Credit Card Comparison: Maybank Family & Friends Card vs Citi Cash Back vs CIMB Visa Signature Card

Denise Bay

Denise Bay

Last updated 24 November, 2021

Choices are never easy. That’s why, we do the math, so you don’t have to. Compare This, a SingSaver series, is here to help make decisions a little easier for you.


Want a cashback credit card that lets you rack up rewards on groceries and more? Take your pick from Maybank Family & Friends Card, Citi Cash Back and CIMB Visa Signature Card. 

 

Maybank Family & Friends Card, Citi Cash Back and CIMB Visa Signature Card are high cashback credit cards you wouldn’t want to miss considering how rewarding they can be. Besides dishing out generous cashback on essentials like groceries, depending on which credit card you hold, you can also look forward to earning high cashback on common categories like dining, food deliveries, petrol, online shopping and more. 

While they may seem similar at first glance, Maybank Family & Friends Card, Citi Cash Back and CIMB Visa Signature Card aren’t duplicates of each other. Read on to find out more about them, what they have to offer and which one could be the right one for you.

Maybank Family & Friends Card vs Citi Cash Back vs CIMB Visa Signature Card

Credit card  Key benefits
Maybank Family & Friends Card 8% cash rebates on groceries

8% cash rebates on dining and food deliveries, transport, retail and pets, data communication & online TV streaming, online fashion, entertainment, pharmacy and wellness
Citi Cash Back 8% cashback on groceries

8% cashback on petrol and 6% cashback on dining
CIMB Visa Signature Card 10% cashback on groceries

10% cashback on online shopping, beauty/wellness, pet shops/veterinary services and cruises 

What these cashback credit cards have in common 

Maybank Family & Friends Card, Citi Cash Back and CIMB Visa Signature Card offer higher-than-usual cashback if you are able to chalk up a minimum spend of S$800 per month. 

These three cashback credit cards are great for grocery shopping (and more!) and they only require cardmembers to have a minimum annual income of S$30,000.

How these cashback credit cards differ 

Comparison #1: Cashback workings

  Maybank Family & Friends Card Citi Cash Back CIMB Visa Signature Card
Cashback workings 8% cash rebates on groceries, dining and food deliveries, transport, retail and pets, data communication & online TV streaming, online fashion, entertainment, pharmacy and wellness — simply pick five of your preferred categories

Unlimited 0.3% cash rebates on all other spend 
8% cashback on grocery shopping, both online and at major supermarkets

8% cashback on petrol spending (up to 20.88% savings at Esso and Shell) 

6% cashback on dining at restaurants, cafes, fast food eateries, and caterers

Unlimited 0.25% cashback on other spend
10% cashback on groceries, online shopping, beauty/wellness, pet shops/veterinary services and cruises

Unlimited 0.2% cashback on other spend

Maybank Family & Friends Card, Citi Cash Back and CIMB Visa Signature Card offer generous cashback on essentials like groceries and more. If you drive or dine out a lot, definitely consider going for Maybank Family & Friends Card or Citi Cash Back to boost the overall cashback you can potentially earn. 

The CIMB Visa Signature Card is a good option if you tend to spend a fairly equal amount across those five categories.

Comparison #2: Cashback cap

  Maybank Family & Friends Card Citi Cash Back CIMB Visa Signature Card
Cashback cap S$125 per calendar month; split into S$25 per category  S$80 per statement month S$100 per statement month; split into S$20 per category 

A cashback cap is a common feature across credit cards that offer generous cashback. In this Maybank Family & Friends Card vs Citi Cash Back vs CIMB Visa Signature comparison, the more fussy cards are, of course, the Maybank Family & Friends Card and CIMB Visa Signature Card.

For these two cards, you’re required to plan and track your purchases if you want to maximise your cashback every month. 

Comparison #3: Annual fee waiver

  Maybank Family & Friends Card Citi Cash Back CIMB Visa Signature Card
Annual fee waiver Three years waiver First year waiver Free for life 

CIMB Visa Signature Card lets you enjoy all the perks without having you bother about annual fees at all. Which card comes with free supplementary cards? Maybank Family & Friends Card lets you enjoy a free supplementary card while CIMB Visa Signature offers cardmembers up to four free supplementary CIMB credit cards.  

