How do credit cards work?

A credit card is basically a way to borrow money from a bank to make purchases. Unlike a bank loan, a credit card “loans” money in smaller amounts and on a short-term basis, requiring you to pay the bank back monthly (or be subject to unpleasant penalties and interest fees). The biggest payment networks are MasterCard, VISA and American Express, but do note that merchants may not accept all types.

How do I apply for a credit card?

Simply fill out an application online or at a bank branch and submit the required documents such as proof of income. After approval, the bank will inform you about how much you are allowed to borrow and mail you your new credit card. You’ll need to activate the credit card as well as sign on the back.

What’s the difference between debit cards and credit cards?

Unlike credit cards, debit cards do not involve any borrowing. They are linked to your bank account, so purchases made on your debit card are paid for by deducting straight from your funds. You must have sufficient funds on hand to use your debit card. If you have a credit card, you can borrow the money for the time being and pay it back later.

How to prevent credit card fraud?

There’s no sure-fire way to prevent credit card fraud, so unfortunately holding a credit card also means being vigilant about making sure it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Make use of credit card alerts, monitor your transactions closely, be wary of phishing scams and don’t make it easy for others to get hold of your credit card information.

What should I do with my credit card statement?

It might not be the most fun thing to read, but it IS super important to understand your credit card statement. So don’t throw it away without checking it. Of course, after reading the statement you will have to pay your bill – typically through online banking, though some people use ATMs, SAMs, AXS machines or go to the bank in person.

What are the hidden credit cards benefits?

Did you know? Credit cards benefits include travel insurance coverage and rental car insurance and many other perks such as access to airport lounges however these benefits can vary depending on the credit card issuer and card type. If you are looking for the best car insurance quotes, our specialists will find it for you!

What are SmartPoints?

SmartPoints is MoneySmart’s reward currency. Earn SmartPoints when you apply for financial products through MoneySmart or when you complete actions on MoneySmart. SmartPoints will be credited to your wallet where eligible. You can then use the SmartPoints in your wallet to redeem gifts from the Rewards Store or even convert them to cash.

What can I use SmartPoints for?

SmartPoints can be used to redeem gifts from the Rewards Store or even convert them to cash.

Best Citibank Dining Credit Cards Singapore in 2025

Best Credit Card in Singapore 2025

Credit Card	Best For	Reward Type
Citi Cash Back Card	Savings on dining, grocery and grab spendings	Cashback
Citi PremierMiles Card	Earning bonus miles that do not expire	Miles
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card	Convenience and perks for frequent flyers	Miles
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card	Unlimited cashback with Ez-link capabilities	Cashback
UOB One Card	Card and Savings Account Bundle	Cashback
DBS Live Fresh Card	Highest cashback on any contactless payment	Cashback
HSBC Advance Credit Card	Newlyweds and married couples	Cashback
American Express The Platinum Card®	High Net-worth Individuals	Reward Points
UOB EVOL Credit Card	Dining and Entertainment	Cashback
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card	Netflix, Spotify, fast food dining and public transport	Cashback

Compare Credit Cards for Everyday Use

When comparing the best credit cards for rewards, it is often a good choice to combine multiple credit cards each specializing in a particular spending type or card feature that best suits your lifestyle. Avoid paring Miles credit cards with Cashback credit cards since these reward types are incompatible. Points credit cards, on the other hand, are more flexible as they can be used to either get cash rebates on specific merchants or convert points into miles to redeem free flight tickets.

