The first card to get is the OCBC Titanium MasterCard where you can earn 5% cash back for your Petrol everyday. This card also earns the cardholder 5% cash back for Dining, Telco and Groceries besides Utilities. For general transactions, this card earns you 1% cash back and the total cash back is capped at RM50/month. Therefore if you spend RM1000 on petrol, dining and telco, you would have hit the monthly cap and as such would not earn a sen further. However, if you do not have Credit History, don't be surprised if OCBC reject your application since are they are kind of "choosy" .

The other card to consider is the Maybankard 2 Cards where the AMEX earns you 5X Treats Points PLUS additional 5% cash back for any type of transactions on Saturdays and Sundays. Click here to read my review of Maybankard 2 Cards versus OCBC Titanium MasterCard.

The Maybankard 2 Cards AMEX is accepted at most merchants offering electronic gadgets i.e. Courts, Fotokem, Harvey Norman, Machines, Dell, Sony Centres, DiGi, Maxis, Celcom and even All IT.

And since you are new to credit card, I suggest you read my series of articles for Credit Cards for Beginners by clicking here to the prelude. After you completed this series of articles, you will understand why the Maybankard 2 Cards with 5X TP is the most rewarding card in the market currently for local transactions.

As for shopping , that's very general, you will need to go to each bank website and see if they offer any discount at your favorite outlets. For example, if you shop at GAP very frequent, Citibank credit cards are good.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jul 30 2012, 10:32 PM

For Clubbing at places that that does not accept AMEX, Mach by Hong Leong Bank earns you 2% cash back BUT you better check MCC Code of the clubs you frequent. Presently they don't have a branch in Penang, so call their CS 0379511988 and see if you can apply online or by fax. But you'll only get 0.2% for insurance. Noted you got HLB Plat, so read MACH Thread where it was mentioned that existing HLB card holder are not eligible for the first year annual fee waiver.

As for RM500/month insurance, that's RM6K per year, and at 1% cash rebate, that RM60 cash rebate per year. No point to get a new card since you already have so many other cards that most probably earns you close to 0.5%.

Having said the above, if you cannot qualify for first year annual fee waiver for the MACH, look into what you mentioned earlier about SCB Business Plat (my article on it scheduled 1st Aug, so check my blog tomorrow after 10am) where it earns you 0.5% cash back (not 0.3% as you mentioned) plus choice points, and adding them up you will get less than 1% which is less than HLB Essential pure 1% cash back. But the beautiful thing about SCB credit card is that they award you cash back up to RM300 if your application is approved, but you got to apply online else you only get RM200 with agent or staff.

Also see if you can readjust some payments with OCBC TMC earning 5% into MBB 2 AMEX to earn 5XTP (2.5%) e.g. Telco, and max out the OCBC Cash back with 1%.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jul 31 2012, 08:56 AM

Should be based on current income, Yes, last 3 months play slip should be adequate and EPF statement to proof your income.

Both of you can consider UOB One Card Classic where you can earn 5% cash back for petrol at any station but there is a monthly petrol cash back cap of RM20 (i.e. max RM400 worth of petrol). Also click here to my article on MACH by HLB where I have a table comparing UOB One Card versus MACH. Go calculate the cash back you can earn based on your expenses.

Also check out my article and review of Standard Chartered Bank Business Gold credit card, this card may be even better than UOB One Card for a limited time.

Once both you earn RM30K, then go apply for the Maybankard 2 Cards.

And girlpowerx3, as for promotions, that statement too general but you may want to check out Citibank Credit Card Promotions 2012. In my Citi Promo article, there a link to Citibank prmotion site, go check it out.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 1 2012, 09:31 AM

Bro, make up your mind you want cash back only, airmiles or both

1st card to get for Petrol and Dining go get OCBC Titanium MasterCard where you can earn 5% cash back everyday.

