The Amaze card has undergone multiple nerfs over the past 4 years, with the most recent in March 2025. Despite the endless turbulence, an Amaze pairing remains mildly useful for foreign currency transactions in my credit card strategy.
Let’s have a look at which Miles and Cashback cards are the best cards to pair with Amaze in 2026.
Key points to note about the Amaze Card
- Link up to 5 Mastercards (no Visa cards!) in the Instarem mobile app
- Choose 1 of those cards before your next Amaze transaction
- All Amaze transactions will be charged in SGD, directly to the linked card (no need to send money to the Amaze wallet)
- All Amaze transactions are seen as online transactions by the linked card
- All Amaze transactions will retain the actual Merchant Category Code (MCC) and will be seen by the linked card
- UOB, DBS and DCS cards do not award miles/points for Amaze transactions
- Amaze avoids Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees
- Amazes foreign currency spread currently stands at around 2%, resulting in an FX loss (fee + spread) that is about 1% lower than Singapore credit cards
- When Amaze is linked to a card, all SGD spending will incur a 1% fee (min. 50 cents), making it especially bad for SGD transactions under S$50
Here’s a detailed look at the Amaze Card.
More information
Key details of the Amaze Card
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
🎁
Best Miles cards to pair with Amaze
Let’s have a look at the best Miles credit cards to pair with Amaze.
Citi Rewards Card
The Citi Rewards Card is best used with Amaze for foreign currency transactions (in-person or online) to save about 1% in foreign transaction fees on non-travel spending (e.g. dining, groceries, petrol and shopping).
With this pairing, you’d earn 4 mpd with about 2.1% FX loss (instead of 3.25%).
Usual benefit without Amaze
• Earn 4 mpd for online spending (except travel-related)
Benefits with Amaze
• Earn 4 mpd for online spending (except travel-related)
• Earn 4 mpd for in-person spending (except travel-related)
• Save ~1.1% in foreign transaction fees
⚠️ WARNING: Using Amaze for SGD spending will incur a 1% fee (min. 50 cents), making it bad for SGD transactions, especially under S$50. To avoid this fee, use Amaze with the Citi Rewards Card only for foreign currency spending.
Here’s a detailed look at the Citi Rewards Card:
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
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
Maybank XL Rewards Card
The Maybank XL Rewards Card is best used with Amaze for foreign currency transactions (in-person or online) to save about 1% in foreign transaction fees on SGD bonus categories (e.g. flights, hotels, dining, shopping (in-person & online), food delivery, entertainment)
With this pairing, you’d earn 4 mpd with about 2.1% FX loss (instead of 3.25%).
Usual benefits without Amaze
• Earn 4 mpd on SGD bonus categories like flights, hotels, dining, shopping (in-person & online), food delivery and entertainment
• Earn 4 mpd on any foreign currency spending (overseas & online)
Benefits with Amaze
• Earn 4 mpd on SGD bonus categories like flights, hotels, dining, shopping (in-person & online), food delivery and entertainment
• Save ~1.1% in foreign transaction fees
⚠️ WARNING: Using Amaze for SGD spending will incur a 1% fee (min. 50 cents), making it bad for SGD transactions, especially under S$50. To avoid this fee, use Amaze with the Maybank XL Rewards Card only for foreign currency spending.
Here’s a detailed look at the Maybank XL Rewards Card:
Earn 4 mpd on five bonus categories, including dining, shopping, flights, hotels and any foreign currency spend
More information
Key details of the Maybank XL Rewards Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Malaysian: S$45,000
• Foreigner: S$60,000Annual fee: S$87.20 (first 2 years waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on five bonus categories, up to S$1,000 per calendar month:1) Dine (e.g. restaurants, bakeries, food delivery)
2) Shop (e.g. apparels, departmental stores)
3) Travel (e.g. airlines, hotels, travel agencies)
4) Play (e.g. bars, cinemas)
5) Foreign Spend (e.g. almost anything in foreign currencies)
⚠️ Only available to those aged 21 – 39 years
⚠️ Minimum card spend of S$500 per calendar month required for bonus earn rate
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 1-year miles expiry term (no expiry with Maybank’s Rewards Infinite Programme)
⚠️ Only 3 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
OCBC Rewards Card
The OCBC Rewards Card is best used with Amaze for foreign currency transactions (in-person or online) to save about 1% in foreign transaction fees at specific merchant categories.
With this pairing, you’d earn 4 mpd with about 2.1% FX loss (instead of 3.25%).
Usual benefit without Amaze
• Earn 4 mpd for online and in-person shopping at specific merchant categories
Benefits with Amaze
• Earn 4 mpd for online and in-person shopping at specific merchant categories
• Save ~1.1% in foreign transaction fees
⚠️ WARNING: Using Amaze for SGD spending will incur a 1% fee (min. 50 cents), making it bad for SGD transactions, especially under S$50. To avoid this fee, use Amaze with the OCBC Rewards Card only for foreign currency spending.
Here’s a detailed look at the OCBC Rewards Card:
More information
Key details of the OCBC Rewards Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$45,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first 2 years waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on shopping (online and in-person), up to S$1,000 per calendar month
No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ S$5 earning block
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ Bonus category is MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Best Cashback cards to pair with Amaze
Now, let’s have a look at the best Cashback credit cards to pair with Amaze.
