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Your Financial Ally: HSBC Everyday Global Account Paves The Way For Young Achievers

Alevin Chan

Alevin Chan

Last updated 27 September, 2023

The HSBC Everyday Global Account just got a sweet boost, and it might just be a great fit for young working professionals seeking a robust, rewarding and multi-functional bank account.

We all work hard for our money, so wouldn’t it be nice if our bank accounts work equally hard to help stretch our money further? Or straight up give us cashback - on top of enabling us to make cross-border transactions and overseas ATM withdrawals without hefty fees?

And while we’re making up our banking wish list, contactless mobile payments and easy access to cash withdrawals wherever we happen to be wouldn’t hurt either.

Well, if those are the features you’d love to have with your bank account, you’d want to hear about the HSBC Everyday Global Account (EGA).

In this article, we do a deep dive into the many features of the HSBC EGA, and give you three reasons why young professionals will likely find it a good fit for their banking needs.

Let’s dive right in.


Unlocking Financial Growth: Why HSBC EGA?

Reason #1: HSBC EGA gives you more for your everyday transactions

HSBC EGA is one that is well worth your attention.

With the HSBC Everyday+ Rewards programme1, you’ll be earning cashback and bonus interest on many (if not all) of your essential transactions.

Check out this video for an illustration of how it works.

All clear? Let’s break it down further.

Qualifying criteria

To start earning your bonus rewards, all you have to do is to credit your salary to your HSBC EGA or make a monthly deposit of at least S$2,000 (freelancers and self-employed can also make recurring deposits).

HSBC Jade or Premier banking customers who deposit at least S$5,000 a month will also qualify for a higher tier of rewards from the programme.

Then, you simply need to make at least five eligible transactions (exclusions apply) within the same month.

Some easy ways to achieve this is via transactions on your HSBC Everyday Global Debit Cards, HSBC credit cards, GIRO bill payments or fund transfers.

What’s better? There’s no minimum spend for such transactions (hint: food delivery!).

Once these two criteria are fulfilled, you’re locked in to receive your rewards! The table below sums it all up.

  HSBC Personal Banking HSBC Premier HSBC Jade
Salary / recurring deposit Minimum $2,000 Minimum $5,000 Minimum $5,000
Make 5 transactions (initiated by you, not system generated transactions) ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Spend on debit / credit cards 1% cashback*  1% cashback** 1% cashback**
Make GIRO bill payments  1% cashback* 1% cashback** 1% cashback**
Increase your SGD balance from previous month 1% p.a. bonus interest* (capped at S$300 per month) 1% p.a. bonus interest* (capped at S$300 per month) 1% p.a. bonus interest (capped at S$300 per month)
One-time bonus cash after 6 months S$150 (average account balance must be at least S$100,000) S$300 (average account balance must be at least S$200,000) S$300 (average account balance must be at least S$200,000)

*Total cashback capped at S$600 per month including bonus interest
**Total cashback capped at S$800 per month including bonus interest

Credit and debit card spends – 1% cashback

The first is 1% cashback on your credit card or HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card spends. This is one of the easiest ways you can reach your maximum cashback cap, so you can enjoy optimal value.

GIRO bill payments 1% cashback

Chances are, your GIRO bill payments are for municipal services, subscriptions, utilities or insurance, which may be excluded from other credit card reward schemes, but if you’re an HSBC EGA customer, you get to benefit from even these transactions, helping you to squeeze out that extra bit of savings every month.

Increase your SGD savings 1% p.a. bonus interest

What’s more, you can also reap bonus rewards when you increase your SGD balance in HSBC EGA, which incentivises you to save money! What’s worth noting is that this is not pegged to salary crediting, but monthly incremental SGD balances.

One-time bonus cash reward

If you have substantial savings in the region of hundreds of thousands of dollars, here’s a one-time special bonus you shouldn’t miss.

Yes, you can get additional S$150 or S$300 (terms & conditions apply) in cash simply for parking your money and continue to meet the Qualifying Criteria for at least six months!

