Bro, SCB 1st year annual fee waived. Did you read my article on SCB Biz? It earns you cash back plus point whereas the normal does not earn you cash back. And if you sign up this month, not only will you get cash back BUT you get 5% cash back for Petrol for limited time. So worth it or not up to you if you want the FREE money and try out SCB You should go check out SCB thread, people there applying all types of SCB cards to get FREE Money even tho the T&C says only applicable to one card.

Yah, you are right, if can use AMEX, better use it and earn 5XTP. Even without the 5% cash back on weekends, it's the best card for local spending, that is if the merchant accepts AMEX.

Talking about privileges, what you want? For Movie Tickets and Coffee Bean Citibank Clear Card is good. If you want KLIA Plaza Premium Lounge, then get the SCB Platinum instead of SCB Biz cards. For Dining Privileges click here.

Bro, I did not compare SCB Biz to non Biz in my article but expect you to go read your self at SCB site on the non Biz

And thanks Bro, I missed the Plaza Premium Lounge thingy for Biz card

haha, it is Citibank lah. Citibank Clear Card is not a cash back card and as such does not meet your requirement. Now, your movie RM50 per month is for one person or 2 persons? If for 2 person, and if you go to the movies on Friday only, then the Citibank Clear Card is good. Click here to read my article The Best Credit Cards for Movie Tickets.

Based on your current income, looks like for cash back, your option is UOB One Classic Card where it at least earns you 5% for your Petrol and Movie Tickets, 2% for Telco and the rest 0.3%

For installment plans, Maybank credit cards are accepted at many merchants, however, since last year, Maybank increased the annual income for their card to RM30K.year. So once your income reach this level, go apply for Maybankard 2 Cards.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Oct 2 2012, 08:36 AM

Wah RM400 per month for games

For your case, get OCBC Titanium MasterCard and earn 5% cash back for your petrol, Internet Bills and Dining. Insurance you will get 1% cash back and same for online transactions.


That's a no brainer question

you can always check now it your insurance company accept AMEX. Some AIA branches do accept AMEX and so does Etiqa.

As for the AmBank card, you answered your own question.

Citibank does not offer auto annual fee waiver mechanism for their credit cards.

Why your friend recommended you Citibank? Ask him to read the following articles and I bet he will fast fast go get OCBC TMC

Citibank Platinum Cash Back - You do get 5% cash back for Petrol but general transactions you only get miserable 0.3%

Then ask him to compare it with OCBC Titanium MasterCard where one earns 5% for Petrol, Telco, Utility Bills, Dining and Groceries and other transactions 1% cash back.

OCBC TMC beats the heck out of Citibank Platinum Cash Back for all categories (even for petrol because Citibank PCB got a RM30 cash back cap). Only thing is that OCBC TMC cash back is capped at RM50 per month.

Please click here to my article MACH by Hong Leong Bank where I have a table of comparison between OCBC Titanium MasterCard versus Citibank Platinum Cash Back vs Maybankard 2 AMEX vs. MACH vs UOB One Card and you and your friend can observe that OCBC TMC is far superior than Citibank in terms of cash back one can earn.

Get the Citibank Cash Back Platinum only if you can use up the OCBC TMC RM50 monthly allocation. But if that is the case, better get the FREE For Life Maybankard 2 Cards

However, if you want Free Movie Ticket at TGV and 20% discount at Coffee Bean until end of this year, then yes Citibank cards are good.

Dining Promotions with My Credit Cards

The Best Credit Cards for Movie Tickets

Come to think of it, the RM400 for your online transactions, do you pay with PayPal too? If yes, the Maybankard 2 Card AMEX is good as you can also earn 5% cash back here.... need some planning and in this department, i.e. how to get 5% cash back with Pay Pal deposits, fruitie is the expert.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Oct 3 2012, 08:26 AM

Yes there are other entry level cash back credit cards but they will earn you less since Petrol is your major expenses.

For example, Mach by Hong Leong Bank is an entry level card where minimum income required is RM24K/month. But for petrol it only earns you 0.2%. However if you opt for the Dining option from the start, you can earn 5% cash back but you only spend RM100 for it. Anyway, in my MACH article I have a comparison table, use it as a guide to see how much you can earn with the UOB One Card versus Mach.

Also click here to my article Entry Level Credit Card - Income Less Than RM30K per year to see other cards you are eligible for.

Or maybe, go apply for Standard Chartered Bank Business Gold credit card where for a limited time it earns you 5% cash back for petrol. And best fo all, it gives you cash back (appy online for more). And when the petrol promo expires, you apply for the UOB One Card and then later when you earn more, go apply for OCBC Titanium. The SCB annual fee is waived for 2 years if you had read previous post just before your earlier post.

