What Are The Different Credit Card Fees And How To Avoid Them?

Alevin K Chan

Alevin K Chan

Last updated 11 March, 2024

Credit cards come with various fees and charges, which can catch some users by surprise. Here’s a complete guide to the different credit card fees you may encounter and how to avoid them (if possible). 

The most attractive thing about credit cards is the rewards they offer on your spending, as well as the various perks and privileges that cardholders can enjoy. 

In exchange, credit cards come with some charges and fees, partly to offset the costs of these rewards and privileges, but also as a means to manage the risk of credit defaults. Fees are also imposed to cover the administrative costs of maintaining your credit card account. 

Read the cardholder’s agreement and you’ll find a mind-boggling list of credit card fees and charges that come attached to that shiny new credit card

You don’t have to worry about paying the entire list of fees, though, especially if you’re careful about using your credit card and diligent about paying off your bills on time. 

Nonetheless, it is still good to be aware of them, as well as how you can avoid them. 

Table of contents


Common credit card fees and charges and how to avoid them

Annual card fee

The annual card fee is akin to a membership fee that you pay in exchange for enjoying the various rewards, perks and benefits offered by your card. It is a fixed fee that is charged to your credit card account on the anniversary of your card membership, although it may be altered at the card issuer’s discretion. 

If you have supplementary cards linked to your account, note that each may have an annual fee attached too. However, this is likely to be a smaller amount than that charged on the principal card. 

How much do credit card annual fees cost in Singapore?

Credit card annual fees typically range from around  S$200 for entry-level cards to S$600 or more for premium cards like the Visa Infinite cards. While many credit cards charge an annual fee, not all cards do. 

Credit card
Annual fee (incl. GST)
Fee waiver
AMEX Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card
amex-2
S$179.85
First year waived
AMEX CapitaCard
2023_AMEX_CAPITACARD
S$174.40
First year waived
CIMB World Mastercard
CIMB-WORLD-MASTERCARD_2019-LR-1024x674
None
n/a
CIMB Visa Infinite Card
CIMB-VISA-INFINITE_2019-LR-1024x674
None 
n/a
Citi PremierMiles Card
CITI_PREMIERMILES_MASTER
S$196.20
First year waived
Citi Rewards Card
CITI_REWARDS_MASTER
S$196.20
First year waived
DBS yuu Visa Card
DBSYuu_Visa-2
S$196.20
First year waived
DBS Altitude American Express Card
DBS-Altitude-Amex-_may-15-1024x668-1
S$196.20
First year waived
DCS Cashback Card
DCS Cashback Card New_Sep2023
S$196.20
First year waived
DCS Ultimate Platinum Mastercard
DCS MC Platinum RoseGold-min
S$196.20
First year waived
HSBC Advance Credit Card
HSBC-Advance-Credit-Card
S$196.20
First year waived
HSBC Revolution Credit Card
HSBC-revolution
None
n/a
Maybank Visa Horizon Signature Card
Maybank-Horizon-Platinum-Visa-Card
S$196.20
First year waived
Maybank World Mastercard
maybank_world_mastercard
S$240
First year waived
OCBC 365 Credit Card
OCBC365
S$196.20
First two years waived. Thereafter, waived with min. spend of S$10,000 per year
OCBC Infinity Cashback Card
OCBC-INFINITY-
S$196.20
First two years waived. Thereafter, waived with min. spend of S$10,000 per year
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
SCB_SMART_CARD-w1920
None
n/a
Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card
SC_Card_OM_Journey_20220816-AssetA-RGB-2500px_HENRY YEO
S$196.20
First year waived
UOB ONE Card
UOB_ONE-Mar-21-2022-09-53-29-49-AM
S$196.20
First year waived
UOB PRVI Miles Card
UOB_PRVI_MASTERCARD
S$261.60
First year waived

 


Welcome Offer: Receive S$88 Cashback when you make a minimum of S$108 eligible spends within 30 days of card approval date. Plus, receive S$100 Cashback (S$188 in total) when you increase your minimum eligible spends to S$988 within 60 days of card approval date. Valid till 31 January 2025. T&Cs apply.


How to avoid credit card annual fees

As you can see from the list above, not all credit cards charge an annual fee. Hence, one way to avoid credit card fees is to only apply for credit cards that do not have one. 

But given the small number of credit cards in Singapore that offer perpetual waiver of annual fees, you may find yourself having to choose from a limited selection, or having to miss out on credit cards with the rewards and perks that you want. 

Make use of the fee waiver

Many credit cards waive their annual fees for at least the first year, so you can make use of the credit card during the waiver period without paying a fee. 

Some credit cards automatically waive your annual fee if you spend a certain amount before the year is up. So if you’re regularly spending at or more than the waiver limit, you will likely never see the annual fee listed on your statement. 

