Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents 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.
HSBC Business Credit Card review 2020
Last updated:
With its competitive interest-free period and purchases rate, the HSBC Business Credit Card can give your business' finances the breathing space they need.
You say: ★★★★★We say: ★★★★★
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).
Up to 56 days
Interest-free each billing period
22%
Representative APR
£500
Minimum credit limit
Details
| Issuer | HSBC |
|---|---|
| Network | Visa |
| 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% |
| Min credit limit | £500 |
| Max credit limit | Not specified |
| Incentive | Identity Theft Assistance helpline and online tool. Liability Waiver for companies who have two or more cardholders. 24 hour customer service support. |
Expert review
Review by
Chris Lilly
chris.lilly@finder.comChris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in credit-based products including business and personal loans, mortgages and credit cards, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their borrowing. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.
Expert review
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.
What's in this review?
The HSBC Commercial Credit Card is issued on the Visa network (used by a whopping 3.3 billion cards), so you'll be able to use it at more than 46 million merchants across more than 200 countries and territories.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Up to 56 days to spread the cost of purchases (provided you pay off your balance in full each month)
- A relatively low 15.9% interest rate on purchases
Cons
- Annual fee
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
How does it compare?
HSBC's card
Other popular business cards
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
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.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the HSBC Commercial Credit Card?
If HSBC is able to offer you this deal, the offer 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 that 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" (withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino, buying currency, etc.) 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. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£177.37), it'll cost you around £5.30.
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 two 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.
Finder credit card ratings
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★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our experts score business credit and charge cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like the flexibility it offers, any rewards you can earn through company spending, account management tools, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.
You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
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