Comparison #4: Extra perks 

  Maybank Family & Friends Card Citi Cash Back CIMB Visa Signature Card
Extra perks Maybank retail, dining and lifestyle promotions

3X interest on your child's savings with Maybank Family Plus
Up to S$1 million coverage when you charge your travel tickets to the card

Citi World Privileges: Get dining, lifestyle, travel and shopping deals locally and in 95 other countries
CIMB dining, retail and lifestyle offers across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia

Transit with ease with SimplyGo

Complimentary travel insurance of up to S$500,000 for you and your family when you charge your full travel fares to the card 

Access to Visa Signature Concierge

Each card offers different extra benefits. If you enjoy travelling during normal times, the free travel insurance coverage that comes with Citi Cash Back and CIMB Visa Signature Card could be particularly enticing.

Conclusion: Which one should you choose?

Maybank Family & Friends Card, Citi Cash Back and CIMB Visa Signature Card let cardmembers rack up cashback quickly thanks to their generous cashback rates. If a large chunk of your expenses goes to things like groceries, petrol, dining or food deliveries, definitely take advantage of what these cashback credit cards have to offer. 

Back to top

Choose Maybank Family & Friends Card: If you are all about chalking up cashback, this card is potentially the most generous. It lets you earn up to S$125 per calendar month on the 8% categories, and unlimited 0.3% on all other spend. However, keep in mind that a cap of S$25 per category applies.

Maybank Welcome Offer: Receive a Samsonite ENOW SPINNER 69/25 (worth S$570) or S$200 cashback when you apply for a new Maybank Credit Card and charge a minimum of S$1,300 within the first two months of card approval. T&Cs apply.

Choose Citi Cash Back: If your expenses mainly revolve around groceries, petrol and dining, Citi Cash Back is one to have in your pocket. It's nice to note that Citi Cash Back's cap of S$80 per statement month applies across categories, so it doesn't matter if you spend more on a specific category. 

SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards when you sign up for a Citi Credit Card:

🚀Fastest Rewards Fulfilment🚀: Get the cash rewards within four (4) weeks after successful application — the fastest rewards fulfilment yet! T&Cs apply

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For Citi PremierMiles Card and Citi Prestige Card: Receive a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80), an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30), 18K Heymax Miles, 50,000 Yuu Points or S$370 Cash upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card offer is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 2 January 2025T&Cs apply.

Get an additional S$100 eCapitaVoucher when you simultaneously open a Citi Citigold Account. Valid until 2 January 2025. T&Cs apply.

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Citi SMRT and M1 Cards: Receive a Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599), an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30), an Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408), 50,000 Yuu Points, or S$370 Cash upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 2 January 2025. T&Cs apply.

Other Citi Credit Cards: Receive a Hinomi H1 Classic V3 Ergonomic Office Chair (With Headrest) (worth S$659), an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30), an Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408), 50,000 Yuu Points, or S$370 Cash upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 2 January 2025. T&Cs apply.

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⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top specific amounts. Valid until 2 January 2025. T&Cs apply.

  • S$100 for an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$499)
  • S$1,080 for a MacBook Air 13" 256GB M3 (worth S$1,599.00)
  • S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 16 Pro 256GB (worth S$1,1,749.00)
  • S$1,586 for a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Titanium Gray 12+512GB 5G (worth S$2,128.00)

Choose CIMB Visa Signature Card: This card is ideal if you regularly spend across categories like groceries, online shopping, beauty and wellness (e.g. pharmacies, cosmetic stores, spas), and pet shops and veterinary services. 

How to maximise the 10% cashback you can earn monthly? Ensure you’re spending a fairly equal amount on each category (i.e. at most S$200 per category). This card has no annual fees yet offers complimentary travel insurance of up to S$500,000 for you and your family when you charge your full travel fares to the card!

CIMB Welcome Offer: Receive S$88 Cashback when you make a minimum of S$108 eligible spends within 30 days of card approval date. Plus, receive S$100 Cashback (S$188 in total) when you increase your minimum eligible spends to S$988 within 60 days of card approval date. Valid till 31 January 2025. T&Cs apply.


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While Denise has a thing for travel, K-dramas, 0% sugar bbt (with boba!), Japanese cuisine and flat white, her curious nature means all sorts of random tabs are open on her phone 24/7. She doesn’t like to pay full price for anything, too.

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