HSBC Credit Card - Apply Online

As one of the few credit cards on the market with a no fee for life offer, the HSBC credit card is a great choice for anyone who wants a cheap, no frills credit card. This means that if you pay the balance in full and on time each month, you should essentially pay nothing for the use of the card. Another reason to choose the HSBC credit card is its excellent balance transfer offer, where you will pay 0% interest on balance transfers for the first eight months (plus a 2% handling fee). If you have outstanding balances on other store or credit cards, this can give you the opportunity to pay off all, or a substantial amount of your debt while paying little interest. With a competitive ongoing purchase rate of 17.99% p.a., and access to HSBC's home&Away Privilege Program, this card is definitely worth a second look.

	HSBC Credit Card Key Features:
	0% on Balance Transfers for the First 8 Months (2% handling fee applies) $0 annual fee for the life of the card* Purchase rate of 17.99% p.a. and cash advance rate of 21.99% p.a. Up to 55 days interest-free on purchases Access to our Home&Away Privilege Program with Instant Rewards in over 40 countries when you use your Card Repayments at any HSBC branch, by mail, BPAY®, telephone, direct debit, online or at Australia Post Credit Cards Online for quick, easy and secure access 24 hours a day Worldwide acceptance at over 22 million VISA merchants with Cash withdrawals at over 800,000 ATMs worldwide

	Credit Card Application Criteria
	You must be at least 18 years of age You must have a Good Credit History You must be a Permanent Resident or Australian Citizen You must earn a Minimum Income of $20,000 p.a.

HSBC Credit Card Advantages

No Annual Fee For Life:

One of the most attractive features of the HSBC credit card is its no fee for life offer. This means that if you sign up now, you will never have to pay annual fees on the card for as long as you have it. With annual fees on credit cards ranging from $50 to $200, paying no annual fee can result in significant savings.

Balance Transfer Offer:

By signing up for the HSBC credit card, you will pay 0% interest on transferred balances for the first eight months. If you have existing credit card debt that you would like to pay off quickly, then this could be the perfect credit card for you. Transferring existing balances to the HSBC credit card will allow you to pay off more of the debt you owe, while saving money on interest.

Competitive Ongoing Purchase Rate:

Purchases made on the HSBC credit card will attract a 17.99% p.a. interest rate. While this is not the lowest rate credit card on the market, it is still affordable. When combined with the no annual fee offer, you might still be able to make significant savings. This card would be perfect for people who tend to pay off their balance in full each month. By doing this, no interest should be charged on the account, meaning that you would pay nothing in interest, and nothing in annual fees.

Privilege Program:

As an HSBC credit card customer, you will have access to the HSBC home&Away Privilege Program. This means you can earn instant rewards at retailers throughout Australia and overseas. You can receive instant discounts on travel, accommodation, health and beauty, shopping and entertainment in more than 19,000 merchant outlets in more than 160 countries and territories. Check out the HSBC website for full information.

Award-winner:

The HSBC credit card was the winner of Money Magazine's 2010 "Best Transactor Credit Card". As a reliable credit card from a reliable provider, this is a great choice as an everyday credit card.

55 Day Interest Free Period:

Luckily, most credit cards now offer an interest free period on purchases. The HSBC credit card offers up to 55 days interest free for purchases made on the card. If you make a purchase on the first day of the credit card statement period, you will have 55 days of paying no interest until the bill is due. This is the maximum number of interest free days, so it means that if you make a purchase on the last day of your statement period, you will have only 25 days interest free. If you want to make the most of this feature when buying large purchases, try to plan the purchase for the first day of your statement period.

Additional Credit Cards:

Additional credit cards are available with the HSBC credit card, but you will have to complete separate application forms for each card holder.

Affordable Minimum Annual Earning Requirement:

To apply, you will need to earn at least $20,000 per year. For many, this is an achievable amount, and is on par with other cards on the market. Compared to Gold and Platinum credit cards, this earning requirement is quite low.

