Disclosure

ValueChampion.sg (hereafter referred to as “Us”, “We”, or “Our”) receives compensation for some of the card offers that appear on the site. This in no way influences the opinions and reviews expressed by our writers and analysts. We maintain strict editorial integrity and our content is, and will remain, transparent and unbiased.

Our mission is to help our users make the most well informed decisions – this philosophy is what drives how we approach creating articles on our site. To that end, we strive to present readers with the actual value of the financial products we discuss on our site – explicitly showing, where possible, the math and data behind our conclusions.

In the interest of openness and transparency, here is a full list of current card advertising partners:

  • American Express
  • Bank of China
  • CIMB
  • Citibank
  • DBS & POSB
  • HSBC
  • Maybank
  • OCBC
  • Standard Chartered
  • UOB

Section 1: How We Determine The Value Of Rewards & Benefits

We do our best to estimate the value of each card on the site. To help consumers, we discuss the value of points, miles and cash back rewards of the card. 

Card issuers may revise any of the terms discussed on our site without notice. Not all benefits are available to residents outside of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Complete program details should be checked through the card issuers’ websites. Readers are encouraged to always read through a card’s terms and conditions before submitting an application. The materials discussed on our site reflect the benefits of each card offer at the time of writing and should not be taken as a guarantee. The analysis on our website reflects the research and opinion of our analysts, which may differ from your experience with the card offers discussed on the site.

The values we use are always based on extensive research by our analysts and are displayed as a benchmark. It should be noted that such references, though rigorous, are not always exact. Cash rewards, points and miles have no cash value until such time as you may request and receive redemption (check, statement credit or gift card, or other methods) for your eligible rewards. 

1.2 How We Determine The Value of Miles and Hotel Points

In determining the value of frequent flyer miles, our analysts perform an in-depth study into the redemption options for each airline. While miles can be redeemed in multiple ways, we default to using miles to book flights. The presumption here is that readers who are already interested in frequent flyer miles will use them to book more travel. 

In the event that the value of redemptions is not fixed, our analysts will average no less than ten (10) itineraries – all of which will be subject to different dates, points of origin, and destinations – to calculate our value.

Example Calculation: A flight with airline X on a particular date from Singapore to Bali costs S$120 or 12,000 air miles. For that itinerary, we would say the value of one mile is represented in the following equation:

$120 / 12,000 miles = S$0.01/miles

In order to arrive at an average value for these miles, at least nine more itineraries would be collected – both domestic and international.

The same methodology is applied towards hotel reward points.

1.3 How We Determine The Value Of Credit Card Points

Some credit cards have reward programs that are not co-branded with a particular airline or hotel chain (e.g. Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou). Such points usually have a number of different redemption options: cash back, statement credit, travel, transfers, etc. Our analysts look at all the values of such redemptions.

Example Calculation: An individual has some amount of points collected with credit card X. These points can be redeemed in the following ways:

  1. 5,000 points for a $50 Gift Card
  2. Transfer points to airline X at a ratio of 1:2
  3. 10,000 points to receive $50 cash back
  4. 5,000 points towards $50 in travel statement credit

Here is how the point value of each redemption method would be calculated:

  1. Gift Card: $50 / 5,000 points = $0.01 per point
  2. First, the value of airline X miles must be determined following the methodology outlined above. In our previous example, the value of a single airline X mile was $0.01. Therefore, since the user can get two airline X miles for a single point, this redemption results in a value per point of 2 x $0.01 = $0.02.
  3. Cash back: $50 / 10,000 points = $0.005 per point
  4. Travel statement credit: $50 / 5,000 points = $0.01 per point

With all the redemption values now known, we can say that the average value of a point on credit card X is ($0.01 + $0.02 + $0.005 + $0.01) / 4 = $0.01125.

1.4 Point & Mile Bonuses

The above values are used in determining the value of credit card bonuses. Any time we explicitly call out the “value” or “worth” of a credit card bonus, it is obtained by multiplying the bonus amount by the corresponding point/mile value. Unless otherwise specified, we typically use the average redemption value.

Example Calculation: Card X has a welcome bonus of 10,000 points. Because we calculated the value of each point to be $0.01125, we say the value of the bonus is $112.50. This is represented in the following equation:

$0.01125 x 10,00 points = $112.50

1.5 Non-point-based Bonuses

Some credit cards will offer bonuses that aren’t expressed in points or miles. For example, a card may offer a free hotel stay or an airline companion ticket. In such a case, the value we assign to the bonus is based on the average monetary value of the bonus. In the case of airline coupons and hotel stays, analysts use no less than ten itineraries to arrive at the value.

