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DBS Live Fresh Card: Cashback, Fees and Alternatives
The DBS Live Fresh Card is a Visa cashback card that pays up to 6% cashback on shopping and transport with a minimum $800 eligible spend in a calendar month. Here's how its cashback works, what it costs, how the DBS Live Fresh Student Card differs, and which DBS cards to consider instead.
Disclaimer: DBS stopped accepting new applications for the main DBS Live Fresh Card from 7 September 2026. Existing cardholders keep earning cashback as usual, and the Student Card is still open to eligible students.
DBS Live Fresh Card Overview: At a Glance
Here are the card's key features and requirements:
Feature | Details |
Cashback | 6% cashback on shopping and transport spend (min. $800 spend per calendar month) 0.3% on all other eligible spend, with no minimum spend |
Monthly cashback cap | $50 on shopping and $20 on transport No cap on 0.3% base cashback |
Overseas spend | 3.25% FX fee, offset by 3.25% cashback on in-store spend in selected Asian currencies (capped at $50 a month) |
Annual fee | $196.20 for the principal card (1st year waived) |
Mobile wallets | Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay |
Availability | Closed to new applicants from 7 September 2026 |
Pros and Cons of DBS Live Fresh Card
Here are the card's main strengths and trade-offs:
Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
6% cashback on shopping and transport, including online marketplaces, ride-hailing and public transport | Requires $800 spend every calendar month to unlock 6% cashback |
3.25% cashback on in-store spend in 15 Asian currencies (e.g. MYR, JPY, THB) offsets the 3.25% FX fee, capped at $50 a month | Bonus cashback caps of $50 (shopping) and $20 (transport) restrict returns on heavy spending |
0.3% base cashback with no cap and no minimum spend | Dining, groceries, food delivery and streaming earn only 0.3% |
Cashback is credited automatically and offsets your bill | Not open to new applicants (as of 7 Sep 2026) |
How DBS Live Fresh Card Cashback Works
You need to charge at least $800 in a calendar month (not statement month) to the card to unlock bonus cashback:
Spend category | Cashback (min. $800 spend) | Cashback (below $800 spend) | Monthly cap |
Shopping | 6% | 0.3% | $50 bonus |
Transport | 6% | 0.3% | $20 bonus |
All other eligible spend | 0.3% | 0.3% | No cap |
The 6% is made up of 0.3% base cashback + 5.7% bonus cashback. Once you hit a category cap, further spend in that category still earns 0.3%. DBS credits cashback to your card account by the end of the following calendar month, and it automatically offsets part of your bill.
Eligible spend categories
DBS decides what counts based on each merchant's merchant category code (MCC), which the merchant and its bank set. A transaction that feels like "shopping" won't earn 6% if its MCC isn't on DBS's list.
- Shopping: In-store and online purchases in Singapore or overseas at apparel, department store, electronics and computer, home furnishing and appliance, personal services (such as beauty salons and spas), specialty retail, and watch and jewellery merchants, plus online marketplaces
- Transport: Land transport in Singapore or overseas, covering public transport, taxis and ride-hailing
❌ Dining, groceries, food delivery, petrol and streaming subscriptions are not bonus categories, so they earn only 0.3%.
DBS merchant category code (MCC) exclusions
Excluded transactions earn no cashback. DBS's exclusions for Live Fresh include:
- Utility bills, insurance premiums, hospital bills and education fees
- Government payments, including taxes, fines and parking
- EZ-Link, ShopeePay, YouTrip, Amaze and other stored-value top-ups
- Betting, cryptocurrency, charity, religious and political organisations
- AXS (except Pay+Earn) and SAM payments, and bill payments via internet banking
- Cash advances, balance transfers, instalment plans, interest and DBS fees
DBS updates its exclusion and MCC lists from time to time, so check its latest terms.
DBS Live Fresh Card Fees and Charges
Here's what the DBS Live Fresh Card costs:
Fee type | Amount |
Annual fee | $196.20 for the principal card and $98.10 per supplementary card (first year waived) |
Annual interest rate | 27.8% on unpaid balances, charged daily (25-day interest-free period) |
Minimum monthly repayment | 3% or $50, whichever is higher |
Late payment fee | $100 when the minimum payment isn't received by the due date |
Foreign currency transaction fee | 3.25% on foreign currency spend |
Cash advance fee | 8% or $15, whichever is higher, plus interest |
Overlimit fee | $40 when your balance goes above your credit limit |
Paying your statement balance in full and on time, and avoiding cash advances, keeps these costs from cancelling out your cashback.
