I put an IRA at HSBC USA, and that satisfies the minimum balance requirement with no disadvantage.

Buying Uber Cash worked to trigger the discount for me in January this year. Let us know if it still does!

Do venmo/paypal payemts to friends count as purchases toward MSR?

HSBC USA Premier now has six airline transfer partners:

Aer Lingus (Independent, Avios)
AeroMexico (Skyteam)
British Airways (OneWorld, Avios)
Iberia (OneWorld, Avios)
Jet Airways (independent)
Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance)

There is a 35% transfer bonus for USA-issued HSBC Premier Mastercards.
to the three Avios carriers now through January 2, 2020.

Anyone knows how long it takes before transfered points are in the BA account?

Officially, three weeks: Your redemption for Avios plus an additional 35% Avios will be credited to your British Airways Executive Club account within 15 business days.

However, in the past I've seen my account credited much sooner than this

That was rather the question, what the past experience was.

*edit*
Miles were in the account this morning (transfered Nov. 1).

Transfer requested 4 November, posted 6 November.

Considering the airline credit, uber/lyft credit and sign up bonus the World Elite Mastercard is pretty much free for first 2-3 years...

HSBC USA Premier now has seven airline transfer partners:

Aer Lingus (Independent, Avios)
AeroMexico (Skyteam)
British Airways (OneWorld, Avios)
Emirates (Independent)
Iberia (OneWorld, Avios)
Jet Airways (independent)
Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance)

There is a 35% transfer bonus for USA-issued HSBC Premier Mastercards.
to the three Avios carriers now through January 2, 2020.

How's HSBC's customer service and propensity for hair-trigger fraud blockages? I'm looking for a no AF, no forex fee MC for traveling outside the US in case I have issues with my Visa or Amex cards and am trying to decide between an HSBC MC and CapitalOne card. Rewards and benefits are very low priorities for this purpose.

Some posts in this thread are rather negative on their customer service, but the issues seemed to relate to rewards.

I have traveled extensively with my HSBC MC. They rarely hit me with fraud nonsense (unlike Capital One who finds potential fraud at every turn). However, note that their debit card doesn't work in certain countries they flag. Countries in the past included Belarus and Ukraine. Sadly the list isn't public so you only find out the card doesn't work upon arrival (although I called and eventually was able to get that days list). Can't recall if the list effects the CC too. In any event, other than this issue - the card works exceptionally well abroad (and I've traveled extensively).

I strongly recommend against Capital One. Fraud charges (which weren't fraud but me traveling) popped up at every other country. Couldn't be more annoying. And the fraud depts collect call line didn't work some of the time so I was left without that cc til I could get to a country where it worked. Unreal. Avoid Cap One for int'l like the plague.

I'd recommend Citibank as well (although I am priority and was gold). That debit worked everywhere (even where HSBC didn't). Didn't use their cc though as I used HSBC.

I had a lot of problems with a Citi MC on fraud nonsense, despite telling them I was going to travel and asking them to turn down fraud sensitivity. The banking side told me they had no influence over the credit card operation. My favorite episode was creating a $1 virtual number before a trip because I'd need it to activate Trenitalia wifi, specifically advising Citi in advance and having them bounce it because a small charge was a sign of a fraudster probing the system.

Sounds like HSBC is the way to go. Thanks

So many cc companies simply can't get their act together for frequent int'l travelers. I can only speak to the Citi debit (not cc) card. That works well. Best of the bunch imo. As for cc, HSBC cc has treated me very well. Meanwhile HSBC banking ops (branches) and CS in the US are horrible. Possibly worst of the bunch but surely near the bottom. Funny how companies can only seem to get a few things right.