American Express True Cashback Card—MoneySmart Review 2025

Looking for a fuss-free credit card that rewards you for every single purchase? The American Express True Cashback Card might just be your perfect match, offering a straightforward 1.5% cashback on everything you buy—without any monthly caps or complicated terms.

However, in a market flooded with flashy cashback cards promising the moon and stars, does this no-frills approach actually deliver? We’ve done the work to help you decide if Amex True Cashback Card deserves a spot in your wallet.

 

American Express True Cashback Card—Is it MoneySmart?
Overall: ★★★☆☆ (4/5) Best for: Big spenders who want hassle-free rewards without tracking categories or minimum spends. The catch: While the unlimited 1.5% cashback is straightforward, it’s lower than what category-specific cards offer. The 3% introductory rate on the first $5,000 spend is great for planned big purchases, but only lasts 6 months.
Pros—What we like			Cons—What we don’t like
No minimum spend requirement or complicated categories to track Instant cashback credited in the same month’s statement Enhanced 3% cashback on first $5,000 spend (first 6 months) No cap on cashback earnings Useful perks for big life events (wedding packages, home furnishing deals)			Base 1.5% cashback rate is lower than competitors Higher annual interest rate (27.80%) compared to market average Limited merchant acceptance as an Amex card Travel insurance coverage could be more comprehensive Welcome bonus less attractive than competing cards
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card at a glance
Category		Our rating		The deets
Earn rates: Cashback		★★★☆☆		First 6 months: 3% on first $5,000 spend All subsequent spending: 1.5% unlimited cashback No minimum spend requirement No category restrictions
Earn categories		★★★★★		No category restrictions
Annual fees and charges		★★★★☆		Principal card: $174.40 (incl. 9% GST), first year waived Supplementary cards: First 2 cards free, subsequent cards at $87.20 (incl. 9% GST) Interest rate: 27.80% p.a. Foreign currency transaction fee: 3.25% Cash advance fee: 5%
Accessibility		★★★☆☆		Card application subject to regulatory minimum income requirements and internal assessment Available to both Singaporeans/PRs and foreigners
Extras/periphery rewards		★★★☆☆		True Love Weddings savings with participating partners Home improvement and family expense privileges Selected dining privileges
Sign-up bonus		★★☆☆☆		Currently no cash sign-up bonus Welcome offer: 3% cashback on first $5,000 spend (up to $150 cashback) within first 6 months

See our credit card ranking rubric to find out how we rank credit cards.

 

American Express True Cashback Credit Card Review (2025)

1. How the cashback works
2. Who should use it?
3. What are the alternatives?

 

American Express True Cashback Card
Annual fee & waiver	$174.40 (incl. of 9% GST) (waived for 1 year)
Supplementary annual fee	Free for first 2 supplementary cards, subsequently S$87.20 (incl. of 9% GST)
Interest free period	22 days
Annual interest rate	27.80%
Late payment fee	$100 if minimum monthly payment is not made by due date
Minimum monthly repayment	3% or $50, whichever is higher
Foreign currency transaction fee	3.25%
Cash advance transaction fee	5% per withdrawal
Overlimit fee	–
Card association	American Express
Wireless payment	Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay

1. American Express True Cashback Card: How the cashback works

At first glance, the cashback rate of 1.5% isn’t that impressive, especially when compared to other cards in the market. For better cashback, you can consider DBS Live Fresh Card with up to 6% cashback, the HSBC Live+ Card with up to 8% cashback, or the OCBC FRANK Card with up to 10% cashback.   

However, upon closer inspection, cards that offer very high cashback rates usually only do so subject to 2 conditions: spending in certain categories, and that you satisfy their minimum spending requirements. This means a certain card might limit their generous cashback rate to specific categories (e.g. online purchases only), and/or require you to spend at least $600 a month to qualify for the cashback.

Therein lies the American Express True Cashback Card’s real strength—their 1.5% cashback rate is offered with no strings attached. Whether you’re spending $50 on lunch at a restaurant, or dropping $5,000 on a new iMac at the Apple Store, you’ll earn cashback – no questions asked.

Here’s how the cashback works when buying home appliances at Harvey Norman:     

First 6 months (3% cashback):

• Spend $3,000 on a new TV and fridge
• Cashback earned = $3,000 × 3% = $90

After 6 months (1.5% cashback):

• Spend $3,000 on home appliances
• Cashback earned = $3,000 × 1.5% = $45

Remember: The 3% cashback in your first 6 months is capped at $5,000 spend (maximum $150 cashback). After that, or if you exceed $5,000, everything earns 1.5% cashback with no cap.