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

If your income is near RM36K/yr, go and try apply for the OCBC Titanium MasterCard where you can earn 5% cash back for your Petrol and Dining everyday. For the insurance you earn 1% cash back.

However, if your income is in the lower RM30K/yr range, apply for Maybankard 2 Cards where the AMEX earns you 5X Treats Points PLUS 5% cash back on Saturdays and Sundays for all transactions including petrol. In other words, you can earn more from Maybankard 2 AMEX compared to OCBC Titnium MasterCard. So it is extremely important to know if the petrol station(s) and places you dine accept AMEX. The Maybankard 2 Cards also comes with either a Visa or MasterCard which is good for overseas transactions since MBB cards have the lowest conversion fee.

Other options are UOB One Card which earns you 5% for petrol for for general transactions it only earns you 0.3% cash back.

Anyway, click here to my article The Best Credit Cards for Petrol 2012 and from there I have links to my reviews on the Maybankard 2 Cards and OCBC Titanium MasterCard.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Oct 9 2012, 10:13 AM

What is houseware? I think for your case OCBC Titanium MasterCard is good for you because it earns you 5% cash back for Petrol, TNB, Telekom, Astro, Syabas Bills and Dining & Groceries too. However, if these amount add up to RM1K, you will need another card as the monthly cash back is capped at RM50.

So the next card to consider is Maybankard 2 Cards where the AMEX earns you 5X Treat Points and 5% cash back on weekends.

If you household expenses add up to more than RM1K, you should get both OCBC TMC and MBB 2 Cards and with proper planning you can earn back more than RM600 a year.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Oct 9 2012, 10:20 AM

If you are looking at installment plans, i.e. 6, 12 and 24 months equal repayments, Maybank credit cards are accepted at many merchant for these kind of plans.

Most of us who has the Maybankard 2 Cards and OCBC Titanium and other credit cards keep the Visa or MasterCard in the drawer. The Maybankard 2 Cards is great, as Human Nature mentioned, pay only a single GST for two credit cards. The AMEX earns you 5X TP and 5% cash back and the Visa or MasterCard is good for the installment plans, overseas usage and where AMEX card is not welcomed.

Not considering the discount you can get from your current credit cards at selected merchants, if purely for cash back, you can consider cancelling all of them, hahaha

From your expenses

RM300 petrol; dining RM1000; groceries RM500; Maint fee, TNB, phone auto-debit: RM400 TOTAL RM2,200 go get both the OCBC Titanium MasterCard and Maybankard 2 Cards.

upgrade your Alliance Gold to Plat and earn more cash back at places that do not accept AMEX like Insurance.

Actually, those are the only three cards you really need as far as cash back and rewards are concerned. And to prove my point, read my following articles:

OCBC Titanium MasterCard

Maybankard 2 Cards

FREE Money from Maybankard and Bonus Link

And for comparison:

See the table comparing Citibank Cash Back Platinum versus Maybankard 2 AMEX and OCBC Titanium MasterCard

Click here to see RHB Credit Card versus Maybankard 2 AMEX

Click here to see Standard Chartered Bank Business versus Maybankard 2 AMEX.

Click here to read my article Earn Pocket Money with Credit Cards.

If the above articles (and links to more of my articles) should give you an idea how you can earn more RM1,200 with the Maybankard 2 AMEX and OCBC Titanium MasterCard

Having said that, both the OCBC TMC and MBB 2 Cards do not grant you free access to KLIA Plaza Premium Lounge like you Citibank Plat and SCB Plat. As for your current credit cards, if you are getting rewarded for using them at selected merchants, keep them if you earn more than RM50/year (at least can cover GST), e.g. Citibank at Coffee Bean and TGV Movie Tickets and RHB Plat at Selected Restaurants & FREE vouchers on Friday.

Bro, unfortunately Maybank credit cards annual income requirement starts from RM30K.

For CIMB, I don't think they offer cash back cards for classic or gold, and if they do, it would be competitive.

For RHB, click here to read my review of RHB Credit Cards and maybe if you really want a RHB credit card, you can consider their Travel Money card.

I would recommend you UOB One Card based on your sending pattern. Below shows you how much cash back you can earn with the UOB One Card.

Petrol RM350 x 5% = RM17.50
Groceries RM150 x 2% = RM3
Dining RM100x 0.3% - RM0.30
Telco RM150 x 2% = RM3
Movies RM50 x 5% = RM2.50

Total cash back = RM26.30 or RM315.60/yr less RM50 GST = RM265.60/year which is not too bad.

And if you pump petrol at BHP you can eaqrn another 2% SMART$ Cash and at GSC 5% SMART$ Cash.