DBS Live Fresh foreign transaction fee and overseas cashback
DBS charges the 3.25% FX fee on all foreign currency spend, but refunds it as cashback on in-store spend in 15 Asian currencies, from the Malaysian ringgit and Thai baht to the Japanese yen, Korean won and Chinese renminbi:
Overseas transaction | Fee | Cashback |
In-store charged in a selected Asian currency (e.g. MYR, JPY, THB, KRW) | 3.25% | ✅ Extra 3.25% cashback (capped at $50 a month, min. $800 spend), so you effectively pay 0% FX fee |
In-store in other currencies (e.g. USD, EUR), online in any foreign currency, or via a mobile wallet | 3.25% | ❌ No FX offset; only earns default 6% cashback at shopping and transport merchants (min. $800 spend) or 0.3% elsewhere |
💡 MoneySmart Tip: Pay in the local currency, not SGD, when using the card overseas. Transactions converted to SGD (at point of sale) will incur dynamic currency conversion (DCC) fees that don’t qualify for the FX cashback offset.
If you travel beyond Asia often, pair Live Fresh with one of the best credit cards for overseas spending or credit cards with no FX fees.
Tips to Maximise DBS Live Fresh Cashback
Already holding the card? Here's how to get the most out of it:
✅ Check that your usual spend reaches $800 a calendar month without buying things you don't need
✅ Charge eligible retail shopping and rides to your DBS Live Fresh first, since they're the only categories that earn 6% cashback
✅ Spend within the cashback caps: About $877 of shopping spend and $351 of transport spend earn the full $50 and $20 bonus. Actual cashback calculations vary.
✅ Time big purchases so they post in a month where you still need to hit the minimum spend
✅ Use another card for dining, groceries and food delivery, which earn only 0.3% on DBS Live Fresh. Use our MoneySmart credit card comparison tool to browse other cashback and miles cards to earn bonus rebates on these categories.
✅ Tap the physical card, not your phone, overseas in Asia, as mobile wallet payments don't qualify for the FX offset
✅ Check each statement for cashback earned and any late fees or interest
DBS Live Fresh Student Card: How It Differs
The DBS Live Fresh Student Card is a separate, entry-level card for students, and it's still open for applications. It's made from 85.5% recycled plastic and needs no minimum spend or income.
Card feature | Details |
Cashback |
|
Total monthly cashback cap | $50 |
Credit limit | $500 |
Annual fee | $196.20 (waived for 5 years) |
Foreign currency transaction (FX) fee | 3.25% |
Eligibility | Singapore Citizens and PRs aged 21–27, studying at NUS, NTU, SMU, SIM, SUTD, SIT, SUSS or a local polytechnic, with no existing DBS/POSB credit card or unsecured credit line |
Disclaimer: From 7 September 2026, Student Cardholders can no longer upgrade to the main DBS Live Fresh Card. Once you graduate and earn at least $30,000 a year, DBS points you to the DBS Chromo Card instead.
⭐ Check out more student credit cards on MoneySmart.
DBS Live Fresh vs DBS Chromo vs POSB Everyday: Card Comparison
Here's how DBS Live Fresh compares with the two other DBS cashback cards you can still apply for:
Feature | |||
Card network | Visa | Visa | Mastercard |
Main cashback | 6% on shopping and transport 0.3% on other spend | Up to 5% on your top 2 local spend categories each month (from dining, travel, shopping, transport, entertainment and wellness) 1% on other local spend | 10% on online food delivery, SimplyGo rides and in-store MYR spend 5% on dining out and at major online marketplaces 5% at Sheng Siong and 6% at SPC (no min. spend) 0.3% on other spend |
Min. spend | $800 per calendar month | $500 per calendar month | $800 per calendar month (except Sheng Siong and SPC rebates) |
Cashback cap | $50 shopping, $20 transport No cap on 0.3% cashback rate | $30 per bonus category; $150 total cashback a month | Daily$20 a month on most bonus categories; no cap at SPC |
Annual fee | $196.20 (1st year waived) | $196.20 (5 years waived) | $196.20 (1st year waived) |
FX fee | 3.25% (offset on in-store spend in selected Asian currencies) | 0% | 3.25% |
Min. annual income | $30,000 (Singaporeans / PRs), $45,000 (foreigners) | $30,000 (Singaporeans / PRs), $45,000 (foreigners) | $30,000 (Singaporeans / PRs), $45,000 (foreigners) |
Availability | Closed to new applicants | Aged 21–29 at application | Aged 21–75 |
⭐ Best for | Existing cardholders who shop and commute | Young adults whose top spend categories shift month to month | Commuters, diners and Sheng Siong or SPC regulars |
Note: POSB Everyday rebates are paid as Daily$, which don't expire and can offset purchases at partner merchants or your card bill.
