Over the years, the HSBC Revolution Card has been a great tool for miles accumulation in Singapore. However, it is slowly losing its shine, due to multiple nerfs in recent years.
Here’s a compilation of recent nerfs involving the HSBC Revolution Card:
1 Jan 2024: Hotel/Accommodation spendings no longer earn 4 mpd
1 May 2024: Groceries, Fast Food and Misc. food stores no longer earn 4 mpd
15 Jul 2024: Contactless payments no longer earn 4 mpd
1 Jan 2025: Flight, Travel bookings no longer earn 4 mpd
16 Jan 2025: Points conversion to KrisFlyer devalued
It’s not all bad news though, this card has improved in 4 ways:
28 May 2024: 6 new transfer partners, free points transfers, instant points transfers and points pooling with other HSBC cards
Let’s find out if the HSBC Revolution Card is still worth it in 2025. Grab a cup of coffee, here’s everything that you need to know.
Key information
Here’s a quick rundown of the important details of the HSBC Revolution Card.
HSBC Revolution Card
Card tier
Visa Platinum
Annual fee
No annual fee, ever
Income requirement
S$30,000/year
(at least S$50,000 TRB)
S$65,000/year
(under S$50,000 TRB)
Foreign currency fee
3.25%
Points expiry
37 months
(after transaction month)
Transfer partners
7
(useful ones)
Transfer ratio
2.5 points = 1 mile
Min. transfer block
25,000 points
(10,000 miles)
Transfer fee
Free
Points pooling
Yes
General earn rate
1X point per dollar
(0.4 mpd)
Bonus earn rate
10X points per dollar
(4 mpd)
Earning block
Every S$1
Calendar/Statement month
Calendar
Transaction/Posting date
Posting
Sign-up promo
Check here
In a few words
With no annual fee, free points transfers, 7 useful transfer partners and a 4 mpd earn rate, this is one of the best cards for online shopping (Shopee, Lazada etc.). While this card gives you access to great frequent flyer programs (FFPs) like Infinity MileageLands and Executive Club, keep in mind that it is not good for conversions to KrisFlyer. Other spendings like flight/hotel bookings, dining and in-person shopping have a very poor earn rate of 0.4 mpd.
Pros and cons
Here are the pros and cons of the HSBC Revolution Card, as compared to other Singapore credit cards.
✅ Great 4 mpd earn rate for online shopping, ride-hailing
✅ No annual fee, ever
✅ Access to 7 useful FFPs (higher chance of finding award availability, lower rates)
✅ No minimum spending requirement
✅ Free points transfers
✅ Instant points transfers to post FFPs
✅ 3 years points expiry term
✅ Points can be pooled with those from other HSBC cards
❌ 4 mpd earn rate can only be earned on limited online shopping MCCs
❌ 4 mpd earn rate can only be enjoyed up to S$1,000 worth of monthly spending
❌ Poor transfer ratio to KrisFlyer
❌ 3.25% foreign currency fee
❌ Poor earn rate of 0.4 mpd on non-bonus MCCs
No annual fee
While most competent credit cards in Singapore have an annual fee of at least S$196, the HSBC Revolution Card does not come with one.
This is a huge advantage, making this card low-maintenance over the others, as you wouldn’t have to request for an annual fee waiver every single year, and worry about what to do with your points if a waiver is not granted.
✍️ There is only 1 other good credit card in Singapore which doesn’t come with an annual fee, and that is our Card of the Year for 2024, the Trust Cashback Card.
Earn 4 miles per dollar
HSBC Revolution cardholders earn 10 points per dollar (equivalent to 4 miles per dollar) on online shopping, as long as the transaction has a whitelisted Merchant Category Code (MCC). Enjoy this great earn rate for up to S$1,000 worth of eligible spending per calendar month, with no minimum spending required.
All other transactions earn just 1 point per dollar (0.4 mpd).
