Ask and you shall (may) receive. Some banks make it easy for customers to get their credit card annual fee waiver. Yes, you read that right.
Milking the most of your credit card is part art and part science. Besides reading credit card fine print and knowing the rewards mechanics like the back of your hand, asking your bank for a credit card annual fee waiver is non-negotiable if this is something that isn’t automatically offered to you. After all, savvy credit card users know it warrants some effort to get more money out of their bank.
In case you’re wondering, the majority of credit cards in Singapore offer a first-year annual fee waiver. For standard credit cards, they usually come with an annual fee of S$196.20 (w.e.f. 1 Jan 2024).
In this article, we’ll cover the following:
- How to get credit card annual fee waivers
- DBS/ POSB
- Citibank
- UOB
- Standard Chartered Bank
- OCBC
- HSBC
- Maybank - Is credit card annual fee waiver guaranteed for all cardmembers?
- What to do if your credit card annual fee waiver request fails
- Why some people pay their credit card annual fee
- Credit cards with perpetual annual fee waivers
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📣ONLY AVAILABLE ON SINGSAVER📣: You won't find this offer anywhere else!
Heads up! Citi and SingSaver are running an exclusive campaign for the Citi PremierMiles Card and Citi Prestige Card! Apply for either of these cards to receive the following:
For Citi PremierMiles Card: Receive a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$699) or an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$529) or 21K Heymax Miles or S$300 Cash + $150 Shopee Vouchers upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
For Citi Prestige Card: Get a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or a Dyson TP10 (worth S$599) or 18K Heymax Miles (worth S$300) or S$320 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
How to get credit card annual fee waivers
How to get a DBS/POSB annual fee waiver
DBS/POSB make it easy for their customers to request credit card annual fee waivers.
The waiver is only accepted via the automated system. DBS/POSB credit cardmembers can put in their annual fee waiver request easily via DBS digibot or DBS phone banking.
DBS digibot
- Type ‘Fee Waiver’ into the chat box
- Tap on ‘Fee Waiver’ followed by ‘Authenticate Me’
- After authentication, select ‘Credit Cards Fee Waiver’
- Select the credit card account to be waived
- Review and tap on ‘Confirm’
- Wait for the bank to send you the status of your credit card annual fee waiver request within three working days — check your email/SMS
Phone banking
- Dial DBS/POSB’s hotline at 1800 111 1111 or +65 6327 2265 if you’re overseas
- Follow and choose your menu options accordingly
- Wait for the bank to send you the status of your credit card annual fee waiver request within three working days — check your email/SMS
How to get a Citibank annual fee waiver
While there’s no need for you to speak to a Citibank customer service officer, you’ll still have to go through Citibank’s hotline in order to put in your credit card annual fee waiver request.
📣ONLY AVAILABLE ON SINGSAVER📣: You won't find this offer anywhere else!
Heads up! Citi and SingSaver are running an exclusive campaign for the Citi PremierMiles Card and Citi Prestige Card! Apply for either of these cards to receive the following:
For Citi PremierMiles Card: Receive a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$699) or an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$529) or 21K Heymax Miles or S$300 Cash + $150 Shopee Vouchers upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
For Citi Prestige Card: Get a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or a Dyson TP10 (worth S$599) or 18K Heymax Miles (worth S$300) or S$320 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
Fret not, it’s an easy and fairly quick process. I can’t speak for all, but from experience, Citibank approved my credit card annual fee waiver request almost instantly — I got the welcome SMS soon after hanging up the phone.
- Dial Citibank’s 24-hour hotline at (+65) 6225 5225 ideally using your mobile phone number registered with Citibank
- Follow and choose your menu options accordingly
- Wait for the bank to send you the status of your credit card annual fee waiver request — check your SMS
📣ONLY AVAILABLE ON SINGSAVER📣: Enjoy the following rewards and experience Fastest Rewards Fulfilment when you sign up for a Citi Prestige Card.
