credit card Archives | Page 7 of 8

Best Credit Card Promotions To Usher In The Lunar New Year

Be a cheeky monkey who maximizes your prosperity with these great credit card offerings for the year 2016…

1. STANDARD CHARTERED

Standard Chartered rewards you with 15% CashBack wherever you feast this Chinese New Year. From 16th January to 15th March, you can get rebates once you are charged with a minimum of S$688 on your total spending courtesy of your credit card (not limited to dining bills).

Go to sc.com/sg/campaign/cardscny for more information about its Terms and Conditions.

2. HSBC

Aside from getting S$8 Hong Bao cash rebates daily with HSBC credit cards (till 29th February – T&Cs apply), you can enjoy a wide range of promotions from dining, shopping, and travel.

a. 15% off Yu Sheng and Pen Cai Takeaways
b. 15% off storewide when you shop at ZALORA Singapore
c. Up to S$50 off selected items at AngelFlorist.com
d. Additional 8% off bookings on Singapore hotels and more at Agoda

Simply go to hsbc.com.sg/cny for more details and other festive offers.

* EXCLUSIVE: SIGN UP FOR A HSBC’S REVOLUTION CREDIT CARD AND RECEIVE A SAMSONITE RED ROBO LUGGAGE 
WORTH S$335 OR A REDMART GROCERY VOUCHER WORTH S$80! T&CS APPLY. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

3. DBS

DBS credit cards also reward you for your dining experiences. Here are some of their delicious offerings:

a. 20% off orders at foodpanda.sg. Valid until 22nd February.
b. 20% off the Lunar New Year Dinner Buffet at Brizo Restaurant & Bar – Park Hotel Clarke Quay. Valid until 22nd February.
c. 15% off lunch or dinner buffets at Grand Park City Hall. Valid until 19 February.

4. OCBC

OCBC credit cards will reward you with a tempting array of promotions that will keep you covered this festive season! These are my top picks:

a. 15% off takeaway CNY Treasures at Goodwood Park Hotel. Valid until 22nd February.
b. 10% off regular priced items at TAKA Jewellery. Valid until 28th February.
c. 10% off apartment and villa rentals in Asia and Europe courtesy of Roomorama. Valid until 29th February.
d. Get a Bioskin Radiance Bundle for only S$38. Valid until 29th February.

Image Credits: facebook.com/OCBC.Singapore

Visit ocbc.com for more information about the Terms and Conditions.

How to Thrive in the World’s Most Expensive City

It’s common for Singaporeans to complain about the rising costs in this country, especially when Singapore has stayed on the charts for world’s most expensive city two years in a row. You can even call it a favourite pastime of residents and foreigners living here.

While it’s amazing how we’ve growth so much in a short span of time, it’s also taking a toll on us mere mortals, who can only dream about being one of the countless millionaires choosing to live here. We work hard, but it seems like we’re not going to see much increase in salary or bonuses in the year to come.

Still, it’s not impossible to save money in Singapore. The SingSaver team recently pulled together tips that have worked for us and published them in a free eBook, “100 Ways to Save Money in Singapore”. From shopping to dining out to general tips, we’ve covered every aspect of typical expenses the average Singaporean has.

Here’s an excerpt from their eBook:

Know Where to Save

Stuffing your money in a pillow is as good as losing it. Due to the inflation rate (about 3% per annum in Singapore), your cash is worth less each year.

Always compare the different rates between fixed deposits, or products such as Singapore Savings Bonds (SSBs), before deciding where to store your money. You will want the highest interest possible for your deposit. Speak to a financial advisor about the best options, as they change on an almost weekly basis.

Keep the Expense Ratio Below 40%

Your expense ratio is your necessary expenditures compared to your monthly income.

For example: say you earn S$3,000 a month. You have to pay at least S$300 a month toward utility bills, your phone line, loan repayments, etc. Your expense ratio is thus 10% (S$300 / S$3,000).

You should put a freeze on expenditures that raise your expense ratio above 40%.

Pay with an Optimised Credit Card

Dining with friends? Pick a credit card with the best rewards or cashback for the restaurant, then place the entire bill on it. After that, collect your friends’ shares in cash. Because the card is giving you a discount in some form (cashback, more reward points, vouchers, etc.), you will usually save money.

***

There’s a lot more where that came from. If you want to save more or just want to cut down on your expenses, this guide will help you. Well, it’s definitely helped us.

Download your free copy of “100 Ways to Save Money in Singapore” here.

(This is a guest post by SingSaver.)

UOB: 1-for-1 Dining Deals for Cardmembers (1 Nov 2015 – 31 Jan 2016)

Own a UOB Credit or Debit Card? You are in for a treat!