Here are the whitelisted MCCs that earn 4 mpd (only when transacted online):
| MCC | Description |
|---|---|
| 4121 | Taxicabs and Limousines |
| 4816 | Computer Network/Information Services |
| 5045 | Computers, Peripherals, and Software |
| 5262 | Lawn and Garden Supply Stores |
| 5309 | Duty-Free Stores |
| 5310 | Discount Stores |
| 5311 | Department Stores |
| 5331 | Variety Stores |
| 5399 | Miscellaneous General Merchandise |
| 5441 | Candy, Nut, and Confectionery Stores |
| 5462 | Bakeries |
| 5611 | Men’s and Boys’ Clothing and Accessories Stores |
| 5621 | Women’s Ready-To-Wear Stores |
| 5631 | Women’s Accessory and Specialty Stores |
| 5641 | Children’s and Infants’ Wear Stores |
| 5651 | Family Clothing Stores |
| 5655 | Sports and Riding Apparel Stores |
| 5661 | Shoe Stores |
| 5691 | Men’s and Women’s Clothing Stores |
| 5699 | Miscellaneous Apparel and Accessory Shops |
| 5732 | Electronics Stores |
| 5733 | Music Stores – Musical Instruments, Pianos, and Sheet Music |
| 5734 | Computer Software Stores |
| 5735 | Record Stores |
| 5811 | Caterers |
| 5812 | Eating Places and Restaurants |
| 5813 | Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) – Bars, Taverns, Nightclubs, etc. |
| 5912 | Drug Stores and Pharmacies |
| 5942 | Book Stores |
| 5944 | Jewelry Stores, Watches, Clocks, and Silverware Stores |
| 5945 | Hobby, Toy, and Game Shops |
| 5946 | Camera and Photographic Supply Stores |
| 5947 | Gift, Card, Novelty, and Souvenir Shops |
| 5948 | Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
| 5949 | Sewing, Needlework, Fabric, and Piece Goods Stores |
| 5964 | Direct Marketing – Catalog Merchant |
| 5965 | Direct Marketing – Combination Catalog and Retail Merchant |
| 5966 | Direct Marketing – Outbound Telemarketing Merchant |
| 5967 | Direct Marketing – Inbound Telemarketing Merchant |
| 5968 | Direct Marketing – Continuity/Subscription Merchant |
| 5969 | Direct Marketing – Not Elsewhere Classified |
| 5970 | Artist’s Supply and Craft Shops |
| 5992 | Florists |
| 5999 | Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores |
| 7997 | Clubs – Country Clubs, Membership (Athletic, Recreation, Sports), Private Golf Clubs |
Can I check the MCC before paying?
It requires a little trick, but you can! To do this, you’ll need an Amaze card to intentionally get a payment declined.
Here are the steps:
- Make sure that you have $0 or low balance in your Amaze wallet
- Link your Amaze card to the Amaze wallet (instead of a credit card)
- Next, attempt to pay for the online transaction using your Amaze card details
- The transaction will not go through (due to insufficient balance), but you can now check the MCC of the transaction in the ‘Activity’ tab in your Amaze app
Additional note: As the Amaze card is a Mastercard, you may see minor differences in the MCC descriptions of a Visa card like the HSBC Revolution.
Related: How to Check Merchant Category Code (MCC) Before You Pay
Which popular merchants qualify?
HSBC Revolution can earn 4 mpd at the following merchants, where the MCCs are widely known (and eligible).
- Shopee
- Lazada
- Amazon
- Zalora
- Grab (rides only)
- Gojek
- TADA
- Comfort Zig
Which popular merchants DON’T qualify?
“Online Shopping” is a pretty generic term and may be confused for “online spending”. These popular merchants have MCCs that are not eligible for the 4 mpd earn rate:
- GrabFood
- Foodpanda
- Klook
- Fairprice Online
- Hotels
- Airlines
Calendar or statement month?
Bonus earn rates on credit cards typically have monthly caps, which come in two forms
- Calendar month (ends on the last day of the calendar month)
- Statement month (ends the day before your statement date)
The HSBC Revolution card’s bonus earn rate is capped at S$1,000 worth of spending per calendar month. This translates to a total of 10k points (4k miles) that can be earned in every calendar month.
Transaction date or posting date?
Credit card providers determine monthly qualifying spend based on either:
- Transaction date (date of the transaction, in Singapore time)
- Posting date (date when the transaction is posted in your credit card account, usually 1 to 3 days after the transaction)
The HSBC Revolution Card considers the posting date. So, if you want the transaction to count for the current calendar month, it is advisable to complete the purchase around 4 to 5 days before the last day of the month (e.g. 25 June).
HSBC rewards exclusions
HSBC shares a list of transactions that are excluded from earning rewards points. Using the HSBC Revolution Card for the following transactions will not earn any points:
tl;dr: There’s nothing out of the ordinary here. Most of these are also excluded from earning miles/cashback on other cards.