Here's the total interest you can earn on the HSBC EGA with the HSBC Everyday+ Programme (1 June to 30 June 2023):

Customer segment
Prevailing interest rate
Everyday Global Account bonus interest
Everyday+ bonus interest
Total interest rate on top-up amount
Premier
0.05% p.a.
4.% p.a.
1% p.a.
5.05% p.a.
Personal banking
0.05% p.a.
3.8% p.a.
1% p.a.
4.85% p.a.

HSBC Everyday Global Account Welcome Gift: Get up to S$1,830 in rewards when you sign up for a HSBC Everyday Global Account and complete the offer bundles with HSBC Credit Card, Investment and Life Insurance Products. T&Cs apply.

Alternatively, sign up for an HSBC Everyday Global Account in November and enjoy a bonus interest rate of up to 4.50% p.a! T&Cs apply.

HSBC Everyday Global Account Welcome Gift: Get up to S$1,830 in rewards when you sign up for a HSBC Everyday Global Account and complete the offer bundles with HSBC Credit Card, Investment and Life Insurance Products. T&Cs apply.

Alternatively, sign up for an HSBC Everyday Global Account in November and enjoy a bonus interest rate of up to 4.50% p.a! T&Cs apply.


Reason #2: Shop like a local

The HSBC EGA also comes with a number of nifty features and capabilities that should suit the needs of most young working professionals.

HSBC EGA allows you to conveniently hold 11 different currencies with one account.

You can access real-time FX rates, along with tools that help you lock in your preferred exchange rates when swapping currencies all under one account.

This means you can enjoy S$0 foreign exchange fees3 on 10 currencies when you make retail / online purchases.

What’s more, your HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card can be used not only at HSBC ATMs, but also any machines in the atm5 and PLUS networks on the island and even overseas2.

Not near any ATMs at all? No problem, you can withdraw cash at over 600 locations, including 7-Eleven, Cold Storage and Guardian stores.


Reason #3: Make faster international transfers to your loved ones

HSBC EGA also comes bundled with features that fit right in with the preferences of today’s digital natives - one of the most powerful features is the HSBC Global Money Transfers (GMT)  facility, which allows you to seamlessly send money to different countries and territories.

HSBC GMT lets you make faster and fee-free4 international transfers to your loved ones conveniently via the HSBC Singapore app.

You can send money internationally like a local to over 20 countries/territories, transfer money to China via UnionPay cards issued in Mainland China, send money globally to third-party HSBC accounts instantly5 and perform wire transfers to over 200 countries/territories via SWIFT.

At a time when it isn’t easy to travel, this is an important feature for those with friends and family overseas.

Of course, nothing beats being there physically for say, your nephew’s birthday, or when Grandma goes to the hospital for a routine procedure.

But with HSBC GMT, you can make international money transfers to loved ones securely and efficiently, whenever you are, all through a few taps via the HSBC Singapore app.

Read also: HSBC TravelOne Credit Card Review (2023): Travel and Earn Rewards All on One App


 

HSBC EGA, pros and cons for the young professionals

Pros of HSBC EGA

  • Getting cashback and bonus interest is basically earning “extra money” (so long as you meet the conditions). A couple of bucks saved here and there may not seem like much at the time, but trust us, they’ll add up to a small fortune over time. Just transact as per normal, and watch the extra money start rolling in.
  • Being able to bank like a local across borders is increasingly essential, given how online shopping will only become more borderless and widespread. Thus, being able to save on foreign transaction fees via HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card will help you stretch your money further.
  • For those with family and friends overseas, don’t forget that with HSBC GMT, you can make faster and fee-free4 international transfers with real-time and competitive foreign exchange rates6. Additionally, you can convert foreign currency when the forex rates are in your favour, and hold them in your HSBC EGA until ready for use. 

