HSBC Premier Mastercard Bonus MCC Categories
The HSBC Premier Mastercard earns bonus rewards when you spend at merchants with specific MCC (Merchant Category Code) codes. Here's a breakdown of which categories earn bonus rates:
1. Foreign Currency Spend — 2.3 MPD
FCY transactions (and overseas education) earn 6.9x Reward points (2.3 MPD at the 3:1 KrisFlyer conversion, updated from the older 1.68/2.76 rates). Local SGD earns 4.2x (1.4 MPD).
| Category | MCC Codes | Top Merchants |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Currency Spend | All | Overseas retailers, Overseas education, Travel spend |
Tips to Maximize HSBC Premier Mastercard Rewards
- Requires an HSBC Premier banking relationship; fee waived only with Total Relationship Balance ≥ S$200,000
- Miles conversion to KrisFlyer is free via the HSBC SG app (fee waiver currently time-unlimited)
- Unlimited Priority Pass and limousine benefits expire 31 Dec 2026; limo needs S$12k prior-quarter spend
- Points expire after 37 months
Frequently Asked Questions
Which MCCs are excluded from HSBC Premier Mastercard?
Per the HSBC Rewards T&C (effective 31 Mar 2025), 48 codes earn nothing incl.: 4829, 4900, 5199, 5960, 6010, 6011, 6012, 6050, 6051, 6211, 6300, 6513, 6529, 6530, 6532, 6533, 6534, 6536, 6537, 6538, 6540, 6555, 7299, 7349, 7399, 7511, 7523, 7801, 7995, 8062, 8211, 8220, 8241, 8244, 8249, 8299, 8398, 8651, 8661, 8999, 9211, 9222, 9223, 9311, 9399, 9402, 9405, 9754.
Do I need an HSBC Premier account for this card?
Yes — the card is tied to the HSBC Premier relationship (TRB from S$50k to open; S$200k for the fee waiver).
What are the current HSBC Premier MC earn rates?
1.4 MPD local and 2.3 MPD foreign currency after the KrisFlyer conversion moved to 30,000:10,000 (3:1). Older 1.68/2.76 MPD figures circulating online are stale.
Last Updated: October 2026 | MCC codes and card rewards may change. Always verify with CheckMCC and your card issuer.