# HBL credit cards compared: fees, limits and which to pick

URL: https://which.pk/money/guides/hbl-credit-cards/
Author: Ahtisham Imtiaz
Updated: 15 Oct 2026

## Summary

HBL lists four credit cards: Green, Gold, Platinum and FuelSaver. As of its July to December 2026 schedule, annual fees are Rs 6,500, Rs 14,000 and Rs 22,000 before FED, and FuelSaver costs Rs 350 or Rs 700 a month. Unpaid balances and cash advances carry up to 42% a year, foreign transactions 4%. Salaried applicants need at least Rs 35,000, Rs 100,000 or Rs 400,000 a month. Platinum adds 6 free international lounge visits a year.

## Key facts

- Annual fee: Rs 6,500 to Rs 22,000 + FED
- Markup: Up to 42% a year
- Foreign transactions: 4% + govt taxes
- Minimum salary: Rs 35,000 to Rs 400,000

An HBL credit card comes in four types: **Green**, **Gold**, **Platinum** and **FuelSaver**. As of HBL's July to December 2026 schedule, the annual fee is **Rs 6,500** for Green, **Rs 14,000** for Gold and **Rs 22,000** for Platinum, before tax. FuelSaver charges **Rs 350 or Rs 700 a month** instead. Whichever you pick, an unpaid balance costs up to **42% a year**, so the right card depends mostly on your income and whether you pay in full.

**Cost of carrying a balance on any HBL card:** Up to 42% a year (Service charge on the outstanding amount and on cash advances, from HBL's Schedule of Bank Charges, 1 July to 31 December 2026. Balance transfers and installment plans are 24% a year.)

## What are the HBL credit card types and charges?

The table puts HBL's four cards side by side. Fees are from the Schedule of Bank Charges for 1 July to 31 December 2026, and salary rules from HBL's credit card page as of 15 October 2026.

| | Green | Gold | Platinum | FuelSaver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card fee (basic) | Rs 6,500 a year | Rs 14,000 a year | Rs 22,000 a year | Rs 350 a month (Green) or Rs 700 a month (Gold) |
| Supplementary card | Rs 3,250 a year | Rs 7,000 a year | Rs 11,000 a year | Rs 175 or Rs 350 a month |
| Minimum salary (salaried) | Rs 35,000 a month | Rs 100,000 a month | Rs 400,000 a month | Not listed separately |
| Average balance (self-employed) | Rs 105,000 | Rs 300,000 | Rs 1,000,000 | Not listed separately |
| Cash withdrawal cap | 50% of limit | 75% of limit | 75% of limit | Not stated |
| Main perk | None listed | CIP lounges in Pakistan | 6 free international lounge visits a year, 3x points abroad | Up to 5% cashback on fuel (5% is the Gold rate; HBL's Green example uses 3%) |

These amounts exclude tax. HBL's Gold and Green fee sheet says up to **16% Federal Excise Duty (FED)** applies to fees and charges, but not to service charges (markup). So expect to pay a little more than the table shows for the annual fee.

## Which HBL credit card is best?

None is best for everyone. On HBL's own published terms, the choice comes down to three things:

- **Your income.** If your salary is below Rs 100,000 a month, Green is the only one of the three main cards you qualify for.
- **Travel.** Gold's lounge access covers CIP lounges in Pakistan. Platinum's covers airports abroad and earns 3 reward points per Rs 25 spent in foreign currency, against 1 point per Rs 25 at home.
- **Fuel spending.** FuelSaver's cashback only pays off if you buy a lot of fuel each month (see below).

If you'll often carry a balance, the perks matter less than the markup, which is the same maximum of 42% a year on every card. Compare HBL with other banks in our [credit cards compared](/money/guides/credit-cards-pakistan-compared/) guide.

## What does the HBL Platinum credit card cost, and who can get it?

As of 1 July 2026, the Platinum annual fee is **Rs 22,000** and each supplementary card is **Rs 11,000**, both before FED. HBL Prestige members who apply for Platinum get a **50% waiver** on the annual fee, the supplementary fee and the card replacement fee.

To qualify, a salaried applicant needs a monthly salary of at least **Rs 400,000** and must be 21 to 60 years old. A self-employed applicant needs an average account balance of **Rs 1,000,000** and must be 21 to 65.

What you get, according to HBL's Platinum page:

- **6 free international airport lounge visits** a calendar year through the Visa Airport Companion App, for you and your supplementary cardholders. Extra visits and guests cost US$32 per guest per visit.
- **Reward points:** 1 point per Rs 25 spent locally and 3 points per Rs 25 equivalent spent in foreign currency. Points can be used for things including annual fee waivers.
- **A KnowRoaming e-SIM** with 3GB of data for 21 days a year, plus 25% off KnowRoaming plans up to six times a year.

