HSBC Elite
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.. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.
- Top category
- Dining
- Effective value
- 2%
- Annual fee
- $495
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Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.
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 29% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Dining is the strongest category at 2% effective value (2x points at about 1 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 29% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.
| 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. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- 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 29% 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. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
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.
Does the HSBC Elite have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?
The HSBC Elite has an annual fee of $495 and a foreign transaction fee of None. 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.. Confirm current issuer terms before applying.
- Annual fee
- $495
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Signup bonus
- 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.
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. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- Trusted traveler creditSpeed up airport screening with up to $120 towards Global Entry, TSA Precheck, TSA Precheck by Clear, or NEXUS once every 4.5 years.
- Lounge accessElevate 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?
- $400 Annual Travel Credit
Earn up to $400 of travel credits per year for all airfares, hotels and car rentals booked through HSBC Travel.
- $5 Lyft Credit
Take 3 rides, and get a $5 Lyft App credit every month with your Elite credit card
- Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
Claim up to $800 if your cellphone is stolen or damaged using Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
- Free Shipping
Enjoy complimentary ShopRunner membership, worth $79 annually
- Global emergency servicesIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
Call 1-800-MASTERCARD (1-800-627-8372) for 24/7 assistance to report a lost or stolen card.
- HealthLockIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
Enroll in HealthLock for Mastercard Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership plus a 90-day upgrade to all HealthLock services at no monthly cost.
- InstacartIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
Groceries 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.
- Instacart+
Get 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
Common questions about the HSBC Elite
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. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
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. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
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. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
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. Madeen compares effective rates across the cards you already carry without bank login. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What credit score do you need for the HSBC Elite?
Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Excellent for the HSBC Elite. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How does the HSBC Elite compare to similar cards?
Compare the HSBC Elite against 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. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
HSBC Elite This card | Dining | 2% | $495 |
HSBC | Dining | 1% | $0 |
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