2021 Credit Cards

[icecreamed]

Hi guys, it's the end of the year and when researching the best credit card combos for cashback I stumbled upon the old '2020 credit card' thread so decided to open a new one! This year it seems that virtual banks have come into the mix - what does everyone think and would it shake up your current card line ups? I just signed up for the HSBC red, plan to use it for online payments (late to the game I know).. also discovered this BOC taobao credit card which has 0% handling fees for overseas payments - online / physical store! Sounds pretty good. ZA bank seems to offer lots of free money via promos right now.. MOX is good for the 5% rebate on 'founding merchants'.. super confusing and hard to decide on what combo to get. Would love to hear everyone's advice and comments..

[icecreamed]

Ah follow up questions with regards to cashback:
Best credit card for Octopus AAVS?
Best credit card for bill payments?

[muzzdang]

Best credit card for Octopus AAVS? Most credit cards don’t offer cash back, but Standard Chartered Cashback still gives 1.5% cash back, even for Payme Topups
Best credit card for bill payments? I use Alipay to scan the QR code on the bills and you get a notification when a new bill is issued, then I link it to SC Cashback. Works for my electric, water, Towngas bills

For mobile, broadband, I use Citibank Rewards card, 5 x rewards (0.4%), so effectively 2%

[pin]

Honestly don't think much has changed since the 2020 post.

Re Red cashback note they have only extended it until mid next year.

[icecreamed]

Thanks guys.
I was looking at Citi Rewards and saw that from Jan next year their "Citi Rewards Card '5X Points' Program" and "Citi Reward Card '8X Birthday Bonus Points' Program" will be obsolete though. That would bring the rewards back down to 0.4% like most other cards I guess?

[pin]

Thanks guys.
I was looking at Citi Rewards and saw that from Jan next year their "Citi Rewards Card '5X Points' Program" and "Citi Reward Card '8X Birthday Bonus Points' Program" will be obsolete though. That would bring the rewards back down to 0.4% like most other cards I guess?

Yeah that's true.

You could use Alipay with SC cashback and get 1.5%.

For supermarket you could use HSBC Red or CCB eye via paywayve for 2%.

[icecreamed]

Another question - is it a better deal to use a card with no overseas handling transaction fees OR a card which you can gain rebate on for overseas spending? Given most people's replies here it seems that people mostly use cards for the rebate? But to my knowledge normally transaction fees cost 3-4% right?

[muzzdang]

Thanks guys.
I was looking at Citi Rewards and saw that from Jan next year their "Citi Rewards Card '5X Points' Program" and "Citi Reward Card '8X Birthday Bonus Points' Program" will be obsolete though. That would bring the rewards back down to 0.4% like most other cards I guess?

Thanks for the heads up

https://www.citibank.com.hk/chinese/...ard-noa-zh.pdf

Guess I will transfer it all to Alipay + SC cashback then

[GotIt]

But to my knowledge normally transaction fees cost 3-4% right?

Normally in HK forreign currency transaction fees are 2%. This is almost entirely reimbursed by SC Simplycash 2% cashback. If you can meet quarterly spending requirements, HSBC Signature/Advance/Premier CC can give you up to 5-6% back in that quarter.

[Cocobber]

I posted this on another thread but it's probably more relevant here.

Does anyone know which Citi card has an "undocumented" perpetual annual fee waiver? I know some say first year annual fee is waived, but do they actually charge after one year or is it like other banks where you can just call in and they will waive the annual fee forever (or do you have to at least spend a certain amount before they will waive)?

I'm used to another bank where there is a credit card annual fee but I just need to call in every year and input my credit card number and the automated system waives it.