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...

• 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)

• 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
  We automatically monitor accounts for unusual foreign transactions, so let us know before you travel abroad. This helps us protect you from possible fraud and declined transactions more effectively while you're on holiday. It'll only takes a few minutes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• Log on to online banking
• Select 'Notify us of travel' under the 'My banking' section of the top menu
• Call Customer Services on 03457 404 404
  

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.