Air Miles

Miles Credit Cards

Citi PremierMiles Card: Use for online hotel and flight bookings
UOB PRVI Miles Card: Use for general local spend
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card: Use for earning KrisFlyer miles

Cashback

Cashback Credit Cards

Citi Cash Back Card: Use for grocery shopping worldwide
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card : Use for unlimited cashback
OCBC 365 Credit Card: Use for spending on everyday dining

Reward Points

Reward Points Credit Cards

Citi Rewards Card: Use for retail shopping to earn extra miles
American Express CapitaCard: Use for shopping at CapitaLand Malls to earn cash rebates
DBS Woman's World Card: Use for free gym memberships

Guides

Promotions

Travelling

Customer Type

Petrol

Grocery and Bills Payment

Transportation

Entertainment

Cashback

Strategies to Maximise Your Credit Card Cashback

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review by Nguyen Tung Lam

"Applying for credit card and claiming gift was a smooth and pleasant process that was all done online. The wait for the gift was not terribly long either. I'm a happy customer :) "

As seen on Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review by Dominic Koh

"Been signing up for my credit cards through Moneysmart, seamless process everytime. I personally prefer the sign up gifts offered by Moneysmart, and fulfilment of the gifts has not been an issue so far. Keep it up Moneysmart team!"

As seen on Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review by Jude Lu

"Great credit card promotions! I needed some help with some of their campaign rewards and my email was replied within 1 business day. Thanks!"

As seen on Google

Visa Card vs Mastercard vs American Express

At some point in your life, you’ll probably wonder if there’s a difference between a Visa card and Mastercard (and maybe American Express). Visa, Mastercard and Amex are the 3 big global payment networks. This means they handle all the technical back-end stuff that makes it possible to pay with your credit card anywhere in the world. Visa and Mastercard are extremely widely accepted worldwide, both online and offline. Both payment networks are easy and secure to use. Visa has a slight edge in terms of acceptance, but really, you’ll be fine with either. American Express is a bit less widely accepted globally. However, many people still love using Amex because they have an excellent reputation for customer care. Whichever payment network you choose, you can get a credit card from a bank like DBS or UOB. Note that American Express also issues its own credit cards, even though it’s not a bank.

Find a card that fits your spending habits

Think about your current lifestyle and spending habits. What are the things you spend the most money on? For example, if you’re a real foodie and love checking out new restaurants around town, then it makes sense to get a card with rewards points for dining out and useful perks like 1-for-1 buffet promotions.

Plan how to use your credit card benefits

Credit cards come with a whole bunch of benefits, so think about which benefits you actually want to use. Do you want to collect air miles and fund your upcoming travels? Or accumulate points for shopping vouchers? Or would you rather enjoy cash rebates? This is a deeply personal matter - only you can decide how you prefer to be rewarded. Make use of the ongoing credit card promotions to enjoy the full benefits of the card rewards on top of the promotion offer.

Check the Terms & Conditions

Now that you’ve got a shortlist of credit cards, it’s time to dig deeper into the details of the rewards or air miles programmes. Find out all you can about terms and conditions like expiry dates, exclusions, minimum spend, credit limit, etc. Be sure to ask a bank rep to clarify if you don’t see answers anywhere.

Minimum Balance Payment for Credit Cards

Is paying the minimum balance bad?

Because credit cards are effectively short-term loans, you are meant to pay off your bills in full every month. If you make only the minimum payment each month, you may accrue huge additional costs on top of your bill due to the credit card’s interest rate (typically 24%+)!

Does paying only minimum balance affect credit score?

Yes, If you plan to apply for any kind of credit or loan (such as a housing loan or car loan) in the future, be aware that any “bad behaviour” with your credit card can come back to haunt you in the form of a bad credit score.

Foreign Transaction Fees

This is a fee imposed on overseas spending - whether it’s while you’re traveling or even when making an online purchase on a foreign website. This is usually 2.5% to 3.25% on top of the prevailing foreign exchange rate.

Cash Advance Fees

Some credit cards allow you to withdraw cash from ATMs, using your credit line. Be prepared to fork out up to 8% of the transaction amount.

