New travel and High Street cashback deals launched for HSBC and First Direct customers

Both HSBC and its subsidiary First Direct have jumped on the cashback statement credit bandwagon.  This is excellent news for readers who bank with either of these groups – which includes myself – as there is a good opportunity to save some money on your travel and general spending.

There is one particular difference between the First Direct / HSBC cashback offers and those offered by American Express.  You do not need to register for each individual offer with HSBC.  Once you are signed up to the cashback website, that’s it.  You will receive a statement credit regardless – you may even find yourself receiving money unexpectedly!

How to register

This is very simple.

You need to verify your email address and then submit your Visa card number from your credit or debit card.  That’s it.

Here are some sample offers

The offers appear the same for most people, with possibly some regional tailoring based on your address.

The following travel deals currently show for me:

10% back when you spend £75 at a UK Hilton (includes Hampton etc) – expires 28th September

£8 back on your first Uber ride – expires 22nd September (but this is worse than the Head for Points exclusive offer of £15 off your first ride – details here)

10% back at Europcar – expires 21st September

12% back at Airport Hotels & Parking – expires 21st September

To be honest, these are not hugely generous.  However, some of the general High Street deals ARE good:

£5 back when you spend £40 at Esso – expires 28th September (remember that you earn Avios at Esso via Clubcard)

£10 back when you spend £40 at Lidl – expires 28th September

£5 back when you spend £30 at Boots – expires 28th September

£10 back when you spend £40 at H&M – expires 28th September

£3 back when you spend £8 at Costa – expires 28th September

…. amongst other deals.

Remember that HSBC has two attractive Avios earning credit cards exclusively for HSBC Premier customers.   Amusingly, though, these are both MasterCard products (the free HSBC Premier card is reviewed here, the £195 HSBC Premier World Elite card is reviewed here) and so don’t qualify for these offers!

PS. If you are not a regular Head for Points visitor, why not sign up for our FREE weekly or daily newsletters? They are full of the latest Avios, airline, hotel and credit card points news and will help you travel better. To join our 65,000 free subscribers, click the button below or visit this page of the site to find out more. Thank you.

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – March 2025 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 60,000 points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

American Express Business Platinum

Up to 120,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

Up to 60,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review