Starting from 1 November 2015, you can enjoy 1-for-1 dining deals at more than 40 restaurants across Singapore.

Look out for buffets deals at Marriott Cafe and Cafe Mosaic and other attractive dining offers exclusive to you.

Valid till 31 January 2016. (or 31 December 2015 for some)

For all UOB Cards

Mitzo Restaurant & Bar

Burlamacco Ristorante

The Black Swan

Marriott Cafe, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

Café Mosaic, Carlton Hotel Singapore

Furama RiverFront, Singapore

Flavours At Zhongshan Park

Sakae Sushi

Billy Bombers American Diner

Cold Stone Creamery

Zen Japanese Cuisine

Bottura

Haha Thai

OPPA Chicken

Siam Society

The King Louis Grill & Bar

Pick Me Up Cafe

House of Seafood

Home of Seafood

OverEasy Fullerton

BWB – Burger, Wings, Bar

Chef’s Table by Chef Stephan Zoisl

The Pelican Seafood Bar & Grill

Pepenero

JIN Fine Dining

Lime House

High Society Café & Restaurant

Senor Taco

63Celsius

Hombre Cantina

Motorino Singapore

Luxe

The Pump Room

Tawandang Microbrewery

Tree Lizard

Laugen Restaurant

Berlin

CATO

Little Saigon

Highlander Asia

Exclusively for UOB Reserve, Visa Infinite and Privilege Banking Cards

Senso Ristorante & Bar

La Nonna

CATO

Alati

Long Chim

Don’t forget to share these offers with your friends and family members! Not a UOBCardmember?

Share it with someone you know and tag along.

Terms & Conditions

Offers are not valid on eve of and on Public Holidays and special occasions. Offers are not valid in conjunction with other offers, discounts, privileges, promotions, sets or vouchers. Offers are valid for dine-in only and is not applicable for takeaways. Offers are limited to one redemption per card, per table, per bill. Complimentary item must be of equal or lesser value than the item purchased. No splitting of table/bill is allowed. All prices are subjected to service charge and prevailing government taxes. All above-mentioned terms and conditions apply unless otherwise stated. Payment must be made with UOB Credit/Debit Card. UOB general dining terms and conditions apply. Images are for illustrative purposes and not representative of food served at restaurant.

All UOB Credit and Debit Cardmembers are eligible for UOB Dining Privileges at all participating outlets, unless otherwise stated. To ensure the Dining Privilege is being extended to you, please state UOB Dining Privileges prior to reservation or ordering. Please present your UOB Credit or Debit Card prior to ordering. All offers are not valid with accumulated receipts. All 1-for-1 offers are limited to one redemption per visit, per bill, per Cardmember unless otherwise stated. Offers listed may be subject to prevailing government taxes and service charges where applicable. All prices are subject to service charge and prevailing government taxes, unless otherwise stated. All participating outlets reserve the right to replace complimentary items with another item of similar value. Discounts, vouchers and privileges are not exchangeable for cash, or other goods and services. All prices listed are in Singapore Dollars. UOB shall not be responsible for the quality, merchantability or fitness for any purpose or any other aspect of the offers. UOB and the participating outlets reserve the right to vary/amend the privileges or terms and conditions without prior notice. UOB’s decision on all matters relating to the privileges or terms and conditions will be at its absolute discretion and will be final and binding on all participants. For more information, please call our UOB Call Centre Service (24 hours) at 1800 222 2121.

Must Read: 5 Tips On Using Credit Cards While Traveling Overseas

If you are traveling soon, arming yourself with sufficient cash and credit cards can conveniently cover all your expenses. When using your plastic card in fancy restaurants or tourist destinations, you would not have to worry about converting the currency (through the nearest money converter) or whether you converted the right amount. The credit card company will automatically do that for you. This process not only comes with simplicity but also extra costs.

Aside from choosing a credit card that is widely accepted across the globe such as MasterCard or Visa, here are 5 tips on getting the most of using your credit cards while traveling overseas…

1. KNOW THE EXTRA FEES

Even if your credit card is widely accepted, you must expect foreign exchange fees and ATM transaction charges. This is why it is recommended to contact your card issuer or bank to inquire about any extra fees or interest while traveling overseas. Through this, you can maintain your travel budget.

2. KNOW THE CREDIT LIMIT AND CARD’S EXPIRATION DATE

Nothing greatly ruins a glorious trip than suddenly discovering that you are unable to pay for your expenses. It is a shameful mess you do not want to get caught on! So, you must know and double confirm your credit limit and credit card’s expiration date with your card issuer or bank.

