2017 Comparison of 4 Top Personal Credit Cards: HSBC MasterCard vs U.S. Bank Credit Card vs Regions Credit Cards
When you’re shopping for a personal credit card, there are several factors you should consider, and one of those is the points and rewards offered. Everyone can appreciate getting money back when they spend.
When looking over the options from U.S. Bank cash rewards, the points program from Regions credit card, and HSBC credit card offers, you have the flexibility to choose from several attractive rewards programs.
Another important consideration can be the bank itself. Some cards offer even more perks when you deposit points into a checking or savings account there, and some have additional rewards programs tied to banking, such as the rewards program offered with a Regions Visa credit card.
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All of the cards in our comparison are issued from banks that also offer several other banking services. We are going to be looking at one card offered by HSBC, one from U.S. Bank and two cards issued by Regions to compare the benefits, limitations, and rewards programs of each.
Whether you are looking for the best points rewards program for travel, the highest cash back on retail and gas purchases, or care most about 0% interest programs, this review of a U.S. Bank Visa credit card, HSBC Platinum MasterCard, and two Regions credit cards should help you find a card that fits your financial goals.
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What’s the Difference Between Points and Cash Back?
Many people wonder what exactly is the difference between cash back and points programs. As you read through our comparison of the HSBC MasterCard rewards program, the cash back incentive from the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card, and the bonus options from each Regions Bank credit card, you’ll naturally want to know how points and cash back work.
Both offers can be very similar: you’re earning back a certain percentage of what you spend with the card. The flexibility is the main difference, as some points programs are limited in how you spend the points, and others let you convert it to a cash credit.
For example, one Regions credit card we will be reviewing has a points program that allows you to redeem the points directly for cash. While the U.S. Bank cash rewards offer on their card skips points altogether. The HSBC credit card offers include both points redemption or the ability to spend points on certain merchandise or airline tickets.
Here are a few typical considerations when looking over the comparison of the rewards programs for a Regions Bank credit card, U.S. Bank Visa credit card and HSBC platinum MasterCard.
Cash back typically:
- Can be redeemed as statement credit
- Can be deposited into account at same bank
- Has a minimum required before redeeming
- Percentages earned can vary according to vendor
Points rewards typically:
- Are tied to travel or specific merchandise
- Can sometimes be redeemed as cash
- Points may or may not expire
- Percentages earned can vary according to vendor
Comparison Review List
The list below is sorted alphabetically:
- HSBC Platinum MasterCard® with Rewards Credit Card
- Regions Life Visa® Credit Card
- Regions Premium Visa® Signature Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
High Level Comparison Table
Personal Credit Card Names | Rewards Offered | Intro APR Offer | APR After Intro | Annual Fee |
| HSBC Platinum MasterCard® with Rewards Credit Card | Points, 1x per $1 spent, can use for cash | 0% for 12 months | 13.24% – 23.24% | None |
| Regions Life Visa® Credit Card | None | 0% for 12 months | 12.24% – 21.24% | None |
| Regions Premium Visa® Signature Credit Card | Points, 1.5x per $1 spent, can use for cash | 0% for 12 months | 12.24% | $125 |
| U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card | Cash back, 1%-5% | None on purchases, 0% for 60 days on balance transfers | 13.24% – 23.24% | None |
Table: The above list is sorted alphabetically
Detailed Personal Card Comparison | HSBC MasterCard vs Regions Credit Card Offers vs U.S. Bank Visa Credit Card
According to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study℠, one in five credit card holders may be carrying the wrong card, meaning a card that has rewards programs or fees which aren’t in tune with their purchase habits.
Image Source: U.S. Bank Credit Card
A few reasons this can happen is that their financial needs may have changed or they don’t fully utilize the rewards program that attracted them in the first place. Whatever the reason, it makes sense to review your spending habits versus card benefits to make sure they’re still a good match.
You’ll see as we go through our comparison of the HSBC MasterCard rewards card, the Regions Visa credit card offers, and the U.S. Bank cash rewards card that they all have some similarities but also key differences in what they offer cardholders.
If you don’t really utilize rewards and are just looking for a simple card when you need it, then the Regions credit card without rewards may be a good fit. If you carefully plan purchases to get as much out of a cash back program as possible, then the U.S. Bank cash rewards card may be just what you’re looking for.
In the sections below, we will take a look at the main points of consideration to help you match a card to your spending habits. Between the HSBC MasterCard rewards credit card, the U.S. Bank credit card, and the two Regions credit cards, the details should help you decide which benefits mean the most to you.
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Rewards Incentives | U.S. Bank Cash Rewards vs HSBC MasterCard Rewards vs Regions Credit Card Rewards
Cash back and points rewards programs are one of the key reasons that people choose a new credit card. So this is the first area we are going to look at in our comparison of the U.S. Bank credit card, HSBC Credit Card offers, and the rewards given by Regions Bank credit cards.
Image Source: HSBC Credit Card Offers
HSBC MasterCard
If you’re into flexible rewards programs, then the HSBC Platinum MasterCard® with Rewards credit card may be just what you’re looking for. This card offers 15,000 bonus points after you spend $500 on new purchases in your first three months. On top of that, you earn one point for every new dollar purchased with the card.
The rewards are also unlimited with the HSBC MasterCard, so you don’t have to worry about any caps on the rewards you can earn. You can redeem points for either 1% cash back or choose between hundreds of redemption options including popular gift cards, merchandise, or flights on most major airlines.
Regions Visa Credit Card – Regions Life
The Regions Life Visa® Credit Card is the only one in this group that does not offer any rewards program.
