Issue #41: What’s Happening This Week? HSBC to Change Credit Card Income Requirements, HDB Adds 1,000 Oct 2025 BTO Flats

This week, money matters are making waves. One bank is changing the income bar for its entry-level cards, while a mysterious “lightning ball” spotted in our heartlands turned out to be something far more playful.

Housing watchers get fresh details on the very first BTO launch at the Greater Southern Waterfront, and health-conscious shoppers can look forward to a major organic grocer finally landing in Singapore.

To top it off, Treasury bill yields are stirring again after months of sliding—signalling a shift investors won’t want to miss.

Here are 5 stories that should be on your radar this week. Let’s dive in.

TLDR; HSBC will increase the minimum annual income for its entry-level credit cards to $65,000 from 1 October 2025, though applicants can still qualify with a $10,000 collateral. Viral “lightning ball” videos in Singapore were revealed as YouTrip’s 7th birthday campaign, promoting Trippie collectables, blind boxes, limited-edition merch, and a pop-up party. HDB’s upcoming Berlayar estate at the former Keppel Club site will now feature about 7,000 flats, with the first BTO launch in October offering 870 units and a strong green, car-lite focus. Whole Foods Market products have launched in Singapore via Amazon.sg and Little Farms, with nearly 300 items, tasting events, and launch promotions like buy-3-get-20%-off. Singapore’s latest six-month T-bill auction saw the cut-off yield rise to 1.44%, ending 13 consecutive declines as demand softened and analysts suggest yields may have found a floor.

Psst, missed last week’s issue? View all past editions of What’s Happening This Week? to catch up.

 

HSBC to change income requirements for credit cards

If you were to click on any of the entry-level credit cards on the HSBC banking page, you’ll see something different in the “Who can apply?” section: the minimum annual income requirement for Singaporeans is stated as up to $65,000. This change, up from the previous $30,000, will apply from 1 Oct 2025.

To put this into perspective:

• Annual income required: $65,000
• Equivalent monthly income: about $5,417
• Previous minimum: $30,000 a year (about $2,500 a month)

Which cards are affected?

Basically all the entry-level cards:

• HSBC Premier Mastercard
• HSBC Live+
• HSBC TravelOne
• HSBC Revolution
• HSBC Advance

For those who don’t meet the income requirement, HSBC says applicants can still qualify with a fixed deposit collateral of $10,000. This $10,000 can be included in the minimum Total Relationship Balance (TRB) of $50,000.

 

About 1,000 more flats added to Berlayar estate ahead of Oct 2025 BTO

HDB has revealed fresh details on the upcoming Berlayar estate at the former Keppel Club site, where the first BTO launch—Berlayar Residences—will take place this Oct 2025 BTO launch. The estate will now offer around 7,000 public flats (up from 6,000 earlier), alongside 3,000 private homes.

Berlayar Residences (Oct 2025 BTO)

• Units: 870 two-room flexi, three-room, and four-room flats
• Rental flats: 200 units
• Blocks: Four, ranging from 19–46 storeys
• Location: Between Telok Blangah and Labrador Park MRT stations

Our bets are that the project will fall under the Prime category, given its city-fringe location and views. That means stricter resale rules—such as subsidy clawbacks and a 10-year minimum occupation period—could apply.

What’s special about Berlayar

• Green focus: Four ecological corridors, with 10ha (20% of the site) set aside for greenery.
• Design: Terracing skyline, coastal-inspired blue and white colour scheme, and motifs of local fauna like otters and horseshoe crabs.
• Lifestyle: Preschools, supermarkets, eating houses, and a new food centre by 2027.
• Car-lite living: Cycling and walking paths, plus sustainable features like rain gardens.

This project marks the first step in transforming the Greater Southern Waterfront into a new hub for living, working, and leisure.