## Is the HBL FuelSaver credit card worth the fee?

FuelSaver has no annual fee. Instead, HBL's schedule lists **Rs 350 a month** for FuelSaver Green (Rs 4,200 a year) and **Rs 700 a month** for FuelSaver Gold (Rs 8,400 a year), before FED, as of 1 July 2026.

HBL advertises "up to 5%" cashback on fuel, saving up to **Rs 2,000 a month**. The 5% is the Gold rate: HBL's own example for Green uses **3%**. In HBL's examples, Rs 40,000 of fuel a month on Gold earns Rs 2,000 back, and Rs 33,300 a month on Green earns Rs 1,000. The cashback works only on FuelSaver cards, and you're enrolled automatically.

**HBL's FuelSaver page uses older fees:** The FuelSaver page works out its savings with an annual fee of Rs 3,600 for Green and Rs 7,200 for Gold. The July to December 2026 schedule is higher: Rs 4,200 and Rs 8,400 a year. We follow the schedule. By our calculation, at 5% cashback Rs 8,400 a year is covered only once you spend about Rs 14,000 a month on fuel, not the Rs 12,000 the page shows.

## What are HBL credit card charges on international transactions?

HBL charges **4%** of the transaction amount on foreign transactions, as of 1 July 2026. Government taxes or duties are added on top, under the schedule of charges.

HBL explains how the conversion works. Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay converts the amount into US dollars, then HBL converts the dollars into rupees at the rate it buys dollars at. Because of this, the amount on your statement can differ from the receipt or the OTP screen.

Online merchants that settle in foreign currency count as foreign transactions even when the price is shown in rupees. So a rupee price on a foreign site doesn't mean you avoid the 4% fee.

**US$30,000 a year across all cards:** Since 8 November 2022, there has been an industry-wide limit of US$30,000 a year on card-based foreign currency transactions. In HBL Mobile you can also turn international use on or off by country.

## What is the HBL credit card markup?

As of 1 July 2026, HBL's service charges (its word for markup) are:

| Charge | Rate or fee |
|---|---|
| Unpaid balance on purchases | Up to 42% a year |
| Cash advance | 42% a year on the outstanding cash |
| Balance Transfer Facility (BTF) | 24% a year |
| HBL Installment Plan (HIP) | 24% a year |
| Late payment fee | Rs 2,500 a month |

You avoid the markup on purchases by paying the full amount by the due date. HBL gives up to **51 days** interest-free on purchases this way. The minimum payment is **5%** of the outstanding balance. If you pay only the minimum or part of what you owe, HBL's FAQs say interest runs from the transaction date, and on new purchases until the next statement.

HBL doesn't publish an APR (annualised percentage rate) on its card pages. SBP has required banks since 1 September 2014 to give you a signed Summary Box with the APR, fees, limits and minimum payment before issuing a card. When you apply, HBL has you sign a Basic Information and Charges Sheet listing its main fees and the rules on minimum payments and interest. Read it before you sign.

## How much does HBL charge for cash withdrawal on a credit card?

A cash advance costs **Rs 1,200 or 3% of the amount, whichever is higher**, as of 1 July 2026. The 42% a year service charge starts from the day you withdraw, with no interest-free period.

You can withdraw at 1LINK ATMs in Pakistan and Visa, Plus or Mastercard ATMs abroad. The cap is **50% of your credit limit** on Green and **75%** on Gold and Platinum. HBL's example: with a Rs 300,000 limit on a card with a 75% cap, you can take out Rs 225,000.

Our calculation: on Rs 20,000 withdrawn, 3% is Rs 600, so you'd pay the Rs 1,200 minimum. The 3% only starts to bite above Rs 40,000.

## What are the HBL credit card limits?

HBL doesn't publish a fixed limit for each card type. It sets your limit case by case and shows it on the welcome letter and on each statement. You can ask for a higher limit in HBL Mobile.

Up to **6 supplementary cards** share the main cardholder's limit. Supplementary cardholders must be 18 or older and need only a copy of their CNIC.

## How do I apply for an HBL credit card?

1. **Check you qualify.** Salaried: 21 to 60 years old with the minimum salary for the card. Self-employed: 21 to 65 with the minimum average balance. New-to-bank self-employed applicants should have held an HBL account for at least 6 months.
2. **Gather documents.** New-to-bank salaried: CNIC copy and a salary slip or certificate. Existing HBL customers: CNIC copy, 6 months of salary slips or a salary certificate, and a 12-month original bank statement showing your salary. Self-employed: a 12-month company bank statement and business documents, such as a proprietorship letter, partnership deed, or memorandum and articles with Form 29.
3. **Apply.** Call HBL PhoneBanking on 111-111-425 or visit a branch. Some existing customers can apply in the HBL Mobile app in four steps without paperwork.
4. **Sign the charges sheet.** You sign the Basic Information and Charges Sheet. The terms booklet and Schedule of Bank Charges come with the card.

For what banks check in general, including your credit record, see [how to apply for a credit card](/money/guides/how-to-apply-for-credit-card/).

