While Singapore’s public transport system has been accepting Visa and Mastercard payments since before COVID, there’s been no love for American Express cards.
But that’s now changing, with the LTA announcing that American Express cards will soon be accepted for the payment of public transport fares. This includes both American Express-issued cards and those issued by partner banks, whether from Singapore or overseas—so tourists can also tap to pay with their AMEX cards.
Unfortunately, American Express has confirmed that it won’t be offering credit card rewards for SimplyGo transactions, though DBS and UOB-issued AMEX cards will earn rewards per the bank’s usual T&Cs.
American Express cards will be accepted by SimplyGo
From 15 May 2025, American Express cards will be accepted for bus and MRT rides via SimplyGo.
Cardholders can tap their AMEX cards at the gantries, or add them to their mobile wallet and tap their phones to pay. They will be able to track rides and get fare notifications via the SimplyGo app.
Do note that you won’t be able to use AMEX cards to top-up EZ-Link cards at General Ticketing Machines or Top-up Kiosks, but really, there’s no reason why you’d want to do so anyway.
How are transactions posted?
SimplyGo fares charged to Visa or Mastercard cards are posted as follows.
- Visa: Fare charges are accumulated and charged daily
- Mastercard: Fare charges are accumulated and charged every five days or S$15, whichever comes first
However, we don’t know at the moment how SimplyGo transactions will post for American Express cards. This is important because credit cards have a certain minimum spend that must be hit before any points can be earned (see next section). If you spend below this threshold, you don’t earn anything.
I’ve reached out to American Express for clarification, and will update this post when I receive a response.
Can you earn rewards with SimplyGo?
Since DBS and UOB already award points for SimplyGo transactions made with Visa or Mastercard, it’s logical to assume the same will apply for AMEX as well.
Unfortunately, American Express has confirmed via a spokesperson that they will not be offering cashback, Membership Rewards points or KrisFlyer miles for SimplyGo transactions. That seems unnecessarily stingy if you ask me, since the earn rates for AMEX cards are rather mediocre to begin with.
| Card | Earn Rate | Min. Spend to Earn Points |
 UOB PRVI Miles AMEX |
1.4 mpd | S$5* (see footnote) |
 DBS Altitude AMEX |
1.3 mpd | S$1.54 |
| *For Visa cards, UOB awards UNI$ based on the accumulated SimplyGo spend per calendar month, so it’s likely they’ll do something similar for AMEX. No special arrangement is required for Mastercard, because accumulated fares are already posted every 5 days or S$15 by default. |
||
That said, there are other ways of earning up to 4 mpd on SimplyGo rides with Visa or Mastercard, and I’d prioritise those ahead of AMEX. Refer to the post below for more information (I’ll be publishing an updated 2025 version in the next few weeks).
2024 Edition: Best Credit Cards for Public Transport (SimplyGo)
Conclusion
From 15 May 2025, American Express cardholders—whether locals or visitors —can enjoy the convenience of tapping their cards or mobile wallets to pay for public transport via SimplyGo.
While the added flexibility is a welcome development, American Express will not be offering cashback, Membership Rewards points or KrisFlyer miles for SimplyGo transactions (though DBS and UOB-issued AMEX cardholders can continue to earn points).
In any case, you would probably get better value from using a Visa or Mastercard with higher earn rates, and those would still be my first choice going forward.
Can’t wait to tap my Amex plat charge when boarding the bus and give bus uncle a smirk
The prestige of a AMEX plat nowadays ain’t the same as it was years back.
That’s why I dropped it last month after holding it for years. All I feel is that not only they change the game to be more annoying, but also water down the services to the card holders, “you” really don’t matter anymore
He won’t even bother to look at what’s in your hand 😝
didnt u just bash the plat charge a while back?
ego trip over the bus uncle….geez
Holding Amex plat charge and still taking a bus? You’re either a loser or troll, or both.
I think I am a loser, I have been holding this card for years and I take bus everyday.
Try to tap the centurion lah.
Hi Aaron, you mentioned that for Mastercard, fare charges are accumulated and charged every five days or S$15, whichever comes first.
For foreign Mastercards, is the Foreign Bank Card Admin Fee of $0.60 charged every five days, or per day for the five days which will thus total $3.00? Thank you
Will the MRT, a licensed public utility, finally stop screwing over tourists and visitors with the ugly foreign card fee, which is a s high as 40% (on a ride between CBD and Orchard)??
This really irks a lot of people and goes against Singapore’s hard fought image of high ethics and low corruption .