The Best Credit Card Sign-up Promotions in Singapore 2018 (UPDATED 23 MAR)

I know someone whose storeroom could double as a Samsonite warehouse – it’s filled to the brim with free luggage from credit card promotions. You probably know someone like that too.

But apart from free luggage, there are also other kinds of enticements that you can get just by signing up for a credit card. Some common credit card freebies include:

• Cashback promotions e.g. $100 cashback for newcomers
• Free vouchers e.g. shopping vouchers for first $500 spend
• Welcome air miles e.g. 10,000 miles when you pay annual fee
• Free luggage e.g. sign up and receive an American Tourister bag
• Other gifts e.g. free iPad with minimum spend of $500

So if you’re looking to sign up for a new credit card, here are the latest and best credit card sign-up promotions in Singapore right now:

Contents

• Cashback & vouchers
• Luggage, gifts and others
• Air miles

 

Credit card promotions – Cashback & vouchers

Credit card(s)	Promotion	Notes
American Express credit cards	$50 or $100 Grab or NTUC FairPrice vouchers	Sign up through MoneySmart (expires 19 Apr 2018)
Citibank credit cards	$150 NTUC FairPrice or Takashimaya voucher (MoneySmart exclusive) + up to $120 cashback	New to Citibank credit cards Sign up through MoneySmart (for vouchers, expires 15 Apr 2018) Min. spend $200 every month x 6 months (for cashback, expires 30 Jun 2018)
Standard Chartered credit cards	$100 (upon card activation) + $20 (with 5 mobile wallet transactions) cashback = $120 cashback	New to Standard Chartered credit cards Pay 5x with mobile wallet Expires 31 Mar 2018
CIMB credit cards	$120 cashback	New to CIMB credit cards Min. spend $400 within first 2 months Expires 30 Apr 2018
DBS credit cards	$100 cashback (new to DBS/POSB) or $50 cashback (existing cardholders)	Online applicants only Min. spend $500 in first month Expires 31 Mar 2018
HSBC credit cards	$100 cashback (new to HSBC) or $50 cashback (existing cardholders)	Min. spend $600 in first month Expires 30 Jun 2018
UOB credit cards	$80 cashback	New to UOB credit cards Limited to first 600 applicants Min. spend $600 in first month Expires 31 Mar 2018
OCBC credit cards	$50 cashback	New to OCBC credit cards Apply for 2 credit cards at the same time Expires 30 Jun 2018

 

American Express: $50 or $100 NTUC FairPrice or Grab vouchers (until 19 Apr 2018)

Sign up for one of the following Amex credit cards through MoneySmart to get $100 worth of vouchers at NTUC FairPrice or Grab e-vouchers:

• American Express KrisFlyer Credit Card ($1 = 1.1 miles (local), $1 = 1.2 miles (overseas in Jun & Dec))
• American Express KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card ($1 = 1.2 miles (local), $1 = 1.2 miles (overseas in Jun & Dec))
• American Express CapitaCard (earn CapitaVouchers when you spend at CapitaMalls)
• American Express Platinum Credit Card (dining, drinking and clubbing privileges)

For this credit card, you’ll get $50 of NTUC or Grab vouchers instead:

• American Express True Cashback Card (1.5% cashback on everything)

This promotion is exclusive to MoneySmart and will be fulfilled by us, not by American Express.

 

Citibank: $150 NTUC FairPrice or Takashimaya voucher (until 15 Apr 2018) + up to $120 cashback (until 30 Jun 2018)

If you’re new to Citibank credit cards, hurry up and sign up through MoneySmart to get $150 worth of vouchers at NTUC FairPrice or Takashimaya. These are the eligible cards:

• Citi PremierMiles Visa Card ($1 = 1.2 miles (local) / 2 miles (overseas))
• Citi Cash Back Card (8% cashback on dining, groceries, petrol, Grab)
• Citi Rewards Card ($1 = 4 miles on shoes, bags, clothes)
• Citi SMRT Platinum Visa Card (5% cashback on groceries, fast food, movies, coffee)

With the exception of the Citi PremierMiles Card, you can combine MoneySmart’s $150 voucher promotion with Citibank’s $120 cashback promo. Mechanics as follows: spend $200 to get $20 cashback each month, repeat for 6 months to get a maximum of $120 in total.