3. KNOW THE PROTOCOL FOR STOLEN CARDS

Although pick pocketing happens less when you conceal your credit card well, you must be familiar with the protocol for stolen cards. Firstly, you must check all your pockets and bags in case you just misplaced it. Then, report that your card is missing so you will not be charged for unauthorized purchases.

4. KNOW IF THE MERCHANT OR RESTAURANT ACCEPTS CARDS

Before deciding to indulge in the services of a merchant or a restaurant, it pays to know if they accept credit cards first. While some proudly display their credit card partnerships on the walls, others may hide it. You must still carry cash in case you found out that you couldn’t pay via credit card due to unforeseen events.

5. KNOW THE CARD’S TRAVEL BENEFITS

Most credit cards come with travel benefits such as discounted accommodations or dining. Take advantage of these rewards to help fund your vacation. If you want to know the best travel credit cards in Singapore, check this out.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources:1 & 2

A Safer Way to Shop Online

You can’t deny that shopping is one of Singapore’s favourite pastimes. With online retail giants setting up basecamp on our shores including the likes of Zalora, Lazada and Rakuten among others, consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to the goods and services we can purchase from the comfort of our own homes.

But are you aware of the security risks involved when using your credit or debit card to shop online?

Getting the facts

Singapore’s online shopping industry is projected to reach US$3.45 billion in 2015. While this is only a tiny fraction of the US$525 billion for the entire Asia Pacific region, the average Singaporean spends around US$1,800 annually. The yearly increase in online spending is also a healthy sign of the rapidly growing popularity of e-commerce in Singapore.

However, in tandem with the meteoric rise of online shopping in Asia over the last few years, authorities have also reported a surge in online scams and credit card fraud. Last year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore claimed that businesses lost an estimated US$1.6 billion due to cybercrimes, a marginal sum when compared to the global losses of over US$400 billion.

But it has never happened to me before.. so I’m safe, right?

Well, not exactly. Do you know whether the website you are buying from is compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)? Have you ever let a website save your credit card information for the sake of convenience and a faster checkout?

In 2014, less than a third (28.6%) of online merchants managed to remain fully PCI compliant less than a year after getting their certification. This means that even though a website’s security may have been validated before, this doesn’t mean their current business processes or newly adopted systems are PCI compliant.

One of the largest global online retailers, eBay, fell victim to a security breach last year when a handful of their employee accounts were compromised and used to gain access to their customer database. Just last month, Google found a vulnerability in the Android operating system that allows hackers to access the phone’s data remotely via a multimedia message.

With the rise in cybercrime, consumers need to find a way to protect themselves when shopping online.

Preventing online fraud

You can take precautionary measures to minimise the risk of fraud, but there is only one guaranteed way to prevent it – that is to stop using your credit or debit card to shop online altogether. Sounds impossible? Well, there are many other methods you can pay for goods online that don’t necessarily require you to use your credit card.

MatchMove Pay is one such solution that lets consumers shop online using a virtual MasterCard or American Express® Virtual Pay prepaid card. The concept of a prepaid credit card is commonplace in the USA but seldom talked about here in Singapore. MatchMove Pay takes it one step further by enabling anyone to get their own virtual prepaid card online or on mobile instantly.

How does it work?

Consumers top-up their MatchMove card only when they have something to buy. This can be done via secured top-up channels including the ATM, your bank’s online banking website and others. After adding funds, simply use the prepaid card to checkout your online purchases. It’s safer than a debit card because it is not linked to your bank account and works just like any credit card.

So even if a hacker manages to gain access to your MatchMove card details, they wouldn’t be able to use it without any funds. What’s more, MatchMove provides an additional layer of security through a dynamic card verification code (CVC) feature which generates a unique code every time you checkout a purchase.

There are also other benefits for using MatchMove Pay including monthly cash rebates of up to 50%, attractive lifestyle and travel offers, and a soon-to-be-launched loyalty rewards programme.

Is MatchMove reliable?

The company is invested in by Japan’s third largest credit card issuer, Credit Saison, an affiliate of the Mizuho Financial Group. MatchMove is also an official card issuer for MasterCard and American Express® and work closely with these financial institution to ensure the customer’s lifestyle needs and security are well taken care of. But don’t just take our word for it, find out what MatchMove users have to say:

Register Now to Receive Free $5 Credit!

Signup for a free MatchMove MasterCard wallet by clicking on this link to receive a $5 credit in your account. Limited to the first 100 Money Digest readers who register before 31 August 2015. All eligible signups will receive the $5 credit directly into your MatchMove wallet account by 7 September 2015.

(This article is brought to you by MatchMove Singapore)

For all UOB Cards

Exclusively for UOB Reserve, Visa Infinite and Privilege Banking Cards

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