Subscription Modal Banner
Weekly newsletter subscription
Get SingSaver’s top tips and deals, plus an exclusive free guide to investing, sent straight to your inbox.

I agree to the terms and conditions and agree to receive relevant marketing content according to the privacy policy.

Success Tick Icon
Congratulations on successfully joining Singsaver Newsletter

HSBC Advance Credit Card Review: Earn Up to 3.5% Cashback With No Minimum Spend

Alevin Chan

Alevin Chan

Last updated 25 December, 2023

The HSBC Advance Credit Card grants you with up to 3.5% cashback on all types of purchases. No minimum spend required.

Cashback credit cards offer a straightforward, immediate way for Singaporean consumers to get some savings. Depending on the type of card you are holding, you’ll save money in one of two ways – either a minimal rebate (around 1.5%) or a higher rebate (up to 15%).

The former entails unlimited cashback cards and the latter entails standard cashback cards

But the introduction of the HSBC Advance Credit Card has shaken up the unlimited cashback card formula by offering a refreshing 3.5% cashback with no minimum spend, capped at S$70 base cashback. This cash rebate is higher than the average 1.5% to 2% rate.

Now that we've gotten your attention, let's dive right into the details of this intriguing no-holds-barred cashback credit card that's shaking the market right now.

(If you're looking for other HSCB credit card options, check out our blog listing the best HSCB credit cards in Singapore!)

Table of contents

MM_BLOGARTICLE_800x250@2x (1)

🎉SingSaver's March Madness Grand Lucky Draw🎉: Get up to 3x chances to win a pair of Round Trip Business Class plane tickets to Tokyo (worth S$13,144) when you successfully apply for participating products. Promo runs from 6 Mar 2024, 5pm, to 31 Mar 2024. T&Cs apply.

Click here to check out our past Lucky Draw winners!


Looking for the best credit cards to complement your spending patterns and expenditure in 2024? Check out our Ultimate Credit Card Guide that covers all things credit cards in Singapore – from choosing between a cashback, miles, or rewards credit card to planning your credit card strategy.


What the HSBC Advance Credit Card can do for you

HSBC-Advance-Card-1

HSBC Advance Credit Card product summary:

  • Up to 2.5% base cashback on eligible local and overseas purchases
  • Additional 1% cashback on credit card spend with HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme
  • 1-year annual fee waiver
  • Effective Interest Rate: 26.9% p.a.
  • Minimum income requirement: S$30,000 per year for Singaporeans/PRs, S$40,000 for self-employed, PR or foreigners
  • Minimum age: 21
  • Late payment fee: S$100
  • Minimum payment: 100% of monthly instalment amount + 100% of interest, late fees, annual credit card fees, and overlimit fee + 1% of remaining outstanding balance + excess amount above credit limit or S$50 (whichever is higher)
  • Overlimit fee: S$40
  • Foreign currency fee: 2.25%
  • Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) fee: 1%
  • Cash advance fee: 28% p.a.
  • Annual fee: S$194.40
Pros ✅ Cons ❌
High 2.5% base cashback
- Earn 1.5% cashback on up to S$2,000 spend
- Earn 2.5% cashback after S$2,000 spend
Need to join HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme to earn additional 1% cashback – to bring total to 3.5% cashback
Up to 3.5% cashback with conditions met Base cashback capped at S$70 per month
No minimum spend Cannot earn cashback on utilities, insurance premiums, and other bills*
1-year annual fee waiver  
Up to S$200 cashback in sign-up rewards or Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp luggage (worth S$670)  
S$500,000 travel insurance cover for cardholder and family members  
Up to US$200 e-commerce purchase protection  

*Refer to merchant exclusion list in T&Cs

MM_BLOGARTICLE_800x250@2x (1)

🎉SingSaver's March Madness Grand Lucky Draw🎉: Get 2x chances to win a pair of Round Trip Business Class plane tickets to Tokyo (worth S$13,144) when you successfully apply for an HSBC Credit Card. Promo runs from 6 Mar 2024, 5pm, to 31 Mar 2024. T&Cs apply.

HSBC_CC_18 MAR_BLOGARTICLE_800x250

SingSaver's Exclusive Offer: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for an HSBC Advance Card:

Receive a Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer (worth S$699) or Nintendo Switch OLED (worth S$549) or an Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or S$350 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending min. S$500 by the end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. Valid till 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.


Why should you choose the HSBC Advance Credit Card?

HSBC-Advance-Card-1


#1: Up to 2.5% base cashback on all types of spending, capped at S$70 per month

The HSBC Advance Credit Card gives you as much as 2.5% cashback with no minimum spend, which you can freely use across all spends.

2.5% may not seem like much, but it is on par with the rebates offered by some of the leading ‘everyday savings’ cards currently on the market. Remember, the average cashback rate of credit cards with no minimum spend typically hovers around 1.5% to 2%.

