6% off your groceries, but a shorter runway in Bangkok—this week's news cuts both ways for your wallet and your travel plans. FairPrice has doubled a key discount for lower-income shoppers, while Thailand is trimming how long visitors can stay without a visa. Meanwhile, Trust Bank is celebrating its 4th birthday with a stack of $3 treats and a seriously generous referral bonus, and a local fintech is banking on Hello Kitty to win over Singapore's collectors. Here's everything you need to know.
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FairPrice doubles CHAS discount to 6% for lower-income shoppers
Image: FairPrice Group
Lower-income Singaporeans are getting a bigger break at the till. FairPrice Group (FPG) has doubled its CHAS discount to 6%, up from 3%, for blue and orange CHAS card holders from 3 September.
The discount applies on designated days—blue CHAS holders get it on Thursdays, orange CHAS holders on Fridays—and runs until 1 January 2027.
- Applies to purchases of up to $200 a day per customer at FairPrice stores, Unity pharmacies, and FairPrice Online
- Stacks with existing store promotions and CDC vouchers
- Online orders on designated days get a $3.99 service fee waiver with a $100 minimum spend
- Eligible shoppers can verify their details on the FPG app so the discount auto-applies in-store and online
The move builds on more than $10 million in CHAS savings FPG has already extended this year through its FairPrice Foundation, and marks the second time in 2026 the group has doubled the discount, after a similar run in April and May. FPG group chief executive officer Vipul Chawla said the expanded support reflects the group's commitment to helping eligible households save more on everyday needs, while NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng called it meaningful savings for lower-income households over time.
ALSO READ: CHAS Card Review 2026—Latest Updates to Annual Home Value Criteria
Thailand halves visa-free stays for Singaporeans and 59 other nations
Planning a Bangkok getaway? You'll need to plan around a shorter runway. Thailand is halving visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for tourists from dozens of countries, effective 15 September 2026, as part of a crackdown on crime involving foreign nationals.
- The shorter 30-day limit applies to 60 countries and territories, including Singapore, China, the US, and 27 EU countries
- Visa-free status for around 20 other countries remains unclear
- Peru, Brazil, and South Korea get longer 90-day visa-free stays, up from 60 days
- Travellers can extend their stay once, at an immigration officer's discretion
Thai officials said the move follows a string of arrests involving foreigners on drug offences, sex trafficking, and unlicensed businesses. Foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the shorter stays target abuse of the visa system, even as tourism—vital to Thailand's economy—has slowed, with 20.9 million foreign visitors so far this year, down 3% from the same period in 2025.
ALSO READ: Best Travel Insurance For Thailand 2026
Trust Bank marks 4th birthday with $3 deals and up to $8,000 referral cashback
Image: Trust Bank
Trust Bank is marking its fourth birthday with a slate of customer treats running through October.
- Seven days of $3 deals (till 7 September) from Birds of Paradise, Burger King, Butter Town, Kopitiam, Shihlin Taiwan Street Food, Springleaf Prata Place, and Starbucks
- Three surprise one-day $3 offers from 3 unrevealed merchants, teased via the Trust app
- Referral cashback of $50 to $8,000 for successful Trust credit card referrals made by 31 October 2026
- A TrustInvest Mutual Funds booster on Income+ or Wealth+ funds: 0.5% p.a. for top-ups between $20,000 and $99,999.99, and 0.8% p.a. for $100,000 or more, held through a 2-month period without selling
Trust Bank chief executive officer Dwaipayan Sadhu said the celebration is the bank's way of thanking the more than 1 million customers who've signed up since it launched 4 years ago.
If the referral bonus has you eyeing a Trust card, our Trust Freedom Credit Card Review breaks down what it offers.
- Stockback
- 3%
- Unlimited Cashback
- Up to 1.5%
- Bonus Cashback
- Up to 15%
Aleta launches Hello Kitty Visa debit card after sold-out Cinnamoroll debut
Image: Aleta
Fintech Aleta has launched a Hello Kitty-themed Visa debit card, the second in its Sanrio series after June's Cinnamoroll debut sold out within 45 days. [NEEDS LIVE URL]
- 9,000 physical and virtual cards available in 3 designs, plus a limited run of 300 metal cards by lucky draw
- Costs $18, with a 5-year annual fee waiver, personalised drink bottle, 2 tickets to IMBA Theatre at Gardens by the Bay, and 3 free days of 1GB + unlimited eSIM data
- Zero-FX scan-and-pay expands beyond China to Vietnam and South Korea, with Japan following in November when the third Sanrio character, Kuromi, launches
- Every $1 spent earns a guaranteed-win Spin & Win entry, with a trip to Sanrio Puroland in Japan as the grand prize (available in December)
Aleta founder and group chairman Ryan Gwee said the launch builds on strong demand for Sanrio-themed cards, noting collectors are willing to pay for designs with genuine emotional pull.
If novelty cards like this catch your eye, our piece 7 Hard Truths About Collecting Art Toys in Singapore breaks down what collectors should know before chasing limited edition items.
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.
Masthead image: FairPrice Group, Unsplash/Alejandro Cartagena, Aleta
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