You can also look into MACH by hong Leong Bank which you do qualify; but since Petrol is your main expenses, the MACH may not be useful to you unless you start to eat out more often.

Once your income touch RM30K/yr go look into Maybankard 2 Cards and at RM36K/yr go for OCBC Titanium MasterCArd.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Oct 18 2012, 01:59 PM

Maybankard is the best.

UOB does have installment plan but it is not 0%

And with your current income, best you save money instead of purchasing stuff with installment plan. Click here to read my article, 0% Installment Plan Is A Trap.

If you do pump at Petrol Station that accept AMEX (e.g. Shell or Esso), do look into getting the Free For Life Maybankard 2 Cards where the AMEX earns you 5X Treats Points everyday and EXTRA 5% cash back for any transactions on Saturday and Sunday.

Also check if the hospital your wife you going to deliver your child accept AMEX or not. If no, still got the MBB2 Visa or MasterCard except that you only earn 1X TP

However, if you cannot pump petrol on weekends or or pump at Petornas (where most do not accept AMEX), then consider getting the OCBC Titanium MasterCard which earns you 5% cash back everyday for Petrol, Dining, Telco Bills (please click here and read OCBC Thread) where you may not get 5% if you pay at Maxis Centre), Utility Bills and for Groceries.

And FYI- you cannot use credit card to pay your housing loan.

You need 3 months payslips usually.

And since you did not post item 7, i.e. your spending pattern, can't really give you a good recommendation since I cannot get an idea on the returns you may get. For general cases, you can get some ideas from my articles below:

The Best Credit Card for Petrol 2012

Click here to read my article Dining Promotions with My Credit Cards.

Maybank credit cards are good for overseas transactions whereas the card you want from HSBC, Citi and SCB would have higher overseas admin fee. Click here to CC Foreign Exchange Thread to learn more.

And since you are new to credit card, I suggest you check out my series of articles under my Credit Card Tutorial Page.

And since you want a Standard Chartered Bank credit card, go to their website and check on their latest promo and you may earn FREE cash.


If you like your Maybankard 2 AMEX which earns you 5X TP everyday, then you will also like Maybankard Visa Infinite. In my opinion, if you not into Enrich Points, the MBB VI is one of the best credit card for overseas because we earn 5X Treats Points with it

Click here to read my review of the Maybank Visa Infinite. So far, for my overseas transactions, after I consider the 5X TP (equivalent to 2.5% returns), I am actually paying less than Forex spot rate

The Free For Life Maybankard 2 Cards. Reason being many merchants accept Maybank Visa or MasterCard for 6, 12 and 24 months 0% Installment Plans. But let me warn you, 0% Installment Plans are a traps to make you spend beyond your means. Click here to read my article - 0% Installemnt Plan with Credit Card IS A Trap.

If you can pay in full and the merchant accepts AMEX, the Maybankard 2 AMEX will earn you 5X Treats Points everyday and EXTRA 5% cash back on Saturday and Sunday.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Nov 7 2012, 01:13 PM

I don't think there are any credit card that offers Free Movie ticket for GSC Signature unless there is a limited time promotion (e.g. Previous offers by AMEX Plat and OCBC).

However, you can get cash back up to 20% with the revamped RHB EVO Visa or MasterCard. To learn more on card for movie tickets, check out my article below:

Click here to read my article - The Best Credit Cards ofr Movie Tickets.

Bro, looking for a card to replace you SCB Biz so fast

If you had read Petrol Thread, MBB Petronas Visa until Feb 2013 earns the card holder minimum 5X TP everyday which is really good.

However, above is for limited time, as for unlimited straight cash back - HLB Essential with 1% cash back comes to mind.

If you spend between RM2K to RM5K per month, Alliance Plat is really good and got Unlimited entries to KLIA PPL with it.

Anyway, click here to read my previous article at My Credit Cards titled Earn Pocket Money with Your Credit Cards where I gave different scenarios for different spending pattern.

Bro, MBf cards does not interest me and therefore I have never done any article on them. Just put it this way, you hardly find anyone mentioing MBf cards here except for a few of them who has MBf Premier cards.

For your case OCBC TMC best but you income slightly below the required amount. You can try apply for it OR maybe wait till next year and see if you got increment

The FREE For Life MBB 2 Cards may also be good IF the petrol station you pump with accept AMEX. MBB Treats Points are everygreen.

Click here to my article on MACH by HLB. I am not asking you to get the MACH but refer to the table I have prepared comparing the cash back you can earn from various cards. And also see if the UOB One Card is worth your time.