Can You Still Apply for the DBS Live Fresh Card?
No. DBS stopped accepting new main cardholder applications for the DBS Live Fresh Card from 7 September 2026, as part of a review of its card range. Here's what that means if you already hold the card, or want a similar one:
If you… | What happens |
Already hold the card | You can keep using it and earn cashback as usual, and replace it if it's lost or damaged |
Want a supplementary card | You can still apply for one for a family member |
Received the card before 7 September 2026 but haven't activated it | You can still activate it |
Hold the Live Fresh Student Card | You can no longer upgrade to the main Live Fresh Card |
Are a new applicant | Consider the DBS Chromo Card (aged 21–29), the POSB Everyday Card or the Live Fresh Student Card (students) |
How to Apply for the DBS Live Fresh Student Card on MoneySmart
Check that you meet the eligibility criteria in the Student Card table above, then follow these steps:
Step | Action | Details |
1 | Compare cards on MoneySmart | Use MoneySmart's credit card comparison tool to compare the DBS Live Fresh Student Card with other student and cashback cards. |
2 | Apply for the card | Press "Apply Now" and fill in your personal and student details. |
3 | Wait for approval | DBS reviews your application and may ask for additional documents before deciding. |
4 | Activate and add to your wallet | Once your card arrives, activate it using DBS's instructions and add it to Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay. |
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Find Your Next Fresh Cashback Card
DBS Live Fresh might’ve closed its doors to new applicants (for now), but your cashback doesn't have to go stale. Compare Singapore's best cashback credit cards on MoneySmart and pick one that rewards how you shop, commute and travel.
FAQs About the DBS Live Fresh Card
Can I still apply for the DBS Live Fresh Card?
No. DBS stopped accepting new applications for the main DBS Live Fresh Card from 7 September 2026. Existing cardholders keep earning cashback and can still add supplementary cards.
If you're aged 21 to 29, DBS suggests the DBS Chromo Card instead, while students can still apply for the DBS Live Fresh Student Card.
How does DBS Live Fresh cashback work?
DBS Live Fresh pays 0.3% base cashback on all eligible spend. Once you spend $800 in a calendar month, shopping and transport spend earns an extra 5.7% (6% in total), capped at $50 and $20 a month respectively. Cashback is credited by the end of the following month and offsets your bill.
What is the minimum spend for the DBS Live Fresh Card?
$800 per calendar month. Most retail spend counts towards it, but AXS and internet banking bill payments, cash advances, instalment plans, interest and DBS fees don't, and refunds are deducted. If you miss $800, all your spend that month earns only 0.3% cashback.
Is the DBS Live Fresh Card worth it?
Yes, for existing cardholders whose spending is mostly shopping, ride-hailing and public transport. Maxing out the DBS Live Fresh Card's bonus caps returns up to $120 a month. It's poorer value if most of your spending is on dining, groceries or food delivery, which earn only 0.3%, so compare other cashback credit cards for those.
Does the DBS Live Fresh Card have an annual fee?
Yes. The principal card costs $196.20 a year and each supplementary card $98.10, with the fee waived for the first year only. The Live Fresh Student Card has the same $196.20 annual fee but waives it for 5 years.
Does DBS Live Fresh charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes, 3.25% on all foreign currency spend. On in-store spend in 15 Asian currencies, including MYR, JPY, THB and KRW, DBS refunds it as 3.25% cashback (capped at $50 a month) when you spend at least $800 that month. Online, mobile wallet and SGD-converted overseas payments don't qualify.
Is the DBS Live Fresh Student Card good?
Yes, as a first credit card for Singaporean and PR students aged 21 to 27 at local universities and polytechnics. The DBS Live Fresh Student Card needs no income or minimum spend, pays 5% at merchants including Golden Village, McDonald's, Starbucks, Netflix and Spotify, plus 5% Green Cashback, capped at $50 a month in total, with a $500 credit limit.
What's the difference between DBS Live Fresh and POSB Everyday Card?
DBS Live Fresh rewards 6% cashback on eligible shopping and transport, while the POSB Everyday Card rewards online food delivery, SimplyGo rides and in-store MYR spend (10% cashback), dining (5% cashback), and Sheng Siong and SPC with no minimum spend. Both cards need a minimum S$800 eligible spend a month to unlock their bonus rates.