 

Standard Chartered: $100 + $20 cashback for new sign-ups (until 31 Mar 2018)

Standard Chartered is now running the best cashback sign-up promotion for those who are new to Standard Chartered credit cards. Get up to $120 cashback when you sign up for any of the following cards:

• Standard Chartered Unlimited Cashback Credit Card (1.5% unlimited cashback)
• Standard Chartered Platinum Visa/Mastercard Credit Card ($1 = 1 Rewards Point)
• Standard Chartered Spree Credit Card (2% to 3% cashback on online spend)
• Standard Chartered NUS Alumni Platinum Credit Card (for NUS alumni only)
• Standard Chartered Prudential Platinum Credit Card (offset insurance premiums with rewards points)

Upon card activation, you should get $100 cashback. To get an extra $20 cashback, register your new credit card with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay, and make 5 transactions using your mobile wallet by 30 Apr 2018.

 

CIMB: $120 cashback for new sign-ups (until 30 Apr 2018)

Similarly, those new to CIMB credit cards can sign up online for one of these cards for $120 cashback:

• CIMB Platinum Mastercard (10% cashback on travel, healthcare, beauty)
• CIMB Visa Signature (10% cashback on dining, nightlife, foreign currency online spend)
• CIMB World Mastercard (1% unlimited cashback)
• CIMB Visa Infinite (up to 2% unlimited cashback, min. spend >$2,000)

You have to spend $400 on your new credit card within the first 2 months to get the cashback payout.

 

DBS/POSB: $100 or $50 cashback for online applications (until 31 Mar 2018)

DBS is trying to drive online credit card sign-ups for the following DBS credit cards:

• DBS Live Fresh Card (10% cashback on online spend)
• POSB Everyday Card (up to 6% cashback at SPC, Sheng Siong, Watsons, Starhub etc.)
• DBS Woman’s World Card ($1 = 4 miles on online spend)
• DBS Woman’s Card ($1 = 2 miles on online spend)
• DBS Black Visa Card ($1 = 1.2 miles on Visa payWave)

Apply online and charge $500 in the first month to get either $100 (for new DBS/POSB credit cardholders) or $50 (existing cardholders) cashback.

 

HSBC: $100 or $50 cashback for applicants (until 30 Jun 2018)

HSBC is running a similar promotion for the following HSBC credit cards:

• HSBC Advance Credit Card (up to 3.5% cashback on everything for HSBC Advance customers)
• HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card (up to 5% cashback on bills, groceries, petrol, dining)
• HSBC Revolution Credit Card ($1 = 2 miles on dining, entertainment, online spend)

Apply and charge $600 in the first month to get either $100 (for new HSBC credit cardholders) or $50 (existing cardholders) cashback. If you’re new to HSBC, you can opt to get an American Tourister luggage instead of $100 cashback; see below.

 

UOB: $80 cashback for new sign-ups (until 31 Mar 2018)

UOB is running a credit card sign-up promotion for all UOB credit cards: you can get $80 cashback if you sign up for a card and spend $600 in the first month. However, note that it’s limited to the first 600 new cardholders.

As far as I know, there’s no way to tell if you’re one of the first 600, so try at your own risk.

 

OCBC: $50 cashback for new sign-ups (until 30 Jun 2018)

OCBC is in on the new sign-ups game too, but their offer of $50 cashback is lower. Choose from:

• OCBC 365 Credit Card (up to 6% cashback on dining, 3% on online spend, 23% fuel savings)
• OCBC Robinsons Group Credit Card (5% rebate at Robinsons group including Zara)
• OCBC Titanium Rewards Card ($1 = 4 miles on selected shopping merchants)
• OCBC Plus! Visa Credit Card (up to 7% cashback at NTUC FairPrice, 18.5% fuel savings)
• OCBC Cashflo Credit Card (auto-instalment credit card)

Then again, OCBC doesn’t require ANY minimum spend at all, so it’s almost like you’re getting $50 for free. The cashback will be split between your two credit cards, i.e. $25 credit each.