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ALSO READ: The Ultimate 2025 Guide: How to Increase Your BTO Chances in Singapore

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YouTrip’s ‘lightning ball’ videos spark buzz as birthday campaign

 

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A post shared by YouTrip Singapore (@youtripsg)

For a few days, Singaporeans were puzzled by videos of a glowing “lightning ball” drifting through Tampines, Yishun, and Pasir Ris. Some thought it was supernatural, others joked about sci-fi gone wrong.

On 22 Sep 2025, fintech platform YouTrip revealed the clips were part of its 7th birthday campaign. The big reveal showed the ball zipping into a suitcase at Jewel Changi Airport—out popped 3 cheeky mascots, known as Trippie.

What YouTrip is promoting

• Exclusive blind boxes & limited-edition merch
  Pop-up birthday party at Ngee Ann City
• Collectables up for grabs when you:
  • Spend at least $300 with YouTrip
  • Visit the pop-up
  • Join upcoming Instagram giveaways

Reactions online were mixed. Many praised the creativity, with one user declaring that the marketing team “deserves a raise”. Others admitted they were fooled but appreciated the fun. However, a few netizens were less amused, pointing out that the videos might have confused older viewers unfamiliar with AI-generated effects, while one even joked that the clips sparked a family argument.

This isn’t YouTrip’s first viral stunt—it previously faked “purple skies” near Johor Bahru to promote its Malaysian ringgit wallet.

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ALSO READ: YouTrip Review—Guide to YouTrip Card, Exchange Rates & Promo Codes

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Whole Foods products now on Amazon.sg and at Little Farms

Health-conscious shoppers in Singapore have a new reason to celebrate—Whole Foods Market has officially landed here. Nearly 300 private-label products from the US organic grocer are now available on Amazon.sg and in-store at eight Little Farms outlets across the island.

What’s on offer

• Wide range of organic and everyday essentials from Whole Foods’ 365 brand
• Available online via Amazon Fresh with free two-hour delivery for Prime members on orders above $60
• In-store purchases at Little Farms, or online via littlefarms.com

Launch promotions

• Buy 3, save 20% on all Whole Foods Market private brand products (Amazon Fresh on Amazon.sg)
• Buy 3, save 20% on 365 by Whole Foods Market items via Little Farms on Amazon.sg
• Tasting events at Little Farms:
  • 27 Sep, Tanglin Mall (10:30am–4:00pm)
  • 11 Oct, Sentosa (9:00am–12:00pm)

This is the first time Whole Foods has launched its private-label products in Asia. For Singapore shoppers, it means easier access to high-quality, responsibly sourced groceries—plus the convenience of Amazon Prime perks and Little Farms’ trusted curation.

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ALSO READ: Online Groceries in Singapore—Which Supermarket Has The Cheapest Delivery Fees?

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Six-month T-bill yield edges up to 1.44% after long decline

Singapore’s 6-month Treasury bill (T-bill) auction on 25 Sep 2025 saw the cut-off yield rise to 1.44%, up from 1.38% earlier this month. This is the first uptick after 13 straight declines since March, suggesting yields may have found a floor.

Key auction results

• Applications: $13.5 billion
• Amount offered: $7.7 billion
• Bid-to-cover ratio: 1.75 (down from 2.02 previously)
• Median yield: 1.33% (vs. 1.31%)
• Average yield: 1.23% (vs. 1.27%)
• Non-competitive allotment: $903.5 million (fully filled)

Analysts say the higher cut-off reflects softening demand and the need to keep yields attractive despite recent Fed cuts. DBS notes that “a soft floor” for T-bill yields may have formed, while OCBC highlights that investor interest has eased as yields dipped in past months.

What it means: Retail investors may be less keen at these levels, but the higher cut-off suggests further downside in T-bill rates could be limited.

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 ALSO READ: The Beginner’s Guide to Singapore Treasury Bills for Individual Investors 2025: What are T-bills and How to Apply

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That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s What’s Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond. 

This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.