Sick of the hassle, you start browsing “no annual fee credit card” articles. However, most articles lead you to credit cards with 2 or 3 year annual fee waivers. Umm… that’s not exactly a “no annual fee credit card”.
When times are bad, banks may tighten their belts and start charging users annual fee despite good banking relationships and prompt and full payments. (See the recent POSB Everyday Card annual fee waiver rejection saga that unfolded on Hardwarezone here.)
If you don’t want to be at the mercy of the banks’ whims and fancies, here is a list of the real, true blue credit cards with no annual fees – for life.
Contents
No Annual Fee Credit Cards
CIMB Credit Cards with No Annual Fee
Standard Chartered No Annual Fee Credit Cards
DBS No Annual Fee Credit Cards
HSBC Credit Cards No Annual Fee
UOB No Annual Fee Credit Card
OCBC No Annual Fee Credit Card
GrabPay Card
Trust Credit Card
1. Credit Card with No Annual Fees
There are few credit cards in Singapore with straight up no annual fees. CIMB is best known for their no annual fee credit cards.
Otherwise, your next best option includes digital bank credit cards such as Trust credit card, and digital provider credit cards such as Revolut, GrabPay cards etc.
You’ll also find an assortment of debt consolidation or credit line credit cards with no annual fees such as the Citi Double Cash, Citi Diamond Preferred etc. The majority of these cards don’t come with attractive rewards, miles, or cashback programmes. We will skip those unless they have some kind of benefits for you.
Of course, the trusty old debit cards charge no annual fees as well.
No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Annual Fee
Minimum Spend
CIMB World Mastercard
$0
$500 (for base 1% cashback)
CIMB Visa Signature
$0
–
CIMB Visa Infinite
$0
$2,000 (for bonus 2% cashback)
CIMB AWSM Card
$0
–
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
$0
–
DBS Treasures Black Elite Card (for DBS Treasures clients)
$0
–
DBS SAFRA Card (for SAFRA members)
$0
–
HSBC Revolution Card
$0
–
HSBC Premier Mastercard
$0
$600 (for 5% cash rebates)
UOB Professionals Platinum Card (for profession associations)
$0
–
OCBC Premier Visa Infinite (for OCBC Premier Banking)
$0
–
GrabPay Mastercard
$0
$1,000 (to get deposit for physical card back)
Trust Credit Card (Visa)
$0
$450
2. CIMB No Annual Fee Credit Cards
There are 4 CIMB credit cards in Singapore with no annual fees. They are namely:
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CIMB World Mastercard
CIMB Visa Signature
CIMB Visa Infinite
CIMB AWSM Card
CIMB World Mastercard is a pretty basic and entry-level cashback credit card suitable for everyday use.
The amount of cashback you get depends on how much you spend:
Spend $500, get 1% unlimited cashback (base rate)
Spend $1,000, get 2% unlimited cashback (4 bonus categories only
Bonus 2% cashback is offered on wine, dine, online food delivery, movies, digital entertainment, taxi, automobile, and luxury goods – kind of a weird mix of categories, actually.
This CIMB World Mastercard replaces the well-loved CIMB Platinum MasterCard (ceased 31 May 21) which offered 10% cashback (capped at $100 a month and $20 per category) with $800/month minimum spend.
Annual fee is free for life, which saves you from having to call them up and beg them to waive annual fees!
CIMB logo
MoneySmart Exclusive
CIMB World Mastercard
Up to 2%* Unlimited Cashback on the following categories (Wine & Dine, Online Food Delivery, Movies & Digital Entertainment, Taxi & Automobile, Luxury Goods)Up to 2%*Min. spend per monthS$0Cash Rebate capUnlimitedMoneySmart Exclusive:
Sign up for a CIMB Credit Card and spend up to S$988 to receive a free a Sony WF-1000XM4 Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbuds (worth S$379) or Titan V1 7 Speed Foldable Bike (worth S$399) or $250 Cash via PayNow. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Sep 2022
Apply Now
More Details
Key Features
Complimentary Travel Insurance up to S$1,000,000
Access to Over 1,000 Airport Lounges via Mastercard® Airport Experiences Provided by LoungeKey
50% Off Green Fees at golf courses around Asia by Mastercard®
No annual fees for life
Apply for up to 4 supplementary cards and have annual fees waived for all supplementary cards
Access to over 1,000 regional deals with discounts up to 50%
See all card details
CIMB Visa Signature
CIMB Visa Signature offers a very generous 10% cashback (capped at $100 a month and $20 per category) on beauty and wellness, online shopping, groceries, pet shops, vet services and cruises. Almost anyone can benefit from the grocery and online shopping cashback, and if you often go to spas or have a pet, the card becomes even more attractive.
