Info for credit card newbies:

1. Minimum income requirement to qualify for a credit card is RM24,000 per annum (effective from 18th March 2011). You must be able to submit proof of your income.

2. Minimum age to qualify for a Principal credit card : 21 years old. Supplementary cardholders: at least 18 years old.

If you do not/cannot meet the above requirements, then you are not qualified for a credit card. You still can go get a debit card and enjoy the convenient similar to a credit card.

3. If you are a foreigner or your income is from overseas (e.g. you work in Singapore), please refer directly with the bank if you are eligible for their credit cards

4. There is no such thing as the best credit card, it depends on your needs and each card has its own benefits.

5. For those earning less than RM36K, your credit limit should be 2X your monthly income in accordance to BNM guidelines. For those earning more than RM36K, the credit limit assigned to you is entirely up to the bank. With BNM latest guidelines, banks are no longer allowed to increase a cardholder's credit limit without his/her consent.

When choosing a credit card, below are things to consider

1. Free Lifetime Annual Fee - if the card does not come with automatic annual fee waiver, e.g. 12 swipes per year, then you have to waste time requesting for annual fee waiver yearly.

2. What is the main purpose of you getting a credit card? - Petrol, Cash Back/Rebate Only, Overseas Transactions, Golf, Installment Plans, Airport Lounge etc. Do some homework and you shall benefit from using the right credit card.

3. Convenience in making payment. You are to make payment before the Due Date or else you may be imposed Late Penalty Fee and Interest Charges.


For Recommendation - please post according to format in Post#2 below.


Actions required after you get your first credit card.

1. Read the Terms and Conditions of your credit card.

2. CLICK HERE and read this thread so that you won't be conned.

3. Call Customer Service (number behind your card) and request that your credit card sms alert default value to be set to RM1. Click here to the relevant thread.

4. Click here to read my article Credit Card Fraud Calls and Banks Default Value for SMS Alert in order to reinforce into your head so that you won't be conned.


Gen-X's recommendation for those new to credit cards and looking for cards to replace the once upon a time wonderful Maybankard 2 Cards AMEX:


Annual Income RM24K/year to RM30K/year.


UOB One Card:

Pros - good for Petrol as it earns you 2% and 5% cash back for all stations on weekdays and weekends respectively. However the cash back is capped at RM15/month, i.e. up to RM300 petrol. And if you pump at BHP, you get to earn SMART$ too PLUS BHP points.

Cons - No auto annual fee waiver (currently as of July 2015, first two years annual fee waiver). UOB revises the T&C of their credit cards very frequent.


CIMB Cash Rebate MasterCard:

Pros - FREE FOR LIFE, no whatsoever conditions. 5% cash back for Online Spending and 2% cash back for Petrol, Groceries and Utilities.

Cons - 0.2% cash back for other type of spending.


Hong Leong Bank WISE Gold Visa:

Hong Leong Bank Wise Platinum Visa:

Pros - It earns you up to 10% cash back for Petrol, Groceries, Utilities and other categories.

Cons - The 10% cash back is only limited to 2 categories PLUS you must swipe a least 10 times where each swipe shall not be less than RM50. NO annual fee waiver.


Hong Leong Bank Essential Visa:
• 0.6% unlimited cash back on insurance transactions Or Other retail transactions, NO CB for Petrol transaction
• 0.6% cash back on RM5,000 spend (tier 1)
• 1% unlimited cash back on subsequent spend (tier 2)
News_and_Updates.pdf

Pros - UNLIMITED 1% cash back. Annual fee auto waived with just 12 swipes.


Minimum Annual Income RM30K/year.

Maybank Islamic MasterCard Ikhwan - for those who need a cash back credit card for Petrol and Groceries:

Pros - FREE FOR LIFE, no conditions whatsoever. You will earn 5% cash back for Petrol and Groceries every Friday and Saturday.

Cons - Supplementary cards are not entitled to the 5% cash back for Petrol and Groceries.

Click here to read my review of the Maybank Islamic MasterCard Ikhwan Gold and Platinum.


Maybankard 2 Cards -This is a combo package where you are issued an American Express and you can decide to partner it with either a Visa or MasterCard:

Pros - FREE FOR LIFE, no conditions whatsoever. The MBB 2 AMEX earns you 5X Treats Points everyday for any transactions which is like approximately 1.25% cash back when redeeming for cash vouchers. You will get additional 5% cash back for Dining only (effective 1st August 2015) with the MBB 2 AMEX on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cons - The MBB 2 Visa or MasterCard only earns you 1X Treats Points.


Minimum Annual Income RM60K/year.

Hong Leong Bank Wise Platinum Visa:

Pros - It earns you up to 10% cash back for Petrol, Groceries, Utilities and other categories.

Cons - The 10% cash back is only limited to 2 categories PLUS you must swipe a least 10 times where each swipe shall not be less than RM50. NO annual fee waiver.


Minimum Annual Income RM60K/year.

