If you’re trying to pick the best Hong Leong® credit card¹ for your needs, we’ve got you covered.
This guide looks at the most important things you should know about 5 popular HLB credit cards, as well as the process to apply for a Hong Leong credit card online. As a bonus and to help you pick the perfect card for your needs, we’ll also touch on Wise. Wise is a non-bank provider with multi-currency accounts and debit cards that are ideal for travel.
| Minimum annual income / eligibility | Annual fees² | Cashback / rewards | Interest rates² | Foreign transaction fees² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HLB Essential Credit Card | 24,000 MYR/year | 100 MYR | Up to 1% cash back, depending on statement balance | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | 1% network charge + 1% HLB charge |
| HLB GSC Credit Card | 24,000 MYR/year | 150 MYR - 300 MYR depending on card selection | GSC rewards on spending which you can redeem against movie tickets | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | 1% network charge + 1% HLB charge |
| Emirates® HLB Credit Card | 60,000 MYR to 250,000 MYR depending no the card selected | 1,200 MYR (or 2,500 MYR for Elite card) | Airmiles, travel and lifestyle benefits and some insurance offered | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | 1% network charge + 1% HLB charge |
| HLB I’m Credit Card | 24,000 MYR/year | No annual fee | Not applicable | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | 1% network charge |
| HLB Sutera Platinum Credit Card | 36,000 MYR/year | 120 | Up to 8x rewards on spending | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | 1% network charge + 1% HLB charge |
Before you apply for a credit card from HLB it’s worth weighing up a few different options. Some cards have low or no annual fees, but may not have many opportunities to earn cash back or rewards, while others have strict eligibility requirements but can offer impressive perks. Which option suits you depends on your personal preferences and circumstances.
Here are some important points to consider when you choose the right card for your needs:
Credit cards are a good option if you want to spread the cost of your spending across several months. However, there are usually fees to pay including interest and penalty costs if you’re late to settle your bill. Most of the time, using a Hong Leong bank credit card incurs overseas charges, so if you’re looking for lower cost ways to spend, particularly when you travel, you may want to consider a debit card instead. Picking a debit card from a specialist provider like Wise can also mean you cut the costs of spending in foreign currencies, and get a better exchange rate when you convert funds. More on Wise, and how the Wise card can help you when you travel, later.
Learn about more great Malaysian credit cards in this full review.
The popular HLB Essential Credit Card³ offers higher cash back when you spend more with the card, with a relatively low annual fee.
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Check out the HLB Essential Credit Card if you want a good all round card option with cash back on more or less all spending. The higher your statement balance the more chance there is to get the highest 1% cash back tier, making this a good pick for people who use a credit card frequently. The annual fee is 100 MYR but this can be waived based on the number or value of the transactions you process annually.
If you go to the cinema often you could get great rewards and low movie costs with the HLB GSC Credit Card⁴.
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The HLB GSC Credit Card has a selection of perks including cheap movie tickets if you buy online, and a 30% discount on food and drink when you’re at the cinema. There are also reward earning opportunities on your regular spending, with points you can exchange for free movies.
You can choose from 3 different types of Emirates HLB Credit Card⁵ - the Emirates HLB World Elite Card, the Emirates HLB World Card, or the Emirates HLB Platinum card.
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The 3 Emirates HLB Credit Card options have annual earning requirements from 60,000 MYR to 250,000 MYR, but all offer some great lifestyle and travel perks like free airport transfers, insurance and golf benefits. You’ll also be able to earn airmiles you can then use for future flights, with varying reward rates based on the card tier you choose.
If you want a card with no annual fee and no HLB foreign transaction fee, check out the HLB I’m Credit Card⁶.
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The HLB I’m Credit Card is a no fee card which also waives the HLB foreign transaction fee which usually adds 1% to all spending in foreign currencies. That can make it a good pick if you plan to travel, although you won’t be able to earn cash back or rewards with this card in the same way you can with other HLB credit card choices. Nonetheless, the reduction in this Hong Leong bank credit card overseas charges make it a viable travel card to have when spending overseas.
You can earn up to 8x rewards on spending with the HLB Sutera Platinum Credit Card⁷.
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When you use your HLB Sutera Platinum Credit Card with major online retailers like Lazada, and at popular physical stores like 7Eleven, you can get 8x rewards on all spending, with 1x points on all spend that’s not covered by these bonus offers. It’s also fairly easy to have your annual fee waived - just use your card at least once in the first few weeks of issue, and then meet the minimum annual spending requirement after that.
Wondering what the Hong Leong bank credit card overseas charges are? If you’re planning on travelling, it’s good to know that most HLB credit cards have a 1% foreign transaction fee that applies when you’re overseas.
If you want to avoid this, check out alternatives, like the smart international debit card from Wise.
Open a Wise account online and order your linked international debit card for a low one time fee, to hold and exchange dozens of currencies, and spend in 150+ countries. You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with low fees from 0.43%⁸ whenever you spend with your card in a currency you don’t hold in your account, with no foreign transaction fee to pay.
Plus, because the Wise card is a debit card, there’s no interest to pay and no late charges to worry about. You can also get some global fee free ATM withdrawals every month, with low fees after that.
Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
You can apply for a Hong Leong credit card online as long as you have all the relevant paperwork and you meet the eligibility requirements for the specific card you’ve selected.
Here’s how to apply for a Hong Leong credit card:
Sources:
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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