HBL review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
HBL is a Pakistan bank, Habib Bank Limited, whose savings account costs nothing to run and pays profit twice a year. It suits savers who want unlimited transactions with no minimum balance, and borrowers ready for an initial rate of 14.3% on home finance.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Savings cost nothing to hold: a monthly fee of PKR 0, unlimited transactions and no minimum balance.
- Profit is worked out on the average monthly balance and paid twice a year on an account of the easy access kind.
- The same bank covers credit cards, debit cards, savings and personal and car loans.
- HBL lends as a direct lender, and home finance covers purchase and remortgage.
Cons
- Home finance opens at an initial rate of 14.3%, well above the 4.69% typical of listings on the site.
- Borrowing stops at a maximum loan to value of 70%, under the 90% seen across the site's mortgages.
- Support runs on help centre and phone only, with no email or chat listed.
Who it suits
- Savers in Pakistan who want an easy-access account with unlimited transactions and no minimum balance.
- Borrowers after a car or personal loan who want to deal with the bank itself.
- Homebuyers and remortgagors comfortable with a maximum loan to value of 70%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Homebuyers needing a higher loan to value, since HBL caps at 70% while the site's typical cap is 90%.
- Mortgage borrowers sensitive to the opening rate, since HBL starts at 14.3% where listings typically start at 4.69%.
- Anyone who wants written or live chat support, since the listed routes are help centre and phone.
The company behind it
HBL trades as Habib Bank Limited and is headquartered in Pakistan, where it has operated since 1947. The bank runs its own savings, card and lending businesses, including an easy-access account, a debit and credit card range, and home finance. Customer service is offered through help centre and phone, so a phone call or a help centre article is the route for account questions.
How HBL compares
9.4 vs 9.4
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Frequently asked questions
What does the HBL savings account cost to keep?+
The account carries a monthly fee of PKR 0 and runs on a no monthly fee model, so holding it costs nothing each month. Profit is worked out on your average balance and paid twice a year, and the minimum deposit is PKR 0.
Is there a minimum balance or deposit?+
There is no minimum balance, and the minimum deposit is PKR 0, with unlimited transactions on top. The typical minimum deposit across savings listings on the site is €0.88, so this account sits at the lighter end.
Is the profit rate fixed or variable?+
The rate type is variable, so the profit can move with the bank rather than being locked in for a term. For context, the typical headline rate across savings listings on the site is 3%.
How do I get help with the account?+
Support runs through help centre and phone, so a phone call or the help centre covers account questions. Email and live chat are not among the listed routes, which matters if you prefer everything in writing.
What cards does the bank offer?+
The card range from HBL covers debit cards alongside credit cards, both issued by Habib Bank Limited. Debit is the dominant card type in the debit card listings on the site, so the debit card is the mainstream choice.
Can I borrow from HBL directly?+
Yes. HBL works as a direct lender and offers personal and car loans, so a car or personal loan is arranged with the bank rather than through an intermediary. Home finance is a separate product covering purchase and remortgage.
What rate do I pay on home finance?+
Home finance starts at an initial rate of 14.3%, well above the 4.69% typical across the site's mortgage listings. The loan to value is capped at 70%, so a purchase or remortgage needs a sizeable deposit.
Where is HBL based and how long has it run?+
HBL operates as Habib Bank Limited from Pakistan, where it has been based since 1947. That makes it a long-established domestic bank rather than a digital challenger or an arm of a foreign group.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habib_Bank_Limited checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Lender type
“Habib Bank Limited (HBL) is a Pakistani bank headquartered at Habib Bank Plaza, Karachi”
- hbl.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“The Largest Bank in Pakistan”
- hbl.com/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“HBL was the first commercial bank to be established in Pakistan in 1947”
- hbl.com/islamic/finance/personal-financing/hbl-islamic-ho... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Initial rate, Maximum loan to value, Purpose
“Profit Rate 14.30% ... The profit rate for Islamic Home Finance is a floating rate based on avg of '12-month KIBOR'”
- hbl.com/personal/accounts/saving/hbl-pls-savingsaccount checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Access terms, Account kind, Minimum deposit, Pricing model, Monthly fee, Rate type, Support channels
“Profit calculated on monthly average balance; Profit payout on semi-annual basis”
- hbl.com/personal/cards checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card kind, Card type, Legal entity
“Cards”
- hbl.com/personal/loans/hbl-readycash checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Loan types
“Loans: HBL Personal Loan, HBL Car Loan, HBL ReadyCash”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.