If I already have a monthly GIRO arrangement with IRAS, is there any point signing up for a payment facility with my HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card?

If you are like me an HSBC Premier client and also a frequent traveller that can maximize the number of priority pass visits, limo and meet-and-assist services as well as your supplementary cardholders too, then this is the card for you. The reduced general mile earn rate is worth the trade-off for the unlimited priority pass memberships, as well as the high number of limo and meet-and-assist services that you can use.

I find this card to be a good miles-buying opportunity for 40,000 miles at S$488 for HSBC Premier Clients. The unlimited priority pass for both the principal and supplementary cardholder(s) makes this card worth the fee alone but provided of course that there are supplementary cardholders to share the benefits with and that it will be heavily utilized.

On my last overseas trip I discovered that the departure airport limo service offered by the card is a major plus point while the meet-and-assist can be helpful at overly crowded airports without Fast-Track/ABTC/Diplomatic lines. HSBC Premier Clients get to receive four of each benefit upon registration and an additional one of each service for every block of SGD 2,000 spent in a month, all up to 24 a year. Although the services can only be utilized by the principal cardholder only. This card is overshadowed by its poor mile earn rate of 1.0 mpd for local spend and 2.0 mpd for overseas spend, that is superseded by non-fee cards such as the PrviMiles.

To me the HSBC cards have only one good benefit in which they are able to purchase discounted Golden Village movie tickets at a rate that is far better than any other bank's credit cards or prevailing rebates. I find that this is the only plus point of this HSBC credit card and otherwise, this card is a hit and run for me and you can sign up for only its sign up gift and also for discounted Golden Village tickets.

This card offers the most of travel and lifestyle privileges extended to you with personalised assistance from their dedicated concierge service, who can actually be called upon anytime of the day and from wherever one may be. Whether it's making flight or hotel bookings, reserving spa appointments, or recommending dining options, they are always delighted to be at your service.

For me nothing beats the 5% year-round cash rebates on dining, groceries, petrol and transport (that is taxis, ride hailing, trains and buses inclusive), locally and overseas when you spend minimum S$600 per month. And the cash rebate is capped at S$150 per month. So if you don’t drive, not to worry as you can enjoy 5% cash rebate for your transportation needs, be it a taxi ride, a booking made via ride hailing apps, or trains/buses.

Unfortunately, the HSBC advance card is not an unlimited cashback card as they have a cap on the cashback per month, even for advance banking clients. Furthermore, if you are not an advance banking client, you would not get subsequent card fee waiver if you do not get to spend at least $12,000 in a year.

I fancy the OCBC 365 credit because it has cash rebate of $80, but only after you full fill their criteria. They require a minimum spending of $800 per month which in turn earns interest from different spending. This card suits me just fine being that I have broad spending habit and in the process it gives me $80 cash rebates every month. My only dislike is the rebate on the general spending which is 0.3%.

The welcome bonus with this card is quite mouth-watering. Simply spend S$1,500 in the first 3 months to receive 24,000 Membership Rewards points. That you will find to be enough points to redeem for S$110 cash credit. Plus you can see the points add up with 100% bonus points on all spend in your first 3 months of Card Membership. I have been using this card now for 6 months and am yet to find reasons to complain.

The AMEX Express Singapore Airlines Solitaire PPS Credit Card gives a First Year Fee Waiver for you to enjoy and also for your supplementary card members. In addition there are no transfer fees and all the KrisFlyer miles you can earn are directly transferred automatically to your KrisFlyer account with no transfer fee. I would recommend this card for these few reasons which could really make the difference.

Even as the OCBC Plus! Visa is not a cashback card, thus there is no cap, or "maximum" cash back, you get to still earn rebates in the form of cash rebates and LinkPoints by shopping at NTUC. However do note that there is a minimum spend of $500 in places outside NTUC before the full range of rebates and LinkPoints can be unlocked.