Regions Visa Credit Card – Premium Signature
If you bank with Regions and want the best rewards program they offer, then the Regions Premium Visa® Signature Credit Card is the one for you. It offers double points (3 points for each $1 spent) on qualifying purchases made during the first 90 days after you open the account. After that, you can earn 1.5 points for every $1 you spend.
Enrolling in their Regions Relationship Rewards® program can earn you even more points, based upon maintaining a bank account there or signing up for some of their online banking options. You can redeem Regions credit card points for 1.5% cash back or other rewards, including gift cards, travel, and merchandise.
U.S. Bank Credit Card
If you’re looking for a straight cash back program, then the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card is an attractive option. You can get a bonus 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases each quarter in two specific categories of your choosing.
In addition to that offer, you get 2% cash back on purchases in one everyday category you choose, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is redeemed in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit made to any U.S. Bank savings, checking, or money market account.
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Fees and Annual Percentage Rates Comparison
A credit card can have an attractive rewards program, but if the fees and APRs are sky high, then it can take away from the overall benefit of the rewards. You definitely want to know what you’re going to be paying in interest, annual fees, and any fees for balance transfers or cash back before you sign up.
Most of the cards in our comparison between the U.S. Bank Visa credit card, HSBC credit card offers, and Regions credit cards offer a 0% APR for limited time, but then the APR is variable after that. Three of the cards also had no annual fee, and one Regions credit card, their premium card, had a somewhat high annual fee but gave more options than their other cards.
HSBC MasterCard
The HSBC MasterCard offers a 0% APR on both credit card purchases and balance tranfers for the first 12 months. After the first year and depending upon your credit history, the APR can be either 13.24%, 17.24%, or 23.24%. The APR on cash advances is 25.24%.
The HSBC credit card offers zero annual fee and has a 4% or $10 minimum fee, whichever is greater, for balance transfers and cash advances.
Regions Credit Card – Regions Life Visa®
The Regions Life Visa® Credit Card also has an introductory 0% APR rate for 12 months on purchases. For balance transfers, it is for only 60 days. After the first year, the purchase APR is between 12.24% and 21.24% for both purchases and balance transfers. For cash advances, the APR is 25.24%.
This Regions Bank credit card has zero annual fee and a 4% or $10 minimum fee, whichever is greater, for balance transfers and cash advances.
Regions Credit Card – Regions Premium Visa®
The Regions Premium Visa® Signature Credit Card offers the same introductory APR of 0% for 12 months on purchases and for 60 days on balance transfers. The APR difference is significant. After the first year, the purchase APR is a pretty low 12.24% for both purchases and balance transfers. For cash advances, the APR is also lower than the other cards, at 17.24%.
This Regions Bank credit card has an annual fee of $125 and a 4% or $10 minimum fee, whichever is greater, for balance transfers and cash advances.
Image Source: Regions Bank Credit Card
U.S. Bank Credit Card
The U.S. Bank Credit Card is the only one of the group that doesn’t have a 0% APR introductory offer on purchases, but they do offer 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months. The APR for both purchases and balance transfers (following the introductory deal) is between 13.24% and 23.24%. The APR for cash advances if 24.24%.
The U.S. Bank cash rewards Visa has no annual fee and has a balance transfer fee of either 3% or $5 minimum and a cash advance fee of 4% or $10 minimum.
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Personal Credit Card Extra Benefits Comparison
In your evaluation of a U.S. Bank credit card, HSBC MasterCard, or Regions Credit Card, you’ll want to consider some of the other extras that might make your life easier, like roadside assistance or overdraft protection.
In this section, we go through some of the added perks that you can get when considering HSBC credit card offers, U.S. Bank credit card offers, and Regions Bank credit card offers. You may find something here that makes one of these personal credit cards stand out among the rest.
HSBC MasterCard
The HSBC credit card offers the following extra benefits to card members:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Additional cards for family at no charge
- 0% liability for unauthorized purchases
- Identity theft resolution
- Roadside assistance
- Travel assistance
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Regions Credit Card – Regions Life Visa®
This Regions Visa credit card gives the following extras to its cardholders:
- No foreign transaction fees
- GreenInsights online tool
- Zero liability for unauthorized purchases
- Overdraft protection
- Roadside dispatch
- Emergency card replacement
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Customize your card with an image
Regions Credit Card – Regions Premium Visa®
This Regions Bank credit card offers the following benefits to its cardholders:
- Price protection
- Trip cancellation protection
- Zero liability for unauthorized purchases
- Overdraft protection
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Purchase security
- Roadside dispatch
- Emergency card replacement
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Customize your card with an image
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U.S. Bank Credit Card
The U.S. Bank Visa credit card gives its card members the following benefits:
- $100 customer relationship bonus
- Zero fraud liability
- Account alerts
- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge assistance
- Travel and entertainment discounts
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Roadside dispatch
- Travel accient insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Purchase security
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2017 Personal Credit Card Comparison Conclusion | U.S. Bank Credit Card vs HSBC MasterCard vs Regions Credit Cards
If you happen to be one of those 20% of card holders mentioned by JD Power that are carrying the wrong credit card for your financial needs, then this comparison of the U.S. Bank cash rewards card, the HSBC credit card offers, and the two Regions bank credit card options should give you some great choices.
It’s always a good idea to reevaluate your credit card choice from time to time to make sure it’s still a good fit and you’re getting the most out of it.
Whether you use cash back rewards, like those from the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card, prefer the flexible points from the HSBC MasterCard and Regions premium Visa, or just want something simple like the Regions Life Visa® Credit Card, these four cards offer a credit card option tailored for almost every lifestyle.
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