Debit Cards

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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Debit cards

Eligibility
Usage
Fees and charges
ATM chip cards FAQs

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Eligibility

HSBC integrated account customers can apply for a Mastercard® Debit Card, for free. You can link at most one HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card to each integrated account under your name.

We'll email you if your application for a supplementary debit card has been rejected.

Applications may be rejected if the supplementary debit card applicant is already an HSBC customer but hasn't maintained the most up-to-date contact details with us. If that's the case, please advise the applicant to update their contact information, then submit an application again.

Applications may also be rejected if the supplementary card applicant is already an HSBC customer but their information doesn't match what's on their identity documents or what's in our records. If that's the case, please check that their information is correct before submitting an application again.

Note: If the supplementary card applicant hasn't established a banking relationship with HSBC HK, we can't proceed with the application right now.

Usage

No. When you make a foreign currency transaction, the corresponding foreign currency deposits will be deducted from your account and settled automatically.

If you don't have sufficient funds in that foreign currency or if the transaction is outside of the 12 supported currencies, it will be settled in Hong Kong dollars.

If you have insufficient foreign currency funds for a transaction in one of the 12 supported currencies, we'll automatically convert the transaction or withdrawal amount into Hong Kong dollars and deduct it from your HKD Savings Accounts (or HKD Current Account if there isn't enough in the Savings Account). We'll use the preferential rate that applies depending on your relationship with us as an HSBC Global Private Banking / HSBC Premier Elite / HSBC Premier / HSBC One / Personal Integrated Account holder.

If you make a transaction in an unsupported currency, we'll use a rate that we'll determine based on the exchange rate adopted by Mastercard on the conversion date.

If you do not activate your debit card, the card will automatically be cancelled after 6 months.

You no longer need to wait for your PIN to arrive by mail. Simply call the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) hotline on (852) 3163 0633 and set up your own ATM PIN after your debit card has been activated. It’s fast and simple.

This is a direct arrangement offered by the merchant or the ATM operator, but not by us.

Before you select this option, we recommend checking with the merchant or the ATM on what the foreign currency exchange rates will be, and how much the handling fees will be.

If you accept this option, your transaction will be treated as a Hong Kong dollar transaction. That means funds will be deducted from your HKD account instead of your foreign currency account.

You can withdraw cash at any HSBC Group ATM, or any ATM that carries the Mastercard or Cirrus logo, anywhere around the world.

For HSBC Global Private Banking / HSBC Premier Elite / HSBC Premier customers, we won't charge any fees for cash withdrawals from both HSBC and non-HSBC Group ATMs.

For HSBC One / Personal Integrated Account customers, a HKD40 charge will apply for each cash withdrawal made from an overseas non-HSBC Group ATM. The charge will be converted to foreign currency and debited together with the withdrawal amount from your account.

Please note that some overseas ATM operators may levy surcharges. If you're an HSBC Global Private Banking / HSBC Premier Elite client, we'll waive or refund these surcharges back to you.

All transactions made with the Mastercard® Debit Card are identifiable in your integrated account's transaction history with the keyword "MDC" in the transaction information.

You may find the transaction details in the HSBC HK App, HSBC Online Banking or call us to enquire.

If you have made a purchase with the Mastercard® Debit Card, the relevant cash rebate transaction is identifiable in your integrated account's transaction history with the keyword "cash rebate" and the last four digits of your card number under the transaction details.

You may find the transaction details in the HSBC HK App, HSBC Online Banking or call us to enquire.

When you make a purchase, the transaction amount will be temporarily held until it is deducted from your account. Please note that the fund held from your account will be rounded up to the nearest whole number. For example, HKD128 will be held from your account if you spent HKD127.20. Remember to have extra funds in your account to ensure the transaction will go through smoothly.

This is due to time difference when the merchant is in a different time zone from yours. The time stamp shown on SMS notification is based on the merchant's location.

No. Recurring transactions made with Mastercard® Debit Card are ineligible for cash rebate.

You'll receive your HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card 3 working days after completing your application. For overseas addresses, the delivery time is expected to be longer.