Cons of HSBC EGA

  • Low base interest rate of only 0.05% per annum. Granted, HSBC is hardly the only offender in this regard, but this is still a con for those who are not the most active users. 
  • While the HSBC EGA supports 10 foreign currencies, there's no interest on most balances. Furthemore, the supported currencies are lower that some of its competitors. To be fair, the currencies provided will likely suit most users, but the lack of interest paid on most of them makes it disadvantageous for users to hold high amounts of foreign currency.
  • HSBC EGA comes with a fall-below fee of S$5, which is levied for every month your average account balance falls below S$2,000. This makes it important to maintain a larger balance.

Read also: Building A Credit Score Early Is Important, Especially If You’re A Young Working Adult. Here’s Why And How.

HSBC Everyday Global Account Welcome Gift: Get up to S$1,830 in rewards when you sign up for a HSBC Everyday Global Account and complete the offer bundles with HSBC Credit Card, Investment and Life Insurance Products. T&Cs apply.

Alternatively, sign up for an HSBC Everyday Global Account in November and enjoy a bonus interest rate of up to 4.50% p.a! T&Cs apply.


HSBC Sure-Win Promotion

From 1 May – 31 October 2023, qualifying members of the HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme will stand to win attractive prizes for your transactions.

The qualifying criteria is as follows: 

  • Eligible Customer must be Everyday+ qualified at the point of draw.
  • Eligible Customer must possess at least 1 Grand Lucky Draw Chance where the
    chance(s) can be won via the Sure-Win game.
  • Each Eligible Customer can only win a maximum of 1 Grand Lucky Draw Prize.

How to qualify

Step 1: Register via SMS
Send an SMS in the following format to 74722 within the Promotional Period
SUREWIN<space>First 9-digit of their Everyday Global Account Number (e.g., SUREWIN 123456789)


Step 2: Qualify for HSBC Everyday+

Earn 1 Sure-Win Spin each month when you qualify for the HSBC Everyday+ by fulfilling the criteria within the same
month
- 5 eligible transactions
- Min. deposit of S$2k (or S$5k for Premier)


Step 3: Be Rewarded

Receive the sure-win spins code by the end of next calendar month (from the date of Everyday+ qualification) and play the sure-win game on hsbc.com.sg/surewin by 30 November 2023

HSBC Everyday Global Account Welcome Gift: Get up to S$1,830 in rewards when you sign up for a HSBC Everyday Global Account and complete the offer bundles with HSBC Credit Card, Investment and Life Insurance Products. T&Cs apply.

Alternatively, sign up for an HSBC Everyday Global Account in November and enjoy a bonus interest rate of up to 4.50% p.a! T&Cs apply.

HSBC Everyday Global Savings vs. Traditional Accounts

HSBC EGA vs Standard Chartered Bonus$aver Account

The Standard Chartered Bonus$aver Account offers up to 7.88% p.a. interest should you fulfil all the required banking transactions. Given that you can earn at least 4.88% p.a. just with salary credit, spend and bill payment, earning the maximum bonus interest may not be a tall order after all. 

Also, this account offers access to 14 foreign currencies. You can also enjoy S$0 overseas transaction fees and no mark-ups when you spend with the Standard Chartered Bonus$aver debit card.

HSBC EGA vs UOB One Account

The UOB One Account lets you earn up to 7.80% p.a. interest on your savings, and makes it easy to do too. You simply need to spend at least S$500 on your credit card, and either credit your salary of at least S$1,600, or make three GIRO transactions. 

The UOB One Account also has multi-currency capabilities to help you save with better rates and lower fees. You can also use the bank’s mobile app to keep track of all your banking and money needs at all times.

HSBC EGA vs Citi Wealth First Account (Citigold Status)

Citi Wealth First Account is a premier banking service, which helps explain some of its superior perks. One such perk is the accompanying CitiBank Debit MasterCard that offers traveller-friendly benefits. 

You can enjoy zero conversion charges and transaction processing fees, as well as zero foreign exchange conversion fee and administrative charge at all Citibank ATMs worldwide.

