credit card

[new]

How difficult is it to obtain a credit card when first arriving to Singapore?

First we were thinking of simply keeping our American issued cards, but then we'd be paying everything in USD. Does this make sense or is it better to forget the stateside ones and go for a locally issued card? Would appreciate any comments.

[Rob]

IF you are going to be paid in SGD, then forget the US cards. You will be paying conversion charges everytime you use the card and when you pay convert SGD to USD to pay the bill. You will also be at the mercy of the USD/SGD rate. Given that Sing Dollar is currently following the Yen down the toilet, US dollars are getting more and more expensive to buy (this could of course change at any time)

[frequent flier]

try citibank for a singapore airlines or cathay card

[henry]

If you are not a Singapore PR it can be a real hassle to get a CC.  My salary is high and I have US CCs, but like you, wanted a SGD CC so I wouldnt be burning my USD.  Citibank charges are high.  Standard Chartered turned me down.  Got one with DBS, where I also have a deposit account, and have been happy making purchases w/ it ever since.  Thus, I recommend DBS and NOT Standard Chartered or Citibank.

[Newman2]

Does any bank offer VISA or MasterCard Check Card (or called Debit Card)

[nikki m]

newman2 we have a dbs account which functions as a debit card although it is not also a visa....solely a atm/debit card.

[SoSo]

I moved down from Tokyo where I had an Amex card. You can apply for one here and refer to the US account. I got mine without any hassle...

[Black Beauty]

Some banks are looking for a 100,000 SGD annual salary before issuing a credit card to foreigners.

[Card user]

If you have an Amex you can transfer the account from one location to another. Don't need to go throught the hassle of re-applying etc. The Amex you are issued here would be in SGD but your US accumulated points come too (and you can link it to your Sing Air frequent flyer card too for the extra points!!!). I've transfered my Amex from HK to Aus to HK to S'pore with no hassles.

[alanh70]

Easy peasy... HSBC took all of 4 days to approve our card. Also, AMEX and Diners are here in Singapore. Easy to get an AMEX card if you are an old customer. All you need do is pickup an application form, make a copy of your Passport, Employment Pass and letter from company stating Salary and send this together with the application. Easy process - so long as you have an employment pass which is valid for more than 1 year they will, in most cases approve. We actually had a rep from AMEX come round our office touting for business... free gift, free first years membership and all...

[Enigma & Tilly]

I am not sure if it is the same for Amex in the US as Australia, but I found that I was able to get reward $ for AUS$ spent in Australia but in Singapore the reward points system is not as favourable.  I am defiantly not a expert in this area (Tilly is) but in some countries you have extended warranties associated with purchases if you have a Amex card, you may loose existing benefits by changing from US to Sing.  Tilly found we would have been a lot worse off by changing cards.  The exchange rate be between US and Sing is really no problem because your purchases are usually in S$, Malaysian Ringgit, or Indonesian Rupee but you will be paying it by S$ transfered to US bank account or paid in Singapore, so it comes out in the wash (unless the is a currency meltdown on the S$), you can pay your bill at the Amex Office on Beach Road or use internet banking.

Our Visa card is the same we actually get double points for any purchases we make overseas (outside of Australia) and have free AUS$500,000 travel insurance if we use our Visa card, which won't cover us in Singapore but will cover us outside of Singapore, which is a bonus.

[This message has been edited by Enigma & Tilly (edited 24-03-2001).]

[alanh70]

Rewarsd system for AMEX are based on the US Dollar. So you will have to spend the equivalent of 1 US Dollar ( S $ 1.7x) to qualify for the same points.

[Liya]

New,

In Israel,when we use our Gold Master Card members, we get all kind of travel&discounts on Gourmet dining clubs.
The Platinum members,though, get (if they collect enough points) free flight tickets to all the destinies.

Arriving on July, we were advised to open account in DBS bank. (Don't know what credit card they work with.)

Good luck,

[NoProblem]

We had absolutely no problem with HSBC. Linked the Gold Visa to our new account opened at the same time. We use the same card as a cash card and the full amount is paid off monthly. Tried previously with DBS but the service was terrible.

[black beauty]

OK so you mean to say if I have an exsisting AMEX from Canada, I can just ask them to transfer it over as a SGD card?
Or do I have to apply for an AMEX and then let them know that I'm an exsisting card holder?