- Foreign exchange transactions (including but not limited to Forex.com);
- Donations and payments to charitable, social organisations and religious organisations;
- Quasi-cash transactions (including but not limited to transactions relating to money orders, traveler’s checks, gaming related transactions, lottery tickets and gambling);
- Payments made to financial institutions, securities brokerages or dealers (including but not limited to the trading of securities, investments or crypto-currencies of any kind);
- Payments on money payments/transfers (including but not limited to Paypal, SKR skrill.com, CardUp, SmoovPay, iPayMy);
- Payments to any professional services provider (including but not limited to GOOGLE Ads, Facebook Ads, Amazon Web Services, MEDIA TRAFFIC AGENCY INC);
- Top-ups, money transfers or purchase of credits of prepaid cards, stored-value cards or e-wallets (including but not limited to EZ-Link, Transitlink, NETS Flashpay and Youtrip);
- Payments in connection with any government institutions and/or services (including but not limited to court costs, fines, bail and bond payment);
- Any AXS and ATM transactions;
- Tax payments (except HSBC Tax Payment Facility);
- Payments for cleaning, maintenance and janitorial services (including property management fees);
- Payments to insurance companies (including but not limited to sales, underwriting, premiums and insurance services);
- Payments to educational institutions;
- Payments on utilities (Electric, Gas, Water, and Sanitary);
- Balance transfers, fund transfers, cash advances, finance charges, late charges, HSBC’s Cash Instalment Plan, any fees charged by HSBC;
- The monthly instalment amounts under all card instalment plan (including HSBC 0% Card Instalment Payment Plan, HSBC PayLater Instalment Plan and HSBC Spend Instalment);
- Total purchase amount under HSBC 0% Instalment Payment Plan and HSBC PayLater Instalment Plan
- Any unposted, cancelled, disputed and refunded transactions
| MCC | Description |
|---|---|
| 4829 | Money Transfer |
| 4900 | Utilities – Electric, Gas, Water and Sanitary |
| 5199 | Nondurable Good |
| 5960 | Direct Marketing – Insurance Services |
| 6010 | Financial Institutions – Manual Cash Disbursements |
| 6011 | Financial Institutions – Automated Cash Disbursements |
| 6012 | Financial Institutions – Merchandise, Services, and Debt Repayment |
| 6050 | Quasi Cash—Customer Financial Institution |
| 6051 | Non-Financial Institutions – Foreign Currency, Non-Fiat Currency (for example: Cryptocurrency), Money Orders (Not Money Transfer), Travelers Cheques, and Debt Repayment |
| 6211 | Security Brokers / Dealers |
| 6300 | Insurance Sales, Underwriting, and Premiums |
| 6513 | Real Estate Agents & Managers – Rentals |
| 6529 | Remote Stored Value Load – Member |
| 6530 | Remote Stored Value Load – Merchant |
| 6532 | PSP-Member-Payment Transaction |
| 6533 | PSP-Merchant-Payment Transaction |
| 6534 | Money Transfer Member |
| 6536 | Moneysend – Intracountry |
| 6537 | Moneysend – Intercountry |
| 6538 | Moneysend funding |
| 6540 | Non-Financial Institutions – Stored Value Card Purchase/Load |
| 6555 | Mastercard Imitated Rebate |
| 7299 | Other Services–Not Elsewhere Classified |
| 7399 | Business Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) |
| 7349 | CLEAN/MAINT/JANITORIAL SERV |
| 7511 | Quasi Cash – Truck Stop Trxns |
| 7523 | Automobile Parking Lots and Garages |
| 7801 | Government Licensed On-Line Casinos (On-Line Gambling) (US Region only) |
| 7995 | Betting, including Lottery Tickets, Casino Gaming Chips, Off-Track Betting, and Wagers at Race Tracks |
| 8062 | Hospitals |
| 8211 | Elementary and Secondary Schools |
| 8220 | Colleges, Universities, Professional Schools, and Junior Colleges |
| 8241 | Correspondence Schools |
| 8244 | Business and Secretarial Schools |
| 8249 | Vocational and Trade Schools |
| 8299 | Schools and Educational Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) |
| 8398 | Charitable Social Service Organizations |
| 8651 | Political Organizations |
| 8661 | Religious Organizations |
| 8999 | Professional Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) |
| 9211 | Court Costs, Including Alimony and Child Support |
| 9222 | Fines |
| 9223 | Bail and Bond Payments |
| 9311 | Tax Payments |
| 9399 | Government Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) |
| 9402 | Postal Services – Government Only |
| 9405 | Intra-Government Purchases – Government Only |
| 9754 | Gambling-Horse Racing Dog Racing State Lotteries |
When are points credited?
