OCBC 90°N MasterCard: Does it Live Up to the Hype?
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- Versatile Miles: 1.3 mi/S$1 locally, 2.1 mi overseas
- Rewards never expire
- No minimun spend
- No cap on miles earned
Cons
- Local rates are less competitive
- No category-specific rewards boosts
OCBC 90°N MasterCard is the best option on the market for high spenders seeking unlimited rewards, both in cashback and miles. Cardholders earn in Travel$, each redeemable for S$0.01 rebate or 1 air mile. Based on these rates, cardholders enjoy rewards equal to an unlimited 1.3% local cashback & 2.1% overseas, or 1.3 miles per S$1 locally & 2.1 miles overseas. These rates are quite competitive amongst both rebate and travel cards, particularly for spend in foreign currencies. Even better, rewards never expire and there is no cap to the miles you can earn. Overall, consumers seeking an unlimited and versatile combination of rewards should definitely consider OCBC 90°N MasterCard.
OCBC 90°N MasterCard Features and Benefits
|
|---|
Key Features:
|
What Makes OCBC 90°N MasterCard Stand Out
OCBC 90°N MasterCard offers both unlimited rewards potential and unparalleled redemption versatility, making it ideal for high spenders who'd like to earn a mix of cashback and miles. Cardholders earn in Travel$, which can be redeemed for cashback or miles at equivalent conversion value, with an earn rate equal to an unlimited 1.3% rebate locally & 2.1% overseas or 1.2 miles per S$1 local spend and 2.1 miles per S$1 overseas spend. Rewards earned never expire and there is no cap to the rewards you can earn each month.
OCBC 90°N MasterCard's rates–particularly for spend in foreign currencies–are quite competitive. No other unlimited cashback card offers as high an overseas rate, and the closest alternative requires S$2k minimum spend to access its boosted rate. OCBC 90°N MasterCard does not have a minimum spend requirement. In terms of miles, OCBC 90°N MasterCard's 2.1 mi/S$1 overseas rate is slightly higher than the 2 mi/S$1 offered by comparable cards. Given these differences, OCBC 90°N MasterCard is best for those with significant overseas budgets, particularly high spenders who prefer cashback in most cases, which makes this card one of the best miles credit cards in Singapore with its high and attractive rewards system.
Overseas Rewards Rate Comparisons
| Unltd Cashback Cards | Overseas Rate | Travel Cards | Overseas Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard | 2.1% | OCBC 90°N | 2.1 mi/S$1 |
| CIMB V. Infinite | 2.0% | Citi PremierMiles | 2.0 mi/S$1 |
| Citi Cash Back+ | 1.6% | DBS Altitude | 2.0 mi/S$1 |
| Amex True CB | 1.5% | SCVI X | 2.0 mi/S$1 |
Beyond its rates, OCBC 90°N MasterCard primarily stands out for its versatility. As mentioned, OCBC 90°N MasterCard rewards consumers with Travel$, where 1 Travel$ has a redemption value of S$0.01 cash or 1 air mile. These rates are roughly equivalent, assuming miles are redeemed for standard flight bookings (where each mile has a redemption value of approximately S$0.01). Most rewards cards devalue points redeemed for cashback, essentially driving cardholders to redeem points exclusively for miles (which then typically incurs a S$25 transfer fee). OCBC 90°N MasterCard's unique structure makes it easier for consumers to earn a mix of cashback and miles, without having to worry about devaluations.
Still, it's worth mentioning that the redemption value of a mile varies based on its ultimate application. While redeeming an air mile for an economy ticket translates to about S$0.01 in value, redeeming for business or first class can boost redemption value to up to S$0.08. In this case, affluent travellers may still lean towards redeeming rewards for miles with OCBC 90°N. These high spenders could earn at higher miles rates with travel cards like UOB PRVI Miles Amex, however, and enjoy additional travel perks.
The annual fee is also very affordable, at only S$54.00 per year. Overall, OCBC 90°N MasterCard is the best option on the market for consumers seeking unlimited rewards that can easily be shifted between cashback and miles.
How Does OCBC 90°N MasterCard's Rebate Program Work?
Use our quick guide below to learn how you can redeem OCBC 90°N Card's rewards.
- Cardholders earn in Travel$, which can be redeemed for cashback or air miles
- The redemption value of 1 Travel$ is equal to S$0.01 cash rebate or 1 KrisFlyer air mile
- Travel$ are converted to miles through the KrisFlyer Miles Redemption Programme
- Travel$ never expire
- Travel$ bonuses and rewards earnings are reflected in the monthly card statement
- Travel$ cannot be transferred or carried over to any other OCBC Credit Card
- There is a S$25 conversion-to-miles fee
OCBC 90°N MasterCard's Rewards Exclusions
The following credit card expenditures are ineligible for rewards.