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Credit card promotions – Free luggage, gifts & others

Credit card(s)	Promotion	Notes
Maybank credit cards	Samsonite Orfeo 69cm Spinner	New to Maybank credit cards Apply for 2 credit cards & CreditAble Spend or withdraw $500 in first 2 months
HSBC credit cards	American Tourister Caravan 70cm TSA Luggage	New to HSBC Min. spend $600 in first month Expires 30 Jun 2018
American Express Platinum Credit Card	Swissotel staycation (pay annual fee) B&O Play H5 (spend $5,000 in first 6 months) Samsonite Sigma 76cm Expandable Spinner (spend additional $2,500)	Pay annual fee of $321 (for Swissotel staycation) Min. spends apply for other premiums
Citi M1 Card	Up to 24GB free data	Set up GIRO arrangement to pay M1 bills Expires 31 May 2018
DBS Esso Card	Up to $120 in Esso Smiles Points	New to DBS Esso Card Online applicants only Min. spend $200 per month x 3 months Expires 30 Jun 2018

 

Maybank: Samsonite luggage for credit card & CreditAble sign-ups

Maybank is giving away a Samsonite Orfeo 69cm Spinner to anyone who signs up for CreditAble (their credit line service) and two credit cards.

Choose from the following eligible Maybank credit cards:

• Maybank DUO Platinum Mastercard (5% cashback on petrol in Singapore & Malaysia)
• Maybank Family & Friends Card (up to 8% cashback on groceries, transport, petrol)
• Maybank FC Barcelona Visa Signature (1.6% unlimited cashback)
• Maybank Horizon Visa Signature ($1 = 3.2 miles on Agoda, dining, petrol, taxis)
• Maybank Manchester United Platinum Visa Card (bonus rewards for Man U purchases)
• Maybank Platinum Visa Card (up to 3.33% cashback)

Note that you’ll have to spend at least $500 on your credit cards or withdraw from your CreditAble account within the first 2 months to get the free luggage. For foreigners, this minimum goes up to $700.

 

HSBC: American Tourister luggage for new sign-ups (until 30 Jun 2018)

To entice new customers, HSBC is running a free luggage promotion for the following HSBC credit cards:

• HSBC Advance Credit Card (up to 3.5% cashback on everything for HSBC Advance customers)
• HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card (up to 5% cashback on bills, groceries, petrol, dining)
• HSBC Revolution Credit Card ($1 = 2 miles on dining, entertainment, online spend)

If you’re new to HSBC, apply and charge $600 in the first month to get either an American Tourister Caravan 70cm TSA Luggage or $100 cashback. (Existing cardholders will get $50 instead.)

 

American Express Platinum Credit Card: Swissotel staycation with $321 annual fee

Amex really really wants you to pay annual fees on this card, so they have an ongoing tiered promotion with the following premiums for those who fork out the cash:

• 1 night’s stay at Swissotel (if you pay the annual fee of $321)
• Bang & Olufsen Play H5 (if you spend $5,000 in the first 6 months)
• Samsonite Sigma 76cm Expandable Spinner (if you spend additional $2,500 in the first 6 months)

Honestly, if you can get over the fact that this is a full fee card, you actually get a pretty decent deal (not to mention the awesome dining savings with the card).

 

Citi M1 Card: up to 24GB free data (until 31 May 2018)

If you’re locked into an M1 contract but are itching to jump ship to a rival plan with more data, the Citi M1 card is a temporary solution for you.

All you have to do is sign up for the card and set up a recurring GIRO payment for your M1 bills, and you’ll get an upsize on your data bundle for the following mobile plans.

• i/Lite+ or mySIM+20 (additional 4GB)
• i/Reg or mySIM+30 (additional 6GB)
• i/Reg+ or mySIM+45 (additional 8GB)
• i/Max or mySIM+75 (additional 12GB)
• i/Max+ or mySIM+125 (additional 24GB)
• SurfReg (additional 4GB)
• SurfMax (additional 8GB)

The numbers in brackets show how much additional data you can get if you’re NEW to Citibank. If you already have a Citi credit card, just halve the number.

Oh yes, the Citi M1 card also gives cashback on the M1 bills, either 10% (min. spend $600), 3% (min. spend $300) or 0.5% (<$300 spend). The first year’s annual fee is waived too, making it a must-have for M1 users.

 

DBS Esso Card: up to $120 in fuel credit at Esso (until 30 Jun 2018)

The DBS Esso Card has a current promotion that gives you either $90 or $120 worth of Smiles Points which you can redeem against fuel at Esso.

First, you need to be new to the card, and apply online without any sales assistance. Spend $200 on petrol per month for 3 consecutive months to get $120 in Smiles Points credited to your account. If you only keep up the streak for 2 months, you still get $90 in Smiles Points.