SingSaver's Exclusive Offer: Receive a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or a Dyson TP10 (worth S$599) or 18K Heymax Miles (worth S$300) or S$320 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
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⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up as low as S$100. Valid till 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$100 for an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$529)
- S$200 for an Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) 41mm (worth S$604.50)
- S$800 for an Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular 49mm (worth S$1,210.10)
- S$980 for a Macbook Air 13" 256GB M3 (worth S$1,599.00)
- S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128GB (worth $1,664.25)
- S$1,786 for a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Titanium Gray 12+512GB 5G (worth $2,128.00)
SingSaver's Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards and experience Fastest Rewards Fulfilment when you sign up for a Citi Credit Card:
*📣For Citi PremierMiles Card: Receive a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$699) or an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$529) or 21K Heymax Miles or S$300 Cash + $150 Shopee Vouchers upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
Get an additional S$100 eCapitaVoucher when you simultaneously open a Citi Citigold Account. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
*📣For Citi Prestige Card: Get a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or a Dyson TP10 (worth S$599) or 18K Heymax Miles (worth S$300) or S$320 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
*📣ONLY AVAILABLE ON SINGSAVER📣
Other Citi Credit Cards: Receive an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$529) or a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$699) or a Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or S$300 Cash + $150 Shopee Vouchers upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up as low as S$100. Valid till 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$100 for an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$529)
- S$200 for an Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) 41mm (worth S$604.50)
- S$800 for an Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular 49mm (worth S$1,210.10)
- S$980 for a Macbook Air 13" 256GB M3 (worth S$1,599.00)
- S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128GB (worth $1,664.25)
- S$1,786 for a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Titanium Gray 12+512GB 5G (worth $2,128.00)
How to get a UOB annual fee waiver
Unlike Citibank and DBS/POSB, UOB credit cardmembers looking to get annual fee waivers for their UOB credit cards have to speak to UOB’s customer service officer. Here’s UOB’s phone banking menu for your easy reference.
- Dial UOB’s hotline at 1800 222 2121 or, if you’re overseas, +65 6222 2121
- Follow and choose your menu options accordingly
- Wait for the bank to send you the status of your credit card annual fee waiver request — check your email/ SMS
How to get a Standard Chartered Bank annual fee waiver
Standard Chartered Bank will ask customers to put in their credit card annual fee waiver request via its automatic fee waiver system.
- Log in via Standard Chartered Online Banking or the SC Mobile app
- Click or tap on ‘Help & Services’, navigate to ‘Service request by category’
- Click or tap on ‘Card Management’, followed by ‘Credit Card Fee Waiver’
- Select up to five fee waiver-eligible card(s)
- Click or tap on ‘Next’, agree on the terms and conditions, then click or tap on ‘Yes’
- Select the annual fee transactions you would like waived
- Check your fee waiver request details
- Acknowledge and wait for bank to send you the status of your credit card annual fee waiver request(s)
How to get an OCBC annual fee waiver
OCBC customers can submit their credit card annual fee waiver request on the OCBC mobile app or via OCBC Online Banking.
OCBC mobile app
- Tap on ‘Card services’ on the left menu bar
- Tap on ‘Request fee waiver’
- Select the card that you would like waived, submit your request
- Wait for your fee waiver request to be approved
OCBC online banking
- Log in to OCBC online banking
- Click on ‘Customer service’, click on ‘Cards’ and select ‘Credit card fee waiver’
- Select the card that you would like waived, submit your request
- Wait for your fee waiver request to be approved
SingSaver's Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards when you apply for select OCBC credit cards:
For OCBC 365/90N Visa Cards: Get a Travel Bundle [Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP + 2X Apple AirTag] (worth S$570.80) or a Dyson AM07 (worth S$459) or S$270 eCapitaVoucher or S$200 Cash+S$50 eCapitaVoucher via PayNow when you make a min. spend of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Applicable to new OCBC credit card holders only. Valid till 14 August 2024. T&Cs apply.