How does OCBC 90°N MasterCard Compare to Other Cards?
Read our comparisons of OCBC 90°N MasterCard 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.
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. CIMB Visa Infinite Card | |
|---|---|
| |
| CIMB Visa Infinite Card is one of the absolute best unlimited cashback cards for affluent travellers on the market. Cardholders earn 1% unlimited rebate on general spend, elevated to 2% on travel and overseas transactions after S$2k minimum spend. Consumers additionally enjoy a variety of luxury perks, including complimentary green fees at fairways worldwide, up to 3 free lounge visits annually, free travel insurance and more. Even better, there's no annual fee.
| |
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. American Express True Cashback Card | |
|---|---|
|
|
| American Express True Cashback Card offers high spenders the opportunity to earn straightforward, uncapped rebates with an extra boost after first signing on. Cardholders typically earn 1.5% flat cashback on spend locally and overseas. During their 1st 6 months, however, rebates are doubled to 3% for up to S$150 in earnings (maxed out with S$5k).
| |
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. Citi PremierMiles Visa Card | |
|---|---|
| |
| Average spenders seeking an affordable travel card that still offers bonus miles & high-end perks should consider Citi PremierMiles Visa Card. Cardholders earn a fairly standard 1.2 miles per S$1 local spend and 2 miles overseas, which is very similar to the rewards rate offered by OCBC 90°N MasterCard. However, Citi PMV differs from OCBC 90°N MasterCard in providing travel perks like free travel insurance and 2 free lounge visits per year.. As a result, travellers who prioritise perks might prefer Citi PMV Card. | |
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. DBS Altitude Visa Card | |
|---|---|
| |
| DBS Altitude Card is the best no-fee travel card on the market for competitive rates paired with luxury travel perks. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally, 2 miles overseas and 3 miles on online travel bookings. While these rates are quite respectable, what really stands out are the card's benefits, which include 2 free lounge visits/year, complimentary travel insurance, discounted green fees at fairways across SE Asia, and dining privileges through Visa Foodie Trail. The S$192.6 annual fee is even waived with S$25k annual spend. The OCBC 90°N MasterCard, on the other hand, lacks special category rate boosts and exclusive travel perks. There also isn't a fee waiver. Those who want no-fee perks and have a budget of about S$2,083/month would likely be better off with DBS Altitude Card. | |
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. CIMB Visa Infinite |
|---|
|
| CIMB Visa Infinite Card is one of the absolute best unlimited cashback cards for affluent travellers on the market. Cardholders earn 1% unlimited rebate on general spend, elevated to 2% on travel and overseas transactions after S$2k minimum spend. Consumers additionally enjoy a variety of luxury perks, including complimentary green fees at fairways worldwide, up to 3 free lounge visits annually, free travel insurance and more. Even better, there's no annual fee.
|
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. Amex True Cashback |
|---|
|
|
|
| American Express True Cashback Card offers high spenders the opportunity to earn straightforward, uncapped rebates with an extra boost after first signing on. Cardholders typically earn 1.5% flat cashback on spend locally and overseas. During their 1st 6 months, however, rebates are doubled to 3% for up to S$150 in earnings (maxed out with S$5k).
|
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. Citi PremierMiles Visa |
|---|
|
| Average spenders seeking an affordable travel card that still offers bonus miles & high-end perks should consider Citi PremierMiles Visa Card. Cardholders earn a fairly standard 1.2 miles per S$1 local spend and 2 miles overseas, which is very similar to the rewards rate offered by OCBC 90°N MasterCard. However, Citi PMV differs from OCBC 90°N Card in providing travel perks like free travel insurance and 2 free lounge visits per year. As a result, travellers who prioritise perks might prefer Citi PMV Card. |
| OCBC 90°N MasterCard v. DBS Altitude |
|---|
|
| DBS Altitude Card is the best no-fee travel card on the market for competitive rates paired with luxury travel perks. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally, 2 miles overseas and 3 miles on online travel bookings. While these rates are quite respectable, what really stands out are the card's benefits, which include 2 free lounge visits/year, complimentary travel insurance, discounted green fees at fairways across SE Asia, and dining privileges through Visa Foodie Trail. The S$192.6 annual fee is even waived with S$25k annual spend. Those who want no-fee perks and have a budget of about S$2,083/month would likely be better off with DBS Altitude Card. |
Read Also:
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.