Ask for an annual fee waiver

If you have a credit card that doesn't explicitly offer to waive your fee, don’t be discouraged. You can still contact your card issuer and request a fee waiver. Look through your mobile banking app to see how you can do so – many banks have a built-in function where you can request for an annual fee waiver in just a few taps. 

If online channels are not available, you can call your bank to request a fee waiver over the phone. Your request may be honoured on the spot, in which case you can simply get on with your day, as the annual fee will be reversed from your statement. 

If your request is declined, you can ask if there’s anything you can do to get your fee waived. Often, your fee can be waived if you spend a certain amount on your credit card. But customer service agents aren’t allowed to disclose this sum (remember, the phone calls are recorded), so don’t threaten or get annoyed at them. 

Instead try to see if they give you a hint. If the amount seems minor, charge the amount to your card, and try to get your annual fee waived again in a few days. 

What if you’re unable or unwilling to spend more on your card to get your fee waived? You can try sending in an appeal if your request is denied. 

If your appeal is denied, you may then choose to pay the fee and keep the card or cancel your card and re-apply for it sometime later, perhaps when there’s a particularly attractive welcome offer. 


SingSaver's Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards when you sign up for a Citi Credit Card:

🚀Fastest Rewards Fulfilment🚀: Get the cash rewards within four (4) weeks after successful application — the fastest rewards fulfilment yet! T&Cs apply.

*📣For Citi PremierMiles Card: Receive an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or 18K Heymax Miles or S$320 FairPrice Vouchers or S$320 Cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card offer is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 October 2024.  T&Cs apply.

Get an additional S$100 eCapitaVoucher when you simultaneously open a Citi Citigold Account. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

*📣For Citi Prestige Card: Get a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or 18K Heymax Miles (worth S$300) or S$320 FairPrice Vouchers or S$320 Cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card offer is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply

*📣ONLY AVAILABLE ON SINGSAVER📣

Other Citi Credit Cards: Receive an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or a Hinomi H1 Classic V3 Ergonomic Office Chair (With Headrest) (worth S$659) or an Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408) or S$320 FairPrice Vouchers or S$320 Cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

For Citi SMRT Card and Citi M1 Platinum Visa Card: Receive an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or S$320 FairPrice Vouchers or S$320 Cash via PayNow upon activating and spending (min. S$500 spend) within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

Rewards Upgrade Campaign_BLOGARTICLE_800x250 (1)

⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up as low as S$200. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

  • 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)


Interest charges 

Interest charges are levied on your credit card account when you fail to pay off your statement in full. 

Once past the statement due date, any outstanding balance amount is charged interest based on the credit card’s prevailing interest rate – averaging around 28% per annum – and pro-rated for the month.

This amount is then added to your outstanding balance, to be cleared by the next billing cycle. Failing to do so will result in another round of interest charges levied on the outstanding balance, further increasing the amount owed. 

How to avoid interest charges on credit cards

Don’t carry a balance

The best way to avoid interest charges is to limit your spending to how much you can pay off by the end of the month. 

Before you use your credit card, work out how much you can afford to spend every month, and deduct 10% as a safety margin. Then, track your spending using your mobile banking app – or even a pen and paper ledger – and make sure not to exceed your budget. 

Split up your balance into instalments

If you need to purchase a big ticket item, such as a refrigerator or air-con system, try using your credit card’s instalment payment facility to split up your purchase over several instalments for more manageable payments each month. 

Doing so will cause your credit card balance to be reduced by the total amount and restored as you pay your instalments month by month. You will also not earn any rewards such as air miles or cashback on purchases made on instalments, but at least you won’t have to cough up extra for interest charges.


Late fees

Not paying your credit card bill in full on time will also incur a late fee. This is pegged at around S$100 per event and will be added to your total outstanding balance for the next billing cycle. 

This means that by the next cycle, interest will be charged on this S$100 if you do not pay your credit card bill off, causing your debt to start snowballing!

How to avoid late fees

Since the condition for triggering late fees is the same as for interest charges, you can use the same tips to avoid them.

In short, always pay off your credit card bill in full and before the due date.


SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for an HSBC credit card.

HSBC Advance Card and HSBC Live+ Card: Receive a Flujo SmarTrax Standing Desk (worth S$739) or a Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20+ (worth S$449) or an Apple AirPods Pro (Gen 2) With Magsafe Charging Case (worth S$349) or S$330 Lazada Voucher 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 9 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

HSBC TRAVELONE_SEP_IN BLOG ARTICLE_800x250

HSBC TravelOne Card: Receive an Apple AirPods Pro (Gen 2) With Magsafe Charging Case (worth S$349) or S$330 Lazada Voucher or 15,000 Max Miles upon activating and spending min. S$500 by end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date, paying the annual fee of S$196.20 incl. GST, and providing marketing consent. Offer available for both new and existing customers. Valid till 9 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

Or, fulfil the same requirements and receive a S$50 eCapita Voucher (fulfilled by SingSaver) on top of 20,000 miles (fulfilled by HSBC). Offer available for both new and existing customers. Valid till 9 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

Rewards Upgrade Campaign_BLOGARTICLE_800x250 (1)

⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up as low as S$200. Valid until 9 October 2024. T&Cs apply.

