HSBC India will remove forex mark-ups on all its credit cards from August 15, making international spending cheaper and more transparent for customers across a range of products, including Premier, Taj, Live+, TravelOne, and Platinum.
HSBC India will remove foreign exchange mark-ups on spending made with all of its credit cards from August 15, broadening a benefit that had previously been reserved for only a few premium products. The move covers cards including the HSBC Premier, Taj, Live+, TravelOne and Platinum offerings, while the HSBC Privé and HSBC RuPay Cashback cards already carried zero forex mark-up when they were launched. The bank is positioning the change as a way to make overseas spending less expensive for customers using their cards abroad or on foreign websites.
The relief applies to point-of-sale transactions and online purchases made in foreign currency, which means cardholders should see the benefit whether they are paying in a shop overseas or booking hotels, flights and activities through international merchants. In practical terms, removing the mark-up cuts one of the main add-on costs that can make cross-border card spending more expensive. Industry guides on zero forex cards note that the fee can otherwise add a meaningful amount to the bill, especially for frequent travellers and online shoppers.
HSBC also said its cardholders will continue to be exempt from Dynamic Currency Conversion charges, a separate fee that can arise when an overseas merchant offers to convert a transaction into rupees at the point of sale. That feature remains a standing part of the bank’s credit card portfolio and is separate from the limited-period forex offer. Customers will still keep their existing card rewards and benefits during the promotion, HSBC said.
Sandeep Batra, who heads International Wealth and Premier Banking at HSBC India, said the aim is to give customers better value on overseas purchases, whether they are travelling, buying from global websites or paying for foreign services. HSBC India has operated in the country for more than 170 years and now has 32 branches across 20 cities. The latest move also fits a wider push by the bank to market its cards through travel, lifestyle and shopping promotions, alongside product-specific benefits such as those linked to Taj Hotels, airline partners and premium cashback.
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