- $750 welcome bonus
- Waive the monthly fee with a combined account balance of $100,000
- Bank with a world leader
The HSBC Premier Debit World Mastercard is a nice perk, but be wary of maintenance fees eating into your funds.
If you regularly have a running balance of $100,000 or more in your personal and investment accounts, the HSBC Premier Checking account could be a good fit. You’ll collect interest on your deposits, and it comes with a debit card that’s free from foreign transaction fees. It has a steep maintenance fee, however, should you dip below its monthly balance requirement.
| APY | 0.01% on balances of $5+ |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $50 per month |
| To waive the fee | Maintain a combined balance of $100,000 across your personal and investment accounts at HSBC |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
| Intro or bonus offer | Get a $750 Welcome Deposit for eligible new customers who open an HSBC Premier Checking account with qualifying activities by March 29, 2019. |
| ATMs | Surcharge-free HSBC ATM access nationally and internationally |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% |
| Overdraft fee | $35 |
| Nonsufficient funds fee | $35 |
| Deposit methods | Cash by teller Cash by ATM Check by teller Check by ATM Mobile/remote check deposit Bank transfer Wire transfer Direct deposit |
What are the benefits of this HSBC checking account?
- 0.01% APY. This interest-bearing checking account comes with 0.01% APY on any balance of $5 or more in your account.
- HSBC Premier Debit World Mastercard. Spend freely abroad using your debit card without paying foreign transaction fees.
- Access to ATMs worldwide. Enjoy surcharge-free HSBC ATM access across the US and around the world.
- Mobile banking. Deposit funds in person or at an ATM, or use HSBC’s free mobile banking app.
- Premier customer support. Get access to HSBC’s top-tier Premier customer support team, available 24/7 by phone, email and live chat.
- International HSBC support. Access priority service and financial support at HSBC branches around the world.
- HSBC Premier Savings account. Qualify for the HSBC Premier Savings account, which has tiered rates of up to 0.15% APY.
- HSBC Premier Deluxe Mortgage. Qualify for HSBC’s Premier Deluxe Mortgage, with loans of up to $3 million available with fixed and adjustable rates.
- Free global transfers. If you hold another HSBC Premier or Advance account in a country outside the US, you can transfer funds between your HSBC accounts for free.
HSBC’s ATM network and fees
You can access HSBC ATMs with your HSBC Premier Checkingaccount across the US and around the world. You won’t be charged for using an HSBC ATM in the US, but a network fee may apply outside the US. Fees vary by country and service provider.
At an HSBC ATM, you can make a deposit, transfer funds, check your account balance and even change your debit card PIN. The HSBC mobile banking app can help you locate an HSBC ATM nearest you.
What should I look out for?
- Monthly balance requirement. To qualify for the HSBC Premier Checking account, you must maintain a combined balance of $100,000 across your personal and investment accounts.
- $50 monthly fee. If you don’t maintain the account’s balance requirement, a monthly $50 maintenance fee applies.
- $25 account closure fee. If you close your HSBC Premier Checking account within 180 days of opening it, you will be charged a $25 account closure fee.
Compare with other checking accounts
How much do I need to open an account?
You can open an HSBC Premier Checking account in person or online with a minimum deposit of just $0. To avoid the $50 monthly service fee, you must have a combined balance of $100,000.
How do I apply?
- Go to HSBC’s site and click Checking.
- Click Apply Now.
- Click Apply Online.
- Enter your full name, date of birth, Social Security number and email address. Click Continue.
- Enter your full address, your phone number and your driver’s license number. Click Continue.
- Tell HSBC a little more about how you intend to use your checking account and how you plan to fund the account. Click Continue.
- Review the information you’ve submitted and click Continue.
You’ll receive an email from HSBC with an application status update. You may be asked to submit additional documentation to verify the information.
Once approved, your HSBC Premier Debit World Mastercard arrives in the mail. The PIN for the card is sent separately and should arrive one to three business days following.
Once you’ve received both your card and your PIN, you can set up your account by phone or live chat with an HSBC agent.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the HSBC Premier Checking account, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a US citizen.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a US residential address.
- Have a Social Security number.
- Have a valid bank account.
- Maintain a combined balance of at least $100,000 across your personal and investment accounts.
Required information
Have the following information ready before you apply for your account:
- Social Security number.
- Primary home address.
- US driver’s license or valid state ID.
What other checking options does HSBC offer?
In addition to its HSBC Premier Checking account, HSBC also offers the following checking options:
- Basic Banking. Has no balance requirement, a $3 monthly fee and optional overdraft protection.
- Choice Checking. Comes with an HSBC Debit Mastercard and has a $15 monthly fee that can be waived if you maintain a monthly balance of at least $1,500 or set up direct deposit.
- HSBC Advance. Includes access to personal checks and monthly non-HSBC ATM fee rebates. Its $25 monthly maintenance fee can be waived if you maintain combined deposit and investment balances of at least $10,000 or have a $5,000 recurring third-party direct deposit to your checking account monthly.
- HSBC Business First. Designed for small businesses, it offers 200 free transactions per billing cycle with the option to waive the $30 monthly maintenance fee if a minimum balance of $5,000 is maintained.
- HSBC Business Smart. Comes with 400 free transactions per billing cycle with the option to waive the $30 monthly maintenance fee if a minimum combined balance of $25,000 is maintained between personal and commercial accounts.
- HSBC Executive Analyzed. For businesses that have more sophisticated banking needs, you can accumulate HSBC earnings credits to help offset account activity fees, such as the $30 monthly maintenance fee.
Bottom line
The interest-bearing HSBC Premier Checking account offers an HSBC Premier Debit World Mastercard, access to top-tier 24/7 Premier customer support and qualifies you for special savings and mortgage options. However, you must meet the monthly balance requirement of $100,000 across your personal and investment accounts to avoid the $50 monthly maintenance fee.
As always, explore your options with other providers before you make a decision to get the account that best fits your individual banking needs.