For OCBC Infinity/90N Mastercard/Rewards Cards: Get a Travel Bundle [Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP + Apple AirTag] (worth S$525.40) or an Apple AirPods (Generation 3) with Magsafe Charging Case (worth S$274) or S$220 eCapitaVoucher or S$200 Cash via PayNow when you make a min. spend of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Applicable to new OCBC credit card holders only. Valid till 14 August 2024. T&Cs apply.
⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up as low as S$200. Valid till 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$200 for an Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) (worth S$365.70)
- S$280 for an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30)
- S$380 for a Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 UK (worth S$699.00)
- S$450.00 for a Flujo Ayla Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$1,139.00)
How to get an HSBC annual fee waiver
HSBC customers can request credit card annual fee waivers via HSBC’s 24-hour phone banking system.
- Dial HSBC’s hotline at 1800 4722 669 or +65 64722 669 if you’re overseas
- Follow and choose your menu options accordingly
- Wait for the bank to send you the status of your credit card annual fee waiver request
⭐HSBC CC Lucky Draw⭐: Apply for an HSBC Credit Card and get the chance to win a Mercedes-Benz EQB or 86,000 KrisFlyer miles (enough for a round-trip economy class ticket to Paris). Get up to 30+ chances to win when you apply for HSBC Credit Cards and spend a minimum of S$500. Valid till 23 September 2024. T&Cs apply.
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for an HSBC credit card.
HSBC Advance Card (📣Offer Only Available on SingSaver📣): Receive a Dyson V8 Slim™ Fluffy (worth S$509) or an Apple iPad 9th 10.2" WiFi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or a BEA Office Chair (worth S$509) or S$350 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending min. S$500 by end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date and providing marketing consent. Valid till 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
HSBC Live+ Card: Receive a FLUJO SmartTrax Standing Desk (worth S$699) or a Dyson AM07 (worth S$459) or a Sony WF-1000XM5 (worth S$429) or S$300 eVoucher (Redeem from Merchants such as Shopee, Grab) upon activating and spending min. S$500 by end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date and providing marketing consent. Valid till 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
Get up to S$900 worth of vouchers and cashback with Live+:
- S$300 eVoucher when you sign up with SingSaver
- S$100 cashback from HSBC when you charge 1 qualifying transaction (T&Cs)
- up to S$500 cashback from Live+ Card over 6 months (based on 8% cashback capped at S$250 per quarter)
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HSBC TravelOne Credit Card: Receive a Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer (worth S$699) or an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$529) or an Apple Watch Series 9 (worth S$604.50) or S$400 eVoucher (Redeem from merchants like Klook) or 27K Max Miles upon activating and spending min. S$1,000 plus pay annual fee of S$196.20 by end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date and providing marketing consent. Available for both new and existing card holders. Valid till 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up as low as S$100. Valid till 31 July 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$100 for an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB worth (S$529.00)
- S$250 for an Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS), 41mm worth (S$604.50)
- S$200 for a Sony HT-AX7 Portable Theatre System worth (S$769.00)
- S$588 for a Sony ZV-1M2 Vlog Camera worth (S$1,209.00)
- S$980 for a Macbook Air 13" 256GB M3 worth (S$1,599.00)
- S$1,099 for an Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128GB worth (S$1,664.25)
How to get a Maybank annual fee waiver
Maybank customers can request credit card annual fee waivers via Maybank’s 24-hour phone banking system.
- Dial Maybank’s hotline at 1800 629 2265 or +65 6533 5229 if you’re overseas
- Follow and choose your menu options accordingly
- Wait for the bank to send you the status of your credit card annual fee waiver request — Maybank will send you the outcome of your fee waiver request via SMS within seven business days
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive an Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) With Magsafe Charging Case (worth S$274) or a Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 EU (worth S$275) or S$180 eCapitaVoucher upon activating and spending min. S$500 by the end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. All applicants must provide marketing consent. Valid till 16 August 2024. T&Cs apply.
