Citibank SMRT Credit Card: Rebates + EZ-Link for Low Spenders
Citibank SMRT Credit Card: Rebates + EZ-Link for Low Spenders
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- Good rewards rates for modest budgets
- SMRT$ rewards on EZ-Reload transactions
Cons
- Not suitable for higher budgets
- Lacks travel and overseas rewards
If you're a young professional looking to earn on groceries, online spend and commute, Citi SMRT Card is your best bet. Cardholders earn up to 5% rebate on online purchases, groceries, taxis and public transport rides. Citi SMRT Card stands out because it is EZ-Link compatible and rewards 5% rebate for Auto Top-Ups. These rewards rates are achievable with a minimum monthly spend of S$500. With the S$194.40 annual fee waived for 2 years, Citi SMRT Card is a great option for young professionals and commuters.
Citibank SMRT Credit Card Features and Benefits
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Key Features:
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Our Evaluation: Good EZ-Link Rewards, but Limiting Cashback Opportunities
Citi SMRT Card could be the best credit card for consumers who frequent public transportation and with concentrated spending on few categories. Citi SMRT Card is great for commuters and young professionals who spend most of their money on transit, online and groceries. It’s especially convenient for commuters because of its dual function as an EZ-Link Card. Unlike most other cards, Citi SMRT Card also offers 5% in savings for SimplyGo EZ-Reload Auto Top-ups. With a minimum qualifying spend of S$500, the card is also very accessible to those on a modest budget. With rebates up to 5% for multiple spending categories, Citi SMRT Card offers a great way for young professionals to earn cash back on select daily spend.
The downside of this rewards programme is the annual cashback cap of S$600 (SMRT$600), which ends up being a S$50/month cashback cap. In addition, online spend excludes mobile wallet and travel-related transactions. In order to reach the S$50 monthly cap, you need to spend S$1,000 on qualifying categories (groceries, online, taxis). In addition, the 5% rebate on groceries, online spend and EZ-Reload Auto Top-Ups only apply if overall monthly spend exceeds $500. All other spend categories as well as qualifying monthly spend below S$500 will earn base rate of 0.3%.
Citi SMRT Credit Card Rebates Chart
| Monthly Statement Retail Purchases | Less than S$500 | S$500 or More |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | 0.3% | 5% |
| Online Spend | 0.3% | 5% |
| Taxis (incl. private hire rides) | 0.3% | 5% |
| EZ-Reload Auto Top-up | 0.3% | 5% |
| All Other Spend | - | 0.3% |
Citi SMRT Card is a good match for young professionals with a modest budget because of its tailored rebates and affordability. With a 2-year waiver of the S$194.40 annual fee, the card bridges first entering the workforce to eventually earning more, and considering switching to a card with greater cashback potential (for example, the Citi Cash Back Card). In this light, average to affluent spenders with more diversified spending can spend more and earn more cashback with other credit cards.
How the Citi SMRT Credit Card Rewards Program Works
Use our quick guide below to learn how you can redeem SMRT$.
- Rebates are earned as SMRT$, where 1 SMRT$ is equal in value to S$1
- SMRT$ earned by supplementary card(s) is credited to the principal account
- SMRT$ can be redeemed as cash rebate or as a shopping voucher
- SMRT$ can be redeemed in units of 5 as cash rebate or in units of 10 as a voucher
- SMRT$ are valid for 15 months from the the qualifying period during which they're earned
- Redeemed rewards vouchers are valid for 3 months following their date of issue
What You Should Know: Limits, Minimums and Exclusions
The main limitations of this Citi SMRT Card is that it requires a minimum monthly spend of S$500/month to qualify for 5% cashback on groceries, online spend and EZ-Link Top-Ups. Online transactions which do not qualify for 5% cashback are mobile wallet and travel-related transactions. For spend below S$500/month, 0.3% cashback rate will apply. In addition, cashback is capped annually at S$600.
The following credit card expenditures are ineligible for cash back or rebate.
How does the Citi SMRT Credit Card Compare Against Other Cards?
Read our comparisons of Citi SMRT Card with other cards and learn what makes each card unique in their own way. We compare and contrast each card to highlight its uniqueness to help you identify the card that you need.
Citi SMRT Credit Card v. POSB Everyday Card
- Pros
- Benefits highly diversified spend with large food budgets
- Great fit for commuters seeking a convenient, an all-in-one card
- Cons
- Not suitable for consistent spend of S$2k+/mo
- Lacks travel rewards
- Has an annual fee
POSB Everyday Card is a great all-in-one card for moms and families looking to maximise cash back from a broad range of expenditures. With promotional rebates of up to 10% for dining, groceries, recurring telco and utilities bills, personal care, and petrol, it's fairly easy to earn on essentials. But while POSB Everyday Card rewards diversified spend, many of its rates are merchant-restricted and require cardholders to meet a minimum qualifying spend (which varies by consumer). The annual fee of S$192.60 is also only waived for the first year. While consumers who spend less than S$2k per month could benefit from the POSB Everyday Card, they might also consider the Citi SMRT Card because it has no minimum spend requirement and offers a 2-year fee waiver.
Citi SMRT Credit Card v. OCBC 365
- Pros
- 6% rebate on dining, 3% on groceries, transport, utilities, online travel
- Fee waiver with S$10,000 annual spend
- Up to 22.1% fuel savings at Caltex, 20.2% at Esso
- Cons
- 0.3% rebate on general spend
- High S$800 minimum spend requirement
OCBC 365 Card is a great no-fee card for consumers seeking cashback on food, utilities, and online travel bookings. With a 2-year annual fee waiver (subsequently waived with a minimum annual spend of S$10,000), the OCBC 365 Card offers the average consumer a low maintenance way to earn daily cashback. OCBC 365 stands out for rewarding recurring telco and utilities bills at a high rate of 3%, and for including online ordering and delivery within its dining and groceries rebate options, at 6% and 3% respectively. The card’s rebates, however, are contingent on a minimum qualifying spend of S$800, which may not be accessible to those with a modest budget. For spend below S$800/month, a flat 0.3% cashback is awarded. Consumers who spend less than S$800 per month might consider Citi SMRT Card instead as it has no minimum spend requirement.
Citi SMRT Credit Card v. Citi Cash Back Card
- Pros
- Great dining and groceries rewards
- High petrol discounts
- Cons
- Lacks shopping and entertainment rewards
- Not suitable for lower budgets
Citi Cash Back Card is a great fit for the average spender, looking to earn cashback on food and petrol purchases. The card prioritizes spend within these areas, offering a relatively high cashback rate of 8% on groceries and petrol, and 6% on dining. These rates are available after a minimum qualifying spend of S$800 per month, which is fairly accessible for an average consumer spending about S$2,000 per month. One drawback is that cashback for the boosted rewards categories is capped at S$80 per month, while all other spend earns 0.25% cashback. While average spenders likely won’t be hindered by these caps, more affluent spenders might consider a card with broader spend categories and higher caps. Those who spend less than S$2k per month might still consider the Citi SMRT Card for its more evenly spread rebates and ability to earn without a minimum spend requirement.
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Zoryana is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, who focuses on evaluating credit cards, savings and fixed deposits in Singapore. She holds a BA in Political Science and an MPA in International Finance and Economic Policy, both from Columbia University. Prior to joining ValueChampion, Zoryana worked in treasury management consulting.