Yes Bank vs HSBC Credit Cards: A ₹24,000 Income for a Lounge Card or ₹1,00,000 for Cashback

Two cards cost ₹999 a year. Yes Bank's FIRST Preferred asks for ₹24,000 a month in income and includes 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter and 4 international visits a year. HSBC's Live+ asks for ₹1,00,000 and includes 2 domestic and 1 international visit a year. That gap shows the way HSBC prices its retail range: selective and expensive, with a few specialised strengths.

Cards at ₹999

HSBC Live+ is a cashback card with a 1.5% base and 10% on dining, groceries, utilities and online shopping (capped at ₹1,200 a month), waived at ₹2,00,000, at 1.99% forex. Yes FIRST Preferred pays 4% on dining and travel, with a 1% base and 2% forex, waived at ₹2,50,000. Live+ earns more on a wide set of categories, while Yes Bank's card gives more lounge visits and is open to lower incomes. Yes Bank wins on access; HSBC wins on cashback depth if you meet the income.

Budget cards

HSBC's RuPay Cashback costs ₹499, waived at ₹2,00,000, with a ₹30,000 income floor, 10% on dining and groceries (capped at ₹400 a month), 2 domestic visits a quarter and 2 international a year. Yes Bank's ACE costs ₹499 with 1% on online shopping and no lounge access, and PaisaSave costs ₹499 with 6% on dining and travel (capped at ₹3,000 a month). HSBC's Visa Platinum and RuPay Platinum are free, with a 0.3% base. HSBC RuPay Cashback wins this band.

Travel cards

HSBC TravelOne costs ₹4,999, waived at ₹8,00,000, with 6 domestic and 4 international visits a year, a 2% base and 4% on travel, with a ₹50,000 income floor and 3.5% forex. Yes Reserv costs ₹2,499 with unlimited lounges, 2% forex and a 4% base, but asks for ₹2,00,000 a month. The Yes ELITE+ costs ₹999 with 2 domestic visits a quarter. Reserv is the better deal for anyone who clears the income bar. Yes Bank wins.

Premium

The HSBC Premier costs ₹12,000 to join and ₹20,000 a year, with 0.99% forex and access to 1,400+ lounges worldwide via Mastercard Travel Pass, for a ₹3,00,000 income floor. The Yes Marquee costs ₹9,999 to join and ₹4,999 a year with 24 domestic visits and unlimited international visits at 1% forex, for ₹2,00,000. Marquee costs less and asks for less. Premier's network is broader. Yes Bank wins on cost.

Where the lineups end

HSBC Taj costs ₹1,10,000 with 0% forex and unlimited lounges. The HSBC Privé costs ₹2,75,000 with a 3.3% base and 1.99% forex. Yes Private costs ₹50,000 to join and ₹10,000 a year with unlimited lounges and 12 guest visits at 0.5% forex, and Private Prime costs ₹20,000 to join and ₹10,000 a year. If cost is a factor, Yes Bank wins. HSBC's tier is a different spending bracket.

Which card for which buyer

An employee earning ₹25,000 who wants a lounge card: Yes FIRST Preferred or ELITE+. A ₹1,00,000 earner who spends heavily on dining and groceries: HSBC Live+. A flyer who wants unlimited access: Yes Reserv. Someone who needs the widest possible lounge network and can afford ₹20,000 a year: HSBC Premier.

Check the full lists

Read the Yes Bank credit cards guide and the HSBC credit cards guide, or compare with Kotak vs HSBC.