You can set the monthly spending limit on your HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card via the HSBC HK App. Simply log on, go to 'Cards', and select 'HSBC Mastercard Debit Card' to adjust your limit under 'Card control and spending limit'. This change will be effective immediately. We'll notify you about the limit change via SMS and email. But we won't include the following:

Recurring transactions, e.g. telecom and utility subscriptions, standing orders and Direct Debits
Deposits in your linked bank account
Transactions where the posting amount exceeds the authorisation amount such as when there's exchange rate fluctuation
Approved transactions that have been posted late
Transactions approved by card schemes directly
Other fees (e.g. annual fees, interest and finance charges) if applicable, per our Bank Tariff Guide on our website

Please note that your card carries a pre-set daily spending limit of HKD50,000 (or HKD100,000 if it's an HSBC Global Private Banking Mastercard® Debit Card / HSBC Jade Mastercard® Debit Card). This limit is shared across all your purchase transactions, including EPS.

Both monthly spending limit and daily spending limit are effective at the same time while the lower limit shall prevail.

Withdrawal made with principal card:

Principal cardholder will receive SMS notification only when making overseas cash withdrawal.

Withdrawal made with supplementary card:

Supplementary cardholder will receive SMS notification only when making overseas cash withdrawal. Principal cardholders will receive SMS notification for both local and overseas cash withdrawal made by supplementary cardholder.

Purchases made with principal card:

Principal cardholder will receive SMS notifications only when making online purchases.

Purchases made with supplementary card:

Supplementary cardholder will receive SMS notifications only when making online purchases. Principal cardholders will receive SMS notifications for all kinds of purchases (both online and physical) made by supplementary cardholder.

Some overseas ATMs do not allow customers to select an account for the withdrawal. The banking account printed on customer’s card will be used.

The first rejection email after your initial purchase is due to exceeding spending limit. The second one may be due to the retry of payment request from merchants after the first rejection. You may contact the merchant involved to understand further if there are any enquiries.

Once you get your debit card, you can activate it easily in the HSBC HK App:

Log on to the HSBC HK App
Go to 'Cards' and select 'HSBC Mastercard Debit Card'
Tap on 'Activate card'

You can set up PIN for your debit card by following these steps once you've activated the card:

Log on to the HSBC HK App
Go to 'Cards' and select 'HSBC Mastercard Debit Card'
Tap on 'More' for 'Set / reset PIN'
Enter new PIN and complete the authentication

If you've the HSBC HK App, follow these steps:

Log on to the HSBC HK App
Go to 'Cards' and select 'HSBC Mastercard Debit Card'
Tap on 'More' for 'Set / reset PIN'
Enter new PIN and complete the authentication

If your HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card is retained, we'll sort it out for you remotely – there's no need for you to go to a branch in person. Here's what happens next:

Immediate deactivation: We'll deactivate your current Mastercard® Debit Card right away. This means you won't be able to use it with services like mobile wallets (for example, Apple Pay) or withdraw cash from ATMs.
Quick replacement: We'll send you a new card, which should arrive in 3 to 5 business days.
Getting back on track: Once your new card arrives, follow the instructions in the mail to activate it and resume your debit card services.

Fees and charges

No, we will not charge you any handling fees for overseas purchases made with your HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card.

We will not charge you any foreign currency transaction fees for overseas purchases made with your HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card.

However, merchants in certain countries or regions (e.g. New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA) may apply a surcharge. Please check with the merchant about the surcharges before making a purchase.

Yes. You can use your HSBC Global Private Banking Mastercard® Debit Card / HSBC Premier Elite Mastercard Debit Card / HSBC Jade Mastercard® Debit Card to withdraw cash overseas at any HSBC Group ATM, or at ATMs carrying the Mastercard or Cirrus logo, for free and at the HSBC preferential rate.

Don't worry, you will not be charged for withdrawal at HSBC Group ATMs when using HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card.

ATM Chip Cards

Why does HSBC offer both UnionPay and PLUS network ATM chip cards?

To give you more ATM network options when travelling abroad, apart from the current UnionPay ATM card, we have introduced an additional chip card that uses the PLUS network.

The charge for using another bank’s ATM overseas is HKD20 for your UnionPay card and HKD40 for your PLUS network card. These fees are subject to change. You can get the latest figures by reading our bank tariff guide.