## Does HBL deduct tax on credit card spending?

Two kinds of tax can apply. FED of up to 16% is added to fees such as the annual fee, but not to markup. On foreign transactions, HBL adds government taxes or duties as set out in its schedule. The main one is advance income tax under section 236Y of the Income Tax Ordinance: as of FBR's withholding tax rate card updated for the Finance Act 2026, banks collect **0.5%** of card payments abroad if you are on FBR's Active Taxpayer List (ATL) and **1%** if you are not. For how filer status affects tax in general, see [filer vs non-filer](/business/guides/filer-vs-non-filer/).

You can download an advance tax certificate for your card in HBL Mobile.

## Does HBL have an Islamic or PayPak credit card?

HBL lists no Islamic credit card on its credit card pages as of 15 October 2026. HBL Microfinance Bank, a separate bank from HBL, plans to issue Pakistan's first **PayPak credit cards**, with conventional and Islamic versions. As of 29 September 2026, Arab News reported no application date, and eligibility, limits and charges hadn't been announced.

Other HBL card charges, as of 1 July 2026: card replacement Rs 1,200, installment plan processing Rs 1,200 per plan, balance transfer processing Rs 600 or 3% (whichever is higher), and early payoff of an installment plan 6% of the remaining principal. SMS alerts and the rewards programme are free.

More guides: [credit cards compared](/money/guides/credit-cards-pakistan-compared/), [best bank in Pakistan](/money/guides/best-bank-in-pakistan/), [travel insurance](/money/guides/travel-insurance-pakistan/), [Money](/money/).

## Questions people ask

### Which HBL credit card is best?

It depends on your income and spending. Green costs Rs 6,500 a year and needs a Rs 35,000 salary, Gold costs Rs 14,000 and adds CIP lounges in Pakistan, and Platinum costs Rs 22,000, needs Rs 400,000 and adds 6 free international lounge visits a year. FuelSaver suits people who spend a lot on fuel. Fees are from the July to December 2026 schedule, before FED.

### What is the HBL credit card markup rate?

As of 1 July 2026, HBL charges up to 42% a year on unpaid balances and 42% a year on cash advances. Balance transfers and installment plans are 24% a year. Purchases paid in full by the due date are interest-free for up to 51 days.

### What are HBL credit card charges on international transactions?

HBL charges 4% of the transaction amount, plus government taxes or duties, as of 1 July 2026. Online merchants that settle in foreign currency count as foreign even if the price is in rupees, and card spending in foreign currency is capped at US$30,000 a year across the industry.

### How much does HBL charge for cash withdrawal on a credit card?

A cash advance costs Rs 1,200 or 3% of the amount, whichever is higher, plus 42% a year service charges from the day you withdraw, as of 1 July 2026. You can withdraw up to 50% of your limit on Green and 75% on Gold and Platinum.

### How do I apply for an HBL credit card?

Call HBL PhoneBanking on 111-111-425 or visit a branch. Some existing customers can apply in the HBL Mobile app without paperwork. Salaried applicants need a CNIC copy and salary proof.

## Sources

- [Schedule of Bank Charges, 1 July to 31 December 2026 (Part G, HBL Credit Cards)](https://www.hbl.com/assets/documents/Schedule_of_Bank_Charges_for_July_to_December_2026_%E2%80%93_English.pdf), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [HBL CreditCard (Gold and Green) Schedule of Charges, effective 1 July 2026](https://www.hbl.com/assets/documents/HBL_Gold___Green_CreditCard_SOBC_%28July-Dec_26%29.pdf), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [CPD Circular No. 3 of 2014: Introduction of Credit Card Summary Box](http://web.archive.org/web/20250328151812/https://www.sbp.org.pk/cpd/2014/C3.htm), State Bank of Pakistan (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [Credit Cards Overview](https://www.hbl.com/personal/cards/credit-cards/credit-cards-overview), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [HBL FuelSaver CreditCard](https://www.hbl.com/personal/cards/credit-cards/fuel-saver-credit-card), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [HBL Platinum CreditCard](https://www.hbl.com/personal/cards/credit-cards/platinum-credit-card), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [HBL Gold & Green CreditCard](https://www.hbl.com/personal/cards/credit-cards/hbl-gold-green-credit-card), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [Credit Cards FAQs](https://www.hbl.com/personal/cards/credit-cards/faqs), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [Know your foreign transactions with your HBL card](https://www.hbl.com/personal/cards/foreign-transactions), HBL (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [Withholding Income Tax Rate Card, updated up to 30 June 2026 (Finance Act 2026)](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/202681113864992WithholdingTaxRatesCard2027.pdf), FBR (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [Pakistan's domestic PayPak network names first credit card partner targeting microfinance customers](https://www.arabnews.pk/pakistan/pakistans-domestic-paypak-network-names-first-credit-card-partner-targetting-microfinance-customers-3002710), Arab News (accessed 15 Oct 2026)