HSBC Visa Signature vs. DBS Eminent: Which Premium Card Deserves Your Wallet?
Last updated: February 2026
Both the HSBC Visa Signature and the DBS Eminent Visa Signature are premium credit cards targeting Hong Kong’s high-income earners who love dining out. But while they look similar on the surface, the rewards structures—and the caveats—are worlds apart.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how each card works, when one outperforms the other, and the hidden rules you must know before applying.
Quick Verdict
- Choose HSBC Visa Signature if you want flexibility: pick any category (Dining, Overseas, Lifestyle, Home, or Shopping) for 3.6% cashback, while earning 1.6% on the other four. It’s the better “all-rounder” for diverse spending patterns.
- Choose DBS Eminent if you’re a serious diner and fitness enthusiast. The 5% cashback on dining, sportswear, fitness, and medical beats HSBC’s rates—but only if you meet the HK$300 minimum per transaction requirement.
Not sure which suits your lifestyle? Use our free Credit Card Calculator to input your exact spending and see a personalized comparison.
Comparison Table
| Feature | HSBC Visa Signature | DBS Eminent |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | HKD 2,000 (waived first 2 years) | HKD 2,000 (waived first year) |
| Minimum Income | HKD 240,000/year | HKD 360,000/year |
| Best Cashback Rate | 3.6% (selected category) | 5% (designated categories) |
| Secondary Rate | 1.6% (other 4 eligible categories) | 1% (other retail & FX) |
| Base Rate | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Dining Cashback | 3.6% (if selected) or 1.6% | 5% (if txn ≥ HK$300) |
| Overseas Spending | 3.6% (if selected) or 1.6% | 1% |
| Main Cashback Cap | HKD 100,000/year (all categories) | HKD 8,000/month (5% categories) |
| Key Requirement | Must select category in advance | Single txn ≥ HK$300 |
| Card Network | Visa | Visa |
| Miles Conversion | HKD 0.10 = 1 Asia Mile | Not available |
When to Choose HSBC Visa Signature
The HSBC Visa Signature shines when you want flexibility and breadth. You’re not locked into specific spending categories—you choose your bonus category, and you still earn a healthy 1.6% on other eligible spending.
✅ You Spend Across Multiple Categories
Unlike DBS Eminent’s narrow focus on dining/fitness/medical/sportswear, HSBC covers five broad categories:
* Dining — Restaurants, cafes, food delivery
* Overseas & Mainland — All foreign currency transactions
* Lifestyle — Cinema, fitness, entertainment, travel
* Home — Supermarkets, electronics, telecom, furniture
* Shopping — Department stores, fashion, beauty
If you spend HK$3,000 on dining but also HK$5,000 on overseas travel and HK$2,000 on groceries, the HSBC card rewards all of it at 1.6% or higher. DBS Eminent would drop most of that to 1% or 0.4%.
✅ Your Transactions Are Often Under HK$300
Here’s the critical difference: HSBC has no minimum transaction requirement. A HK$50 coffee at a café? That still earns 3.6% if dining is your selected category.
With DBS Eminent, that same HK$50 coffee earns only 1%—because it falls below the HK$300 threshold for the 5% rate.
✅ You Want to Earn Miles
HSBC Visa Signature RewardCash converts to Asia Miles at HK$0.10 per mile. DBS Eminent has no miles conversion—it’s pure cashback only.
✅ You Prefer an Annual Cap Over Monthly Caps
HSBC’s HK$100,000 annual cap gives you flexibility to have high-spend months without worrying about hitting monthly limits. DBS Eminent’s HK$8,000 monthly cap on 5% categories means heavy spenders max out quickly.
When to Choose DBS Eminent
The DBS Eminent is a specialist card for a specific lifestyle. If your spending aligns with its designated categories, the rewards are unbeatable.
✅ You Dine Out Frequently at HK$300+ Per Bill
The 5% cashback on dining still beats HSBC’s 3.6%. For regular restaurant-goers with average bills above HK$300, this adds up.
- Example: HK$5,000/month on dining at DBS = HK$250 cashback
- Same at HSBC (Dining selected): HK$5,000 × 3.6% = HK$180 cashback
That’s HK$70 extra per month—HK$840/year—just on dining.
✅ You Have Gym Memberships or Medical Expenses
DBS Eminent uniquely rewards fitness clubs and medical services at 5%. While HSBC’s Lifestyle category covers fitness at 1.6% (or 3.6% if selected), DBS still offers better returns.
- Monthly gym membership: HK$1,500 = HK$75 cashback (vs. 1.6% at HSBC = HK$24, or 3.6% = HK$54 if Lifestyle selected)
- Quarterly medical check-up: HK$3,000 = HK$150 cashback (vs. 0.4% at HSBC = HK$12)
✅ You Buy Sportswear
Nike, Adidas, Decathlon purchases at 5% is a nice bonus for fitness enthusiasts. HSBC’s “Shopping” category might cover some sportswear retailers at 1.6% (or 3.6% if selected).