This 2.5% base cashback rate consists of:

  • S$0 to S$2,000 monthly spend: Earn 1.5% base cashback
  • Above S$2,000 monthly spend: Earn 2.5% base cashback 
The advantage here is the flexibility you’ll enjoy. Since it follows a blacklist approach, most categories can earn cashback. Thus, you'll no longer have to juggle between different cards on different spends, just so you can maximise your cashback.

This is backed up by the card’s other winning feature: a maximum S$70 base cashback cap per month.

Both these main features work wonderfully together. At 2.5% cashback on all spends, you just need to charge above S$2,000 to hit the maximum base cashback of $70.

But if let's say, spending more than S$2,000 per month is a bit of a stretch for you. No worries, you can still clock in 1.5% cashback in the following categories:
  • Retail spending
  • Dining spending
  • Education spending
  • Wedding spending
  • Home spending
  • Other eligible local spending
💡 Just for comparison, on a card with 1.5% cashback, you’d have to spend at least S$4,669 per month to get S$70 in savings.
Monthly spend on your HSBC Advance Credit Card
Base Cashback
Maximum cashback per calendar month
S$2,000 and below
1.5% Cashback
S$70
Above S$2,000
2.5% Cashback
S$70

MM_BLOGARTICLE_800x250@2x (1)

🎉SingSaver's March Madness Grand Lucky Draw🎉: Get 2x chances to win a pair of Round Trip Business Class plane tickets to Tokyo (worth S$13,144) when you successfully apply for an HSBC Credit Card. Promo runs from 6 Mar 2024, 5pm, to 31 Mar 2024. T&Cs apply.

HSBC_CC_18 MAR_BLOGARTICLE_800x250

SingSaver's Exclusive Offer: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for an HSBC credit card.

Receive a Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer (worth S$699) or Nintendo Switch OLED (worth S$549) or an Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or S$350 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending min. S$500 by the end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. Valid till 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.

For HSBC TravelOne Card: Receive the above rewards when you activate and spend a min. S$500 plus pay an annual fee of S$196.20 by the end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. Valid till 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.


#2: Earn additional 1% HSBC Everyday+ Rewards

Simply deposit a minimum of S$2,000 fresh funds (or S$5,000 for HSBC Premier customers) and perform 5 eligible transactions to receive 1% cashback on on your credit card spending with HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme.

That's right, every calendar month either via salary crediting and/or inward transfers from a non-HSBC account.

It is important to note that the maximum cashback per calendar month is S$500 for HSBC Premier and Jade customers and S$300 for Personal banking customers.

This means effectively, you can earn a maximum of S$370 to S$570 total cashback ($70 base cashback + S$300/S$500 additional cashback) if you play your (credit) card right.


#3: Pay for big-ticket expenses like house renovations and wedding costs

The HSBC Advance Credit Card can be used to fund your big-ticket purchases similar to unlimited cashback cards even though it technically isn't one. Why?

This is mainly due to three of its features: 

  • No minimum spend to earn base 1.5% cashback
  • Higher monthly spend tiers above S$2,000 to earn up to 3.5% cashback effortlessly
  • Eligible spend categories include education, wedding, and home-related expenses
  • Higher cashback cap of up to S$570

Most other cashback cards not only have a lower cashback cap, but this cap is also split across several spend category types.

For example, the UOB EVOL Card has a S$60 cashback cap per month, but it's restricted to S$20 per category across online spend, mobile contactless spend, and all other retail spend. This greatly limits your maximum potential cashback earned if you spend more in one category than the other.

But with the HSBC Advance Credit Card, you won't have to worry about hitting a spend limit or cap that earns eligible cashback.

See also: How to Maximise Miles Earned on Big Ticket Spending


HSBC Everyday+ Rewards

Screenshot 2023-05-01 at 1.39.33 PM

 
Personal Banking
Premier Customers
Eligible Cards
Any HSBC credit card or EGA debit card
Any HSBC credit card or EGA debit card
Minimum EGA Deposit Per Month
S$2,000
S$5,000 (Premier & Jade)
Bonus Interest
1% on Incremental SGD Balances
1% on Incremental SGD Balances
Cashback
1% on 5 eligible transactions
1% on 5 eligible transactions
Minimum Transactions Per Month
5
5
Qualifying Transactions
Make 5 eligible transactions
(Can be a combination of the following)
• HSBC Credit Cards
• HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card
• GIRO Bill Payments including: Insurance premium payment, Repayment of Car Loan, Utilities & Telco bill payments, Non-HSBC CC bill payments, School fees, Income Tax
• Outward Funds transfers /Paynow /FX/TT
Make 5 eligible transactions
(Can be a combination of the following)
• HSBC Credit Cards
• HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card
• GIRO Bill Payments including: Insurance premium payment, Repayment of Car Loan, Utilities & Telco bill payments, Non-HSBC CC bill payments, School fees, Income Tax
• Outward Funds transfers /Paynow /FX/TT
Cap
S$300 Bonus Interest + S$300 Cashback = S$600
S$300 Bonus Interest + S$500 Cashback = S$800
Crediting Time
By end of following month
2-14 business days

HSBC EGA (Premier) Welcome Gift: Earn up to 4.60% p.a. interest when you sign up for the HSBC EGA Bonus Interest Promotion via SMS. Valid till 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.

