When choosing a credit card, we want one that will reward us for using it. This includes a huge sign-up bonus and generous rewards. However, another aspect of a credit card is how secure and safe it is to use. If your credit card falls into the wrong hands, are you protected from unauthorized transactions? Each credit card’s fraud policy is different. Here is our recommended list of credit cards with the best rewards and security.
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Standard Chartered Unlimited Credit Card
The Standard Chartered Unlimited Credit Card is a fuss-free cash back credit card. You earn 1.5% cash back on almost all your purchases. Equally as important, there is no cash back cap per month. Furthermore, there is no minimum spending requirement. The current welcome offer is S$100 cash back or S$150 Prime Now Credits. This card also conveniently doubles as an EZ-Link card. The annual fee is S$192.60, which is waived for the first two years.
The Standard Chartered Unlimited Credit Card comes with a CardSafe Guarantee. This means that you can enjoy your card and comfortably shop online because you will not be liable for any unauthorized online transactions. You do not need to register for this benefit, nor is there a fee to be covered. Additionally, this credit card comes with a transaction alert, which notifies you when a transaction exceeding a pre-defined value threshold, such as S$500, is charged to your credit card. This is a fraud preventative measure to protect your account and give you full control. This card is ideal if you are an affluent spender.
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card
The American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card is renowned as a top travel card for promotions. You can earn up to 20,000 KrisFlyer miles if you spend S$6,000 within the first 5 months, 1,500 KrisFlyer miles for each approved supplementary cards, and S$150 cash back to use with Singapore Airlines when you spend S$12,000. The card itself earns 1.1 KrisFlyer miles for S$1 general spending, 2 miles with Singapore Airlines brands, and 3.1 miles on Grab rides. The annual fee is $176.55, which is waived for the first year.
The American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card offers a Complete Fraud Protection Guarantee. This means that American Express will not hold you responsible for any unauthorized charges on your credit card. Furthermore, they have an emergency card replacement service that replaces your card within one business day, from virtually anywhere in the world! This card is ideal if you want an easy to use miles card and fly mostly on Singapore Airline’s various brands.
Citibank Cash Back Visa Card
The Citibank Cash Back Visa Card offers one of the highest cashback rates for four major categories. This multipurpose card has a minimum monthly spend of S$888. However, this is easy to rack up with 8% cash back on dining, Grab rides, groceries, and petrol. Cardholders earn 0.25% cash back on all other retail spending. This card also comes with a convenient way to redeem your cash back. Once you accumulate S$50 or more, it will automatically be credited to your statement in multiples of S$10. Additionally, your cash back never expires. The annual fee is S$192.60, which is waived for the first year.
The Citibank Cash Back Visa Card keeps your account secure. Instead of waiting for paper statements, you can receive your statement sooner and directly into your email inbox. Moreover, with online banking, you can immediately see any suspicious charges that may appear. What’s even more immediate are the Citi Alerts. These are instant SMS and email alerts when there are any transactions on your accounts or credit cards. By monitoring your account closely, you can easily find any fraudulent transactions and report it quickly. This card is ideal if most of your spending falls into at least one of the four major categories.
UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card
The UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card is recognized as one of the best travel credit cards because of its generous earn rate. Cardholders earn 1.4 miles per S$1 spent locally, 2.4 miles overseas, 6 miles with major airlines and hotels, and up to 10 miles with select travel booking sites. The current welcome offer is S$100 cash credit just for applying. The annual fee is S$256.80, which is waived for the first year.
The UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card comes with standard security. As a security measure, they require that you activate your card before using it. This is to prevent unauthorized use of your card, should it get lost or intercepted in the mail. They also have a required activation for overseas card use. Furthermore, if your card is ever lost or stolen, UOB has excellent customer service to assist you in every way possible. This card is ideal for affluent spenders who want to rapidly accrue miles but prefer a low annual fee that can be waived.
HSBC Visa Infinite Card
The HSBC Visa Infinite Card offers one of the highest welcome bonus miles and exclusive travel perks. This luxurious card comes with limousine transfers, expedited immigration clearance at your destination, unlimited access to over 1000 VIP airport lounges worldwide, complimentary travel insurance, and personalized concierge service. The current welcome gift is 40,000 air miles redeemable with over 40 airlines. As for the card itself, you can earn up to 2.25 miles for every S$1 spent.
HSBC is known as the world’s local bank and is expansive enough that it has banking services to help you through financial difficulty, provide temporary relief from repayments, and offer an in house Debt Relief Program (DRP). This is a different type of security and peace of mind when having a credit card. On the other hand, HSBC comes with the standard ability to report a lost or stolen card as well as dispute a transaction. Customer service offers will block your card immediately and issue you a replacement card, even from overseas. This card is ideal for business executives who travel often for work or leisure, as there is an annual income requirement and a hefty annual fee of S$650.
Final Thoughts
Popular credit cards in Singapore appeal to different types of spenders. However, each card comes with its own set of perks, as well as, annual fees. Moreover, when taking into account a credit card’s security as well, this may change your decision. How easy it is to contact your card issuer, report a stolen card, and dispute fraudulent transactions is essential. Find a card that pays you back and gives you peace of mind.
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