American Express Basic Business Card vs HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison for UK businesses
| Feature | American Express Basic Business Card | HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | £290 |
| Monthly fee | None | None |
| Welcome bonus | None | 60,000 reward points |
| Earn rate (default) | 1x | 3x |
| Rewards currency | membership rewards | HSBC Rewards |
| Card type | business | personal |
Data last verified March 2026. Check issuer websites for the latest terms.
American Express Basic Business Card
Free Amex card for businesses that want cashflow flexibility and basic rewards without paying an annual fee. Great starting point.
Annual cost
Free
Earn rate
1x
Welcome bonus
None
Best for
Low spendCashflow
Key benefits
- • No annual fee
- • 1 Membership Rewards point per £1
- • Expense management tools
- • Connect to accounting software
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
HSBC's top-tier personal card. 60k welcome bonus, 3pts/£1 earn rate, and unlimited Priority Pass lounge access. £290/year and 2.99% FX fee. Requires HSBC Premier (£100k income or investments). Strong for airline mile collectors.
Annual cost
£290
Earn rate
3x
Welcome bonus
60,000 reward points
Best for
Airline milesAirport lounges
Key benefits
- • Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access (cardholder + additional cardholders)
- • 3 points per £1 sterling, 4 points per £1 non-sterling
- • Transfer to BA, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Air India
- • Airport fast track via Mastercard Travel Experiences