SCB Cash Back Gold:
Enjoy up to 5% CB per month on Spending, excluded Petrol & Insurance Transactions.
https://www.sc.com/my/credit-cards/goldcard/gold-card.html


Premier Credit Cards - Annual Income RM100K/year and above.

If you are looking for a card that gives you 5% cash back for Petrol and Groceries PLUS FREE 5X entries to Plaza Premium Lounges nationwide without any conditions, click here to read my review of the Maybank Visa Signature.

If you want 6% cash back for Dining, Groceries and Online Transactions, click here to read my review of the Public Bank Visa Signature. The annual fee is auto waived with just 12 swipes! It will soon also gives you 3X FREE entries to Plaza Premium Lounges nationwide without any conditions.

Above recommendations were extracted from my post at my man blog, for more info on other credit or debit cards that may be of use to you, please click here to my Recommendation of Credit Cards at my main blog.

If you are looking for Premier Credit Cards with good Enrich Miles and Krisflyer redemption - click here to Enrich Miles Thread and click here to my Comprehensive Review of The Best Credit Cards for Redeeming Frequent Flyer Miles where I have a summary comparing more than 20 credit cards.

If you are looking for a credit card for free access to KLIA & KLIA2 Plaza Premium airport lounge and airport lounges worldwide click here to that thread.

If you are looking for 0% Balance Transfer, click here to BT Thread. And if you are new to Balance Transfer, please click here to read my article Balance Transfer Plans - Facts You Need To Know before signing up for one.

If you are looking for cards that offers 0% installment plans, Maybank credit cards are accepted at many merchants where you can opt for Ezy Pay starting from 6 months and up to 36 months. However, once again, if you don't have savings please do not sign up for 0% Installment Plans because you will be in debt. And I advise you to go for shorter period. Click here to read my article 0% Installment Plans - It IS A Trap.

If you only pump petrol at Petronas, go to CIMB and Maybank websites and check out their Petronas credit cards.

Last but not least - the only thing that is of importance regarding credit cards is - DO NOT do apply for a credit card if you have no cash or savings to pay for your transactions. Credit card interest rate is very high and many go bankrupt because they have no discipline in controlling their spending. Always settle credit card bills in full monthly, never say just once, if you don't have money today in the bank to pay your credit card bills, what makes you think you will have enough money tomorrow to pay your credit card bills? DON"T be a slave to the banks.

This post has been edited by hye: Jan 3 2017, 11:30 PM

Please use the template provided as shown below and then only post so that the folks here would be are able to recommend you a credit card based on your needs and qualifications
Note : Members are not obliged to reply you if the format is not followed. Do note that members replies/contributions are voluntary.


1. Annual Income: RM24K to RM30K or RM30K to RM36K or RM36K to RM60K or RM60K to RM100K or RM100K to RM150K or RM180K 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, AirMiles, Overseas Transactions, Free LCCT Lounge Access , Golf, etc or Don't Know.

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

5. Interested in CC from: Citibank - Premier Miles

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

By filling up the above, then others can make suggestion based on your needs. Actually, if you list out item 3, you yourself would most probably have answered your question above.

This post has been edited by hye: Jan 2 2017, 10:06 PM

life27

If you are seeking help, appreciate by following the proper format to ask questions. The questions are to guide the members here to advise you. Same goes to everyone else who comes here asking for help. Follow the format and eventually someone will offer assistance - lots of kind soul here.

The folks here are offering voluntary assistance to you. Snapping @ them and could not follow the format isn't cutting it right ?

This post has been edited by hye: Sep 21 2018, 11:55 PM

Have a consideration whether you want to be rewarded with points (TreatPoints) or cash back. Have a deep thought of your spending patterns as well - that will help to answer what sort of rewards that excites you at the end of the day. Not all of these cards stated below are free, especially the Premier cards.

MBB
If you are interested in Lounge Access (Flight related benefits) / Golf then the MBB VI or World will interest you. This card is TreatPoints centric.
Alternatively to consider Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express.

If you are keen towards cash back / rebates then Signature, FCB, Petronas, MBB2Plat. These cards are cash back centric.

Anyone here can chip in if they have another thought at my suggestions.

This post has been edited by hye: Oct 20 2021, 06:06 PM

Not sure what adele123 meant by Samsung Pay limitation.
If you are thinking of matching your cc inventory with Samsung Pay then you need to check what cashback card is supported and not before you get the card.
And Samsung pay is (if I'm not mistaken) using your mobile to pay for purchases - doesn't support online payment. So that answer your question whether portals support Samsung Pay or not.

If there are other members who knows whether cashbacks are affected or not when using Samsung Pay (my guess is no issues with cashbacks) - do feel free to share.

This post has been edited by hye: Feb 28 2023, 09:05 PM

Member, please use the designated template when wanting to seek credit card recommendations in this thread.
I have clearly mentioned that members here do not have the liberty to assist you if you do not comply to the format.