As mentioned earlier, World Mastercard Elite is NOT available in Malaysia.



According to the HSBC staff (she's a Premier relationship manager), the minimum credit line for HSBC Premier Mastercard is RM30,000 but most approved HSBC Premier Mastercard carry a slightly higher credit line than the minimum credit line. I guess this is why most HSBC Premier Mastercard cardholders here said that their credit line for the card is RM40,000 instead of RM30,000 but the REAL minimum credit line for HSBC Premier Mastercard is ONLY RM30,000.

HSBC VISA Platinum is indeed different from HSBC Premier Mastercard. The HSBC staff told me that the HSBC Premier Mastercard is NOT tied to any of our "Time Deposit" accounts with the bank hence the credit line given for HSBC Premier Mastercard won't be 80% of our total "Time Deposit" in HSBC. I was also told that HSBC Premier Mastercard is a complimentary card issued to HSBC Premier customers as a gesture for supporting and being loyal to HSBC.

Should we already have a HSBC Premier Mastercard but wish to get a second card from HSBC, we will be told to apply for HSBC VISA Platinum pledged by one of our Time Deposit accounts held with HSBC. Please also note that when approved, both HSBC Premier Mastercard and HSBC VISA Platinum will carry a SEPARATE CREDIT LINE.

They will need to prepare a letter when you want to apply for a credit card pledged by Time Deposit (TD/FD) and this process usually will take 3 - 4 days


CIMB Bank, Direct Access and MBF. You will be given both World Mastercard and VISA Infinite when you apply either one from CIMB Bank or Direct Access. The CIMB Bank World Mastercard is point based system while VISA Infinite will give you 0.5% cash rebate for local transaction and 1% for overseas spending.


Earlier on, someone said his/her Platinum credit card only has RM20,000 of credit line. If my memory serves me correctly, i think it's Preferred Platinum VISA/Mastercard from UOB Bank.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Jul 28 2009, 05:53 PM

Agreed. Hopefully one day they will bring the Premier Mastercard back to design board.



I guess this is what set it apart from all other credit cards.


The HSBC Premeir RM didn't inform me anything about minimum lock-in period but she did say that should one decides to lift the related "Time Deposit", the VISA Platinum credit card will need to be cancelled as well.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Jul 28 2009, 11:37 PM

All OCBC credit cards will now give rebates instead of point accumulation, just like Public Bank. The rebate system is really shabby, just like Public Bank too

Agreed. Public Bank is as conservative as HSBC, if not more.

May be you should give up some of your credit cards or request to lower down your credit line

Oh shoot ! My mom has canceled her CIMB Mastercard and we're bringing our credit card business over to HSBC.


HSBC Malaysia is NOT downsizing. In fact, HSBC is opening a HSBC Amanah branch in Kota Kinabalu very soon. This will be HSBC second branch in Kota Kinabalu. The exact location is not known but was told the branch is under renovation now and they have hired people to work in this particular branch. They seem to be very secretive about the location but i suspect it is in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) area.

Believe they are shutting down the call centre here in an effort to cut down on cost. I wondered next time we call HSBC call centre, which country will our calls be diverted to ? I hope it's not Bangalore in India. Many US companies have call centres in Bangalore, India and it's a nightmare. Believe Singapore call centre will assist us better, since we talk in the same language (Manglish/Singlish)

I have been wondering when is Citibank going to set up a branch here in Kota Kinabalu. They were supposed to open a branch in Kota Kinabalu 3 years ago when foreign banks were given license to open 4 more branches in Malaysia but the plan was scrapped in the very last minute and they decided to use the license they planned to open a branch in Kota Kinabalu to open the Citibank branch in Bukit Tengah, Penang instead

Now that they are allowed to open another 4 branches next year, hopefully Kota Kinabalu is back on their expension plan !!!! Been wanted to get their credit card but reluctant as they do not have a branch here. Very troublesome in case there is anything wrong their credit card.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Aug 1 2009, 06:03 PM

I thought they just finished a major renovation in all their Malaysian branches last year ? No ? I was told that all the 9500+ HSBC branches in the world (be it in UK, USA, France, China, Malaysia or Singapore) now look identical after they refurbished all their branches worldwide since 2007.

I thought the rebate is only 2% ? Or there is an ongoing promotion now ?

Let say that i have a HSBC VISA Gold and HSBC Gold Mastercard, any of you know if i can combine the reward points earned by these two credit cards to redeem stuff from HSBC Rewards ?

Yes.

Remember to forward your letter to BNM too

Saadiq $aver's interest rate has dropped significantly. If i'm not mistaken, the first RM5000 won't have any interest paid. Last time i checked the rate was last week.

My only question now is that if they will increase the rate back to what is was last year when the economy is getting better again. We will know about a year and a half from now


OH MY GOD !! Just RM1000 ? Ridiculous indeed.


Yeah. I also do not think it is combined as the Gold AMEX is a standalone AMEX credit card. It has nothing to do with any other Maybank credit card with the "UGLY" Maybankard word printed on top.


What'd the problem ? Should you wish to pay your bills via standardchartered.com.my, you can only use your Standard Chartered VISA Infinite credit card to make the payment.

