HSBC Business Credit Card review 2024
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 15.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £32 per annum, your representative rate is 22% APR (variable).
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Minimum credit limit
- £500
Our verdict
With its competitive interest-free period and purchases rate, the HSBC Business Credit Card can give your business' finances the breathing space they need.Reserved for HSBC Business customers, this card offers a low (albeit variable) 15.9% standard purchases rate.
Provided you always pay off your credit card bill in full, you can also get up to 56 days interest-free each billing cycle. Unlike with many other issuers, this also applies to cash advances, but it's worth keeping in mind that these come at a 2.99% (min. £3) fee.
The extra interest-free time can help you smooth over your business' cash flow and also makes it easier to establish a virtuous borrowing circle, with immediate benefits for your business' finances.
HSBC scraps the annual fee for the first year, so this card may be a good idea if you're getting a credit card for your business for the first time: as long as you use it correctly, for the first 12 months it won't cost you a penny. After that, the combination of a competitive purchases rate with a long interest-free period can still make it worth your while, especially if your customers are a bit slow with the payment of their invoices.
You can also get extra cards for your employees for free as unlike other card issuers, HSBC charges per business and not per card.
HSBC Business Credit Cards are issued on the Visa network, so they're accepted at over 20 million locations worldwide.
Pros
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Up to 56 days to spread the cost of purchases (provided you pay off your balance in full each month)
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Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with HSBC
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A relatively low 15.9% interest rate on purchases
Cons
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No annual fees for the first year. Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £32 per annum
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Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to get accepted
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Offers no rewards or cashback despite having an annual fee
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | HSBC |
| Network | Visa |
| Representative APR | 22% |
| Annual/monthly fees | Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £32 per annum |
| Purchases | 15.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 56 days |
| Cash advances | 15.9% |
| Minimum credit limit | £500 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status |
| Incentive | Identity Theft Assistance helpline and online tool. |
| Additional Rewards Info | Identity Theft Assistance helpline and online tool. Liability Waiver for companies who have two or more cardholders. 24 hour customer service support for lost and stolen cards. |
| Potential costs | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 4.0 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 5.0 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder Score | 4.0 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 1.5% or £5 (whichever is greater) |
| Annual/monthly fees | Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £32 per annum |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.99% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.99% |
| Cash advance fee | 2.99% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £0 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £0 |
| Additional card fee | £32 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
The HSBC Commercial Credit Card is issued on the Visa network (used by a whopping 4.2 billion cards), so you'll be able to use it at more than 100 million merchant locations across more than 200 countries and territories.
HSBC customer reviews
HSBC scored highly in our 2024 customer satisfaction survey, with 95% of its business card customers saying they would recommend the bank to a friend. Several respondents commented on the high level of customer service they had received, while others noted how HSBC made banking a simple process for their business.
However, on Trustpilot, the bank as a whole received a score of 1.6 out of 5, as several customers reported that they were unable to transfer money due to the bank having frozen their accounts for unnecessary reasons (updated March 2024).
| Trustpilot | Apple App Store | Google Play |
|---|---|---|
|
★★★★★ 1.4 out of 5 |
★★★★★ 4.8 out of 5 |
★★★★★ 2.2 out of 5 |
"My company got us HSBC business credit cards because we travel a lot. I’ve used mine in Ghana for work and I believe the exchange rate was quite competitive with the card.
If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of getting this, what would it be?
I think it’s important to have good security controls with a business card when you’re travelling. I liked the HSBC security controls because they sent a text to check transactions were genuine rather than just blocking them immediately, which would mean you’d have to phone up to get your card unblocked."
How does it compare?
HSBC's card
Other popular business cards
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through HSBC's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 032 1770). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | |
|---|---|
| Fixed amount | |
| Fixed percentage | |
| Full amount |
How to apply
If you've browsed credit card options and decided that the HSBC Business Credit Card adequately matches your needs, you can apply for one online or by calling HSBC if you'd rather talk to someone directly.
Unfortunately, this card is only available to HSBC Business customers, so if you don't have an account with it, you'll need to take care of that first. With HSBC you can usually apply for a business account online, so you don't need to move from your sofa to do it.
If your business is already banking with HSBC, you can log in to your online banking and handle the application from there. Before starting, it's a good idea to use HSBC's eligibility checker – a handy tool that will run a soft check and tell you if you're likely to be accepted without impacting your credit score.
If you’re thinking about getting a business credit card and aren’t sure which one to pick, take a look at our business credit card comparison page.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the HSBC Commercial Credit Card?
If HSBC offers you this deal, it will specify a tailored credit limit based on HSBC's assessment of your situation and your business. The minimum limit offered on this card is £500, and HSBC does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown HSBC you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the HSBC Commercial Credit Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the HSBC Commercial Credit Card is 2.99% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £7.48.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 15.9% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
Can I manage the HSBC Commercial Credit Card from an app?
Yes. You can manage this card through HSBC UK's free mobile banking app.
How much does it cost to use the HSBC Commercial Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.99% charge (which is very standard). For example, if you spend 200 euros (£164.83), it'll cost you around £4.93 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the HSBC Commercial Credit Card?
Each month, you must pay at least 1.5% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £300.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £1,333.33 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.
Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money, which can lead to persistent debt.
Can I get additional HSBC Commercial Credit Cards for my team?
Yes. HSBC doesn't specify a maximum number of cards you can request. Each card comes with an additional account fee of £32.