2nd card to get Maybankard 2 Cards. The AMEX card earns you 5X TP every day PLUS additional cash back on Saturday and Sunday. And for your income range, with the 5X TP, it offers the best conversion of reward points to Enrich Miles BUT it may be more worthwhile to convert to cash vouchers unless MAS is having a sale. Click here to read my article titled Toshiba i5 for RM999 and Enrich Miles. The Maybankard 2 MasterCard on the other hand is good for overseas usage because MBB MC offers one of the lowest overseas conversion fee in town.

If the AMEX is accepted, with the Maybankard 2 AMEX, you are guaranteed 5X Treats Points which is equivalent to about 2.5% cash back when you redeem for cash voucher and not many credit cards (actually none) can currently can beat this returns for general transactions.

However, since you do spend more than RM2K.month, you may need another Visa or MC to maximize earning cash back for your expenditure at merchants that do not accept AMEX. So check out my article on Mach by Hong Leong Bank where I have prepared a table comparing various cash back credit cards. The table can serve as a guide for you to work out yourself the the cash back you can earn from different cards based on your expenses.

Also check out the Standard Chartered Bank Business Platinum and Gold credit card. This is the best time to apply for it, if you need an extra card for 5% cash back for petrol.

And since you are new to credit card, I suggest you read my series of articles for Credit Cards for Beginners by clicking here to the prelude.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 1 2012, 09:33 AM

Yes, MBB 2 AMEX 5% for any type of transactions on Saturday and Sunday plus you also earn 5X TP everyday.

how much is your insurance premium? Monthly, quarterly or yearly? If you paying the premium monthly and less than RM200, with 1% cash rebate you only earning RM2/month. Even with the Maybankard 2 Visa or MasterCard, you will earn 1X TP which gives you approximately 0.5% cash back (or RM1 if Premium RM200/month) when redeem for cash voucher.

But if you frequent merchants that do not accept AMEX, then the OCBC Titanium MasterCard better with 5% cash back for Dining, Utility, Telco and groceries.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 4 2012, 12:08 AM

if you sign up for insurance offered thru promotions jointly with the card issuer, you may face problems transferring the premium payments to another card issuer. Click here to read my article UOB Credit Card - Why You Force Me To Beg You? I signed for a P.A. policy long more than a decade with UOB and when I wanted to switch the premium to another card, the insurance company informed me that is not possible.

To All: I just revised the required format for posting here in post#1. Any comments or need to add any other required info?

For Dining only - MACH by Hong Leong Bank offers 5% cash back. Sign up for the Trendsetter Package when you apply for the card.

For Insurance, better use your MBB 2 Visa or MC where it earns you 1X TP compared to MACH miserable 0.2% cash back.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 6 2012, 02:55 PM

Go read MACH Thread, if you are new to HLB credit cards, you ar entitle to 1st year annual fee waiver and for subsequent years with 12 swipes. jonjack88 even posted a photo of this condition there.

As for MCC code, ask lah before you pay the bill If MCC coded not in the list, use your MBB 2 AMEX or MBB 2 Visa/Mc in the event the AMEX not welcome.

Since you are not willing to give breakdown of your expenses so that we can try to recommend a suitable card(s), click on links below to the appropriate thread:

For Petrol credit cards click here.

For Airport Lounge click here.

For Overseas Transaction click here.

For Cash Back Only for Petrol, Groceries and Telco = total RM1250

For your case, recommend you get both Maybankard 2 Cards and OCBC Titanium MasterCard.

Charge your Telco bill and Petrol (I am assuming you using Petronas) into OCBC TMC where you are guaranteed 5% cash back or RM32.50/month. However, the OCBC has a maximum cash back of RM50/month and therefore you still have remaining RM350 for Groceries or Dining to earn the maximum 5% cash back For general transactions the OCBC earns you 1% cash back. OCBC Annual Fee waived with 12 swipes a year and if you spend RM10K they will credit you RM50 on your anniversary.

