- Using your card abroad
- Useful information
At HSBC we want to help make things easy and convenient for you when travelling abroad. Take your HSBC cards with you and use your card in the same way you do at home,and with the same security you'd expect from your bank too...
Easy and Convenient
- Purchases
Whether you're shopping or at a restaurant, enjoy the convenience of using your HSBC cards anywhere that displays the logo on your card (fees apply) - ATM cash withdrawals
Whether you're away on business or on holiday, you can use your HSBC cards at cash machines abroad whenever you need extra local currency (fees apply)
Peace of Mind
- Safe and secure
Take with you the security of using a card from your bank who you know and trust. And your cards will be protected in the same way as they would be in the UK. - Track your spending
When using your HSBC cards abroad you can easily keep track of your spending in just the same way you do at home. Just log into online or mobile banking. - Let us know it's you
To protect you from fraud, we automatically monitor accounts for unusual foreign transactions and may decline anything that looks suspicious. You can let us know it's you using your card abroad by making a chip and PIN payment. Please make sure your contact details are up to date so we can get in touch if there are any problems.
Choosing which cards to take with you?
Using your cards abroad, in combination with your Travel Money, gives you more flexibility when managing your holiday money. A debit card allows you to withdraw cash at ATMs and pay for purchases plus keep a track of your spending via online, mobile or telephone banking. Credit cards can be useful when purchasing more expensive items, however please note fees & charges apply.
How much will I be charged paying in local currency in the European Economic Area (EEA)?
Travelling in the European Economic Area (EEA)?1 See how paying in local currency on your HSBC credit or debit card compares to the European Central Bank (ECB)'s latest foreign exchange rates here.
This shows the percentage difference between the ECB exchange rate and your HSBC card rates, depending on how you pay. You can find out more about these fees above.
1European Economic Area where you can pay in currency includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
| Purchases | Withdrawals | |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC Premier | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| HSBC Advance | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Other HSBC Accounts | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% | Cash Fee 2% (Minimum £1.75, maximum £5.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| HSBC Premier | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Withdrawals | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| HSBC Advance | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Withdrawals | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Other HSBC Accounts | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2% (Minimum £1.75, maximum £5.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
When making a payment or withdrawing cash in a foreign currency (non-Sterling) you may be asked if you want to pay in sterling or the local currency. By selecting to pay in the local currency, HSBC will convert the payment using the relevant payment scheme exchange rate applied on the day the conversion is made.
Where you chose to make the payment / withdrawal in Sterling, HSBC will not undertake any conversion and this will be done by either the retailer or self-service machine owner. Some cash machine owners may apply an additional charge for withdrawals and this will be advised at the time of the withdrawal.
| Purchases | Withdrawals | |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC Credit Card | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Student Credit Card | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Credit Card | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Student Credit Card | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
When making a payment or withdrawing cash in a foreign currency (non-Sterling) you may be asked if you want to pay in sterling or the local currency. By selecting to pay in the local currency, HSBC will convert the payment using the relevant payment scheme exchange rate applied on the day the conversion is made.
Where you chose to make the payment / withdrawal in Sterling, HSBC will not undertake any conversion and this will be done by either the retailer or self-service machine owner. Some cash machine owners may apply an additional charge for withdrawals and this will be advised at the time of the withdrawal.
Do I need to tell you I'm travelling abroad?
There's no need to inform us before you travel. You can let us know it's you using your card abroad by making a chip and PIN payment when you arrive. Please make sure your contact details are up to date so we can get in touch if there are any problems.
Please note, if you have a joint current account, both of you will need to notify us when using the online banking option.
For credit cards, only the primary cardholder needs to give us travel notifications.
Using your card abroad
At HSBC we want to help make things easy and convenient for you when travelling abroad. Take your HSBC cards with you and use your card in the same way you do at home,and with the same security you'd expect from your bank too...
Easy and Convenient
- Purchases
Whether you're shopping or at a restaurant, enjoy the convenience of using your HSBC cards anywhere that displays the logo on your card (fees apply) - ATM cash withdrawals
Whether you're away on business or on holiday, you can use your HSBC cards at cash machines abroad whenever you need extra local currency (fees apply)
Peace of Mind
- Safe and secure
Take with you the security of using a card from your bank who you know and trust. And your cards will be protected in the same way as they would be in the UK. - Track your spending
When using your HSBC cards abroad you can easily keep track of your spending in just the same way you do at home. Just log into online or mobile banking. - Let us know it's you
To protect you from fraud, we automatically monitor accounts for unusual foreign transactions and may decline anything that looks suspicious. You can let us know it's you using your card abroad by making a chip and PIN payment. Please make sure your contact details are up to date so we can get in touch if there are any problems.
Useful information
Choosing which cards to take with you?
Using your cards abroad, in combination with your Travel Money, gives you more flexibility when managing your holiday money. A debit card allows you to withdraw cash at ATMs and pay for purchases plus keep a track of your spending via online, mobile or telephone banking. Credit cards can be useful when purchasing more expensive items, however please note fees & charges apply.
How much will I be charged paying in local currency in the European Economic Area (EEA)?
Travelling in the European Economic Area (EEA)?1 See how paying in local currency on your HSBC credit or debit card compares to the European Central Bank (ECB)'s latest foreign exchange rates here.
This shows the percentage difference between the ECB exchange rate and your HSBC card rates, depending on how you pay. You can find out more about these fees above.
1European Economic Area where you can pay in currency includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
| Purchases | Withdrawals | |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC Premier | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| HSBC Advance | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Other HSBC Accounts | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% | Cash Fee 2% (Minimum £1.75, maximum £5.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| HSBC Premier | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Withdrawals | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| HSBC Advance | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Withdrawals | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Other HSBC Accounts | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2% (Minimum £1.75, maximum £5.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.75% |
When making a payment or withdrawing cash in a foreign currency (non-Sterling) you may be asked if you want to pay in sterling or the local currency. By selecting to pay in the local currency, HSBC will convert the payment using the relevant payment scheme exchange rate applied on the day the conversion is made.
Where you chose to make the payment / withdrawal in Sterling, HSBC will not undertake any conversion and this will be done by either the retailer or self-service machine owner. Some cash machine owners may apply an additional charge for withdrawals and this will be advised at the time of the withdrawal.
| Purchases | Withdrawals | |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC Credit Card | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Student Credit Card | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Credit Card | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| HSBC Student Credit Card | |
| Purchases | Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
| Withdrawals | Cash Fee 2.99% (minimum £3.00) Non-Sterling transaction fee 2.99% |
When making a payment or withdrawing cash in a foreign currency (non-Sterling) you may be asked if you want to pay in sterling or the local currency. By selecting to pay in the local currency, HSBC will convert the payment using the relevant payment scheme exchange rate applied on the day the conversion is made.
Where you chose to make the payment / withdrawal in Sterling, HSBC will not undertake any conversion and this will be done by either the retailer or self-service machine owner. Some cash machine owners may apply an additional charge for withdrawals and this will be advised at the time of the withdrawal.
Do I need to tell you I'm travelling abroad?
There's no need to inform us before you travel. You can let us know it's you using your card abroad by making a chip and PIN payment when you arrive. Please make sure your contact details are up to date so we can get in touch if there are any problems.
Please note, if you have a joint current account, both of you will need to notify us when using the online banking option.
For credit cards, only the primary cardholder needs to give us travel notifications.
