Maybank World Mastercard and Visa Infinite Cardmembers currently enjoy a fee waiver when converting TREATS points to airline miles, a benefit that also extends to TREATS points earned on their other Maybank cards.
Unfortunately, Maybank will be axing this benefit from 1 April 2025, and imposing a S$27.25 conversion fee from this point onwards.
Maybank World Mastercard and Visa Infinite adding points conversion fees
From 1 April 2025, Maybank World Mastercard and Visa Infinite Cardmembers will be subject to a processing fee when converting TREATS points to airline miles.
Starting from 1 April 2025, a SGD25 conversion fee will apply to the Maybank Frequent Flyer Programme for Maybank World Mastercard and Visa Infinite Cardmembers. Visit Maybank2u SG website for details.
-Maybank
While Maybank quotes a S$25 fee, itโs actually S$27.25 because a further 9% GST applies (Maybank, incidentally, didnโt use to display GST-inclusive prices for their credit card annual fees until I dropped them a reminder that IRAS required it).
This conversion fee will not apply to Maybank Diamante Visa Infinite or Maybank Diamante Metal Visa Infinite Cardmembers. These are specially-badged versions of the Visa Infinite for Maybankโs elite customers, which come with additional benefits like spend-free airport limo rides.
Itโs unclear whether this conversion fee will apply to the Maybank Premier World Mastercard, another specially-badged card for Maybank Premier customers.
Iโm disappointed that Maybank has decided to nerf this perk. If anything, youโd think that with all the improvements in technology, the cost of processing mileage transfers would have fallen over time (though that assumes, somewhat naively, that these fees have anything to do with the cost of processing transfers, rather than a way to make a quick buck).
Moreover, it means you can no longer use the Maybank World Mastercard or Maybank Visa Infinite to get around the conversion fees charged to other Maybank cards (since TREATS points pool, this is currently an option).
If itโs any consolation, Maybank World Mastercard or Maybank Visa Infinite Cardmembers are still automatically enrolled in the Rewards Infinite programme, which means that all their TREATS points (regardless of which Maybank card they were earned on) will not expire.
How does this fee compare to other banks?
Hereโs how Maybankโs S$27.25 conversion fee compares with the rest of the market.
| ๐ฐ Points Conversion Fees by Bank |
||
| Issuer | Per Conversion | Annual Option |
 |
Free | N/A |
 |
S$30 | N/A |
 |
S$27.251 | N/A |
 |
S$27.252 | S$43.603 |
 |
Free | N/A |
 |
S$27.254 | N/A |
 |
S$25 | N/A |
 |
S$27.25 | N/A |
 |
S$255 | S$506 |
| 1. Waived for Citi ULTIMA Cardholders 2. Waived for DBS Insignia Cardholders 3. Automatic conversions in blocks of 500 DBS points (1,000 miles) each quarter. Additional ad-hoc redemptions can be done for free. Does not apply to DBS yuu Card 4. Waived for Maybank Visa Infinite and Maybank World Mastercard Cardholders until 1 April 2025 5. Waived for UOB Reserve, UOB Visa Infinite Metal, UOB Visa Infinite and UOB Privilege Banking Cardholders 6. Automatic conversions in blocks of UNI$2,500 (5,000 miles) each month for balances above UNI$15,000. Additional ad-hoc redemptions cost S$25 each |
||
The average fee across the market hovers around S$25 (GST is applicable in all cases, though some banks choose to price this into the S$25 figure, and others charge it on top).
Special mention goes to American Express and HSBC, which continue to waive conversion fees for cardholders. For a detailed list of cards with free points conversions, refer to the article below.
What can you do with TREATS points?
TREATS Points can be transferred to four airline partners at the following ratios.
| Frequent Flyer Programme | Conversion Ratio (TREATS Points: Partner) |
 |
25,000 : 10,000 |
 |
12,500 : 5,000 |
 |
12,500 : 5,000 |
 |
4,000 : 2,000 |
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.
As a reminder, youโll need to download the Maybank TREATS app to convert TREATS points to KrisFlyer miles. This is a separate app from the Maybank2u SG (Lite) app thatโs used for all other internet banking matters.
Conclusion
Maybank World Mastercard and Visa Infinite Cardmembers will see their free points conversion perk axed from 1 April 2025, with a S$27.25 fee applicable from this date onwards.
If you were planning to transfer out your points anyway, you should aim to do so before this deadline to avoid the fee. However, I donโt think a S$27.25 fee warrants a whole account cash-out if you donโt have an immediate need for miles, given that points are evergreen on the Maybank side. If you transfer them to KrisFlyer, for example, the three-year expiry countdown will commence.
And so it beginsโฆ