DBS removes automatic annual fee waivers for most cards: Here’s what you need to know
Updated: 3 Aug 2026
Written byAaron Wong
The Milelion
DBS has made some major changes to its policy for credit card annual fee waivers, which came into effect on 1 August 2026.
Previously, it was possible for certain cardholders to receive an automatic annual fee waiver by meeting a minimum annual spend. Going forward, that option will be removed for several popular cards, namely the DBS Altitude, DBS Woman’s World Card and DBS Vantage.
To be fair, DBS did provide plenty of notice about these changes — cardholders were informed back in August last year. However, it remains unclear whether this is simply a removal of a requirement that was not always strictly enforced, or if it signals a broader shift towards a stricter stance on fee waivers.
DBS removes automatic fee waivers
From 1 August 2026, DBS has ended its automatic fee waivers for the following credit cards.
|
Card |
Annual Fee |
Minimum Spend for Annual Fee Waiver |
|
S$196.20 |
S$25,000 |
|
|
S$196.20 |
S$25,000 |
|
|
S$599.50 |
S$60,000 |
It should be emphasised that the minimum spends were never strictly enforced for the Altitude and Woman’s World Card in the first place. After all, expecting cardholders to spend S$25,000 a year on a card with a minimum income requirement of S$30,000 is quite a big ask! I personally have never had issues getting my annual fees waived on either card, despite spending nowhere near the S$25,000 mark.
However, the Vantage Card is another matter entirely. DBS has been very firm about the S$60,000 minimum spend for an annual fee waiver, so the removal of this option is a more significant loss.
Will annual fees be enforced?
To be clear, the removal of automatic fee waivers does not mean that annual fees are now strictly non-waivable. It still depends on which card we’re talking about.
I find it hard to see DBS enforcing the annual fees for entry-level cards like the Altitude and Woman’s World Card, given that competitors on the market have not done the same.
It’s a different situation for the Vantage, however. This is a premium card that includes benefits like a complimentary ALL Accor+ Explorer membership and 10 lounge visits, so unless you have a significant amount of AUM with DBS — in which case you might be offered a top-tier Insignia Card anyway — it’s very unlikely to be given away for free.
For what it’s worth, cardholders who pay the annual fees on the Altitude and Vantage will receive 5,000 DBS Points (10,000 miles) and 12,500 DBS Points (25,000 miles) respectively.
Decision Guide
Will annual fees be enforced?
To be clear, the removal of automatic fee waivers does not mean that annual fees are now strictly non-waivable. It still depends on which card we’re talking about.
I find it hard to see DBS enforcing the annual fees for entry-level cards like the Altitude and Woman’s World Card, given that competitors on the market have not done the same.
It’s a different situation for the Vantage, however. This is a premium card that includes benefits like a complimentary ALL Accor+ Explorer membership and 10 lounge visits, so unless you have a significant amount of AUM with DBS — in which case you might be offered a top-tier Insignia Card anyway — it’s very unlikely to be given away for free.
For what it’s worth, cardholders who pay the annual fees on the Altitude and Vantage will receive 5,000 DBS Points (10,000 miles) and 12,500 DBS Points (25,000 miles) respectively.
|
Card |
Annual Fee |
Renewal Miles |
|
DBS Altitude Card |
S$196.20 |
10,000 |
|
DBS Woman’s World Card |
S$196.20 |
- |
|
DBS Vantage Card |
S$599.50 |
25,000 |
The effective cost of 1.92 cents (Altitude) and 2.4 cents (Vantage) per mile may not be very compelling, given that you can purchase miles for less through bill payment platforms like CardUp and Citi PayAll. However, in the case of the Vantage, the value of the 10 lounge visits and ALL Accor+ Explorer membership should also weigh into your decision.
Do note that if your annual fee is waived for the DBS Altitude or Vantage Card (as unlikely as the latter is), the 5,000 or 12,500 DBS Points will be reversed. Be careful not to redeem these before requesting a waiver, or you will be charged S$0.0388 per DBS Point.
Interestingly, DBS has not eliminated spend-based fee waivers altogether. These continue to be offered on the following cards, with minimum spends of S$15,000 to S$25,000 (which I strongly suspect will not be enforced anyway).
|
Card |
Annual Fee |
Minimum Spend for Annual Fee Waiver |
|
DBS Takashimaya AMEX |
S$196.20 |
Min. spend S$25,000 |
|
DBS Mastercard Platinum Card |
S$196.20 |
Min. spend S$25,000 |
|
DBS Woman’s Card |
S$163.50 |
Min. spend S$15,000 |
Before You Decide On An Action
Check which of your cards is affected
Only DBS Altitude, Woman's World, and Vantage lost automatic waivers from 1 August 2026.
Review your card's benefits
Weigh lounge access, Accor+ Explorer, or renewal miles against the annual fee.
Confirm before redeeming renewal points
Redeeming Altitude or Vantage renewal miles before requesting a waiver forfeits them.
How about other cards?
While every bank will certainly look at your annual spending when deciding whether to grant an annual fee waiver, only a few — HSBC, Maybank and OCBC — publish the criteria explicitly.
American Express, Bank of China, Citibank and Standard Chartered do not publicise the minimum spend necessary for an annual fee waiver. UOB only has explicit guidelines for two cards (the UOB PRVI Miles AMEX and UOB EVOL).
In general, my advice would be that you shouldn’t be paying annual fees on entry-level credit cards, which I define as those with minimum income requirements of S$30,000 and annual fees below S$200. Banks have little incentive to enforce fees on this segment, given the intense competition and the ease with which customers can switch to alternatives. If a waiver is denied, the simplest solution is often to cancel the card and move to a comparable product elsewhere.
Where annual fees may make sense is for premium cards like the Citi Prestige, DBS Vantage or OCBC VOYAGE, where the bundled benefits can justify the cost. In such cases, the decision should be based on whether you can extract sufficient value from perks like lounge access, airport limo transfers, or the renewal miles.
Conclusion
DBS’s decision to remove automatic annual fee waivers shouldn’t cause you to lose much sleep — at least for entry-level cards. In practice, little is likely to change for the Altitude and Woman’s World Card, where fee waivers have been historically easy to obtain and competitive pressure remains high.
The bigger impact will be on the DBS Vantage Card, where the S$60,000 minimum spend was the only way of securing a fee waiver. Cardholders will now need to be more deliberate about whether they’re willing to pay for the benefits, rather than relying on a spend-based workaround.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice.
About the author
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to teach people how to travel better for less, with credit cards, airline and hotel loyalty programmes. With 500,000 miles flown and counting, he’s keen to debunk the myth that you can’t travel in style without breaking the bank.
The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. While we review and compare financial products to help you find the best options, we do not provide personalised recommendations or investment advisory services. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions.