HSBC Elite
HSBC and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of HSBC. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.
How we calculate effective rate →
The HSBC Elite from HSBC earns up to 2% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $495. New applicants may see: Earn 60,000 Welcome Bonus Points, worth up to $900 in travel, when booked through HSBC Travel, after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of opening the card..
- Top category
- Dining
- Effective value
- 2%
- Annual fee
- $495
Best for dining-heavy spend when the $495 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.
What does the HSBC Elite earn in each category?
Dining is the strongest category at 2% effective value (2x points at about 1 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 59% of the 2,850 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how HSBC Elite compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend. Catalog spend signals highlight flights at 5x.
Dining is the strongest category at 2% effective value (2x points at about 1 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 59% of the 2,850 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how HSBC Elite compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend.
| Category | Earn rate | Effective value |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Restaurants, cafes, takeout | 2x points | 2% Top category |
| Grocery Supermarkets and grocery stores | 1x points | 1% |
| Gas Gas stations and fuel | 1x points | 1% |
| Travel Flights, hotels, transit | 1x points | 1% |
| Other General everyday spend | 1x points | 1% |
Madeen values HSBC Rewards at about 1 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.
What are the HSBC Elite reward caps and conditions?
The HSBC Elite has 1 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates.
- Earn 2× Points at restaurants and dining out.
Who should get the HSBC Elite?
The HSBC Elite fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x points. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.
HSBC Elite fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x points. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 59% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.
Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.
Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.
Best for dining-heavy spend when the $495 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying.
Pros
- Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 2% effective (2x points).
- No foreign transaction fee listed.
- Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.
- Includes travel or statement credits in our benefits snapshot.
Cons
- $495 annual fee requires enough spend in bonus categories to offset.
- HSBC Rewards value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
What is the HSBC Elite welcome bonus?
In Madeen's catalog snapshot, the HSBC Elite welcome offer is Earn 60,000 Welcome Bonus Points, worth up to $900 in travel, when booked through HSBC Travel, after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of opening the card.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change — confirm on the issuer application page before.
- Offer
- 60k HSBC Rewards (~$600 estimated)
- Terms (catalog snapshot)
- Earn 60,000 Welcome Bonus Points, worth up to $900 in travel, when booked through HSBC Travel, after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of opening the card.
- Minimum spend
- $4,000
- Window
- 3Months
Does the HSBC Elite have an annual fee?
The HSBC Elite has an annual fee of $495 and a foreign transaction fee of None. Confirm current fees on the issuer page before applying.
- Annual fee
- $495
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
What travel perks does the HSBC Elite include?
The HSBC Elite includes Trusted traveler credit, Lounge access, $400 Annual Travel Credit, $5 Lyft Credit and more in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them.
Trusted traveler credit
Speed up airport screening with up to $120 towards Global Entry, TSA Precheck, TSA Precheck by Clear, or NEXUS once every 4.5 years.
Lounge access
Elevate your airport experience with complimentary and unlimited lounge access for the cardholder and up to 2 guests worth more than $469 annually with Priority Pass.
What benefits come with the HSBC Elite?
Lyft
$1,440/yrMore rides means more adventure. Take three rides in a month with Lyft to earn a $5 credit.3* Plus, save 10% on all scheduled rides to or from U.S. airports when you pay with your World Elite or World Legend Mastercard. Offer expires 1/31/2027.
Purchase Assurance
$1,000/yrcovers most purchases from damage or theft within 90 days of purchase up to $1,000
Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
$800/yrClaim up to $800 if your cellphone is stolen or damaged using Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
$400 Annual Travel Credit
$400/yrEarn up to $400 of travel credits per year for all airfares, hotels and car rentals booked through HSBC Travel.
Mastercard Transit Benefit
$200/yrSave when you tap and go with your eligible Mastercard and receive a $2.50 statement credit when you spend $10 or more each month at participating transit systems.
World Elite Concierge
$150/yrComplimentary 24/7 concierge agent for lifestyle needs, travel bookings and event access.
Instacart+
$140/yrGet up to $140 annually with Instacart+. When you sign up as a new member, receive 2 free months of Instacart+ and $10 off your second order each month
Instacart
$140/yrGroceries and more delivered in as fast as one hour. Get $10 off your second order each month, and new Instacart+ members can also get three free months of Instacart+. Offer expires 1/31/2027.
Rideshare Credit
$120/yrEarn up to $120 in statement credits annually on taxis, cabs and rideshare. Use your Elite credit card to pay for your rideshare and automatically receive $10 each month.
TSA Precheck
$120/yrSpeed up airport screening with up to $120 towards Global Entry, TSA Precheck, TSA Precheck by Clear, or NEXUS once every 4.5 years
Lounge Access
$99/yrElevate your airport experience with complimentary and unlimited lounge access for the cardholder and up to 2 guests worth more than $469 annually with Priority Pass
Priority Pass
$99/yrGet access to 1,700+ airport lounges worldwide and special offers and discounts in the terminal on dining, retail and spa experiences.
Related encyclopedia topics
Common questions about the HSBC Elite
Where do cardholders spend most with the HSBC Elite?
Madeen's RewardsCC catalog snapshot shows the strongest bonus categories on flights (5x), lodging (5x), other travel (5x) for the HSBC Elite. These are anonymized issuer category signals, not individual cardholder transactions. Route everyday spend through categories that match your habits, then compare effective rates with Madeen at checkout.
Does the HSBC Elite have an annual fee?
The HSBC Elite carries an annual fee of $495 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification.
What category earns the most with the HSBC Elite?
Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the HSBC Elite at about 2% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page.
Does the HSBC Elite charge foreign transaction fees?
The HSBC Elite does not charge a foreign transaction fee in Madeen's catalog snapshot, which can make it stronger for purchases outside the U.S. Issuer terms still control international acceptance and other fees.
What is the HSBC Elite welcome bonus?
The HSBC Elite welcome offer in our snapshot: Earn 60,000 Welcome Bonus Points, worth up to $900 in travel, when booked through HSBC Travel, after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of opening the card.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.
Is the HSBC Elite annual fee worth it?
Whether the $495 annual fee pays off depends on how much you spend in dining and whether you use the card's benefits. Compare effective rates across the cards you already carry in Madeen.
How does the HSBC Elite compare to similar cards?
Compare the HSBC Elite against HSBC Cash Rewards (1.5% on Dining, $0 fee); HSBC Cash Rewards Student (1.5% on Dining, $0 fee); HSBC Premier (1% on Dining, $0 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
HSBC Elite This card | Dining | 2% | $495 |
| Dining | 1.5% | $0 | |
| Dining | 1.5% | $0 | |
HSBC | Dining | 1% | $0 |
HSBC | Dining | 0% | $0 |
Store-specific guides
Madeen publishes merchant guides that rank cards for specific stores and services. Browse guides for dining spend to see which cards win at checkout.
Related Madeen guides
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Madeen compares the cards you already carry for dining, groceries, gas, travel, and everyday purchases — free, no bank login required.
HSBC and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of HSBC. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.
Madeen compares cards you add to your wallet using published catalog rules — no bank login required. Issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice. Apply links are temporarily hidden on madeen.app. Affiliate disclosure