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HSBC Classic Credit Card review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

The HSBC Classic Credit Card charges an annual fee of £0 and pays no rewards, so it suits people who want a plain UK credit card for everyday spending rather than a points card. Its 29.9% sits above the credit card median of 15.5%.

Key facts

Best for
A free of charge UK credit card for everyday spending with purchase protection and no points chase.
Annual fee
£0↗
APR
29.9%↗
Currency conversion fee
2.99%↗
Rewards type
None↗
Balance transfer intro period
17 to 36 months↗
Balance transfer fee
3.09% to 3.49%↗
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 kind
Credit↗
Legal entity
HSBC UK Bank plc↗
Headquarters
United Kingdom↗
Founded
1836↗
Support channels
Phone, Chat, Help-centre↗
Pricing model
No annual fee
Features
Multi-currency, Travel
Audience
Business
Official website
hsbc.co.uk

Debit cards

Monthly fee
£0↗
Card type
Debit↗
Card network
Visa↗

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 9 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Annual fee of £0, so no charge for keeping the card open
  • Purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act, with the cover terms set out in Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments and Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app
  • Currency conversion fee of 2.99% on spending abroad
  • You can freeze and unfreeze the card and check the balance in the app or online banking
  • Contactless payments and adding the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app

Cons

  • The rewards type is none, so spending earns nothing back (none)
  • APR of 29.9% is high against a credit card median of 15.5%
  • Balance transfer fees of 3.09% to 3.49% are a cost if you move debt to this card
  • The starting credit limit is modest and may be increased automatically, as set out in Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments and Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app
HSBC Classic Credit Card

Ready to try HSBC Classic Credit Card?

Scored 9.4 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • People in the UK who want a credit card with no annual charge and no points to chase
  • Shoppers who want Consumer Credit Act purchase protection on larger purchases
  • Anyone already banking with HSBC who wants the card in the mobile app

Who should look elsewhere

  • Travellers who spend heavily abroad, since the currency conversion fee is 2.99% while Wise charges 0%
  • Anyone chasing cashback or points, since the rewards type on this card is none
  • Debt movers who want a cheap transfer deal, since balance transfer fees are 3.09% to 3.49%

Rewards and perks

The rewards type on this card is none, so there is no cashback, no points scheme and no air miles to track. What it does offer sits in the perks instead. Purchases are covered by purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act, with the purchase range and cover terms set out in Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments and Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. Payment is by contactless, and the card can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. You can also freeze and unfreeze the card and check the balance in the app or online banking. Offers and discounts are available through the bank's offers site. A starting credit limit may be increased automatically, as Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments and Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app describes, which makes the card workable for routine spending rather than for a large outstanding balance.

Regulation and registers

The card is issued in the UK, and the issuing entity is authorised and regulated. Its Financial Conduct Authority reference is 765112, so the number to check when you look up the provider on the UK register is the one shown here. The bank also sits under the Prudential Regulation Authority. Both regulators work in the UK market covered by this card, so anyone comparing cards on this site is looking at a provider operating inside a regulated system rather than outside it.

Balance transfers

Moving an existing balance to this card costs 3.09% to 3.49% for each transfer, and the promotional period lasts 17 to 36. The fee is the part that matters most, because it applies to the amount you move and is charged even though the annual fee is £0. Compare that with the card's headline rate of 29.9%, which is what any balance left after the promotional period is charged at. On a cost basis, a transfer only makes sense if you clear the balance inside the promotional window; otherwise the fee buys little.

Where it sits among rivals

On annual fee the card ranks 1 out of 312, so the lack of a charge for holding it is as good as it gets in this comparison. On APR it ranks 114 of 138, and 29.9% sits well above the credit card median of 15.5%. On currency conversion fee it ranks 149 of 186, which is where 2.99% leaves it against a median of 1%. Strong on the holding charge, weak on borrowing and on spending abroad.