Who can apply for a PLUS ATM chip card?

If you have an HSBC Integrated Account - such as HSBC Premier, HSBC One or our Personal Integrated Account - you can apply for a PLUS ATM chip card.

If I don't have an HSBC Integrated Account, can I apply for a PLUS ATM chip card?

To use the PLUS ATM chip card you must have an HSBC Integrated Account.

For details on the benefits of our integrated accounts or to open an account, call Customer Services on (852) 2233 3000 or visit any HSBC branch in Hong Kong.

Why is my UnionPay ATM chip card linked to my savings account and the PLUS ATM chip card to my current account?

Some overseas ATMs can't access multiple accounts. They can only connect to the primary account listed on the front of your card.

To allow you to access both your Hong Kong dollar savings and Hong Kong dollar current accounts overseas, we use your Hong Kong dollar savings account as the primary account for your UnionPay ATM chip card and your Hong Kong dollar current account as the primary account for your PLUS ATM chip card.

To use the PLUS ATM chip card abroad you'll need to activate the overseas ATM withdrawal limit before your departure as the default overseas ATM withdrawal limit is zero. You will also need to maintain sufficient funds in your Hong Kong dollar current account

How can I apply for a PLUS ATM chip card?

At any HSBC branch in Hong Kong or send a completed enrolment form to PO Box 72677, Kowloon Central Post Office, Kowloon.

Download the PLUS ATM chip card enrolment form (PDF).

When will I receive my new PLUS ATM chip card?

We'll send your ATM PIN and card collection information within 5 working days of receiving your application.

The UnionPay ATM chip card and PLUS ATM chip card look similar. How can I tell them apart?

You can differentiate the two cards based on these features:

Features	UnionPay ATM chip card	PLUS ATM chip card
Account number	Integrated Hong Kong dollar savings account - the last 3 digits of the account number are 833 or 888.	Integrated Hong Kong dollar current account - the last 3 digits of the account number are 001.
ATM network logo (found on the right bottom corner of the back of your card)
Signature panel	Signature required. Your signature will be verified by merchant for purchase transactions via UnionPay network.	No signature required as no purchase transaction via Visa network is supported.

My child has a UnionPay ATM chip card through their HSBC Premier - Junior Pack account. Can they apply for a PLUS ATM chip card?

We now only issue PLUS ATM chip cards to HSBC Premier Junior Pack cardholders. Your child can continue to use their existing UnionPay ATM chip card until the card expires or you can switch to a PLUS ATM chip card now. The PLUS ATM chip card for Junior Pack has to be activated within three months upon card issue date. The existing UnionPay ATM chip card will be deactivated once you activate the new card.

To apply for the PLUS card, Junior Pack account holders can call HSBC Premier on (852) 2233 3322 or visit any HSBC branch.

What are the fees for withdrawing cash with my ATM card in Hong Kong and abroad?

The ATM cash withdrawal fees per transaction are as follows:

	PLUS card	UnionPay card
Overseas ATM cash withdrawal	HKD40	HKD20
Local cash withdrawal (HSBC ATM)	Free	Free
Local cash withdrawal (non-HSBC ATM)	HKD25	HKD15

There is a difference in fee due to the usage of different networks.

Transaction fees change from time to time. You can get the latest figures by reading our Bank Tariff Guide.

Can I keep using my UnionPay ATM chip card if I apply for a PLUS ATM chip card?

Yes, you can continue to use your current UnionPay ATM chip card even after we've issued your PLUS ATM chip card.

If I have already linked my bank account to my Visa or MasterCard credit card, do I still need to apply for a PLUS ATM chip card?

While some overseas PLUS network ATMs can access your bank account through your linked credit card, others will only be able to access your Visa or MasterCard credit card information. In that case, you would end up withdrawing cash from your credit card account and incur a cash advance fee. To enable you to operate both Hong Kong dollar savings and Hong Kong dollar current accounts overseas, the UnionPay ATM chip card is linked to your integrated Hong Kong dollar savings account while the PLUS ATM chip card is linked to your integrated Hong Kong dollar current account.

I could use my old magnetic stripe ATM card at PLUS and Cirrus network ATMs. Can I use these networks with my new UnionPay ATM chip card?

