So you've packed your bags and are ready to take off on your holiday? Here are some simple tips to make sure you worry less and enjoy more.
Before you leave
Your HSBC cards are a safe and easy way to pay abroad. Here are some simple tasks you should do before you leave to make sure your holiday runs smoothly.
Before you leave:
- Check the expiry date on your HSBC card
- Make sure you have enough funds in your account and/or an available credit limit
- Update your latest contact details with us, so that we can get in touch with you easily
- Write down the useful phone numbers shown in the right hand grey box incase you need to contact us
When you get there
Carrying your HSBC card is much safer than carrying cash and your pockets won’t be weighed down with foreign currency. Here are some simple tips for carrying and using your HSBC debit and credit cards when travelling abroad.
Stay safe:
- Monitor your card activity and contact us immediately if you notice any fraudulent activity on your card(s)
- Never share your PIN with anyone, including bank personnel and shopkeepers
- In case of card theft or loss, please call us and report card loss immediately and also report it to the local authorities
- On hotel check-out and car rental return, please cancel all authorizations obtained for advance reservations.
Stay smart:
- Try not to leave all your cards in the same place – that way you won’t lose everything
- Keep the useful phones numbers at hand at all times in case you need to contact us
- While using an ATM machine or when paying with your HSBC card, be discreet while entering your PIN and beware of the people around you
- Keep all receipts to check against your statements – do not leave your receipt at the ATM Machine
International charges
When abroad there are a few things you should know about the foreign exchange charges that may be applied.
Using your card in a country with a different currency means that we will have to convert the amount back to your accounts primary currency (local currency) using the applicable exchange rate and this will incur a processing fee. The transaction plus the fee will show as one amount on your statement and therefore will not be the same as the amount you spent or withdrew.
| Description | HSBC Premier | HSBC Advance | HSBC Visa Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Currency Exchange rate |
The exchange rate is applied by Mastercard / VISA |
The exchange rate is applied by Mastercard / VISA |
The exchange rate is applied by Mastercard / VISA |
| Foreign Currency Processing Fee2 | Up to 3% | Up to 3% | Up to 3% |
| Withdrawals from your Current / Savings Account at an HSBC ATM | Free | Inside Oman: free Outside Oman: OMR 1 per transaction | Inside Oman: free Outside Oman: OMR 1 per transaction |
| Withdrawals from your Current / Savings Account through a VISA /PLUS, Mastercard / CIRRUS ATM Abroad | Free | OMR 2 per transaction | OMR 2 per transaction |
| Cash Advance Fee each time you withdraw from an ATM | 3% of amount or OMR 5, whichever is higher | 3% of amount or OMR 5, whichever is higher | 3% of amount or OMR 5, whichever is higher |
| Description |
Foreign Currency Exchange rate |
|---|---|
| HSBC Premier |
The exchange rate is applied by Mastercard / VISA |
| HSBC Advance |
The exchange rate is applied by Mastercard / VISA |
| HSBC Visa Platinum |
The exchange rate is applied by Mastercard / VISA |
| Description | Foreign Currency Processing Fee2 |
| HSBC Premier | Up to 3% |
| HSBC Advance | Up to 3% |
| HSBC Visa Platinum | Up to 3% |
| Description | Withdrawals from your Current / Savings Account at an HSBC ATM |
| HSBC Premier | Free |
| HSBC Advance | Inside Oman: free Outside Oman: OMR 1 per transaction |
| HSBC Visa Platinum | Inside Oman: free Outside Oman: OMR 1 per transaction |
| Description | Withdrawals from your Current / Savings Account through a VISA /PLUS, Mastercard / CIRRUS ATM Abroad |
| HSBC Premier | Free |
| HSBC Advance | OMR 2 per transaction |
| HSBC Visa Platinum | OMR 2 per transaction |
| Description | Cash Advance Fee each time you withdraw from an ATM |
| HSBC Premier | 3% of amount or OMR 5, whichever is higher |
| HSBC Advance | 3% of amount or OMR 5, whichever is higher |
| HSBC Visa Platinum | 3% of amount or OMR 5, whichever is higher |
| Description | HSBC Premier | HSBC Advance | Personal banking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash withdrawal at HSBC ATMs (per transaction) | Nil | OMR 1 | OMR 2 |
| Cash withdrawal at Non HSBC ATMs (per transaction) | Nil | OMR 2 | OMR 2 |
| Foreign currency processing fee (Purchases and Cash Withdrawals)1 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Foreign currency exchange rate |
The exchange rate as applied by VISA |
The exchange rate as applied by VISA |
The exchange rate as applied by VISA |
| Description | Cash withdrawal at HSBC ATMs (per transaction) |
|---|---|
| HSBC Premier | Nil |
| HSBC Advance | OMR 1 |
| Personal banking | OMR 2 |
| Description | Cash withdrawal at Non HSBC ATMs (per transaction) |
| HSBC Premier | Nil |
| HSBC Advance | OMR 2 |
| Personal banking | OMR 2 |
| Description | Foreign currency processing fee (Purchases and Cash Withdrawals)1 |
| HSBC Premier | 2.0% |
| HSBC Advance | 2.0% |
| Personal banking | 2.0% |
| Description |
Foreign currency exchange rate |
| HSBC Premier |
The exchange rate as applied by VISA |
| HSBC Advance |
The exchange rate as applied by VISA |
| Personal banking |
The exchange rate as applied by VISA |
1For more information about our fees and charges please refer to the HSBC Schedule of Tariffs and Charges
2A processing fee will be charged for International / foreign currency transactions (i.e. any transaction not in your billing currency). Such transactions will first be converted to your billing currency at the applicable foreign currency exchange rate. The processing fee will be charged as a percentage of the transaction amount, after it has been converted to the billing currency using this applicable rate
Useful contacts
HSBC Premier
8007 4666
(within Oman) or
+968 24950602
(outside Oman)
HSBC Advance
800 7 5555
(within Oman) or
+968 249 50603
(outside Oman)
Personal banking
800 7 4722
(within Oman) or
+968 24950601
(outside Oman)