Maybank XL Cashback Card
The Maybank XL Cashback Card is best used with Amaze for foreign currency transactions (in-person or online) to save about 1% in foreign transaction fees on SGD bonus categories like flights, hotels, dining, shopping (in-person & online), food delivery and entertainment.
With this pairing, you’d get 5% cashback with about 2.1% FX loss (instead of 3.25%).
Usual benefit without Amaze
• Earn 5% cashback on selected SGD categories like flights, hotels, dining, shopping (in-person & online), food delivery and entertainment
• Earn 5% cashback on any foreign currency spending (overseas & online)
Benefits with Amaze
• Earn 5% cashback on selected SGD categories like flights, hotels, dining, shopping (in-person & online), food delivery and entertainment
• Save ~1.1% in foreign transaction fees
⚠️ WARNING: Using Amaze for SGD spending will incur a 1% fee (min. 50 cents), making it bad for SGD transactions, especially under S$50. To avoid this fee, use Amaze with the Maybank XL Cashback Card only for foreign currency spending.
Here’s a detailed look at the Maybank XL Cashback Card:
Get 5% cashback on five bonus categories, including dining, shopping, flights, hotels and any foreign currency spend
More information
Key details of the Maybank XL Cashback Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Malaysian: S$45,000
• Foreigner: S$60,000Annual fee: S$87.20 (first 2 years waived; request waiver every year)
Get 5% cashback on five bonus categories, up to S$1,600 per calendar month:1) Dine (e.g. restaurants, bakeries, food delivery)
2) Shop (e.g. apparels, departmental stores)
3) Travel (e.g. airlines, hotels, travel agencies)
4) Play (e.g. bars, cinemas)
5) Foreign Spend (e.g. almost anything in foreign currencies)
⚠️ Only available to those aged 21 – 39 years
⚠️ Minimum card spend of S$500 per calendar month required for bonus earn rate
⚠️ 0.2% cashback on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Maybank Family & Friends Card
The Maybank Family & Friends Card is best used with Amaze for foreign currency transactions (in-person or online) to save about 1% in foreign transaction fees on chosen bonus categories like dining, groceries, online shopping and petrol.
With this pairing, you’d get 6-8% cashback with about 2.1% FX loss (instead of 3.25%).
Usual benefit without Amaze
• Get 6-8% cashback on 5 bonus categories
• Get 6-8% cashback on Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) spending
Benefits with Amaze
• Get 6-8% cashback on 5 bonus categories
• Get 6-8% cashback for in-person spending under the “online shopping” category (e.g. departmental stores, clothing, shoes, duty-free, luggage)
• Save ~1.1% in foreign transaction fees
⚠️ WARNING: Using Amaze for SGD spending will incur a 1% fee (min. 50 cents), making it bad for SGD transactions, especially under S$50. To avoid this fee, use Amaze with the Maybank Family & Friends Card only for foreign currency spending.
Here’s a detailed look at the Maybank Family & Friends Card:
Get 6 – 8% cashback on five chosen bonus categories, including dining, online shopping, groceries and commute
More information
Key details of the Maybank Family & Friends Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Malaysian: S$45,000
• Foreigner: S$60,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first 3 years waived; request waiver every year)
Tier 1: Get 6% cashback on five chosen bonus categories, up to S$333 per category, per calendar month
Tier 2: Get 6 – 8% cashback on five chosen bonus categories, up to S$375 – S$500 per category, per calendar month
Additional bonus category: Get 6% or 8% cashback on transactions in Malaysian Ringgit or Indonesian Rupiah
⚠️ Minimum card spend of S$800 and S$1,600 per calendar month required for Tier 1 and 2 bonuses, respectively
⚠️ Groceries category get a maximum of 6% cashback, even with Tier 2 qualification
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 0.22% cashback on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Citi Cash Back Card
The Citi Cash Back Card is best used with Amaze for foreign currency transactions (in-person or online) to save about 1% in foreign transaction fees on bonus categories like petrol, dining and groceries.
With this pairing, you’d get 6-8% cashback with about 2.1% FX loss (instead of 3.25%).
Usual benefit without Amaze
• Get 8% cashback on petrol & ride-hailing
• Get 6% cashback on dining & groceries
Benefits with Amaze
• Get 8% cashback on petrol (no ride-hailing*)
• Get 6% cashback on dining & groceries
• Save ~1.1% in foreign transaction fees
*Pairing this card to Amaze will not earn 8% cashback on ride-hailing, as the system looks for exact transaction description (Grab, Gojek, Comfort, TADA etc.), instead of MCC.
⚠️ WARNING: Using Amaze for SGD spending will incur a 1% fee (min. 50 cents), making it bad for SGD transactions, especially under S$50. To avoid this fee, use Amaze with the Citi Cash Back Card only for foreign currency spending.
Here’s a detailed look at the Citi Cash Back Card:
More information
Key details of the Citi Cash Back Card
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)
Get 8% cashback on ride-hailing & petrol, 6% cashback on dining & groceries spending, up to S$1,000 – S$1,333 per statement month
⚠️ Minimum card spend of S$800 per statement month required for bonus cashback
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 0.25% cashback on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