Balance Transfer Fees

Charged when you move a balance from one card to another, usually 2% to 4.5% of the amount transferred.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do credit cards work?: A credit card is basically a way to borrow money from a bank to make purchases. Unlike a bank loan, a credit card “loans” money in smaller amounts and on a short-term basis, requiring you to pay the bank back monthly (or be subject to unpleasant penalties and interest fees). The biggest payment networks are MasterCard, VISA and American Express, but do note that merchants may not accept all types.
How do I apply for a credit card?: Simply fill out an application online or at a bank branch and submit the required documents such as proof of income. After approval, the bank will inform you about how much you are allowed to borrow and mail you your new credit card. You’ll need to activate the credit card as well as sign on the back.
What’s the difference between debit cards and credit cards?: Unlike credit cards, debit cards do not involve any borrowing. They are linked to your bank account, so purchases made on your debit card are paid for by deducting straight from your funds. You must have sufficient funds on hand to use your debit card. If you have a credit card, you can borrow the money for the time being and pay it back later.
How to prevent credit card fraud?: There’s no sure-fire way to prevent credit card fraud, so unfortunately holding a credit card also means being vigilant about making sure it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Make use of credit card alerts, monitor your transactions closely, be wary of phishing scams and don’t make it easy for others to get hold of your credit card information.
What should I do with my credit card statement?: It might not be the most fun thing to read, but it IS super important to understand your credit card statement. So don’t throw it away without checking it. Of course, after reading the statement you will have to pay your bill – typically through online banking, though some people use ATMs, SAMs, AXS machines or go to the bank in person.
What if I only make the minimum payment on my bill?: Because credit cards are effectively short-term loans, you are meant to pay off your bills in full every month. If you make only the minimum payment each month, you may accrue huge additional costs on top of your bill due to the credit card’s interest rate (typically 24%+)
What are the hidden credit cards benefits?: Did you know? Credit cards benefits include travel insurance coverage and rental car insurance and many other perks such as access to airport lounges however these benefits can vary depending on the credit card issuer and card type. If you are looking for the best car insurance quotes, our specialists will find it for you!
What are SmartPoints?: SmartPoints is MoneySmart’s reward currency. Earn SmartPoints when you apply for financial products through MoneySmart or when you complete actions on MoneySmart. SmartPoints will be credited to your wallet where eligible. You can then use the SmartPoints in your wallet to redeem gifts from the Rewards Store or even convert them to cash.
What can I use SmartPoints for?: SmartPoints can be used to redeem gifts from the Rewards Store or even convert them to cash.

Best Citibank Dining Credit Cards 2025

Refine Your Results

Citi Cash Back+ Card

Citi Rewards Card

Citi Cash Back Card

Best Credit Card in Singapore 2025

With SmartRewards, you can earn SmartPoints and choose any gift from our Rewards store.

Compare Credit Cards for Everyday Use

Miles Credit Cards

Cashback Credit Cards

Reward Points Credit Cards

Credit Cards Recommendations

Guides

Promotions

Travelling

Customer Type

Petrol

Grocery and Bills Payment

Transportation

Entertainment

Cashback

The Ultimate List of Credit Card Reviews in Singapore

What customers are saying about our credit cards (From Google Reviews)

Review by Nguyen Tung Lam

Review by Dominic Koh

Review by Jude Lu

Visa Card vs Mastercard vs American Express

Which Credit Card is the Best in Singapore?

Find a card that fits your spending habits

Plan how to use your credit card benefits

Check the Terms & Conditions

Minimum Balance Payment for Credit Cards

Is paying the minimum balance bad?

Does paying only minimum balance affect credit score?

Annual Fees are NOT the Only Credit Card Fee!

Foreign Transaction Fees

Cash Advance Fees

Balance Transfer Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

How do credit cards work?

How do I apply for a credit card?

What’s the difference between debit cards and credit cards?

How to prevent credit card fraud?

What should I do with my credit card statement?

What if I only make the minimum payment on my bill?

What are the hidden credit cards benefits?

What are SmartPoints?

What can I use SmartPoints for?