American Express CapitaCard Review: Best for Frequent CapitaLand Shoppers
American Express CapitaCard Review: Best for Frequent CapitaLand Shoppers
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- 3% rebate on CapitaLand Malls spend (in town), 2% in the heartlands
- 3-hour complimentary parking across CapitaLand Malls
Cons
- Rewards limited to participating merchants at CapitaLand Malls
- Low 0.5% rebate on all other spend
If you're a frequent shopper at CapitaLand malls or with CapitaLand merchants, the American Express CapitaCard might be the most suitable credit card for you.
American Express CapitaCard Credit Card Features and Benefits
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What Makes The American Express CapitaCard Credit Card Stands Out
The Amex CapitaCard is a convenient and easy-to-use card that offers relatively high rebate rates across CapitaLand Malls, making it an enticing option for those who are looking for an efficient way to maximise their CapitaLand rewards. Cardholders can earn up to 3% cashback on purchases made with participating merchants in CapitaLand Malls, with additional cashback offered for select STAR$ X’tra Partners. Coupled with the complimentary parking benefits offered across all CapitaLand Malls for cardholders upon a $1,200 monthly spend, the Amex CapitaCard is perfect for consumers who frequent CapitaLand Malls regularly.
This card, however, might not be the ideal choice for high-spenders looking to maximise cashback across a variety of merchants. The rebate rates for purchases at non-participating merchants are relatively low at up to 0.5%. Rebates are also capped at $1,200 of eligible spending per month, making the Amex CapitaCard less effective for consumers looking for a more flexible option that offers unlimited rewards for a wider variety of merchants. The UOB Absolute Cashback Card, with its unlimited cashback and flat 1.7% rebate rate on almost every expense without exclusions, might be a better option for such cases.
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Features and Benefits Of The American Express CapitaCard Credit Card
The strength of the Amex CapitaCard lies in its high rebate rates for purchases at CapitaLand Malls:
| Rebate Rate | Eligible Spending Locations |
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| Up to 0.5% with every $1 spend | Anywhere and anytime |
| Up to 1.5% | eCapitaVoucher purchases |
| Up to 2% | Participating merchants in CapitaLand Malls located in the heartlands |
| Up to 3% | Participating merchants in CapitaLand Malls located in town |
| Additional 5% | Participating STAR$ X’tra Partners in CapitaLand Malls |
Cardholders are also offered 3 hours complimentary parking across CapitaLand Malls with $1,200 spent per month, with complimentary privileged parking with $1,800 spent per month.
How Do Rebates With the American Express CapitaCard Credit Card Work?
- All cashback rewards earned through the Amex CapitaCard are awarded to the cardholder through STAR$.
- All STAR$ earned through cashback will be credited directly to the cardholder’s CapitaStar account.
- Cardholders are free to exchange the accumulated STAR$ for eCapitaVouchers or use them for other rewards.
Limits and Exclusions
While the Amex CapitaCard offers decent rebate rates for participating merchants, the 0.5% cashback offered for non-participating merchants is relatively low compared to other similar cashback credit cards. Cardholders are also restricted to a list of participating merchants, with rebates further being capped at $1,200 spent monthly.
Fees and Eligibility
The annual fees and Supplementary Card fee details are as follows:
- $171.20 annual fees — waived for the first year
- First 2 Supplementary Cards fees are permanently waived. Each subsequent Supplementary Card costs $85.60 (inclusive of GST).
To apply for the American Express CapitaCard, you:
- Must be over 21 years of age (Supplementary Card applicants must be over 18 years of age)
- Earn over S$30,000 annually (for Singaporeans and Singapore PRs), and over S$60,000 annually (for foreigners)
American Express CapitaCard Credit Card vs Other Cashback Cards
- Pros
- 3% rebate on CapitaLand Malls spend (in town), 2% in the heartlands
- 3-hour complimentary parking across CapitaLand Malls
- Cons
- Rewards limited to participating merchants at CapitaLand Malls
- Low 0.5% rebate on all other spend
| Annual Fees | Rebate Rates | Min. Spend / Max. Cap | |
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| AMEX CapitaCard | S$171.20, Waived for 1 year |
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| AMEX True Cashback | S$171.20, Waived for 1 year | 1.5% on all eligible spend, doubled to 3% with $5,000 spent within first 6 months of approval |
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| UOB Absolute Cashback Card | S$194.40, Waiver for 1 year | Flat 1.7% on all expenses |
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| Citi Cash Back Card | S$194.40, Waived for 1 year |
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| Citibank SMRT Card | S$194.40, Waived for 2 years |
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American Express CapitaCard Credit Card vs AMEX True Cashback:
- Pros
- Great Amex perks
- Straightforward, easy-to-use card
- Cons
- Not suitable for lower budgets
- Rewards general spend only
Despite its lower rebate rates, the AMEX True Cashback Card offers cashback benefits across a wider range of purchases than the AMEX CapitaCard, including utility bills. The AMEX True Cashback Card also has no cap on rebates, and offers exciting rebate rates for expenses made all over the world, making it a better option for high-spenders looking to truly maximise the cashback across all of their expenses.
American Express CapitaCard Credit Card vs UOB Absolute Cashback Card:
- Pros
- Unlimited cashback
- No min, caps or exclusions
- American Express Card privileges
- Cons
- Low cashback rate for smaller budgets
- Annual fee
Although the UOB Absolute Cashback Card’s 1.7% flat rebate rate is lower than the rates offered by the AMEX CapitaCard, the UOB Absolute Cashback Card has no spending exclusions, meaning cardholders can benefit from cashbacks from a much wider range of expenses. The UOB Absolute Cashback Card also has no cap on rebate rates unlike the AMEX CapitaCard, making it a simple, flexible, and effective cashback card for all.
American Express CapitaCard Credit Card vs Citi Cash Back Card:
- Pros
- Great dining and groceries rewards
- High petrol discounts
- Cons
- Lacks shopping and entertainment rewards
- Not suitable for lower budgets
The Citi Cash Back Card offers some of the highest rebate rates for expenses across categories like dining, groceries, and fuel, making it the ideal choice for families who want to save more from their everyday spending. There are also barely any restrictions on the type of expenses or merchants eligible for cashback, which makes it a worthwhile offer despite its $800 minimum monthly spend requirement and the higher annual fee compared to the AMEX CapitaCard.
American Express CapitaCard Credit Card vs Citibank SMRT Card:
- Pros
- Good rewards rates for modest budgets
- SMRT$ rewards on EZ-Reload transactions
- Cons
- Not suitable for higher budgets
- Lacks travel and overseas rewards
With one of the highest rebate rates on transportation and fuel expenses, the Citibank SMRT Card is the ideal choice for young students or professionals looking to save on their travel and everyday spending. On the other hand, the AMEX CapitaCard might offer rebates on a wider category of expenses through CapitaLand Malls. It also comes with a cheaper annual fee and no minimum spending requirement.
Looking to find out more about credit cards in Singapore? You can check out our specially curated guides on credit cards in Singapore to find the perfect card for your needs.