting documents. Use the HSBC Online File Upload Service to upload documents for your online credit card application. It accepts PDF, JPEG, TIFF, and GIF files no bigger than 2MB.

If you prefer doing things in person, you can complete your HSBC credit card application in-branch. Visit any of the bank's branches in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao and submit your supporting documents there.

HSBC Credit Card Application: FAQs

Want to make sure all your bases are covered? Here are the other important things you need to remember regarding your HSBC credit card application. 

1. Are HSBC credit cards Visa or Mastercard?

HSBC credit cards differ in payment networks. For Mastercard, there are HSBC Red Mastercard and HSBC Premier Mastercard. Meanwhile, the Live+ Credit Card and the HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back are Visa cards. 

2. Is it hard to apply for an HSBC credit card? 

As you've seen above, the process is easy—and takes only a few minutes of your time! Just make sure to prepare the complete documents beforehand. 

3. What is the processing time for HSBC credit card applications?

HSBC takes around five to 10 working days to process and approve a credit card application after receiving your completed application form and all supporting documents.

4. How can I check my HSBC credit card application status?

Can't wait to receive your card? If you wish to check your application status, you can call HSBC through the following numbers:

• (02) 8858-0000 for Metro Manila
• +1-800-1-888-8555 domestic toll-free for calls outside Metro Manila through PLDT landlines

Make sure you have your application reference number with you.

5. How can I activate my HSBC credit card? 

Got your HSBC credit card already? Congratulations! Before using it, make sure you activate it first. To do so, just text the following to 0922-1001010 using your registered mobile number with HSBC:

HSBC<space>LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR CARD<space>LAST NAME<space>BIRTH MONTH & YEAR in MMMYYYY format (ex. JUN1985)

You can also activate your card by calling HSBC’s hotline at (02) 8858-0000 or (02) 7976-8000. Follow the voice prompts and wait for an SMS containing an OTP sent to your registered mobile number. 

6. How many supplementary cards can I own?

According to HSBC, you may have up to four supplementary cards. Your first supplementary card's annual fee will be waived for life.^[3]

Related: Why Get Another Card: Is Having Multiple Credit Cards Good or Bad?

7. Do my reward points expire? 

Points earned by HSBC Premier Mastercard and HSBC Red Mastercard are valid for up to three years.

Final Thoughts

The HSBC credit card application is a straightforward process, especially if you follow the steps properly and submit all the requirements. If you're looking for a more flexible credit card, you can't go wrong with HSBC's extensive selection of capable credit cards.

Thankfully, you can apply for two of HSBC’s credit cards here at Moneymax. Compare their features below, and once you’re decided, click Apply Now. 

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Minimum Annual Income Requirement	Key Features
HSBC Red Mastercard	₱2,500	₱200,000	4x bonus points on online, shopping, dining, and overseas transactions 1 bonus point for every ₱20 spend 6% rebate on your first Caltex fuel purchase and 3% fuel rebates year-round
HSBC Live+ Credit Card	₱5,000	₱200,000	Cashback on various categories: Dining - Up to 8% Online and offline shopping - 5%  Entertainment (such as movies) - 5%  Fast food and applicable merchants - 2%  Caltex transactions - 6% on your first transaction; 3% all year round
HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back	₱2,500	₱200,000	5% rebate on dining transactions 0.20% rebate on all other transactions 3% rebate on Caltex fuel purchases
HSBC Premier Mastercard	Waived for life	At least ₱3.6 million (applicants are also eligible when they meet the required Total Relationship Balance of ₱3 million or they have an existing home loan with the bank worth at least ₱6 million)	3x bonus points on local shopping or dining transactions 4 bonus points for every ₱20 spend on overseas purchases 1 air mile for as low as ₱25 spend Membership to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide Free travel insurance  6% rebate on your first Caltex fuel purchase and 3% fuel rebates year-round

👉 Check Out Other Exciting Credit Card Options

Want to receive rewards for your spending? Check out the UnionBank Rewards Credit Card, Metrobank Titanium Mastercard^®, or Security Bank Gold Mastercard for exciting perks. 

For cashback, check out Security Bank Complete Cashback Platinum Mastercard and BPI Amore Cashback Card.

Sources:

• ^[1] HSBC Premier
• ^[2] HSBC Credit Cards
• ^[3] HSBC Supplementary Cards