For overseas transactions including online, the Maybankard MasterCard will give you the lowest conversion rate. Also check out Maybankard 2 Cards thread - Post#2 jchong's table and this thread on Overseas Conversion.


hahaha, the reason why I have so many blogs is explained here - hahaha New Blog Again and here - Notice

The card to get is OCBC Titanium MasterCard where you can get 5% cash back for Groceries, Telco bills, Petrol, Dining, Electricity Bill, Water Bill and ASTRO. You will get 1% cash back for insurance.

Also read my reply below and check out my Credit Card Tutorial Page.


I guess you should get both the OCBC Titanium MasterCard and Maybankard 2 Cards - American Express with Visa or MasterCard and with some planning, you will get maximum return. Check out the link below to MACH by HLB where in the article I have prepared a table comparing various credit cards cash back from different spending categories (please note for your case I am not recommending MACH by HLB but asking you to refer to the comparison table).

The Maybankard 2 Cards Amex or Visa or MasterCard are accepted at many places for 0% Installment Plan. And you can even use the MBB2 AMEX to pay for Unifi and Telekom bills. For overseas transactions including online, the Maybankard MasterCard will give you the lowest conversion rate. Also check out Maybankard 2 Cards Thread.

and since you are new to credit cards, I also recommend you check out my Credit Card Tutorial Page where I have a series of articles which may benefit you.


What you stated is too general. If you do not state your spending pattern amount, what is there to recommend?

Having said above, I guess you should go get the OCBC Titanium MasterCard where you can earn 5% cash back for Petrol, dining and groceries. Please note, csah back cap at RM50 per month i.e. for 5% category, that's RM1K spending per month.

If you want 0% Installment Plans, go with Maybank credit cards.


see below. i guess UOB One Card may be good for you.

Since MBB credit cards minimum income starts at RM30K/yr or else the Maybankard 2 Cards looks good for your case.

So I guess you can go with UOB One Card Classic where the 1st year annual fee will be waived and earn 5% cash back for your Petrol usage.

OR

maybe the MACH by hong Leong Bank ffering 5% cash back for Dining will benefit you too.

Let's see, what is the cash back you can get with your spending pattern:

Option 1 - UOB One Card

UOB 5% petrol you will get RM12.50/month or RM150/year
Rest Dining, Utility, Entertainment and Insurance RM930/month x 0.3% = RM2.79/month or RM33.48


Option 2 - MACH by HLB go with Trendsetter Package

Dining 5% RM570 = RM28.50/month or RM342/year. Good enough.

And best of all, the trendsetter package, you'll get 1% cash back for Uniglo, Cotton On, etc and Air Asia

Conclusion - go apply UOB One Card for petrol and MACH by HLB for Dining

You want 2 or 3 CC with RM100K CL based on RM300K income Even if you deposit RM10M in FD, some banks won't even give you RM100K CL if you don't have a good credit history.

Option 1 - asked your China HSBC RM to get the ball rolling so that all the necessary documentation are ready when you get back to Malaysia to open your HSBC Premier Account here and be issued their World MasterCard.

Option 2 - banks previously do issue credit cards when you sign up for housing loan, but with BNM latest guideline, I am not sure if they still do. Having said that, certain banks do award their customer Premier or Priority Banking Status with reasonable amount of housing loan and as such you can get a credit card issued with the PB status. But one does not sign up for a housing loan for credit card but which product can offer him/her the most savings from lower interest rates.

You may want to read my article titled Premier Priority Privilege Banking Accounts where I mentioned what cards are issue with PB status.

Tip - go talk to Maybank Private Banking Centre when you are back here. If you can deposit more than RM500K in FD or if you get a housing loan more than RM1M, check if they are willing to issue you the Maybankard 2 Cards AND Maybank Visa Infinite which I reckoned are one of the best credit cards for local and overseas transactions respectively.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Nov 25 2012, 10:50 PM

With RM40K income and wanting to charge RM40K to RM50K per month, you may need to go to the bank and deposit cash frequently to free up your credit limit.

The card that comes to my mind is Hong Leong Bank Essential credit card which has 1% unlimited cash back. Therefore better than your HSBC Amanah 0.5%.

As most insurance agents would know, the best is to use Alliance Bank Platinum Credit Card for up to RM5K per month and earn cash back of RM68/month and points too. However, you may not be able to do e-payment with Alliance cards.

So I guess you can consider both the above mentioned card and do some planning to maximize your return.

Having said that, you may want to consider Hong Leong Bank Fortune Visa Cash Back Card too. However, you need to do a lot of planning and keep track of your transactions so that you can earn the bonus RM1,080 to maximize your return.

Note: If you want to use e-payment with a particular CC to pay insurance premiums to a certain insurance company, you have to go check yourself if it is possible.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Nov 26 2012, 01:55 AM