What Won’t Earn You Cashback

Despite its generous earning structure, quite a number of transactions won’t qualify for cashback:

Payment and Financial Transactions:

• Cash advances and other cash services
• Express cash withdrawals
• Balance transfers and instalment plans
• Late payment and collection charges
• Finance charges (including Line of Credit charges and credit card interest)
• Annual card fees
• Dishonoured cheque charges

Travel-Related:

• American Express Travellers Cheque purchases
• Tax refunds from overseas purchases

Digital Wallet:

• GrabPay top-ups (effective from 4 April 2023)

Other Exclusions:

• Charges processed before your card enrolment date
• Any prepaid charges before your first billing statement
• Transactions at merchants that American Express excludes from time to time

In fact, if any of these transactions are reversed or refunded, American Express will also deduct the cashback from your account at the same rate you earned them. Keep this in mind when planning your spending to maximise your rewards.

 

2. American Express True Cashback Card: Who should use it?

If you’re planning some serious spending or gearing up for life’s big moments, the Amex True Cashback Card could be your perfect match. Why?  While most unlimited cashback cards falter under large transactions, the Amex True Cashback Card maintains its 1.5% earning rate whether you’re dropping $50,000 on a wedding banquet or renovating your new home.

Just note that certain transactions won’t earn you cashback (see full list here).

Strategic timing makes all the difference with this card, especially during your first six months when purchases earn 3% cashback up to $5,000. Time your big-ticket expenses right, and the returns practically write themselves.

What makes this card stand out is how it handles life’s big-ticket expenses. From a destination wedding to that new home entertainment system, or even splurging on luxury bags – this card keeps the cashback flowing. While other category-specific cards restrict their rewards to certain spending types, Amex True Cashback card rewards every eligible purchase equally, making it your go-to card for significant expenses.  

Where the card truly shines:

• Big electronic purchase, appliances, and furnishing
• Travel bookings and overseas spending
• Regular expenses across all categories
• Large purchases that exceed typical credit card caps
• Immediate cashback on the monthly statements

The card also comes with practical benefits like True Love Wedding privileges and home improvement deals, though these should be viewed as supplements rather than deciding factors.

Pro tip: If you’re planning significant purchases, the first 6 months’ enhanced rate effectively gives you an extra 1.5% discount on up to $5,000 worth of spending. After that, the consistent 1.5% rate continues without caps or conditions.

 

3. American Express True Cashback Card: How does it stack up against other cashback cards?

Let’s look at some similar cards on the market to see if they’re a more suitable alternative to the American Express True Cashback Card.

Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card–Save big on petrol for drivers

For those eyeing a higher cashback rate, the SC Simply Cash Card offers 2% unlimited cashback for the first 30 days (only for MoneySmart applicants) on all purchases after the first $500 spend. After the first 30 days, a 1.5% unlimited cashback rate applies with no minimum monthly spend.

Plus, new card members can snag up to $380 cash via PayNow or collect SmartPoints for premium rewards like Apple gadgets.

What’s better:

• Higher base cashback rate (2% vs 1.5%)
• Up to 23.7% fuel savings at Caltex
• Enjoys The Good Life Program with discounts at over 3,000 outlets across Asia

What’s not:

• Requires $500 minimum monthly spend to earn 2% cashback
• No enhanced introductory rate (vs Amex’s 3% on first $5,000)
• Lower cashback rate of 0.5% if minimum spend requirement not met   

Smart take: Go for this card if you know you’ll spend above $500 in the first month and want to maximize fuel savings. The wider merchant acceptance and lifestyle privileges make it practical for everyday use, though you’ll miss out on Amex’s generous welcome bonus rate.

 

Citi Cash Back+ Card–Earn cashback on rent and insurance with Citi PayAll

Moving up the cashback ladder, the Citi Cash Back+ offers a slightly higher 1.6% unlimited cashback with no minimum spend requirement. For new cardmembers, there’s a sweet $370 cash reward via PayNow when you spend $500 in the first month.