✅ You Don’t Need Miles
If you prefer straightforward cash rebates over accumulating miles, DBS Eminent delivers excellent returns in its niches without conversion complexity.
Critical Caveats to Know
Both cards have fine print that can significantly impact your rewards. Read this section carefully before making your choice.
DBS Eminent Caveats
⚠️ HK$300 Minimum Per Transaction
This is the single most important rule. Every transaction in designated categories must be HK$300 or more to earn 5%. Below this threshold, you earn only the 1% rate instead.
- Who this hurts: Frequent café visitors, fast-food diners, small lunch purchases
- Who it doesn’t hurt: Those who dine at restaurants with higher average bills
⚠️ Dining Exclusions
Industry-standard dining exclusions apply to both DBS Eminent and HSBC Visa Signature. Transactions at hotel restaurants, department store F&B outlets, banquet services, and clubhouse dining typically don’t qualify for enhanced dining rates.
⚠️ Medical Excludes Veterinary
Your pet’s vet bills don’t count as medical services. Only human healthcare qualifies for 5%.
⚠️ Must Register via DBS Card+ App
You won’t earn bonus rewards automatically. You must register each year through the DBS Card+ mobile app to activate the 5% and 1% bonus rates.
⚠️ Higher Income Requirement
DBS Eminent requires HK$360,000 annual income—50% higher than HSBC’s HK$240,000 threshold.
HSBC Visa Signature Caveats
⚠️ Must Pre-Select Your Bonus Category
You choose ONE category for the 3.6% rate and cannot change it mid-period. Choose wrong, and you’re stuck with 1.6% on your highest spending category.
Note: Our calculator automatically shows the optimal category selection based on your inputs.
⚠️ HK$100,000 Annual Cap Across ALL Categories
This is a combined cap for all five categories. Heavy spenders can exhaust this by mid-year, after which everything drops to 0.4%.
- If you spend HK$10,000/month across categories, you’ll hit the cap in month 10.
- Tip: Track your category spending through the HSBC app.
⚠️ Must Register via HSBC Rewards+ App
Similar to DBS, HSBC requires registration through their Rewards+ app to activate and manage the bonus category selection. Without registration, you won’t earn the enhanced rates.
⚠️ No Bonus on “Other” Spending
Insurance payments, utility bills, rent, and other non-category spending earn only 0.4%. DBS Eminent’s 1% on “other retail” is actually better for these transactions.
Real-World Scenarios with Numbers
Let’s compare both cards across different spending profiles to see which wins in practice.
Scenario 1: The Restaurant Regular
Monthly spending:
- Dining: HK$8,000 (average bill HK$400)
- Groceries: HK$3,000
- Other: HK$5,000
DBS Eminent Calculation:
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining (5%) | HKD 8,000 | 5% | HKD 400 (capped) |
| Other Retail | HKD 3,000 | 1% | HKD 30 |
| Other | HKD 5,000 | 0.4% | HKD 20 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 16,000 | HKD 450 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 192,000 | HKD 5,400 |
Effective rate: 2.81%
HSBC Visa Signature Calculation (Dining as selected category):
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining (3.6%) | HKD 8,000 | 3.6% | HKD 288 |
| Home (groceries) | HKD 3,000 | 1.6% | HKD 48 |
| Other | HKD 5,000 | 0.4% | HKD 20 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 16,000 | HKD 356 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 192,000 | HKD 3,422* |
Annual category spending (HKD 132,000) exceeds HKD 100,000 cap. First HKD 100,000 earns enhanced rates; remaining HKD 32,000 drops to 0.4%.
