The HSBC Gold Credit cards offer you a host of privileges. Transfer your credit card outstandings of any amount above Rs 3,000 to HSBC at 0% interest for first three months.

To avail the loan on the phone scheme to take a holiday or to buy a computer all you need to do is to make a purchase of a minimum of Rs 5,000 on an HSBC Gold Card. You can then call the bank within 15 days of making the purchase and convert it into a loan, with an EMI having an interest rate of only 1.5% per month and that too on a reducing balance. Options of loan enor range from 6 to 12 months.

Use your gold credit card at any petrol pump with zero per cent surcharge for any purchases ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 3,000.

Premium healthcare facilities are at your call if you are a card holder. And this comes at exciting special prices. Avail discounts on products ranging from Cotton World , Wills Lifestyle, Aiwa, Canon digital cameras, Kodak, Esprit, Nike Sports Station, Yamini, Apollo Hospitals, Kaya Skin clinic, Domino's and much more.

The card also brings you exclusive travel benefits courtesy International Travel House (ITH). You get a 3% discount on all domestic airline tickets and 4.5% discount on all international tickets. Tickets will be home delivered within 24 hours of confirmation for free. A 5% cut on all international and domestic leisure packages are also yours, apart from a 10% off on car rentals at domestic locations and 20% off on room rack rates at domestic locations.

The primary active gold card member gets a slew of insurance benefits. Primary active gold card member is one who has used the card at least 5 times in 89 days prior to the day of the occurrence of the event. The card gets you personal accident Insurance upto Rs 40 lakhs for loss of life due to air accidents and Rs 4,00,000 for any other accident. You also get purchase protection up to Rs.50,000 for 180 days from the date of purchase for items bought using your HSBC Gold credit card. Insurance cover of up to US $ 1200 for loss of checked in baggage and $300 for delay in checked in baggage for more than six hours is also yours. The insurance covers upto US$500 for loss of travel documents or passport. The hijack cover is $250 per hour which would start activated after 12 hours of hijacking with an upper limit of 36 hours.

HSBC has a special life insurance cover of Rs 40,000 in association with TATA AIG insurance company for non-accidental death. This insurance cover is first used to clear any balance remaining on your HSBC card in the event of non-accidental death, with any part of the cover remaining after that going to the cardholder's nominee. The service comes at a nominal premium of Rs 20 per month along with a processing fee of Rs 10 per month.

HSBC provides you the option of getting up to 3 additional credit cards for your spouse, parents, brothers/sisters or children above 18 years.

The global access system enables you to withdraw cash from your bank account with HSBC India from any VISA Plus / MasterCard Cirrus ATM in India or overseas. You can also perform banking transactions like cash withdrawal, balance enquiries and fund transfers from any HSBC ATM in India or abroad.

And for every Rs 100 you spend on your card, you get a bonus point. After gaining 300 bonus points you can start redeeming from an exciting range of options including jewellery, fashion accessories , garments and cosmetics.

The card also offers you free credit for 48 days, without any finance charge being levied. Through the extended credit facility you can pay a minimum of 5% every month.

HSBC Classic cards

A combination of money saving features and value added benefits would be welcome for all. And that is exactly what HSBC classic cards offer you.

Use your Classic credit card at any petrol pump with zero% surcharge (normally 2.5%) for fuel purchases between Rs.400 and Rs.3,000 per transaction. You can also transfer you credit card outstandings of any amount above Rs 3,000 to your HSBC card for no interest at all for first 3 months.

If you make a minimum purchase of Rs 5,000 on your card you are entitled to convert your purchase into a loan by just making a phone call. EMIs are offered for just 1.5% against a normal 2.95% per month. You can choose the loan tenor ranging from 6 to 10 months. EMIs would be charged to your credit card account make payment easier.

You also get an instant review of your Credit card transactions. You can also opt for e-statements, redeem your bonus points online, benefit from these and more facilities with online@hsbc. Use your Credit card number and PIN to register and opt for e-statements. By this you also gain 150 FREE Bonus Reward Points.

You also gain a 3% off in all domestic airline tickets and %% off in international airline tickets, which will be delivered to you if your home is within city limits, at not extra cost.

The primary active credit card holder, ie a card holder who has utilized the card at least 3 times within 89 days prior to the occurance of an event in which insurance is claimed, gets a personal accident insurance up to Rs 15 lakhs for loss of life due to air accidents and Rs 1,50,000 for any other accidents.

You also get a cover of up to US$ 600 for loss of checked in baggage. The credit shield facility waives the payments of outstanding of up to Rs 20,000 in case of accidental death.

HSBC along with TATA AIG insurance company provides a special insurance cover of Rs 20,000 for non-accidental death for classic credit card holders. This is first used to pay off any outstandings in your credit card. The balance, if any, will go to the card holder’s nominee. This comes at a premium of just Rs 10 per month, with a processing fee of another Rs 10 per month.

BY A CORRESPONDENT