Overseas Promos - HSBC Earn 10X Reward Points, OCBC Additional 2% Cash Back and other credit cards.

(Article by My Credit Cards: http://creditcardsmalaysia.blogspot.com/ )

Holiday season is just around the corner and many of you guys will be heading overseas for vacations. I have good news for you, several banks are offering incentives to ensure that you use their credit cards. The most recent promotions are from HSBC and OCBC where you do earn something extra for your overseas transactions. 

HSBC 10X Reward Points for Overseas Transactions

Ad in The Star on 16 November 2011

Until 9th January 2012, with your HSBC credit cards you may earn 10X Reward Points for your transactions relating to Airline Tickets, Hotels, Duty Free purchases ( at Eraman, The Flying Emporium KLIA & The Zone Duty Free) and any Overseas purchases. But since we are talking about HSBC promotion, always read the fine prints. The terms and conditions to earn the 10X Reward Points with your non Islamic HSBC  credit cards are: 

1. As usual, since it is a HSBC promo,  we must sms to register and pay for it! I hate this stupid HSBC sms thingy, why can't HSBC just make it auto registration and be more sincere in rewarding their cardholders. For those of you who wants to earn the 10X Reward Points, it will cost you RM0.30 to  register via sms:

Type: HSBC116-digit HSBC Credit Card  Number to 36722

2. Maximum of 12,500,000 points are to be given out per week on a first come first serve basis. No too bad, that equivalent to RM1,250,000 spending per week.

3.  Each card holder is entitled to maximum 33,000 reward points throughout the entire promotion period. That's equivalent to RM3,300 spending or about USD1,000. This is a joke. Take note, if your air tickets cost more than RM3,300 or you spend more than USD1,000 overseas, you only be getting maximum 33,000 points which is like max RM150 equivalent or less than 5% (based on spending not more than RM3.3K).

4. You are only entitled to the 10X Reward Points on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Malaysia's Time. I guess those on business trips won't be benefiting from this promo.

I really dislike HSBC promos which always comes with god knows what terms and conditions besides the need to sms.

Click here to read my article on HSBC Visa Signature

Click here to read my article on HSBC MPower Platinum

Click here to read about HSBC 20% Cash Back promotion for Food and Beverages at The Megamall and The Garden which runs till 31 January 2012. 

OCBC Additional 2% Cash Rebate for Overseas Spending

The promo is also a contest where 5 MacBook Air are up for grabs. Every swipe with your OCBC credit card overseas gives you a chance to win. And since it is a contest, you'll be required to answer a question if you are selected. 

As for the additional 2% cash back for overseas transactions with your OCBC credit cards, the good news is you don't need to register unlike the HSBC's promo mentioned above. This promo runs till 8 January 2012. But, like HSBC promo, there is a cap allocated for the promo.

1. Only RM8,000 per week is allocated. That's like for RM400,000 spending per week by OCBC cardholders versus HSBC's allocation of RM1,250,000 mentioned earlier. 

2. This additional rebate is applicable for any overseas transaction on any day unlike HSBC's. But, with only RM8,000 allocated per week, I guess the chances of you earning the extra 2% gets slimmer by the time it gets to weekends. 

3. And like HSBC's terms and conditions, this additional 2% cash rebate for OCBC also have a cap allocated for each card member. You are only entitled to RM100 cash rebate for the entire promotion, which works out to RM5,000 spending which more than HSBC's RM3,300.

4. Important thing to note, to be eligible for the 2% cash back, you need to swipe minimum RM1,000. (this info was not stated when I published this article early this morning, and was highlighted by a LYN member).

Click here to read the OCBC overseas spending promo terms and conditions.


RHB Platinum 3X Rewards Points

RHB Platinum Credit Cards are entitled to 3X reward points for every RM1 spent overseas until 31 December 2011. This promo is automatic and do not need any registration. 

UOB Preferred Platinum 

UOB Preferred Platinum  - 5X UNIRinggit Rewards points for spend in Singapore and 2X UNIRinggit Rewards points for others spend abroad. But subject to a maximum payout of 60,000,000 UNIRinggit Rewards points per calendar year based on first come first serve basis. Unlike HSBC and OCBC promos mentioned above, there is no individual cap, i.e. you will earn the extra points for whatever amount you charge to the card. This promotion have been up and running for some time now and since it is year end, better you go check if the allocated 60,000 points have been used up. Click here to UOB site to read more, there is also mentioned of free business class air ticket with your UOB MasterCard.

Benefits of Other Credit Cards for Overseas Spending

(Article by My Credit Cards: http://creditcardsmalaysia.blogspot.com/ )

Since we are talking about overseas spending, I might as well mentioned other Credit Cards that earns you more for overseas spending. I have also recently published an article titled Education Bills - Which Card Is The Best? (click here to read the article) where I listed cards that will earn you more for overseas education bills. Might as well I copy and paste them here too since these are standard overseas benefits:

1. Maybank Visa Infinite - 5X Treats Points, click here to read my article about the card.

2. Standard Charted Visa Infnite - 5X Choice Points, click here to read my article on the card.

3. HLB Visa Signature - 2X points for every RM1 and extra 1% cash back capped at RM500/year. Click here to read more about HLB VisaSignature.

4. CIMB Visa Signature and World MasterCard - 2X points.

5. Maybank Platinum - 2X Treats Points (not Maybankard 2 Platinum).

6. Alliance Platinum Credit Card  - 2X Points plus cash back. (take note -  from my experience, for overseas transactions, it is cheaper to use the MasterCard instead of Visa for Alliance case).

7. CIMB Visa Infinite - 1% cash back.

Once again, do note that above mentioned overseas rewards are standard card benefit that comes with the relevant card and are not promotions.

Also click here to read my article titled Malaysia Premier Credit Cards - Which Is The Best For You? where I have prepared a table to compare the features and benefits between World MasterCards, Visa Infinite and Visa Signature issued by CIMB Bank, Maybank, RHB, HSBC, Citibank and Hong Leong Bank. 

OTHER RELATED POSTS

Click here to read my article - Overseas Transactions - Which Credit Card is The Best? Part II

If you do travel overseas frequently, do check out Maybank latest Visa Infinite where you can earn 5X Treats Points for every RM1 spend overseas. Click here to read my article titled Maybank Visa Infinite - The Best Credit Card for Overseas.  

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