The main drawback is that the minimum spending requirement of $800 is quite high.
On the bright side, the card charges no annual fees indefinitely, so it is truly free to use.
CIMB logo
MoneySmart Exclusive
CIMB Visa Signature
Cash Back on Beauty & Wellness, Online Shopping, Groceries10%Min. spend per monthS$800Cash Back CapS$100MoneySmart Exclusive:
Sign up for a CIMB Credit Card and spend up to S$988 to receive a free a Sony WF-1000XM4 Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbuds (worth S$379) or Titan V1 7 Speed Foldable Bike (worth S$399) or $250 Cash via PayNow. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Sep 2022
Apply Now
More Details
Key Features
10%* Cashback on Beauty & Wellness, Online Shopping, Groceries and more
Complimentary Travel Insurance up to S$500,000
Visa Signature Concierge
No annual fees for life
Apply for up to 4 supplementary cards and have annual fees waived for all supplementary cards
Access to over 1,000 regional deals with discounts up to 50%
See all card details
The CIMB Visa Infinite card requires you to have an annual income of $120,000. CIMB AWSM Card, on the other hand, is an entry-level credit card with annual income of $18,000 onwards (under 35 years old).
3. Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
Standard Chartered Smart card is marketed as a cashback card. However, it actually is a rewards credit card with 1.6 points per $1 spend. You will then need to redeem the points for cashback via the rewards redemption portal.
Sponsored
Standard Chartered logo
MoneySmart Exclusive
6% cashback* on everyday spend
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
Cashback from Netflix, Spotify, fast food joints and more. *T&Cs apply.6%*Interest 3-month EasyPay with no processing fee. Earn Rewards Points on your instalments0%Minimum SpendS$0MoneySmart Exclusive:
Apply and spend S$500 to get S$320 Cash via PayNow OR The Morning Machine (worth S$510) OR Everdesk+ Lite, Lily White (worth S$599). T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Sep 2022
Apply Now
Apply Now
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More Details
Key Features
0% interest 3-month EasyPay on all eligible expenditure with 100% cashback on fees. Earn Rewards Points on your instalments.
Enjoy dining and shopping discount privileges at over 3,000 outlets in Asia with Standard Chartered’s The Good Life benefits program
6% cashback on your everyday spend at your favourite merchants across fast food dining, coffee and toast, digital subscriptions and on your daily commute (Bus/MRT). No minimum spend requirement.
See all card details
4. DBS No Annual Fee Credit Card
There are two DBS credit cards with no annual fees:
DBS Treasures Black Elite Card (for DBS Treasures clients)
DBS SAFRA Card (for SAFRA members)
The DBS Treasures Black Elite card has no annual fees for DBS Treasures clients. The card’s benefits are not explicitly stated online, but its a reward points card essentially that allows you to earn DBS points. It reportedly allows you to earn up to 3.2 miles per $1 spend.
Otherwise, the DBS SAFRA card charges no annual fee – as long as you are a SAFRA member.
DBS logo
SAFRA DBS Card
Cash Rebate on eligible spendUp to 3%Min. Spend per monthS$500Spend to SAFRA Points ConversionS$1 = 1 SAFRA PointApply Now
More Details
Key Features
3% cash rebate* on your local Mastercard contactless transactions (including bus/train rides via SimplyGo)
3% cash rebate* on online transaction
0.3% cash rebate* on all other retail transactions
Exclusive access to 6 SAFRA Clubhouses islandwide: enjoy access to club facilities* including swimming pools, gyms, and entertainment facilities at any of the 6 SAFRA Clubhouses.
