Previously it was valid for only a year for Classic and Gold cards but it has been extended to 3 years since earlier this year. Same apply to CIMB Bank free for life Mastercard/Petronas Mastercard.


A fat bank account will only entitle you to a free for life Platinum credit card. Some new graduates might not earn a lot in the first few years, yet they still manage to be a principal Platinum credit card holder. Thanks a lot to mom and dad

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: May 8 2008, 06:46 PM

I assume you are not a university graduate ? So Direct Access credit card is not for you. Try CIMB Bank Mastercard. It is FREE FOR LIFE with NO CONDITION. A very good card and they regularly have promotion. You should have no problem getting the CIMB Bank Classic Mastercard.

Depends on your payment history, other banks might reject your application if you have very bad payment history with your first credit card. But usually people will apply several credit cards from different banks at once.

I believe Direct Access credit card was a product of Southern Bank and it is reserved only for those with a degree or higher. Now that Bumiputra Commerce Bank and Southern Bank have merged, CIMB Bank is the bank that issuing Direct Access credit card.


Credit limit vary from cards to cards. It really depends on the bank too. Usually i hear the classic credit card holder credit limit is something like RM4k only.

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Added on May 10, 2008, 11:50 pm
May be he just wants to know what his options are and want to know more about credit card before he actually apply for one. In case you didn't notice, many other people who do not have any credit card came to this board and asked lots of question about it.


It's up to the individual. It the best if everyone treats their credit cards as charge cards.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: May 10 2008, 11:50 PM

Or just the regular CIMB Bank Mastercard.

Some banks have very distinctive design for their Platinum credit cards such as HSBC Platinum Visa. Actually, the design of Citibank and Standard Chartered Platinum Visa and Mastercard aren't bad either.

By the way, you guys might want to try applying for Standard Chartered Platinum Mastercard, requirement is much lower (i think RM60k/pa only).

This card is still available. It's from Public Bank.


I personally think all bank should set a minimum credit limit of RM20k for all Platinum credit card holder. If one does not qualify for the RM20k credit limit, don't offer him/her the Platinum credit card then. Give him/her a Gold credit card instead.


I really like the design of HSBC Platinum VISA. The design of HSBC World Mastercard (advertised as Premier Mastercard by HSBC) however, was a BIG let down.

Well, after all HSBC is by far the ONLY bank in Malaysia to offer World Mastercard.


LOL ! Anyway, nothing beats AMEX Platinum Charge Card

All the Citibank Platinum credit card holders i know are also their Citigold customers. They do not have to pay the annual fee as it is complimentary.

If i'm not mistaken, one can only get Citibank Platinum credit card by invitation nowadays.

Yes. I like MBB AMEX Gold credit card too. Use it most of the time. This card is still new to me as i just got it 2 months ago and i am a supplementary card holder. Is it true that Treatpoints have no expiry date ?


Oh, speaking of settling your credit card bill using cheque, any idea if there is any extra charge paying by cheque ? Because here in Kota Kinabalu, there is no Citibank branch. And if i pay Citibank credit card bill using money transfer, the bank will charge me RM2.00/transaction. So is there any extra charge ?


If you travel a lot, then you might want to consider HSBC Premier Mastercard (a World Mastercard) and AMEX Charge Card. Exchange rate is reasonable for both cards, or so i hear.



This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: May 22 2008, 05:24 PM

But if i'm not mistaken, HSBC doesn't charge admin fee for their Premier Mastercard for overseas spending. It is one of the perks for being their Premier Banking customers.


Yes. It is good. The difference is that if you are using MBB AMEX credit card, you can earn 2x Treatpoints for every RM1 spent. For AMEX charge card issued by MBB, you won't earn Treatpoints but will be awarded "Membership Reward Points" instead. And you will have to pay an annual fee to enroll in American Express "Membership Reward Points" program or else there will be no point for you.

No. They do NOT charge you interest. AMEX presence here in Malaysia is not big, but overall they are the most used card and biggest in the world. Yes, bigger than VISA and Mastercard. Super famous in USA and Europe.


Actually AMEX do offer 2 kinds of card. You got it right for credit card, but not the second one. They only offer credit card and charge card, not debit card.

No. I am not sure about that. It is just what i heard from somebody. It is better if you just walk up to their credit card centre in Kuala Lumpur (Petaling Street ??) to ask one of the staffs directly. Many HSBC employees keep claiming that this Premier Mastercard is a Platinum Mastercard which is so NOT true. Premier Mastercard is a World Mastercard, a level higher than platinum mastercard.

Yes. It's true. Lot's of discount as well.


Discount at Guardian, Beauty And The Beast ticket, 50% off a branded bag (i forgot which brand) and a whole lot more.

Ok. Keep us posted.

I am using MBB Maybank Gold AmEx credit card now (i'm just a supplementary card holder) and the first 2 years is annual fee free. On the third year you'll need to call Maybank card centre to ask them to waive the annual fee. According to the lady at the customer service counter at the Maybank branch my mom applied for the Gold AmEx credit card, Maybank is trying to get as many people as possible to use AmEx, be it AmEx credit card or AmEx charge card. So Maybank card centre will waive our AmEx annual fee in no time, even if we're no big spender.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Jun 1 2008, 07:31 PM

Oh ... But my mom also applied it a few months ago (in March). It took us a month to get the cards. MBB Gold AmEx credit card has a validity of only 3 years (member since 08, valid thru 4/11 stated on my MBB AmEx credit card).

By the way Tinkerbell, you have a Citibank Platinum credit card, right ? Is it a Visa Platinum or Mastercard Platinum ? Can you post a picture of it ? Of course with all the details embossed on the card censored. I really would like to know how does Citibank platinum credit card look like. So far i like HSBC Visa Platinum the most

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Jun 1 2008, 08:35 PM

Thanks guys, and zenquix for the direct link. But that is that the latest design, if i'm not mistaken. And there is no picture of Citibank Platinum Mastercard there.

Please refer to the link below :
Maybank AmEx Classic & Gold Credit Card

For Maybank AmEx Gold credit card, you'll need only RM36,000/pa of annual salary to apply while AmEx Gold charge card requires at least RM48,000/pa. Maybank gives you 2x Treatpoints for every RM1 charged to your Maybank Classic or Gold AmEx credit card. As for AmEx charge card, you'll need to pay an annual fee of RM25 if you want to accumulate points for AmEx "Membership Rewards". AmEx "Membership Rewards" points have no expiry date as long as you maintain your account. AmEx "Membership Rewards" also has nothing to do with Maybank Treatpoint.


Oh, i see. How about the VISA logo ? Is it the old one or the new stylized VISA logo ?

AmEx can also be used to pay Astro, not online though.

Public Bank credit cards all offer cash back.