Effective rate: 1.78%
🏆 Winner: DBS Eminent by HKD 1,978/year
Scenario 2: The Fitness Enthusiast
Monthly spending:
- Gym membership: HK$1,800
- Sportswear: HK$500
- Dining: HK$2,000
- Other: HK$6,000
DBS Eminent Calculation:
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness (5%) | HKD 1,800 | 5% | HKD 90 |
| Sportswear (5%)* | HKD 500 | 5% | HKD 25 |
| Dining (5%)* | HKD 2,000 | 5% | HKD 100 |
| Other Retail | HKD 6,000 | 1% | HKD 60 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 10,300 | HKD 275 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 123,600 | HKD 3,300 |
Assuming transactions meet HK$300 minimum
Effective rate: 2.67%
HSBC Visa Signature Calculation (Lifestyle as selected category):
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle (3.6%) | HKD 1,800 | 3.6% | HKD 64.80 |
| Shopping (sportswear) | HKD 500 | 1.6% | HKD 8 |
| Dining | HKD 2,000 | 1.6% | HKD 32 |
| Other | HKD 6,000 | 0.4% | HKD 24 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 10,300 | HKD 128.80 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 123,600 | HKD 1,545.60 |
Effective rate: 1.25%
🏆 Winner: DBS Eminent by HKD 1,754.40/year
Scenario 3: The Frequent Traveler
Monthly spending:
- Overseas spending (FX): HK$15,000
- Local dining: HK$3,000
- Other: HK$5,000
DBS Eminent Calculation:
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Currency | HKD 15,000 | 1% | HKD 150 |
| Dining (5%) | HKD 3,000 | 5% | HKD 150 |
| Other | HKD 5,000 | 0.4% | HKD 20 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 23,000 | HKD 320 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 276,000 | HKD 3,840 |
Effective rate: 1.39%
HSBC Visa Signature Calculation (Overseas as selected category):
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas (3.6%) | HKD 15,000 | 3.6% | HKD 540 |
| Dining | HKD 3,000 | 1.6% | HKD 48 |
| Other | HKD 5,000 | 0.4% | HKD 20 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 23,000 | HKD 608 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 276,000 | HKD 3,971* |
Annual category spending (HKD 216,000) exceeds HKD 100,000 cap. First HKD 100,000 earns enhanced rates; remaining HKD 116,000 drops to 0.4%.
Effective rate: 1.44%
🏆 Winner: HSBC Visa Signature by HKD 131/year
Scenario 4: The Casual Diner (Low Transaction Amounts)
Monthly spending:
- Dining: HK$3,000 (average bill HK$150—mostly lunch and cafés)
- Online shopping: HK$2,000
- Other: HK$5,000
DBS Eminent Calculation:
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining (under HK$300) | HKD 3,000 | 1% | HKD 30 |
| Other Retail | HKD 2,000 | 1% | HKD 20 |
| Other | HKD 5,000 | 0.4% | HKD 20 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 10,000 | HKD 70 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 120,000 | HKD 840 |
Effective rate: 0.70%
HSBC Visa Signature Calculation (Dining as selected category):
| Category | Spending | Rate | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining (3.6%) | HKD 3,000 | 3.6% | HKD 108 |
| Shopping (online) | HKD 2,000 | 1.6% | HKD 32 |
| Other | HKD 5,000 | 0.4% | HKD 20 |
| Monthly Total | HKD 10,000 | HKD 160 | |
| Annual Total | HKD 120,000 | HKD 1,920 |
Effective rate: 1.60%
🏆 Winner: HSBC Visa Signature by HKD 1,080/year
This scenario highlights how DBS Eminent’s HK$300 minimum reduces rewards for casual diners, though the 1% fallback rate softens the impact somewhat.
Other Card Benefits
Beyond cashback, both cards offer premium perks. Here’s what else you get.
HSBC Visa Signature Perks
- Cinema Privileges: Buy 1 Get 1 Free movie tickets at Emperor Cinemas (Monday–Thursday)
- Hotel Dining Discounts: Up to 15% off at select hotel restaurants
- Lai Sun Dining: Discounts at Lai Sun restaurant group outlets
- Cross-Border Transport: Discounts on limousine services to Mainland China
- Visa Signature Concierge: 24/7 lifestyle concierge service
- RewardCash Flexibility: Convert to Asia Miles (HK$0.10 = 1 mile) or redeem for cash, flights, and merchandise
DBS Eminent Perks
- DBS Card+ App: Digital card management with in-app rewards tracking
- Visa Signature Benefits: Standard Visa Signature global perks including Luxury Hotel Collection rates
- Extended Warranty: Additional warranty coverage on eligible products
Final Recommendation
The Bottom Line
| Your Profile | Best Card |
|---|---|
| Heavy diner (HK$300+ per bill) | DBS Eminent |
| Gym member with fitness/medical expenses | DBS Eminent |
| Frequent overseas traveler | HSBC Visa Signature |
| Casual diner (many small transactions) | HSBC Visa Signature |
| Diverse spending across categories | HSBC Visa Signature |
| Want to earn Asia Miles | HSBC Visa Signature |
| Prefer simplicity (no category selection) | DBS Eminent |
| Income under HK$360,000 | HSBC Visa Signature |
The Power Move: Why Not Both?
Savvy Hong Kong cardholders often carry multiple cards to maximize rewards:
- Use DBS Eminent for restaurant dinners, gym payments, medical bills, and sportswear purchases (all HK$300+)
- Use HSBC Visa Signature for overseas travel (3.6%), miscellaneous dining (no minimum), and other category spending (1.6%)
This combo ensures you’re always earning the best rate for every transaction type.
Ready to see exactly how much you’d earn?
Stop guessing. Use our Hong Kong Credit Card Calculator to input your monthly spending and get personalized results.
Disclaimer: Cashback rates, caps, and terms are subject to change. Always verify current offers on the HSBC website and DBS website. This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.