Oh, that's easy. You can now register for Standard Chartered online banking without leaving home, just like Citibank's online banking. Check it out now at their website



Actually, one can activate their online account instantly, by visiting one of Standard Chartered branch. Or ... one may create an online banking account himself/herself online. Just open their online banking page and follow instructions.


So true. Their online banking portal has improved a lot. But too bad you can only make bill payment using Standard Chartered credit card, should you choose to pay for a bill using credit card via their website.


This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Aug 7 2009, 07:59 PM

Wait for another one month. Usually they need you to submit your 3 months salary slip. And try with CIMB Bank. They are not as strict. Good luck.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Aug 7 2009, 09:23 PM

Scenario 3 is quite confusing. Anyway, why the hassle ? They should just call it "Combined Credit Limit" like other banks


CIMB Bank VISA Infinite gives you cash rebate. There is no reward point. For local spending, the cash rebate is 0.5% and 1% for overseas transaction.

CIMB Bank Classic/Gold/Platinum/World Mastercard will give you reward point instead of cash rebate. You'll be given 1 reward point for every Ringgit charged, be it locally or overseas.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Aug 8 2009, 04:31 PM

Just a note, Saadiq $aver has been reduced to 0.5% now for balance between RM0 - RM100000. As for e$aver account, it's been also further reduced to 0.4%, down from 0.7%. Going to close my e$aver account on Monday and transfer all the money back to my Public Bank account Too bad, because i really liked them ... (for their savings's interest rate )

Too bad not everyone is allowed to simply open a Justone current account.



Bank Islam at 1.16%

Not going to open an account at Bank Islam as i suspect the rate will also drop very soon. Will proceed with my original plan and transfer all my money in Standard Chartered e$aver back to my Public Bank account. Public Bank is far more convenient as there are many Public Bank branches in Sabah


Very competitive indeed. However, it's been slashed to the point that it is no longer economical to maintain the account. As we all know, Standard Chartered, just like any other foreign banks have very little branches. There is only 1 Standard Chartered branch in Kota Kinabalu which is located in the old city centre. Just imagine the petrol needed to drive all the way from our house to the old city centre just to get some money.

I know that we can use our Standard Chartered ATM card to withdraw money at the House ATM network namely HSBC, UOB Bank and OCBC Bank but the problem is that, all the HSBC, UOB Bank, OCBC Bank and Standard Chartered Kota Kinabalu branch located on the same street (basically just 2 minutes short walk away from each other). There isn't any benefit really.

Standard Chartered e$aver account was launched back in late 2007 with so much fanfare. It gave 2.5% of interest since it was introduced up till February 2009. Then it was cut down to 1.5%, after that 0.7% and now 0.4%. What a shame



The annual fee can be easily waived by calling them up. Anyway, they do have 5 series of credit card that are free for life. See below :
Maybank Petronas VISA
- absolutely free for life, even if you never swipe it.
- available in Gold and Platinum.

American Express Gold Credit Card
- absoluty free for life, even if you never swipe it.

Maybank SonyCard VISA
- absolutely free for life, even if you never swipe it.

Maybank Ikhwan
- free for life**, must swipe at least 12 times in a year to get the annual fee waived.
- available in VISA Gold, VISA Platinum, AMEX Gold and AMEX Platinum

Maybank VISA Flex
- free for life**, must swipe twice in a month to get the annual fee waived.


Are you talking about installment plan ? Many shops do accept CIMB Bank credit card for 0% interest installment plan too. You might want to check it out.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Aug 9 2009, 04:11 PM

AMEX is neither VISA nor Mastercard. It is American Express, issued either by a partner financial institution or American Express itself.

American Express is not as widely accepted as VISA and Mastercard in Malaysia and also overseas. But should you shop frequently at those mega shopping centre such as KLCC, Pavillion, The Gardens, Mid Valley and 1Utama. Then it won't be a problem. Most big shops do accept AMEX. For example :
- SHELL
- Kinokuniya
- MPH
- Times Bookstore
- Carrefour
- Pizza Hut
- Giant
- Cold Storage
- Jaya Jusco
- Parkson
- Robinsons
- Isetan
- Metrojaya
- GAP
- Calvin Klein
& many more (basically all the high end stores such as Louis Vuitton all accept AMEX).



Then you might want to consider Maybank Petronas VISA. It is free for life and NO minimum swipe required to get the annual fee waived. It is some of the few 100% free for life credit card with no string attached.


I don't think Citibank Choice credit card is good. If i'm not mistaken, it is like a no frills credit card. Whatever charged to the card will earn you NO reward point.

You are qualified for Citibank Gold credit card. If you apply now, the annual fee for the first 2 or 3 years (i couldn't remember exactly) will be automatically waived. After that you will need to call in once a year to get the annual fee waived.

Anyway, if you're interested to apply for a credit card from an international bank. I suggest you to look into HSBC. Their promotion is comparable to Citibank but the points required to redeem stuff (such as shopping vouchers) is lower than Citibank. The only downside is that the HSBC credit card points accumulated is not evergreen, unlike Citibank.


The Maybank SonyCard VISA is free for life without any condition.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Aug 9 2009, 10:52 PM

Keen to see Citibank to launch this card in Malaysia in the near future ...
Citibank C Platinum