Are credit card annual fee waivers guaranteed for all cardmembers?
The short answer is: no. Nobody knows exactly how banks determine whether or not to grant you a credit card annual fee waiver.
The only exceptions are those that automatically grant you a waiver so long as you’ve hit the stipulated minimum spend, say S$10,000, S$15,000, or even S$25,000, within the year. But, of course, S$0 annual fee credit cards exist.
From experience, my self-service fee waiver requests (i.e. those performed without speaking to any customer service representative) were typically successful.
In general, the more often you use your credit card, the more you spend on it, and the more consistent you are in paying your credit card bills in full punctually, the higher chances you have in getting the annual fee waived. Also, if you have to speak to a customer service representative, be nice so they’re more inclined to help you instead of shutting you down with a big, flat ‘no’.
What to do if your credit card annual fee waiver request fails
Ask the customer service representative nicely if there’s any way they could help you appeal against the bank’s rejection. If that’s also unsuccessful and you feel you can do without that credit card of yours, consider cancelling it. Plus, there are benefits to cancelling your credit card!
But, before you do cancel, check for possible rewards points, cashback or miles. Make sure to redeem them. You do not want to forfeit those hard-earned credit card rewards.
It also doesn’t hurt to check if your recurring bills and insurance premiums are being charged to this soon-to-be cancelled credit card. If so, set up new recurring payment arrangements to avoid late payment charges and policy lapses.
Why some people pay their credit card annual fee
#1 You get something in return
Some people choose to pay their credit card annual fees because they get something in return, in the form of rewards points or bonus miles, depending on the credit card they hold.
For miles chasers like myself, it’s a no-brainer to pay the annual fee because it would have required way more spending at the rate of earning 1.2mpd or 2mpd to bag that 10,000 miles.
#2 You don’t really have a choice
While I must say that American Express offers one of the best customer service experiences in the vast world of credit cards, it is tough to get them to waive the annual fee for you.
With American Express credit cards, it’s likely that you have to pay the annual fee if you want to continue using your card. That’s just the way it is.
#3 For the sake of your credit score
Another common reason why some people pay their credit card annual fee? It’s their only credit card or their oldest credit card. A long credit history is always great news for your credit score, especially if things like late payments and partial payments have nothing to do with you!
In case you didn’t already know, a good credit score goes a long way in helping you get approved if and when you decide to take out a major loan, such as a home loan, car loan or education loan.
Credit cards with perpetual annual fee waivers
There are credit cards that offer perpetual annual fee waivers if you know where to look. For one, CIMB credit cards all come without annual fees!
The Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card, HSBC Revolution Credit Card, and UOB EVOL Credit Card also let cardmembers enjoy S$0 annual fee for life, so long as their credit card accounts are in good standing or you meet a minimum number of qualifying transactions per month.
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Credit card
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Key benefits & requirements
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Up to 6% cashback on eligible categories
Up to 7.7 mpd on eligible categories through SCB X card or SCB Visa Infinite Card
No min. spend
S$818 spend cap per month
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Up to 4 mpd on online and mobile contactless spend: 0.4 mpd on all other spend No min. spend S$1,000 spend cap permonth |
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8% cashback on online and mobile contactless spend
0.3% cashback on all other spend
Min. S$600 spend per month
Capped at S$60 cashback per month:
- S$20 per online spend
- S$20 per mobile contactless spend
- S$20 per all other spend
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Read these next:
4 Types Of Credit Cards With Lifetime Annual Fee Waivers
Best Cashback Credit Cards In Singapore
Top Credit Card Promotions And Deals On SingSaver
Cashback vs Miles vs Rewards: Which Is The Best Type Of Credit Card For You?
3 Reasons To Cancel Your Credit Card (And How To Do Just That)
Best Citibank Credit Cards in Singapore
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