Base points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted, while bonus points earned on the HSBC Revolution Card are credited by the end of the following calendar month.
So, for an eligible online shopping transaction that earns 4 mpd, you’d receive:
- 1X base point credited when the transaction is posted (usually 2-3 days after transaction)
- 9X base points credited by end of the following calendar month
This totals up to 10 points per dollar spent, which converts to 4 miles per dollar when transferred to a good FFP (more on this later).
Here are a couple of examples:
| Transaction post date | Base points credited (1X) | Bonus points credited (9X) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Aug 2025 | 6 Aug 2025 | by 30 Sep 2025 |
| 27 Aug 2025 | 27 Aug 2025 | by 30 Sep 2025 |
HSBC points expiry
Points earned on the HSBC Revolution Card expire 37 months (3 yrs 1 mth) after the calendar month in which the points were earned. Here are a couple of examples:
| Points earned | Points expire |
|---|---|
| 3 Apr 2025 | 31 May 2028 |
| 29 Apr 2025 | 31 May 2028 |
How to check expiring HSBC points?
The HSBC mobile app shows if there are any points expiring in the next 6 months.
HSBC points pooling
Points earned on the HSBC Revolution Card pools with those that are earned on other points-earning cards like the HSBC TravelOne card. In other words, points from all HSBC cards can be combined and transferred out at one go.
Additional note: Although HSBC points across multiple cards can be pooled, the system stores them separately in each card. So, if you are cancelling the Revolution Card while still holding the TravelOne card, the remaining points that were earned on the HSBC Revolution Card will be gone.
HSBC transfer partners
Points earned on the HSBC Revolution Card can be converted to miles on the following FFPs.
Technically, this card has 20 airline/hotel transfer partners. However, due to a number of reasons like poor transfer ratio and usefulness of the loyalty programs, HSBC cards only has access to 7 useful transfer partners; still far better than most other Singapore credit cards.
Related: Credit card transfer partners in Singapore (all banks)
0 Good conversion ratio, useful FFP
0 Good conversion ratio, poor FFP
0 Poor transfer ratio
0 Unlock useful FFP through an additional step*
*Transfer HSBC points to The British Airways Club (TBAC) first to enjoy good conversion ratio, then, convert TBAC Avios to another FFP in the Avios family for free.
| Frequent Flyer Program | Conversion Ratio | Online Shopping Earn Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 30k HSBC points to 10k miles | 3.3 mpd |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 25k HSBC points to 10k miles | 4 mpd |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 25k HSBC points to 10k miles | 4 mpd |
| British Airways Executive Club | 25k HSBC points to 10k Avios | 4 mpd |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | to 10k Avios Transfer via TBAC | 4 mpd |
| Finnair Plus | Transfer via TBAC | – |
| KLM/Air France Flying Blue | 25k HSBC points to 10k miles | 4 mpd |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 25k HSBC points to 10k points | 4 mpd |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 35k HSBC points to 10k miles | 2.9 mpd |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | 30k HSBC points to 10k miles | 3.3 mpd |
| Etihad Guest | 25k HSBC points to 10k miles | 4 mpd |
| Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles | 25k HSBC points to 10k miles | 4 mpd |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 35k HSBC points to 10k points | 2.9 mpd |
| United Airlines MileagePlus | 30k HSBC points to 10k miles | 3.3 mpd |
| Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club | 30k HSBC points to 10k miles | 3.3 mpd |
| Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | 50k HSBC points to 10k miles | 2 mpd |
| Airasia Rewards | 25k HSBC points to 20k points | 8 ppd |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 25k HSBC points to 10k points | 4 ppd |
| Accor Live Limitless | 25k HSBC points to 5k points | 2 ppd |
| IHG One Rewards | 25k HSBC points to 10k points | 4 ppd |
| Wyndham Rewards | 30k HSBC points to 10k points | 3.3 ppd |
How to transfer HSBC points?
HSBC cardholders can transfer credit card points to FFPs easily using the HSBC mobile app. Here’s a quick guide, as shared by HSBC:
How long do HSBC points transfers take?
HSBC points transfers to all useful FFPs are usually instant. This is a huge advantage over other Singapore credit cards that take at least 2 days, and as slow as 1 month.