Your new UnionPay chip card can't be used on the PLUS/Cirrus network.

Your new ATM chip card can be used at:

All HSBC ATMs, except those in Argentina, Brazil, France, Greece, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey
All Hang Seng ATMs
UnionPay ATM and POS network in Hong Kong, China and many other countries/regions with exception of some UnionPay ATMs that are in the process of upgrading

If you have any questions, please contact us.

If you are travelling to a country/region where the UnionPay chip card is not supported, you may want to:

Prepare enough cash in the local currency before you travel

Apply for an HSBC PLUS ATM chip card or link your Visa or MasterCard credit card to your HSBC account so you can access PLUS and Cirrus network ATMs abroad.

How do I link my Hong Kong dollar Visa or MasterCard to my HSBC account so I can use my credit card at overseas ATMs?

You can link your HSBC issued credit card to your bank account by calling HSBC phone banking at (852) 2233 3000 or by visiting a HSBC branch in Hong Kong. If you apply by phone, the processing time of your request will be two working days. Branch applications take four working days to process.

Once processed, you'll need to activate the link by visiting an HSBC or Hang Seng ATM in Hong Kong and using your credit card to make a withdrawal, transfer or balance enquiry.

If you don't have an ATM PIN for your credit card, you can apply for a new PIN at a branch or through Personal Internet Banking. If you have a phone banking PIN you can also request an ATM PIN by phone (Quick key: 5 then 3 then 3).

As a final step, you'll need to set an overseas ATM daily withdrawal limit for your credit card. You can do this through Personal Internet Banking, mobile banking, phone banking, at a branch or at an HSBC or Hang Seng ATM in Hong Kong.

How do I use my bank account-linked credit card at an overseas ATM?

You can use a linked credit card to withdraw money from a PLUS or Cirrus network ATM overseas. In most countries/regions, the ATM will give you the option to access these accounts:

credit card account
checking account or current account
savings account

If the ATM you're using doesn't show these options, then any cash withdrawal you make will come from your credit card account. It will be treated as a cash advance and subject to a fee.

What makes chip cards more secure than magnetic stripe cards?

Chip cards include both a magnetic stripe and an embedded microchip. The data on the microchip is much more difficult to steal and use for unauthorised transactions when compared to a magnetic stripe.

While chip cards help protect you from fraud you should still keep your card safe and protect your PIN at all times

What is the daily withdrawal limit on my ATM card?

The maximum limits¹¹ shared for both local and overseas withdrawals are:

HSBC Premier Card HKD80,000
Other personal customer cards HKD80,000*

Learn more (PDF)

Withdrawing the maximum amount may require a few transactions, depending on the dispensing limit of the ATM.

To strengthen security controls for ATM services, the overseas ATM daily withdrawal limit (including cash advances) for all ATM and credit cards was pre-set to HKD0. If you have not yet set the ATM withdrawal limit, please do so for your credit card(s) or ATM card(s) through Personal Internet Banking, phone banking, HSBC Mobile Banking, any HSBC branch or any HSBC/Hang Seng ATM in Hong Kong.

¹¹If you wish to withdraw the maximum amount, you may have to do so more than once, depending on the dispensing limit per transaction of the ATM used.

*A lower limit applies to designated HSBC One non-HKID customers during the first 6 months after account opening. Learn more (PDF).

What is the daily transfer limit for my ATM card? How can I activate the overseas ATM daily transfer limit?

The daily transfer limit refers to the maximum amount you can transfer to HSBC accounts that are NOT linked to customers' ATM/credit cards or Hang Seng accounts from HSBC or Hang Seng ATMs in Hong Kong.

To find your daily transfer limit, log on to Personal Internet Banking and go to My HSBC then to Maintain My Details. You can check your ATM transfer limit under View and Set Transaction Limit.

To strengthen security controls for ATM services, the overseas ATM daily transfer limit was pre-set to HKD0. If you have not yet set the ATM transfer limit, you can activate via Personal Internet Banking and our branches in Hong Kong.

How can I activate the 'Overseas ATM Daily Withdrawal Limit' (including cash advance) and 'Overseas ATM Daily Transfer Limit'?

For your security, the overseas daily withdrawal limit and overseas transfer limit for all ATM and credit cards is HKD0.