Why would you need a HSBC Credit Card?

• If you want a no frills, cheap credit card;
• If you want to pay no annual fee for the life of the credit card;
• If you want an excellent balance transfer offer to pay off your existing debt over a generous amount of time;
• If you have existing credit card or store card debt that you want to consolidate and pay off quickly;
• If you want the benefits of a great privilege program;
• If you want a credit card that has a competitive ongoing purchase rate.

What are some of the negatives of the HSBC Credit Card?

It can sometimes be difficult weighing up the pros and cons of each credit card. There are so many on the market, that it can be tough to decide what you need and what you want. Generally there are advantages and disadvantages to any credit card, so where there is an up, there is usually a down. By getting a good deal on one feature of a credit card, you may lose out on another feature.

The best way to get past this is to think about how you want to use your new credit card. Do you want a card to pay off balance transfers? Do you want rewards? Do you want low interest rates? By determining how you will use the credit card, you can then pick the type of card that is best for you.

If you are deciding whether to apply for the HSBC credit card, compare the pros above, with the cons below, and it should help you to weigh up what is important in your credit card choices.

No Rewards Program:

Balance Transfer Fee:

Not a Low Rate Card:

What requirements are needed to be approved for a HSBC Credit Card?

• Minimum income requirement of $20,000 p.a.;
• You must be at least 18 years old;
• You must be an Australian Resident;
• You must have good credit history;
• See the HSBC credit card website for full terms and conditions.

Common HSBC Questions

What is a No Fee For Life Credit Card?

This means that you will never pay annual fees on this card for the life of the credit card - so, for as long as you keep the credit card account open. There are many introductory offers where you will pay no annual fee for the first year of having the credit card, but then you will usually be required to pay annual fees every year after that. With the HSBC credit card, you will never pay annual fees.

What is a Balance Transfer Credit Card?

With a great balance transfer offer, the HSBC credit card is an excellent choice as a balance transfer credit card. By choosing this card, you will pay 0% interest on balances transferred from existing store and credit cards for the first eight months (plus a 2% handling fee). If you want to pay off your credit card debt quickly, without worrying about interest, a balance transfer credit card is a great way of doing it.

Why do I have to pay a fee for balance transfers?

Many credit cards don't actually charge a fee for balance transfers, but you will pay a 2% balance transfer fee with the HSBC credit card. This will cover the administration costs of moving the balances from your existing credit cards onto your new card. Weigh up the cost of this compared to how much you will save on annual fees to help you decide whether the HSBC credit card is right for you.

Can I transfer balances from credit cards outside Australia?

Most balance transfer credit cards will not accept balance transfers from financial institutions outside Australia. Check for more details with HSBC when you make the application.

What happens if I don't pay off the transferred debt on a Balance Transfer Credit Card?

If you have unpaid debt from transferred balances at the end of the balance transfer period on the HSBC credit card, the interest rate will revert to the cash advance rate. The cash advance rate for this card is 21.99% p.a., which means it's a good idea to pay off transferred balances before the introductory period finishes.

How do I do a balance transfer on the HSBC Credit Card?

All you need to do is fill in the details of any balances you would like transferred when you complete the initial application form. The balances will then be taken from your old credit cards and transferred onto your new card.

Do I need to close my existing credit cards after the balance transfer to my new HSBC Credit Card?

You will need to make sure you close your old credit card accounts if you no longer need them, as HSBC will not do this. You also have the option of keeping the old credit card accounts open if you still need them.

Terms and Conditions
Credit provided by HSBC Bank Australia Limited ABN 48 006 434 162 Australian Credit Licence 232595. Offer available to new, approved HSBC credit card holders who apply by 30/06/2012. Fees, charges, terms & conditions apply. Visit hsbc.com.au or call 1300 308 008. HSBC's lending criteria apply. HSBC Credit Card account holders who have previously cancelled their card may be ineligible.