Mari Credit Card Review: Cashback, FX Rates & Comparisons

Mari Credit Card Review: Cashback, FX Rates & Comparisons

Key Takeaways

• Mari Credit Card offers 1.5% cashback on up to S$1,500 worth of foreign currency spending per month.
• The card offers competitive Mastercard exchange rates, with no foreign currency transaction or other fees.
• However, it does not support ATM withdrawals, nor does it come with a multi-currency wallet enabling you to lock in favourable exchange rates.

Mari Credit Card is a travel credit card offering unlimited 1.5% cashback on local spending and, until 31 Dec 2026, on foreign currency spending of up to S$1,500 per month.

The card, from MariBank Singapore, charges no annual fees or foreign currency transaction fees, nor does it impose any minimum spending requirement to qualify for cashback.

The foreign currency cashback offer and the lack of foreign currency transaction fees make this card attractive for overseas travel. Let’s take a closer look at this Mari Credit Card review.

What Is MariBank?

MariBank was one of Singapore’s first digital banks to be licensed as a bank by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Launched in 2023, the bank operates fully online, with no physical branches or ATM machines.

MariBank’s parent company is Sea Group, which is also the parent company of Shopee and SeaMoney, giving the bank strong regional tech and fintech backing.

As a digital bank, MariBank places a strong focus on accessibility and digital convenience, with very easy app-based sign-up and account management processes. Part of MariBank’s target market comprises gig economy workers and salaried employees.

Some of MariBank’s standout products and services include the Mari Savings Account, a high-yield savings account offering an interest rate of up to 0.88%, as well as the Mari Fixed Deposit and the Mari Credit Card, their flagship cashback card.

Mari Credit Card at a Glance

Pros of the Mari Credit Card

#1 No FCY Fee on Foreign Currency Spending

Since 1 Jan 2026, foreign currency transactions made on the Mari Credit Card incur no FCY fees. Previously, the FCY fees amounted to 3% on converted SGD amounts.

Most credit cards charge at least 3% in foreign transaction fees, so using the Mari Credit Card abroad instead can save you quite a bit of money.

#2 1.5% Cashback on Foreign Currency Spending

Until 31 Dec 2026, the Mari Credit Card offers 1.5% cashback on foreign currency spending of up to S$1,500 per calendar month.

The generous cashback rate and the lack of FCY fees make the Mari Credit Card a solid travel card option if you’re looking to earn cashback, especially since the competitor Trust Cashback Card’s foreign currency cashback has been reduced.

#3 Great FX Rates

Mari Credit Card uses Mastercard’s wholesale exchange rate, with no additional markup or FCY fees, meaning it is close to the rate shown on Google.

This is on par with the rates offered by the best travel cards—extremely advantageous compared to traditional money changers.

#4 1.5% Unlimited Cashback for Local SGD Spending

MariBank Credit Card’s cashback rate is 1.5%. While the cashback on local spending has been reduced from the previous rate of 1.7%, the current rate of 1.5% unlimited cashback is still decent, especially for those looking for a fuss-free cashback card.

However, note that some exclusions apply, such as parking charges, insurance and hospital bills.

#5 1.5% Unlimited Shopee Coins

Earn 1.5% unlimited Shopee Coins on your Shopee transactions when you select the “Pay In Full” payment option on Shopee.

Beware: you don’t earn Shopee Coins if you choose to pay by instalment, Google Pay, Apple Pay or select the credit/debit card option by inputting your Mari Credit Card details.

Cons of the Mari Credit Card

#1 No Currency Lock-In Feature

Cards with a multi-currency wallet like YouTrip, Wise and Revolut allow you to convert foreign currencies in advance, when exchange rates are favourable.

Mari Credit Card does not have a multi-currency wallet, and thus does not have this feature. That means you pay Mastercard’s prevailing rates at the moment you are making a payment. While these rates are competitive, they do fluctuate.

Pro tip! Maintain a deposit in a Mari Savings Account, which offers interest of 0.88% with no conditions required on deposits of up to $100,000. This account is remarkably easy to manage, with no minimum balance, no maintenance fees, full digital sign-up, daily interest accrual and a flat interest rate across your entire deposit. You can then pay your Mari Credit Card bills seamlessly using the balance in your Mari Savings Account.

#2 No Overseas ATM Withdrawals

Mari Credit Card does not support overseas ATM withdrawals.

This is a weak point, as you might need to use another card offering ATM withdrawals when you’re overseas.

#3 1.5% Cashback for Foreign Currency Spending Capped at S$1,500

The 1.5% cashback on foreign currency spending is capped at S$1,500, which may be limiting for expensive overseas trips or heavy spenders.

Mari Credit Card vs Other Multi-Currency Cards

When comparing the Mari Credit Card with its biggest competitors, we can see that it lacks some features of a multi-currency debit card—most prominently, the ability to exchange currencies in advance to lock in good rates, and to hold currencies in a wallet, ready to be used.

On the other hand, the Mari Credit Card offers the true advantages of credit cards—perks such as cashback, as well as superior fraud protection, since any charges to the card are not debited directly from your account and can be more easily contested. The Trust Cashback Card is similar but offers a less attractive cashback rate.

At the same time, the Mari Credit Card offers an attractive exchange rate with no additional fees, placing it on par with its competitors.

However, when travelling overseas, one drawback is that the Mari Credit Card cannot be used to withdraw cash from overseas ATMs. You might thus need a backup plan, such as carrying another card that supports ATM withdrawals.

Mari Credit Card Exchange Rate Comparisons

Curious as to how the Mari Credit Card’s exchange rates compare with those offered by other cards?

Here’s a comparison of what 1 SGD will get you in major currencies, based on the various cards’ exchange rates, current as of the time of writing.

Remember, rates are dynamic and correct as of 5 Mar 2026.

As you can see, the various cards offer very similar rates. Unless you are exchanging huge sums of money, the differences in the various rates are negligible.

If you really want to maximise value, you would be better off taking advantage of the Mari Credit Card’s 1.5% cashback on foreign currency spending (valid till 31 Dec 2026). Alternatively, you could use a card with a multi-currency wallet like YouTrip, Wise or Revolut and exchange currencies when the exchange rate is favourable.

Verdict: Is Mari Credit Card Good?

The Mari Credit Card is currently one of the most attractive entry-level credit cards for overseas spending, with no FCY fees, competitive exchange rates, and, until 31 Dec 2026, 1.5% cashback on foreign currency spending, capped at S$1,500 worth of spending per month.

The main drawbacks are that ATM withdrawals are not supported, and you cannot lock in exchange rates in advance.

If you are looking for a credit card rather than a multi-currency debit card for overseas use, the Mari Credit Card is one of the best options currently available. That said, you might want to use it in tandem with another card that lets you withdraw cash from ATMs with ease.

Looking for a personal loan? You can now apply online instantly with your Singpass.

Alternatively, you can turn to licensed money lenders in Singapore or take out a loan with a reputable bank, such as GXS FlexiLoan. If you need to make a big purchase, you can also consider using a Buy Now, Pay Later scheme, which breaks your payments up into instalments.