Banks are dangling an array of enticing freebies in the battle for credit-card users in the city-state, news reports said on April 16. The gifts go beyond the traditional complementary drinks, movie tickets, dining and retail discounts and now tap popular pastimes such as shopping, golf, travel and spas, The Straits Times said.
The number of main and supplementary cards increased by 374,000 over six months to 5.15 million in January. Card spending during the period rose 202 million Singapore dollars (128 million US dollars) to 1.7 billion Singapore dollars (1.1 billion US dollars).
"Customers have come to expect some incentive when they take up or use a card," Wong Ting Mei, OCBC's head of credit cards, was quoted as saying.
Those who sign up for the DBS Woman's Card can obtain as much as 2,000 Singapore dollars (1,315 US dollars) worth of vouchers for Nike gear, cosmetics, jewellery, grooming and cooking-school programmes.
Spa facilities are available for UOB Lady's Platinum Card holders. Citibank offers 24-hour breakdown towing and recovery services for cardholders. Complementary golfing is available to holders of the Maybank Platinum Mastercard.
-DPA