Maybank has made significant strides in enhancing its miles cards, boosting the foreign currency (FCY) earn rates for both the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature and Maybank World Mastercard. However, the Maybank Visa Infinite has been oddly left behind.
Aside from a brief promotion from June to August 2024 that offered an uncapped 3.2 mpd on FCY spend and air tickets โ matching the Horizon’s promo at the time โ cardholders have been stuck with lackluster earn rates of just 1.2 mpd for local spend, and 2 mpd for FCY.
That’s put Maybank’s priciest card in an awkward spot, where it’s comfortably outclassed by the Horizon and World Mastercard- two far more affordable options. Why pay S$654 in annual fees when a S$192.60 Maybank Horizon (with three years free) delivers better value?
Well, Maybank has finally seen fit to resolve this irregularity, though not nearly in time for the year-end holidays.
Maybank Visa Infinite gets uncapped 3.2 mpd on FCY spend
From 1 January 2025, Maybank Visa Infinite and Diamante Visa Infinite Cardmembers will earn an uncapped 3.2 mpd on FCY spend, subject to a minimum spend of S$4,000 per calendar month.
Cardholders will initially earn the regular 2 mpd on FCY spend, with the remaining 1.2 mpd credited by the 7th of the following month, assuming the S$4,000 minimum spend is met. The S$4,000 minimum spend need not be on FCY alone; any transactions not on the general exclusions list will suffice.
Cardholders who fail to meet the minimum spend will continue to earn the usual 2 mpd on FCY spend, without cap.
| ๐ณ Got a Maybank Diamante Metal Visa Infinite Card? |
| Maybank Diamante Metal Visa Infinite Cardmembers will earn an uncapped 3.2 mpd on FCY spend, without any minimum spend required. |
An uncapped 3.2 mpd on FCY spend would be among the best rates in the market, matched only by other Maybank cards.
| ๐ณ FCY Earn Rates by Card (For general spending cards with uncapped earn rates only) |
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| Card | Earn Rate | Remarks |
 StanChart Beyond |
3-4 mpd | Regular: 3 mpd, PB: 3.5 mpd, PP: 4 mpd |
 Maybank World MCApply |
3.2 mpd | Min. S$4K spend per c. month. 2.8 mpd if min. S$800 spend per c. month Review |
 Maybank HorizonApply |
3.2 mpd | Min. S$800 spend per c. month. Reverts to 2.8 mpd from 1 Feb 25 Review |
 Maybank Visa InfiniteApply |
3.2 mpd | Min. S$4K spend per c. month Review |
 StanChart Visa InfiniteApply |
3 mpd | Min. S$2K spend per s. month Review |
 UOB PRVI MilesApply |
2.4 mpd | Review |
 HSBC TravelOneApply |
2.4 mpd | Review |
 OCBC VOYAGE (Premier, PPC, BOS) Apply |
2.3 mpd | Review |
 OCBC Premier Visa InfiniteApply |
2.24 mpd | |
 Citi PremierMiles CardApply |
2.2 mpd | Review |
 DBS VantageApply |
2.2 mpd | Review |
 OCBC VOYAGEApply |
2.2 mpd | Review |
 OCBC 90ยฐN CardApply |
2.1 mpd | Review |
| All other options earn 2 mpd or less | ||
The Maybank Visa Infinite has an FCY fee of 3.25%, so using it overseas represents buying miles at around 1.02 cents apiece, which is very decent in my book.
Obviously, my first choices for FCY general spending will still be:
| Card | FCY Earn | FCY Fee | CPM |
 UOB Visa SignatureApply |
4 mpd* | 3.25% | 0.81ยข |
 Amaze + Citi RewardsApply |
4 mpd^ |
2%# | 0.50ยข |
| *Min. spend S$1,000 per statement month, capped at S$2,000 per statement month ^Capped at S$1,000 per statement month, excludes travel #Amaze has no explicit FCY fee, but its rates are ~2% over Mastercard |
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But these have their caps and limitations (e.g. no bonuses for travel spend with the Citi Rewards), and if these are exhausted, or if I’m spending on a category they exclude, then the Maybank Visa Infinite (or the Horizon/World Mastercard) would come into the picture.
Remember: one of the best things about Maybank cards is that they still award points for charitable donations, education, hospitals and utilities. And if you pay these in FCY, you get the upsized earn rate too!
Does this change my assessment of the Maybank Visa Infinite?
| Maybank Visa Infinite |
|
| ๐ฆ MileLion Verdict | |
| โ Take It โ Take It Or Leave It โ Leave It |
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| What do these ratings mean? |
You might remember that just a few days ago, I published an updated review of the Maybank Visa Infinite where I declared it was a “leave it” kind of card. I’ll obviously need to update some details in that article come January 2025, but here’s the thing: I don’t think my overall opinion will have changed that much.
The mediocre earn rates were certainly a reason for dinging the Maybank Visa Infinite, but even now that they’ve been rectified somewhat, I still don’t feel it’s on the same level as the Maybank World Mastercard or Maybank Horizon Visa Signature.