1.6 How Point Values Are Represented In Reviews, Studies and ‘Best Credit Card’ Articles

The value of points and miles is used to calculate the rewards rate of a credit card. This rate allows us to create for users a baseline comparison between cards by standardizing points and bringing greater transparency to the review process.

Important Note: The rewards rate is an approximation and tool our analysts use to compare credit cards against one another. It is not a definitive representation of what a user can expect from using a card. Readers should be aware that points and their values are subject to sudden change based on what the card issuer chooses to do. Readers should never take a rewards rate to mean that it is the exact value they can expect to get by using a particular credit card. Instead, the rewards rate should be used to estimate and compare the relative differences between offers.

1.7 How We Calculate the Rewards Rate

The rewards rate for each credit card is created to help establish a baseline for comparing the rewards of different credit cards – whether they be based on a points, miles or cash back system. The rewards rate represents the return on every dollar a user charges to their reward credit card.

Example Calculation: If a user were to charge $1,000 to credit card A and in return receive $10, we would say that that card’s rewards rate is 1%. This figure is obtained by dividing $10 by $1,000.

For cash back credit cards, the rewards rate is simply equal to its cash back rate. For example, we would say that the Citi PremierMiles Visa Card has a 1.2% rewards rate on local purchases, because it gives consumers 1.2 miles on all their local expenditures in Singapore. If a card has more than one redemption option, such as cash back or gift cards, we will take one – or the average redemption value – to arrive at a rewards rate, and note how it was derived.

For point and mile based rewards programs, the rewards rate is based on a point/mile redemption value obtained in a separate study – as is explained in Section 1.1. In the case of points, we consider the monetary value one can obtain from redeeming their points and apply that to the point-earning rate of a card.

Example calculation: Card X earns two points per $1 on gas and one point per $1 on all other spending. The value of points on card X has been determined to be 0.01125 cents. For every dollar you spend on gas, you receive the equivalent of 2.25 cents back (2 points x 0.01125 cents/point), while on all other spending you receive 1.125 cents back for every dollar you spend. The rewards rate of card A would be 2.25% when it is used on gas purchases and 1.125% on everything else. 

In the case of credit cards that award miles, our analysts will sample dozens of itineraries and record the price for those in both USD and miles. Each is then divided to come up with an average value for a particular mile.

1.8 Net Rewards Rate

In certain instances on the site, we may refer to the Net Rewards Rate as an annualized variation on the above calculation that takes into account the annual fee of a card.

Example Calculation: In one year, a user with card X earned 100,000 points after spending $100,000. The user also paid a $50 annual fee on the card. To calculate the Net Rewards Rate, we take the value of points earned (100,000 points x $0.01125), subtract the annual fee ($50) and divide by the total money spent ($100,000). We then multiply the result by 100 to express it as a percent. The result in this case becomes (($1,125 - $50) / $100,000) x 100 = 1.075%.

Section 2: How We Determine the “Best Credit Cards”

2.1 How Cards Are Selected for Consideration

Credit cards appearing in the “Best Credit Cards” type pages (e.g. The Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2016, Best Cashback Credit Cards and Best Travel Credit Cards) have been selected from among the credit card offers in our database. While this does not encompass all possible credit card offers available to consumers, our editors do their best to be as exhaustive as possible in their search for cards.

Cards do not receive preferential treatment or placement based on advertising relationships. In our search for the best credit cards, we consider offers from both affiliate and non-affiliates and weigh them equally.

2.2 What Qualifies in Each Category

A card can be included on a list of “Best Credit Cards for [Category]” as long as it satisfies at least one (1) of the following:

The card earns rewards for that particular category. E.g. POSB Everyday earns users cashback on grocery, dining and petrol it for the “Best Cashback Credit Cards” page.

The card’s rewards can be redeemed for use in the particular category. E.g. Citi PremierMiles Visa Card earns miles that can be transferred to airline partner miles, qualifying it for the “Best Airline Miles Credit Cards” page.

The card includes perks, bonuses or features that would be useful to consumers seeking a card for the category. E.g. the Citi Prestige MasterCard card includes access to airport lounges that can be used by travelers, qualifying it for the page “Best Travel Credit Cards.”

The card possesses a particular quality or feature that makes it part of the category. E.g. A card in our database with no annual fee will be considered for the “Best Credit Cards With No Annual Fee” page.

