Instarem announced a new junk fee for card-linked SGD transactions from 10 March 2025. As a result, all SGD spending will incur a 1% fee, with a minimum fee of 50 cents.
Yes, even if your transaction is for 1 cent, you will be charged the minimum 50 cent fee.
So, at what transaction amount is the Amaze + Citi Rewards combo actually worthwhile? I’ve broken down the numbers in the table below.
| Transaction Amount | Fee (%tage of transaction) | Cost per Mile (4 mpd) |
|---|---|---|
| $1 | $0.50 (50%) | 12.5 cents |
| $2 | $0.50 (25%) | 6.25 cents |
| $5 | $0.50 (10%) | 2.5 cents |
| $10 | $0.50 (5%) | 1.25 cents |
| $20 | $0.50 (2.5%) | 0.63 cents |
| $50 | $0.50 (1%) | 0.25 cents |
| $100 | $1 (1%) | 0.25 cents |
| $500 | $5 (1%) | 0.25 cents |
| $1,000 | $10 (1%) | 0.25 cents |
Firstly, you’d be out of your mind to use the Amaze + Citi Rewards combo for transactions under $5. Please don’t do this, and warn everyone you know, unless if you want to contribute to Instarem’s road to riches.
With a cost per mile of about 0.6 cents, a $20 transaction doesn’t look toooo bad, does it?
Opportunity cost
Contrary to popular belief, using a miles card is never truly “free”. Fees aside, there’s always a fuss-free cashback card that you could have used, instead of the miles card.
So, let me overcomplicate calculations a little: What if you include the opportunity cost of not using the simplest cashback card out there? One that has zero annual fee.
In the table below, I’ve taken the opportunity cost of 1.7% cashback that is offered by the Mari Card into consideration.
| Transaction Amount | Cost per Mile (4 mpd) |
|---|---|
| $1 | 12.9 cents |
| $2 | 6.68 cents |
| $5 | 2.9 cents |
| $10 | 1.68 cents |
| $20 | 1.05 cents |
| $50 | 0.68 cents |
| $100 | 0.68 cents |
| $500 | 0.68 cents |
| $1,000 | 0.68 cents |
So, when should you use the Amaze + Citi Rewards combo?
I need some time to mentally absorb this nerf, but I’ll likely only use it for SGD transactions above $50 from 10 Mar 2025. I know, it sounds really dumb to pay for miles on SGD spending and I won’t judge if you choose to stop using the Amaze card entirely.
However, the next best miles cards for smaller SGD transactions are not amazing either:
- UOB Preferred Platinum: Earn 4 mpd, but rounded down to $5 blocks
- Chocolate Card: Earn 2 mpd
- Citi PremierMiles: Earn 1.2 mpd
Additional reminder: This nerf only affects SGD spending. The Amaze + Citi Rewards combo is still one of the best cards out there for foreign currency transactions.
I’ll be rethinking my miles and credit card strategy in the coming days. Share your thoughts and updated card strategy in Suitesmile Chat!
Here’s a quick look at the the cards mentioned above:
More information
Key details of the Amaze Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income: Nil
Annual fee: No annual fee, ever
Turn in-person transactions online to earn bonus earn rate on eligible credit cards
Lower credit card foreign transaction fee by ~1%
No foreign transaction fees
⚠️ Card-linked transactions only work best with Mastercards from selected banks like Citibank, Maybank and OCBC
⚠️ 1% fee (min. 50 cents) on card-linked transactions in SGD
🎁
Earn 4 mpd on online spending, selected in-person shopping and even in-person overseas spending with Amaze linkage
More information
Key details of the Citi Rewards Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$42,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on online spending, selected in-person shopping and in-person overseas spending (via Amaze ), up to S$1,000 per statement month
No minimum spending
5-year miles expiry cycle
9 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Travel-related spending (e.g. flights, hotels) excluded from bonus earn rate
⚠️ In-person shopping bonus earn rate (without Amaze linkage) is MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee (save ~1% via Amaze)
⚠️ Amaze linkage for SGD spending comes with a 1% fee
Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories:1) Mobile Contactless (e.g. Google Pay, Apple Pay)
2) Online Spending (some MCCs only)
More information
Key details of the UOB Preferred Visa Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories, up to S$600 per calendar month each (total S$1,200):1) Mobile Contactless (e.g. Google Pay, Apple Pay)
2) Online Spending (selected MCCs only) No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Online Spending category is MCC-sensitive
⚠️ S$5 earning block
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Get 2 free airport lounge visits per year, earn 1.2 mpd on local spending and 2.2 mpd on foreign currencies
More information
Key details of the Citi PremierMiles Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$42,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; always comes with 10,000 miles, but request waiver every year )
Get 2 free airport lounge visits per calendar year
No minimum spending
Uncapped earn rates
Miles don’t expire
9 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ Low earn rates (spend with 4 mpd cards instead):
• 1.2 mpd on local spending
• 2.2 mpd on foreign currency spending⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
(Apply with code: 6JAC91WK)
More information
Key details of the Mari Credit Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income: S$15,000 – S$30,000
Annual fee: No annual fee, ever
Get 1.5% cashback on foreign transactions, up to S$1,500 per calendar month (till 31 Dec 2026)
No minimum spending
No foreign transaction fees
⚠️ Low earn rates on local and Shopee spending (spend with better cashback cards instead)
• 1.5% cashback on local spending
• 1.5% coins on Shopee spending
🎁