With the Maybankard 2 Cards American Express, you earn unlimited 5X Treats Points (equivalent to approximately 2.5% cash back in terms of cash vouchers) PLUS additional 5% cash back on Saturdays and Sundays. The cash back is also capped at RM50/month. So you will need to plan your spending. i.e. do groceries on Saturday and Sunday to earn up to 7.5% in returns. Maybank has many participating merchants offering 0% Installment Plans. And Until October 2012, you can earn 5X Treat Points with Maybankard Installment Plans. Click here to my article on 5X TP for 0% Ezy Pay and in this article there is a link to participating merchants offering 0% plans. Maybankard 2 Cards are Free For Life. With 5X TP earned with the MBB2 AMEX, by spending RM2K you will earn 10,000 Treats Points to offset GST

I have many articles on Maybank Treats Points advantages over other credit cards, click here to read one of them.

For Education, you did not state the amount. And since most schools only accept Visa or Master, I guess charging it to your HSBC Amanah to earn 0.5% is not too bad. Or if you cancel your HSBC, then charge it to the MBB 2 Visa/MC and earn approximately 0.5% cash back in terms of voucher.

As for Balance Transfer, please check out Balance Transfer Thread or my article on Balance Transfer. Currently RHB offering 0% 6 months BT until end of the year and so does AEON credit cards.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 8 2012, 04:16 PM

Please follow first post format i.e. breakdown your expenses. You stated your expenses less than RM1K, which can also mean RM100. RM100/month makes no sense to go for a credit card.

As for your allowance, do you have a copy of the cash voucher payment? Maybe some banks can accept that (I don't know, just speculating).

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 12 2012, 11:36 AM

Since you are not willing to state your exact income as required in Format listed in Post#1, I will assume you have no problems meeting the income requirement for any cards.

Maybank Visa Infinite:

Since you swipe 5 times minimum RM10K, annual fee automatically waived.

Overseas transactions - you earn 5X TP which earns you about 2.5% returns and after deducting overseas admin fee, still earn 1.25%

Online Hotel Booking - 6% Discount with Agoda thru MBB website and you earn 5X TP too. Click here for MBB Promotions

Lower Installment Plan - Maybank credit cards are accepted at many merchants offering 0% Ezy Pay.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 13 2012, 12:55 AM

Annual fee RM800 and waived with RM50K spending.

Bro, I was under the impression that you swipe RM10K-30K/swipe under recurring expenses.

Switch all your daily expenses to MBB VI The card earns you 2X TP for local transactions which is way better than any CIMB Credit Card.

If you had stated local shopping instead of overseas shopping, I would then recommend Maybankard 2 Cards where the AMEX earns you 5X TP for any transaction PLUS 5% cash back (capped at RM50/month) for Saturdays and Sundays.

You will be issued a AMEX credit card with either a Visa or MasterCard.

Since you swipe minimum RM10K (as you mentioned earlier) for overseas, use the Visa or MC as the overseas Admin rate is lower than 1% compared to AMEX 2.5% PLUS 0.5%.

Use theMBB 2 Visa or MC to book with agoda thru MBB site and you are also entitled to 6% discount.

Once again, installment plan, can use the MBB 2 Visa or MC.

HSBC credit cards annual fees are waived with 12 swipes per year.

Goto post#1 and there are links to my articles on Entry Level, Platinum and Premier Credit Cards.

Bro, your above too general so I'll just recommend you get both Maybankard 2 Cards and OCBC Titanium MasterCard.


To ALL: Please post in accordance to the format below:

1. Annual Income: RM24K to RM30K or RM30K to RM36K or RM36K to RM48K or RM48 to RM60K or RM60K-RM100K or RM100K-RM200K or RM200K and above or leave blank.

2. Free Lifetime Annual Fee: A Must or No only.

3. Card required for: List all your needs. Example Petrol, Education, Cash Back/Rebate Only, Overseas Transactions, Golf, Installment Plans, Airport Lounge etc or Don't Know.

4. Existing credit cards if any: List them or Nil.

5. Preferred Bank or Considering CC from banks: List the Banks or List the card(s).

6. Others: Please be specific. Example: I only want to pay amount due with my M2U online savings account or I want cash back only and no reward points.

7. Fixed expenses per month with the card: Example RM1.25K - RM300 petrol, RM200 groceries, RM150 Dining, RM100 Telco, RM50 movies, RM200 Insurance and others RM250.

