HSBC Revises Annual Fee Waiver Criteria For Credit Cards

Samuel Chua

2nd September 2025 - 2 min read

HSBC will require higher annual spending from cardholders to qualify for annual fee waivers starting 1 September 2025 [PDF]. The new criteria apply to the HSBC Visa Signature Credit Card, HSBC Platinum Credit Card, and HSBC Amanah MPower Platinum Credit Card-i.

Higher Spending Thresholds from 2025

The HSBC Visa Signature Credit Card will now require a minimum annual spend of RM24,000 to qualify for a fee waiver. For the HSBC Platinum Credit Card and HSBC Amanah MPower Platinum Credit Card-i, the revised requirement is RM6,000 a year.

Previously, cardholders could obtain waivers with lower thresholds. For example, Platinum and MPower Platinum users only needed to spend RM2,000 annually while ensuring at least one transaction per month over 12 months.

Transition Period for Cardholders

Your card anniversary month is the month shown on your card’s expiry date. For example, if your card expires in March 2029, your anniversary month will be March every year.

If your anniversary month falls between September and December 2025, your annual fee waiver will still be assessed under the current spending rules. The new requirements will only apply from your anniversary month in 2026 onwards.

For anniversary months between January and August 2026, HSBC will set a reduced (prorated) spending requirement. This means you only need to meet the new spending threshold for the months between 1 October 2025 and your anniversary month, instead of a full year.

Eligible and Excluded Transactions

Spending that counts toward the waiver includes insurance and takaful payments, utility bills, retail and online shopping, dining, and travel. Excluded transactions cover cash advances, instalment payments, fees and charges, as well as refunded, cancelled, or unauthorised purchases.

How Waiver Status Will Be Confirmed

Cardholders will receive an SMS if their annual fee has been waived. The anniversary month can be confirmed by checking the expiry date printed on the card.

What It Means for Cardholders

With higher spending thresholds in place, cardholders may need to consolidate everyday expenses such as bill payments, retail purchases, and travel spending onto their HSBC credit cards to continue qualifying for annual fee waivers.

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