What’s better:

• Marginally higher base cashback (1.6% vs 1.5%)
• No minimum spend requirement
• Citi PayAll lets you earn cashback on rent, insurance, education fees, and other big-ticket payments
• Up to 25% off at Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore

What’s not:

• Lacks the 3% introductory cashback rate
• Dining discounts limited to selected restaurants
• Lower overall cashback for large purchases in first 6 months

Smart take: Choose this card if you’re looking to earn cashback on recurring big-ticket payments through Citi PayAll, or if you prefer an immediate cash bonus over long-term higher rates. Perfect for those who value flexibility in payment options over higher introductory rates.  

 

UOB Absolute Cashback Card–Even Netflix and Grab top-ups give you money back

Offering a competitive 1.7% unlimited cashback with no minimum spend, the UOB Absolute stands out for its versatility. New cardmembers can snag an exclusive $100 cash via PayNow with just $500 spent in the first month, plus a Samsonite luggage worth $730 when hitting higher spend tiers.

What’s better:

• Higher base cashback rate (1.7% vs 1.5%)
• Up to 15% fuel savings at SPC and 14% at Shell
• 1.7% cashback on entertainment subscriptions (Netflix, Disney+)
• Earns 0.3% on typically excluded spending (Grab top-ups, school fees)

What’s not:

• Lacks the 3% introductory cashback offer
• Sign-up rewards require higher spending tiers
• Lower cashback on spend for excluded categories (0.3% vs 1.5%)   

Smart take: Use this card after maximising your Amex True Cashback’s 3% intro rate on the first $5,000. You’ll effectively create your own two-card strategy – Amex for the first 6 months, then UOB for the long haul.

The Amex True Cashback Card isn’t trying to be the highest-earning card in your wallet. Instead, it offers something rarer in Singapore’s credit card scene: predictable rewards whether you’re buying lunch or a laptop. Unlike cards that make you track categories and spending tiers, this one keeps it simple—just spend and earn, no complex calculations needed.   

Found this article helpful for choosing between cashback cards? Share this article with your friends and family!

 

P.S. Here’s our MoneySmart credit card ranking rubric

In case you’re wondering, here’s how we decide on our credit card rankings.

Is that credit card MoneySmart? Our MoneySmart credit card ranking rubric
Category	Our rating
Overall	The average rating for the credit card on the whole, calculated from the ratings for the individual categories below. Plus, we’ll give you a one-liner on who we think the credit card is best suited for.
Earn rates: Air miles / Cashback / Rewards points	Air miles ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ / Cashback / Rewards points . This category looks at the depth rather than breadth of earn rates. 5 stars means this card’s got the highest earn rates within that credit card type. 3-4 stars mean it’s average 1-2 stars reflect earn rates that are below average.
Earn categories	This category looks at the breadth rather than depth of your earnings. 5 stars: Earn with ANY spend. 3-4 stars: Earn on a large number of categories (e.g. all dining, transport and retail, but not telco bills) OR earn on 1 very broad category (e.g. all contactless/mobile payments). 1-2 stars: Earn a decent rate only on selected categories, such as fast food only.
Annual fees and charges	5 stars: $0  4 stars: $1-200 3 stars: $201-500 2 stars: $501-$999 1 star: $1,000 and up We dock a star if fee waiver is NOT allowed.
Accessibility	Minimum income requirements: 5 stars: Less than $30,000 a year 4 stars: Around $30,000 a year for Singaporeans and $40,000-$45,000 for non-Singaporeans 3 stars: $30,000-$60,000 a year for Singaporeans, $40,000-$70,000 for non-Singaporeans 2 stars: $60,000-$120,000 a year for Singaporeans, $70,000-$120,000 for non-Singaporeans 1 star: $120,000 and up for either, or both Exclusivity: We dock 1-2 stars if there is/are another category/categories that make the card exclusive and very specific to a certain clientele.
Extras/periphery rewards	These include: Travel benefits, such as airport lounge access Lifestyle benefits, such as spa privileges Dining benefits, such as complimentary AMEX Love Dining or Entertainer with HSBC subscriptions We count the number of benefits and award between 0.5 to 2 stars for each, depending on how good the perk is.
Sign-up bonus	5 stars: The gift(s), cash, or miles are the highest we see out there compared to other credit cards of the same type (miles, cashback, etc). Also easy to attain these welcome bonuses. 3-4 stars: Average but not disappointing sign-up bonus compared to other credit cards. You aren’t losing out. 1-2 stars: You are probably losing out in terms of the welcome bonus you’re getting; there are other similar credit cards with sign-up bonuses that are better or easier to attain.