You can set a new overseas withdrawal limit through:

Personal Internet Banking
Phone banking
Mobile Banking
HSBC branch in Hong Kong
HSBC or Hang Seng ATMs in Hong Kong

To set a new overseas transfer limit log on to Personal Internet Banking or visit a HSBC branch in Hong Kong.

What is the maximum ATM daily withdrawal limit for the HSBC Premier Junior Pack Cash Card or Cash Card Beneficiary Card? How can I activate the overseas ATM daily withdrawal limit?

The maximum ATM daily withdrawal limits shared with both local and overseas withdrawals are as follows:

HSBC Premier Junior Pack Cash Card	HKD80,000
Cash Card Beneficiary Card	HKD80,000

Withdrawing the maximum amount may require a few transactions, depending on the dispensing limit of the ATM.

You can activate overseas withdrawals on behalf of your child or family member by visiting a HSBC branch in Hong Kong. HSBC Premier customers can also activate withdrawals by phone banking.

The family member who holds the card can also activate overseas withdrawals themselves at a HSBC or Hang Seng ATM in Hong Kong.

How long does it take to activate overseas ATM withdrawals? Can I activate more than one card at a time?

To activate overseas withdrawals for multiple cards, you can select All cards at HSBC or Hang Seng ATMs in Hong Kong - this takes two working days to process.

Or if you're using Personal Internet Banking or mobile banking you can select multiple cards for activation - this will be processed instantly.

If you've registered your mobile phone number with us we'll confirm the activation by SMS text message. You can also check whether your request was processed via ATM, Personal Internet Banking, mobile banking or phone banking.

Reminder note: If you wish to withdraw the maximum amount, you may have to do so more than once, depending on the dispensing limit per transaction of the ATM used.

Debit Cards

Table of contents

Useful links

Eligibility

Who can apply for an HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card?

My HSBC Mastercard® Supplementary Debit Card application has been rejected. Will HSBC let me know why?

Usage

Will I have to manually choose a foreign currency account each time I make a transaction?

What will happen if I have insufficient funds in my foreign currency account when I make an overseas transaction or withdrawal?

How long do I have to activate my Mastercard Debit Card?

How can I receive my ATM PIN (Personal Identification Number)?

Some overseas merchants or ATMs offer me the option to settle my purchase / withdraw cash in my "home" currency (HKD). What does this mean?

Which ATMs should I use to withdraw cash overseas?

I made a purchase/ withdrawal with my Mastercard® Debit Card. How can I check the transaction details?

I made a purchase with my Mastercard® Debit Card. How can I check the respective cash rebate I received?

I made a purchase with my Mastercard® Debit Card. Why is the fund held from my account different from the transaction amount?

I made an online purchase with my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card with an overseas merchant today. Why do I receive a SMS notification with the purchase record showing a different date?

I had a recurring transaction with my Mastercard® Debit Card. Will I earn any cash rebate for this transaction?

How long will it take for me to receive my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card after I've applied for it?

How do I set the monthly spending limit on my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card?

Will I receive SMS notification when I make cash withdrawal with my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card?

Will I receive SMS notifications when I make purchases with my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card?

My card is linked to multiple bank accounts, but the ATM did not show any selection panel. Which of my bank accounts will be used?

I made only one purchase with my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card and it was rejected due to my spending limit. Why do I receive two emails notifying rejection for the same transaction?

How can I activate my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card via HSBC HK App?

How can I set up PIN for my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card via the HSBC HK App?

How can I reset PIN for my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card using HSBC HK App?

What can I do if my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card is retained by an ATM, and I'm unable to get it back?

Fees and charges

Is there any annual fee for the HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card?

Are there any handling fees for making overseas purchases with my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card?

Will there be any surcharges for making overseas purchases with my HSBC Mastercard® Debit Card?

Can I withdraw cash overseas for free with my HSBC Global Private Banking Mastercard® Debit Card / HSBC Premier Elite Mastercard Debit Card / HSBC Jade Mastercard® Debit Card?

I am staying in HSBC Group’s ATM network. Why is the ATM machine still saying that a withdrawal fee will apply?

ATM Chip Cards

Other ATM chip cards FAQs