Every dollar spent at participating outlets and facilities at SAFRA earns you 1 SAFRAPOINT, on top of the Credit/Debit cash rebates.
Simply tap and pay for your purchases of S$100 and below, at over 30,000 merchant outlets. No signature required!
You may also link your card to your Savings Account and use as your ATM Card.
See all card details
5. HSBC No Annual Fee Credit Card
You may not know this, but the HSBC Revolution credit card best known for its 10X reward points no longer charges annual fees! You can earn the 10X bonus points from travel, departmental and retail stores, supermarts, dining, food delivery, transportation, and membership clubs.
HSBC Premier Mastercard gives you 5% cash rebate (capped at $150) on dining, groceries, petrol, transport when you spend a minimum of $600 per month.
HSBC logo
Online Promo
Earn Points for Everyday Spending
HSBC Revolution Credit Card
RewardsS$1= 10 PointsRewardsS$1= 4 MilesMin. SpendS$0Online Promo:
Get Samsonite Prestige 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale (worth SGD670) or SGD200 cashback for new HSBC cardmembers. Existing HSBC cardmembers receive $50 cashback. Min. spends of S$500 upon card approval required. T&Cs apply.
Supplementary Card Promo:
Get up to S$150 cash back (S$30 per supplementary card, up to maximum of 5 cards).
Valid until 31 Dec 2022
Apply Now
More Details
Key Features
Receive up to S$200 cashback and a chance to play the Sure-Win Hong Bao game to win prizes like the OSIM massage chair, Dyson fan, shopping vouchers and more! T&Cs apply
No annual credit card fees
Get 10X Rewards Points, equivalent to 4 air miles per dollar spent
Redeem your rewards points for home, dining, retail, travel, or charity cash vouchers online or offset cash rebates on transactions online via rewards catalogue or the HSBC mobile app
Travel Insurance: Enjoy up to S$300,000 coverage when you charge travel expenses to card
See all card details
6. UOB No Annual Fee Credit Card
There’s only one card in the entire UOB credit card universe that doesn’t charge annual fees… the UOB Professionals Platinum Card.
It’s largely unheard of, but the UOB Professionals Platinum Card is reserved for members of professional associations such as:
Alumni Association
Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
Law Society of Singapore
Singapore Medical Association (SMA)
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES)
You get dining discounts, fuel discount, and UOB$ cashback at selected merchants and retail outlets.
7. OCBC No Annual Fee Credit Card
As with the DBS Treasures Black Elite credit card, the OCBC Premier Visa Infinite is an exclusive credit card for OCBC Premier Banking customers and doesn’t charge its members annual fees.
Benefits include 16 OCBC$ reward points per $5, and 28 OCBC$ reward points per $5 foreign currency spend
8. Grab Pay Card – Mastercard
If none of the above bank-issued credit cards tickled your fancy, you’ll find no annual fee cards with digital finance and bank providers such as the GrabPay Card. While you don’t get the conventional dining, shopping, or travel benefits like you would with usual credit cards, you get to earn Grab Reward points.
9. Trust Credit Card
Founded in collaboration by Standard Chartered Bank and NTUC, the new Trust credit card doesn’t charge you any annual fees. Key benefits currently includes a $25 Fairprice voucher upon sign-up and first transaction.
Otherwise, it’s been quite confusing to use so far. You get:
0.5% base cashback on Fairprice groceries
0.22% cashback on Visa spend
7.5% on Fairprice groceries (min. spend $450 outside of Fairprice) capped at 5,500 Linkpoints
7% on Fairprice groceries (min. spend 3 months) capped at 7,500 Linkpoints
Cheap deal coupons at partner merchants, e.g. $1.99 Mushroom Swiss Burger from certain Burger King outlets (must check T&Cs)
Stamp cards: Visit Heavenly Wang 3 times to get a free drink on your 4th visit
Do you call in to get your credit card annual fee waived yearly? Share your tips with us in the comments!
The post 13 Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards in Singapore (2022) appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.
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