The Maybank World Mastercard also earns the same uncapped 3.2 mpd on FCY spend, but has two additional benefits:
- If cardmembers do not spend at least S$4,000 per calendar month, they can still earn an uncapped 2.8 mpd on FCY spend provided they spend at least S$800 per calendar month
- Cardmembers earn an uncapped 4 mpd on local petrol, and selected dining and shopping merchants
The Maybank Horizon Visa Signature earns an uncapped 2.8 mpd on FCY spend, but:
- The rate has been temporarily upsized to 3.2 mpd till 1 February 2025
- Cardmembers also earn a 2.8 mpd (temporarily upsized to 3.2 mpd till 1 February 2025) on air tickets, capped at S$10,000 per calendar month
Come to think of it, even if the Maybank Visa Infinite matched those two features, it still wouldn’t warrant a ratings upgrade from me, simply because of its annual fee. Both the Maybank World Mastercard and Maybank Horizon Visa Signature’s annual fees can be waived fairly easily, after their initial one (World Mastercard) or three (Horizon) year fee waiver.
For the Maybank Visa Infinite, the first year fee is waived, but subsequent years’ fees cannot be waived unless you spend at least S$60,000 in a membership year.
The only use case I can think of is for someone wanting to pay insurance premiums, in SGD. The Maybank Visa Infinite will earn 1.2 mpd on these transactions, capped at S$3,000 per calendar month. This, together with the Horizon (0.24 mpd), is the only card which still earns miles on insurance premiums. You could then use that S$3,000 spending to unlock a one-way airport limo ride, capped at eight rides per year.
However, if you’re paying insurance premiums in FCY, then the Horizon would offer 3.2 mpd (or 2.8 mpd from 1 February 2025) on these transactions, very similar to the Maybank Visa Infinite without the hefty fees.
Ultimately, the Maybank Visa Infinite just doesn’t offer enough to justify its S$654 annual fee, and for that money you could find another $120K card with more generous benefits.
JetQuay benefit ending
Principal Maybank Visa Infinite Cardholders who spend at least S$3,000 in a given calendar month are entitled to book either:
- 1 complimentary one-way airport limo transfer, or
- 1 complimentary Quayside service at JetQuay, or
- 1 complimentary day-pass to gym and pool at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay
From 1 January 2025, the JetQuay option will be removed. I suspect this might have something to do with the renovation plans for JetQuay, which are well overdue. The current facility is tired and worn out, and not at all worthy of its premium billing.
What can you do with TREATS Points?
TREATS Points can be transferred to four different airline partners at the following ratios:
| Frequent Flyer Programme | Conversion Ratio (TREATS Points: Partner) |
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25,000 : 10,000* |
 |
12,500 : 5,000 |
 |
12,500 : 5,000 |
 |
4,000 : 2,000 |
| *You must convert KrisFlyer miles via the TREATS SG app (Android | iOS) to enjoy this rate. Manual conversions receive an inferior rate of 30,000 points = 10,000 miles | |
Malaysia Airlines Enrich and airasia rewards are close to worthless in my opinion, so that leaves Asia Miles and KrisFlyer as the only realistic options.
Maybank Visa Infinite and Maybank World Mastercard cardholders are automatically enrolled into the Rewards Infinite (RI) programme, so their points never expire. All conversion fees are waived for Maybank Visa Infinite and Maybank World Mastercard cardholders.
The best part? Since TREATS Points pool, the no-expiry policy and free conversion benefit also extends to other Maybank cards like the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature!
Overview: Maybank Visa Infinite
| Maybank Visa Infinite |
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| Apply | |||
| T&Cs | |||
| Income Req. | S$150,000 p.a. | Points Validity | No expiry |
| Annual Fee | S$654 (FYF) |
Min. Transfer |
25,000 points (10,000 miles)* |
| Miles with Annual Fee |
N/A | Transfer Partners |
4 |
| FCY Fee | 3.25% | Transfer Fee | N/A |
| Local Earn | 1.2 mpd | Points Pool? | Yes |
| FCY Earn | Up to 3.2 mpd |
Lounge Access? | Yes |
| Special Earn | – | Airport Limo? | Yes |
| Cardholder Terms and Conditions | |||
| *For KrisFlyer; 5,000 miles for Cathay and Malaysia Airlines, 2,000 points for Air Asia |
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The Maybank Visa Infinite has a minimum income requirement of S$150,000, and an annual fee of S$654 that is waived for the first year.
Cardholders normally earn 1.2 mpd on local spend, and 2 mpd on FCY spend. As mentioned, the FCY rate will be upsized to 3.2 mpd from 1 January 2025 for cardholders who spend at least S$4,000 in a calendar month.
Key benefits include four airport lounge visits, and a complimentary one-way airport limo ride with a minimum spend of S$3,000 in a calendar month.
Maybank also offers the Diamante Visa Infinite and Metal Visa Infinite to Maybank Private Clients who maintain at least US$1 million in assets. These cards have different privileges, such as unlimited Priority Pass visits and 12 no-spend airport limo transfers.
Conclusion
From 1 January 2025, Maybank Visa Infinite Cardmembers will earn an uncapped 3.2 mpd on FCY spend, subject to a minimum spend of S$4,000 in a calendar month.
This, at the very least, puts the card on par with the Maybank World Mastercard and Maybank Horizon Visa Signature for FCY spending. However, it still lacks the other bonus categories that the other two cards offer, such as petrol and air tickets.
So I really see this as the bare minimum that Maybank could have done, and don’t consider it a compelling reason to sign up. This card is good for paying insurance premiums, and little else.