 


Are the enhanced benefits worth the HSBC Everyday Global Account?

You should know that the HSBC Everyday Global Account is an enhanced savings account, which comes bundled with features you won’t normally find in a basic savings account.

Some of these include multi-currency deposits, and preferential rates for loans.)


What promotions are there for the HSBC Advance Credit Card?

MM_BLOGARTICLE_800x250@2x (1)

🎉SingSaver's March Madness Grand Lucky Draw🎉: Get 2x chances to win a pair of Round Trip Business Class plane tickets to Tokyo (worth S$13,144) when you successfully apply for an HSBC Credit Card. Promo runs from 6 Mar 2024, 5pm, to 31 Mar 2024. T&Cs apply.

HSBC_CC_18 MAR_BLOGARTICLE_800x250

SingSaver's Exclusive Offer: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for an HSBC Advance Card:

Receive a Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer (worth S$699) or Nintendo Switch OLED (worth S$549) or an Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or S$350 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending min. S$500 by the end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. Valid till 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.


What charges or fees should you look out for?

Excited about the HSBC Advance Credit Card? Before you apply, check the eligibility requirements, card fees and interest rate below.

Singaporeans or PR holders
Foreigners
Annual Fees
Fee Waiver
Effective Interest Rate
21 to 65 years old S$30,000 minimum annual income
21 to 65 years old S$40,000 minimum annual income, with valid employment pass
S$194.40 (GST included)
1 year, waived if you spend more than $12,500 annually from Year 2 onwards
25.9% p.a.

How to apply?

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on this page and complete the application form on the SingSaver site. You will need to prepare the following documents for the application process:

  • Front and back of NRIC/Passport/Employment Pass
  • Proof of billing address
  • Salaried employees: Past 12 months' CPF statement, latest Income Tax Notice of Assessment, and latest 3 months' original computerised payslip
  • Self-employed: Past 12 months' CPF statement and latest Income Tax Notice of Assessment
    • Lastest 1 year's Notice of Assessment only required if the above is not available

Should you get the HSBC Advance Credit Card?

hsbc-advance-credit-card
The HSBC Advance Card is a great choice for those who prefer fuss-free spending without any minimum spend. It possesses qualities of both a regular cashback card and an unlimited cashback card – offering you the best of both worlds to earn...
✔️ Cashback on your big-ticket purchases
✔️ Bonus cashback rate upon hitting a higher minimum spend tier
You can check out other unlimited cashback credit cards here.

Best Unlimited Cashback Credit Cards

Credit Card Best for/Benefits Details Min. Annual Income
Citi Cash Back+ Card
citicashbackplus-1

 

- 1.6% unlimited cashback on all spending
- No min. spend required

- No cap on cashback earned

- Annual fee: S$196.20 (First year free)
- Local/PR: S$30,000

- Foreigner: S$42,000
AMEX True Cashback Card
amex-true-cashback

 

- 1.5% unlimited cashback on all spending (including education fees, insurance, healthcare, utilities and telco)
 
- Enjoy 3% welcome bonus cashback on up to S$5,000 eligible spend within first 6 months of card approval
- No min. spend required

- No cap on cashback earned

- Annual fee: S$174.40 (First year free)
- Local/PR: S$30,000
CIMB World Mastercard
CIMB-WORLD-MASTERCARD_2019-LR-1024x674

 

- 2% unlimited cashback on Wine & Dine and Online Food Delivery, Movies and Digital Entertainment, Taxi and Automobile, and Luxury Goods
- Min. S$1,000 monthly spend

- No annual fee


- Local/PR: S$30,000
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card
SimplyCash_front

- 1.5% unlimited cashback on all spending
 
- No min. spend required

- No cap on cashback earned

- Annual fee: S$196.20 (First 2 years free)
- Local/PR: S$30,000

- Foreigner: S$60,000
UOB Absolute Cashback Card
uob-absolute-cardface

 

- 1.7% unlimited cashback on all spending

- Includes insurance, school fees, wallet top-ups (excludes Grab), healthcare, utilities & telco bills, and rental
- No min. spend required

- No cap on cashback earned
 
- Annual fee: S$196.20 (First year free)
- Local/PR: S$30,000

- Foreigner: S$40,000
Maybank FC Barcelona Visa Signature Card
maybank-fcb-visasig

 

- 1.6% unlimited cashback on all local spending
- No min. spend required

- No cap on cashback earned
 
- Annual fee: S$120.10 (First 2 years free)
- Local/PR: S$30,000

- Malaysian Citizen: S$45,000

- Foreigner: S$60,000


An ex-Financial Planner with a curiosity about what makes people tick, Alevin’s mission is to help readers understand the psychology of money. He’s also on an ongoing quest to optimise happiness and enjoyment in his life.

FINANCIAL TIP:

Use a personal loan to consolidate your outstanding debt at a lower interest rate!

Sign up for our newsletter for financial tips, tricks and exclusive information that can be personalised to your preferences!