  • 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)

Cash advance fee 

The balance in your credit card may be withdrawn in cash, effectively turning into a short-term cash loan from your credit card issuer. This is known as a cash advance, and the amount taken will be charged to your credit card bill. 

While this might be a convenient option in a pinch – for instance, if you need cash overseas and can’t find a machine that works with your ATM or debit card – be aware that the amount withdrawn will be subject to interest charges (see above) if not repaid in time. 

Also, when you perform a cash advance, you will be charged a cash advance fee for the service, equivalent to around 8% of the amount withdrawn or a minimum of S$15. 

How to avoid cash advance fee

Given the high costs of a credit card cash advance and the potential for interest charges, it is not a recommended method for getting the cash you need. 

Instead, consider applying for a personal loan for lower interest rates and a longer loan tenure (between one to seven years) to more comfortably pay off your borrowings.


Foreign currency transaction fee

When you use your credit card to make purchases in another country, or pay in a foreign currency, your transaction will be subject to a foreign currency transaction fee. This fee is made up of a charge levied by your bank, as well as the payment network provider (VISA, Mastercard, American Express, etc). 

Foreign currency transaction fees hover around 3%. Here’s how much card issuers in Singapore charge for foreign currency transactions. 

Card issuer
Foreign currency transaction fee
American Express
3.25%
Citi
Up to 3.3%
DBS/POSB
3.25%
Maybank
3.25%
HSBC
3.25%
Standard Chartered
3.5%
OCBC
3.25%
UOB
3.25%


How to avoid foreign transaction fees

The amaze card is a multi-currency debit card that has the unique ability to link a Mastercard credit card. It also does not incur foreign currency transaction charges. 

What this means for you is that you can pay for your foreign currency transaction from your linked card, while avoiding the 3.25% foreign currency conversion fee. 

Choose a credit card with high rewards on foreign currency spends

If you’re unable to avoid paying the foreign currency transaction fee, you can try to offset it with high credit card rewards. 

One good candidate is the UOB PRVI Miles, which awards 2.4 miles per dollar for overseas purchases. Because your miles rewards are earned on the entire transaction amount (in S$5 blocks), you can claw back some value from the extra fees as well, and not just the original cost of the purchase.


UOB Credit Card Welcome Offer: Receive a Samsonite EVOA Z Spinner 25” Exp (worth S$730) or a GoPro (worth S$590) or an AirPods Pro and AirTag (2 units) (worth S$439) or up to S$350 Cash Credit or up to 31,000 miles when you apply for select UOB credit cards and fulfil the minimum spend requirements. Valid till 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much are credit card fees on average?

There are a few fees and charges to look out for when using credit cards. Two of the major ones are annual fees, and interest charges. 

Annual fees are charged upon reaching the anniversary of your card membership, and typically ranges from around S$200 for entry level cards, and up to S$600 for premium cards. There are a few credit cards in Singapore that do not charge annual fees, while those that do often offer waivers for the first year or two, or when you fulfil annual spending requirements. You can request for waivers of annual fees by contacting your bank. 

Meanwhile, interest charges are levied on overdue balances in your credit card statement, according to the interest rate on your credit card. There will also be a late charge applied. Note that both of these charges are added to your statement and will compound until paid off. 

How to avoid paying credit card annual fees?

To avoid paying credit card fees, you can apply for cards with no annual fees; only use the card during its annual fee-waiver period; fulfil the spending requirement to qualify for annual fee waiver (if available); or simply contact your card issuer to request for a waiver. 

Why are credit card fees so high?

Credit cards offer several rewards, perks and privileges in exchange for a membership fee charged annually. 

This annual fee varies according to the reward-earning rate and the level of privileges offered, with high-end cards that provide luxurious benefits having annual fees costing several hundred a year. 

Meanwhile, credit cards targeted at the mass market are often reasonably priced, considering you can get back higher value in rewards, discounts and deals.

Alevin loves helping people make good money decisions. He briefly flirted with being a Financial Advisor, but quickly realised writing about personal finance is the better way to go.

FINANCIAL TIP:

Use a personal loan to consolidate your outstanding debt at a lower interest rate!

Sign up for our newsletter for financial tips, tricks and exclusive information that can be personalised to your preferences!