8. Non-fixed expenses but recurring in RM: Example, up to RM5K for frequent overseas trips, RM3K for new gadget every 6 months, RM200 pay pal every 2 months, RM10K school/college tuition fee every half year and etc.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 13 2012, 05:11 PM

From your fixed expenses and requirement, all can earn 5% cash back, so look into UOB One Card or Citibank Platinum Cash Back for Petrol up to RM600 because the cash back is capped at RM30. With these cards, you will still earn 5% for all you fixed expenses.

As for the recurring expenses of RM4K/year, not much. And like you mentioned, you are using MBB 2 Cards now which earns you 5X TP or 2.5% which is better that other cards in the market. Say you get another card that earns you 1%, with RM4K/year, you only earn RM40 which is less than GST RM50. Where AMEX is not welcome, just use your MBB 2 Visa or MC and earn 0.5% or RM20 (which GST has been paid).

OCBC Titanium MasterCard 5% for Petrol and Streamyx. 1% for insurance.

For movies, click here to read my article The Best Credit Cards for Movie Tickets.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 18 2012, 05:10 AM

Bro, how come your needs and your expenses different? You stated Petrol as a requirement but you spend RM0 on it?

As for your bills, that's too general. What bill? School bill, country club bill, TNB and etc?

And since you want reward points only, I guess you can consider Maybankard 2 Cards where you get more in returns with MBB Treats Points compared to you StanChart. The Maybankard 2 AMEX earns you 5X TP for any transaction and the Visa/MasterCard earns you 1X TP for Petrol too (unlike SCB Cards).

For comparison of points for redeeming cash voucher between Standard Chartered Bank versus Maybank credit cards, click here to see example in my article on Standard Chartered Business Gold & Platinum credit cards.

Maybank credit cards are accepted at many places for 0% Installment Plans. Click here to my artilce on Maybank 5X Treats Points with 0% Ezy Pay and in this article there is a link to participating merchants.

However, if you need a card for Petrol, Telephone Bills, Utility Bills and Groceries and don't mind cash back, you should seriously consider OCBC Titanium MasterCard where it earns you 5% cash back which is way better than reward points and for other transactions 1% cash back.

Once again, considering the fact your income is above RM48K, you can qualify for many cash back credit cards out there where the cash back is way better than points. Click here to my article on MACH by Hong Leong Bank where I have a table comparing cash back for different credit cards. Use it as a guide for your own expenses and see how much you can earn.



First card to get is OCBC Titanium MasterCard where you get 5% cash back for petrol, groceries and dining. It will earn you 5% cash back for Telco bill, Petrol, Groceries (and other utility bills) and 1% cash back for other transactions. So with above Fixed Expenses, you will be earning RM23.5 guaranteed (not including 5% cash rebate for Grocery which you stated as requirement and Dining under recurring expenses). The only thing is that the cash back is capped at RM50 per month.

As for Pubs - check if the pubs you frequent accept AMEX, if yes, get the Maybankard 2 Cards and earn yourself 5X TP and if you go drinking on Friday night and if pay your bill after 12am (Saturday already) and Saturday night, you can get additional 5% cash back

Click here to read more about Maybankard 2 Cards.

If the pubs you frequent DO NOT accept AMEX:

Like I mentioned earlier, the OCBC TMC earns you 1% cash back, if you have not hit the RM50/month maximum cash back, charge your drinking bill to this card. However this may be a hassle to keep track. So you got two options:

Option1 - charge it to your existing credit cards.

Option2 if your drinking bill is more than RM1K - check out MACH by Hong Leong Bank where you can get 1% cash back. If less than RM1K, don't waste your time as you will earn less than RM100/year in cash back after deducting GST.

As for movies, you have Citibank Clear Card which gets you Free 1 for 1 movie ticket on Friday and Saturday
However, if you are into 3D or IMAX, the MACH by HLB is good, click here to read my article The Best Credit Cards for Movie Tickets.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 18 2012, 05:10 AM