2.3 How We Decide To Feature Offers On “Best Credit Card” Pages

The cards we feature on the “Best Credit Card” pages are handpicked by our editors based on a number of quantitative and qualitative factors. Because some qualitative factors are unquantifiable, the “Best Credit Card” pages are, to a degree, a subjective list based on our editors’ assessments and opinions of the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the offers. They are not a list of the absolute best credit card offers available, since that will depend on consumers’ individual spending habits.

The following are some of the quantifiable factors our editors consider in their determination of Best/Top/Favorite Credit Cards:

  1. Rewards rate
  2. Signup bonuses
  3. Length of promotional APR offers
  4. Number and diversity of point/mile redemption options
  5. Special perks with assigned value (airport lounge access, free checked baggage on airlines, etc.)
  6. Severity of fees (interest, annual fees, etc.)

The following are some of the unquantifiable factors that are considered as part of the evaluation:

  1. Concierge service benefits
  2. Travel insurance benefits
  3. Priority boarding, in the case of some airline credit cards
  4. Breadth of point/mile/cash back earning opportunities

In addition, our editors consider several different consumer profiles: light spenders (less than S$15,000 in annual credit card spending), medium spenders (between S$15,000 and $40,000 in annual credit spending) and high spenders ($45,000 or more in annual credit card spending). These brackets were determined based on common credit card breaking points – where the annual fee becomes worth the awards users earn from spending. These numbers do not reflect, in any way, actual demographic or spending data.

2.4 The Order In Which Cards Appear

Credit card tools that appear on the “Best Credit Card” type pages display credit cards in order from the highest estimated net rewards to the lowest based on the default spending inputs. These are based on the latest average consumer expenditures data released by the Department of Statitics Singapore (hereby referred to as the "department").

Source: http://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/statistics/browse_by_theme/population/statistical_tables/hes-keyind.pdf

The department lists the following annual expenses of Singaporean households by category as of 2013:

  • Food & Food Serving Services: S$1,188
  • Clothing & Footwear: S$156
  • Housing Related Expenditure (utilities, furnishings): S$687
  • Health: S$261
  • Transport: S$811
  • Communication: S$217
  • Recreationg & Culture: S$399
  • Educational Services: $310
  • Accomodation Services: $40
  • Others: $655
  • Subtotal: S$4,4724
  • Rental of Owner-Occupied Accomodation: S$1,047
  • Total: S$5,771

Our credit card comparison tool allows users to input estimated monthly spending by category to calculate estimated rewards for each card. Available categories are: general, gas, groceries, airlines, hotel, dining, office, utilities and computing.

The categories that could be charged to a credit card were then fit to one of our site’s inputs.

The way in which these tools calculate value is discussed in the section below.

Section 3: Methodology for Credit Card Calculator

Our calculators and tools exist to help users through the calculations we outlined above. By entering their monthly spending once, the calculation is carried out automatically for all cards displayed in that category. Our tool adjusts rewards rate to to each card's unique set of offers to accurately portray the net benefit of each card to the consumer as much as possible.

Section 4: Analystial Grade

The numbered score on each card review is an editorially-chosen grade, on a scale from 0 to 100. The number is assigned at the discretion of the reviewers, and is an evaluation of the card's features. Generally, a score between 90 and 100 means the card is one of the best on our site. A score of 80 to 89 corresponds to “good.” A score of 70 to 79 is “average.” Between 50 to 69 is “poor.” Generally, no scores are given a mark lower than 50.

The cards are scored based the following:

Rewards card: The reviewers take into account the card's net rewards rate and rewards value, across several different spending profiles. Points are taken off for characteristics such as difficulty of reward redemption or high annual fees. Additional features (or lack thereof) impact the score as well. This includes foreign transaction fees, baggage waivers or flexibility of rewards programs.

Low APR/Balance transfer cards: These are scored based on their ability to drive down costs for consumers, as well as how they perform in the long term. Just like rewards cards, points are deducted for high fees, difficulty of use or any constraints that make the user experience less than ideal.

Advertiser Disclosure: ValueChampion is a free source of information and tools for consumers. Our site may not feature every company or financial product available on the market. However, the guides and tools we create are based on objective and independent analysis so that they can help everyone make financial decisions with confidence. Some of the offers that appear on this website are from companies which ValueChampion receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, this does not affect our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services

We strive to have the most current information on our site, but consumers should inquire with the relevant financial institution if they have any questions, including eligibility to buy financial products. ValueChampion is not to be construed as in any way engaging or being involved in the distribution or sale of any financial product or assuming any risk or undertaking any liability in respect of any financial product. The site does not review or include all companies or all available products.