Safety of your money

The card is a credit product, so the money on it is lent by a bank rather than held for you. The provider behind it is regulated in the UK, with a Financial Conduct Authority reference of 765112, and it is also supervised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act applies to the purchase range set out in Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments and Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app, which is the clearest stated protection on the card. Treat any credit limit as a debt, keep the balance low, and the regulated status is the main reassurance on offer.

Who runs it

The card comes from HSBC UK Bank plc, which is based in the UK and was founded in 1836. Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, so you can reach the bank by phone, by live chat or through a help centre, and the same app handles the card day to day. The Financial Conduct Authority reference is 765112. With a listed UK entity, a long history and three support routes, the practical picture is a mainstream bank product rather than a specialist card outfit.

How HSBC Classic Credit Card compares

Where HSBC Classic Credit Card is available

Available
United Kingdom
Licence in United Kingdom
Financial Conduct Authority (765112), checked September 26, 2026
Licence in United Kingdom
Prudential Regulation Authority, checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Does the HSBC Classic Credit Card charge an annual fee?+

No. The annual fee is £0, and the card is listed as a no annual fee product. You can keep it open without a holding charge, which is why it ranks 1 out of 312 on that measure alone. You still pay if you borrow.

What APR do I pay on the card?+

The APR is 29.9%, which is a high rate for borrowing and sits well above the credit card median of 15.5%. The card ranks 114 of 138 on that measure. If you need to carry a balance for more than a short period, look for a lower rate card instead.

What protection do I get on purchases?+

Purchases are covered by purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act, and the purchase range and cover terms are set out in Purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of £100 to £30,000, Contactless payments and Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. So a broken or faulty item bought on the card can be claimed back through that protection. The cover applies within the stated purchase range, and the starting credit limit is described in the same place.

How much does a balance transfer cost?+

Each balance transfer costs 3.09% to 3.49%, and the promotional period runs 17 to 36. The fee is charged on the amount you move, so it pays off only if you clear that balance inside the promotional window. After that the balance is charged at 29.9%, which is the real cost of a transfer.

What is the fee for spending abroad?+

The currency conversion fee is 2.99% on foreign currency purchases, and the card is on the Visa network. That ranks 149 of 186 against a median of 1%, so it is not the cheapest option for travel. The card does carry multi-currency and travel features, but Wise charges 0%.

Does the card earn any rewards?+

No. The rewards type is none, so there is no cashback, points or air miles on any spending. The card's benefits are practical rather than rewarding: purchase protection under the Consumer Credit Act, contactless payments, and the option to add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app.

Is the card regulated in the UK?+

Yes. The issuing entity is HSBC UK Bank plc, authorised in the UK with a Financial Conduct Authority reference of 765112, and the bank is also supervised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Because it is a credit card, the balance is money you owe rather than money held for you.

How do I manage the card day to day?+

You can freeze and unfreeze the card and check the balance in the app or online banking, and the card supports contactless payments. The card can also be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay from the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, so phone, live chat and a help centre are all available.

Sources

  • about.hsbc.co.uk checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Audience, Headquarters

    “Facts: 14.5 million retail and wealth customers / 600,000 business clients”

  • 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/fees checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Currency conversion fee

    “Non-sterling transaction fee: 2.99% (minimum £3 for cash related payments)”

  • 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: Monthly fee

    “Bank Account ... Our most popular current account with access to a range of savings accounts and retail offers, with no monthly account fee.”

  • hsbc.co.uk/international/using-your-card-abroad checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Card type, Features, Card network

    “You can use your HSBC debit and credit cards easily outside the UK”

  • hsbc.co.uk/legal checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Legal entity, Licences

    “HSBC UK Bank plc is a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with company registration number 9928412 and its registered office at 1 Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 1HQ.”

  • hsbc.co.uk/ways-to-bank/mobile checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Support channels

    “Get 24/7 support with our chat feature on every page ... call us immediately on 03457 404 404 ... Find more support on our help page”

Compiled from 9 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

HSBC Classic Credit Card

HSBC Classic Credit Card

A free of charge UK credit card for everyday spending with purchase protection and no points chase.

9.4/10See alternatives