HSBC cardholders can also keep their points in the card and transfer them immediately when they find award availability, without worrying about the award availability disappearing while waiting for the points transfer to be completed.
Note: HSBC mentioned that points transfers to Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club may take up to 5 working days, and up to 10 working days to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. But you shouldn’t be transferring HSBC points to these 2 FFPs anyway, due to poor transfer ratios and limited use cases.
Best ways to redeem HSBC points
While HSBC points cannot be transferred to KrisFlyer at a good ratio, it gives you access to other FFPs with great award rates to regions that are overdemanded (hence, overpriced) on KrisFlyer. These are:
- Japan, South Korea
- Europe
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Destination (to/from SIN) | Cabin Class | Miles Required (Other FFP) | Miles Required (KrisFlyer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan, S. Korea | Economy | 15.5k | 27k |
| Japan, S. Korea | Business | 25k | 52k |
| Europe | Economy | 25k | 42k |
| Europe | Business | 62.5k | 103.5k |
There are many other factors to consider, such as award availability, fuel surcharges and other taxes and fees. But the general take away is: HSBC points give you choices and depending on where you are flying, access to better award rates and availability.
Read more about the cheapest ways to fly to the following destinations using credit card miles:
Redeem HSBC points for cashback
HSBC points can also be converted to cashback using the Pay with Points feature in the HSBC mobile app.
Points can be redeemed at the following conversion blocks:
- 4,000 points = $10 cashback
- 20,000 points = $50 cashback
If you using the HSBC Revolution Card for online shopping only (like you should), this is equivalent to a 2.5% cashback rate (instead of 4 mpd).
ENTERTAINER with HSBC
Cardholders also get a complimentary membership on ENTERTAINER with HSBC. Through the mobile app, members can enjoy 1-for-1 deals on dining, takeaway, entertainment, travel and wellness.
📄 More about ENTERTAINER with HSBC
HSBC Revolution Card sign-up promotion
New cardholders of HSBC can usually get fantastic sign-up bonuses such as cash, miles or gadgets worth between S$200 and S$800 when applying for a credit card.
Previous HSBC credit cardholders who cancelled their last card with the bank (as principal cardholder) more than 12 months ago will also qualify as a new cardholder.
Click here to check the latest sign-up promotions for the HSBC Revolution Card.
Should you get the HSBC Revolution Card?
As mentioned earlier, the HSBC Revolution Card has undergone many nerfs in the past year. While you may often read about miles chasers hating on it, the fact remains — this card holds 5 major advantages over other miles/rewards credit cards in Singapore.
I’ve mentioned them multiple times above, but allow me to reiterate, one last time:
✅ No annual fee: Others charge at least S$196/year. Sure, a waiver request is possible, but that’s something extra to think about, and a potentially problematic situation if/when a waiver is not granted.
✅ Access to 7 useful FFPs: Most cards have just 2 or 3 useful transfer partners; only Citibank cards offer better
✅ Free points transfers: Others charge around S$27 per transfer
✅ Instant points transfers: Others take at least 2 days, up to a month
✅ 3 years points expiry term: Most cards offer 2 years or less
❌ But…it’s not good for earning KrisFlyer miles
So, you now understand the pros and cons of the HSBC Revolution card. Should you get it?
You should get the card if you:
- Shop online often (at eligible merchants)
- Often max out the superior Citi Rewards card (S$1,000/month)
- Are aware of the benefits of FFPs other than KrisFlyer
- Plan to use the miles to fly to regions where other FFPs are stronger than KrisFlyer (e.g. Europe, Japan/South Korea)
- Want to take advantage of a great sign-up bonus (e.g. get a free Sony camera worth S$769 after spending S$800)
P.S. This card is part of my 2025 miles & credit card strategy.
You should NOT get the card if you:
- Don’t like to travel much
- Don’t shop online much
- Don’t usually max out the superior Citi Rewards card (S$1,000/month)
- Plan to use the miles to fly to regions where KrisFlyer is stronger than other FFPs (e.g. China, India, Istanbul, Australia, NZ)
✍️ Apply for the HSBC Revolution Card
Important documents
📄 HSBC Revolution Credit Card’s 10X Reward points programme T&Cs
Thanks for reviewing this card again in 2025. Still keeping it as an alternative to the often listed Citi Rewards VISA (which is no longer available) for online shopping.
Great article! Thanks for laying all the details clearly!