However, to qualify, you’ll need to make an initial deposit of S$250,000

CITIGOLD_39_BLOGARTICLE_800x250

SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Enjoy 2x chances to win your share of up to S$200,000 in prizes in our epic 101! Milestone Giveaway, including S$5,000 bonus cash each week on top of ongoing promotions. Valid till 20 December 2023. T&Cs apply. Click here to check out our past Lucky Draw winners!

Successful applicants of Citigold who make an S$250,000 deposit within 3 months of account opening and maintain these funds until gift fulfilment will get an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB (worth $1,999) or S$1,500 Cash. Valid till 7 January 2024. T&Cs apply.

Applicable to New-to-bank only ie. users with no Citigold or Current and Savings Accounts. If a user has applied for Citi Credit Card or Personal Loan, they will still be eligible.

 

Conclusion: HSBC EGA for rewards every day

The HSBC EGA is not the flashiest nor the most fancy. Some might even find its reward structure to be a little too convoluted for their taste.

Yet, those whose spending habits and budget naturally fit into the requirements will likely find it quite a seamless experience enjoying all that the account has to offer. 

The main draw here is the extra interest and cashback that accumulates as you spend, save and bank. 

Furthermore, it offers low-fee cross-border features and multi-currency capabilities that cover most popular currencies, making the HSBC EGA a competent companion for young professionals with globe-trotting aspirations.

 

This article was written in partnership with HSBC.


Disclaimer
This article is meant for information only and should not be relied upon as financial advice. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

1 HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme’s T&Cs apply. (Source)

2 HSBC Jade and Premier Everyday Global Debit Card Cardholders enjoy $0 HSBC ATM fees for overseas cash withdrawals across all ATMs worldwide. HSBC Personal Banking Everyday Global Debit Card Cardholders enjoy $0 HSBC ATM fees for overseas cash withdrawal at all HSBC ATMs except in Argentina, France, Brazil, Greece, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey. HSBC Fees apply for cash withdrawals at non HSBC ATMs. Please note that for all customers, fees may be applied by the 3rd party banks for cash withdrawals at non-HSBC ATMs worldwide. (Source)

3 Applies to successful retail purchase, online shopping and cash withdrawal made via the 10 supported currencies. If you do not have sufficient foreign currencies to complete the transactions, we will convert the transaction at a prevailing rate as determined by the bank and bill you in Singapore dollar. (Source)

4 Most transfers are fee-free but some intermediary banks may charge fees. You can see an estimate of the applicable fees when you review your transfer. The actual amount is subject to the intermediary bank and will be debited after you've confirmed your transfer.
Some banks may charge for incoming international transfers. Your payees will need to check with their banks on these charges as they vary and will be debited from the payee's account. We are unable to advise you on the fees applied by other banks for payments sent through Global Money Transfers. (Source)

5 Foreign exchange transactions involving the following currencies: Bermudian Dollar, Egyptian Pound, Qatari Riyal, Indonesian Rupiah, Sri Lankan Rupee, Malaysian Ringgit, Vietnamese Dong, Philippine Peso and Omani Rial may not be processed instantly over the weekend and public holidays. (Source)

6 Real-time rates are available from Monday at 09:30 until Saturday at 05:00 Singapore Time, excluding bank holidays. (Source)

Deposit Insurance Scheme:
Singapore dollar deposits of non-bank depositors are insured by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation, for up to S$75,000 in aggregate per depositor per Scheme member by law. Foreign currency deposits, dual currency investments, structured deposits and other investment products are not insured.

Information correct as at 1 December 2021.


Read these next:
Should You Combine Your Savings And Spending Account?
I’m 27 And I Accumulated My First $100,000 By Investing And Saving Over 4 Years
Best Savings Accounts in Singapore to Park Your Money
9 Crucial Things You Should Not Be Saving Your Money On
Best HSBC Credit Cards In Singapore

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.

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