The card also gives you an instant discount of at least 17% off your fuel spend, unlike many other cards where you have to juggle minimum spends and meet other requirements to qualify for a rebate only at the end of the month or quarter.

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Credit card sign-up promotions – Air miles

Credit card	Promotion	Notes
American Express KrisFlyer Credit Card	5,000 miles (0 cent per mile)	Annual fee waived Miles awarded upon first spend
American Express Rewards Card	13,250 miles (0.4 cents per mile)	Annual fee $53.50 Min. spend $1,500 in 3 months
DBS Altitude Card	10,000 miles (1.9 cents per mile)	Annual fee $192.60
HSBC Visa Infinite	40,000 miles (1.2 cents (HSBC Premier) or 1.6 cents per mile)	Annual fee $488 (HSBC Premier) or $650 (regular customers)
Standard Chartered Visa Infinite	35,000 miles (1.7 cents per mile)	Annual fee $588.50
Citi Prestige Card	25,000 miles (2.1 cents per mile)	Annual fee $535 Expires 30 Jun 2018

 

American Express KrisFlyer Credit Card: 5,000 welcome miles for free (almost)

Plenty of air miles credit cards offer a nice fat bundle of welcome miles for new sign-ups, but the catch is that you need to pay the annual fees.

The only one that will still give you miles without any fee payment is Amex’s entry-level miles card, the KrisFlyer Credit Card. That’s because the annual fee of $176.55 is automatically waived for the first year. You just need to spend (any amount, even $1 will do) on the card to get 5,000 miles almost for free.

Nobody’s going to stop you if you leave it as that, but if you want to take advantage of further newbie promotions, you can get 10,250 miles if you spend $2,500 in the first 3 months, which brings up the total to 15,250 miles. This offer expires 31 Mar 2018.

 

American Express Rewards Card: 13,250 miles with $1,500 spend in 3 months

However, if you want to play the miles game, skip the Amex KrisFlyer promotion and get yourself an American Express Rewards Card instead.

Step 1: Pay the annual fee of $53.50. Step 2: Spend $1,500 in the first 3 months of owning the credit card. You’ll accrue 24,000 Membership Rewards Points, which you can convert to 13,250 miles on one of Amex’s many frequent flyer programmes, including KrisFlyer.

If you’re following this, you’ll realise that the Rewards Card gives you 3,000 MORE miles for $1,000 less spend.

 

DBS Altitude Card: 10,000 miles with $192.60 annual fee

If you’re not a new sign-up to Citibank cards, another way to “buy” miles with your credit card annual fee is through the DBS Altitude Card. There’s an automatic first-year fee waiver, but you can pay $192.60 to renew the card and get 10,000 air miles.

 

HSBC Visa Infinite: 40,000 miles with $488 / 650 annual fee

Most of the premium air miles credit cards, which are targeted at those with an income of $120,000 and up, charge hefty annual fees which are offset with generous welcome miles packages.

The HSBC Visa Infinite is one such card – pay the $488 or $650 annual fee and you get 40,000 miles.

If you don’t meet the minimum income requirement of $120,000 p.a., you can still get this card with a $30,000 fixed deposit. Apart from the welcome miles promotion, the card offers really luxurious travel benefits.

 

Standard Chartered Visa Infinite: 35,000 miles with $588.50 annual fee

StanChart’s Visa Infinite offers 3 different welcome packages with payment of the $588.50 annual fee:

• 35,000 miles
• 25,000 miles + $100 Uber app credits
• 15,000 miles + 28” Samsonite Lite-Shock Spinner

However, it has a higher minimum income requirement of $150,000 p.a. If you qualify, you might choose this card instead as it has a higher earn rate if you can meet the $2,000 monthly minimum spend.

 

Citi Prestige Card: 25,000 miles with $535 annual fee

Trailing behind the HSBC and StanChart cards in the premium air miles card category is the Citi Prestige Card. Choose from either of these premiums when you pay the $535 annual fee:

• 25,000 miles
• Tablet (of unknown make, worth $498)

It has a minimum income requirement of $120,000 p.a. Choose this one for earning miles if you cannot hit the $2,000 monthly minimum spend on the StanChart Visa Infinite.

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Did we miss out any credit card promotions? Good things must share – tell us about them in the comments!

 

Related articles:

The Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore 2018

The Best Cashback Credit Cards in Singapore 2018

The Best Rewards Credit Cards in Singapore 2018

Tags: Credit Cards