The Mari Credit Card Is Now One of Singapore's Best Cards for Overseas Spending — Here's the Honest Case For It (+ Signup Code 8ZUU96EA)

From January 2026, MariBank quietly made a change that most Singaporeans missed. The Mari Credit Card dropped its 3% foreign transaction fee entirely and added 1.5% cashback on overseas spend. That combination — zero FX fee plus cashback — is still relatively rare in Singapore, and it changes which card you should reach for when you travel.

This post is the full picture: what the card actually offers in 2026, where it falls short, how it compares to the other zero-FX options, and how to get up to S$115 in new user rewards when you sign up this month.

What Changed in 2026 (And Why It Matters)

Before 2026, the Mari Credit Card charged a 3% foreign transaction fee on overseas spend. It partially offset this with high overseas cashback — but the net calculation was fiddly and most travellers avoided it.

From 1 January 2026, that 3% FX fee is gone permanently. And from the same date, the card now pays 1.5% cashback on foreign currency transactions (up to the first S$1,500 of overseas spend per calendar month, valid until 31 December 2026). Local spend in SGD earns 1.5% unlimited cashback with no cap.

The result is a card that is genuinely simple to use overseas: you tap, you earn, there is no surcharge. The MariBank app shows the exchange rate updated to the hour for the seven major currencies (MYR, KRW, CNY, JPY, THB, USD, and others) — so you know exactly what rate you are getting before you spend.

One important caveat: if a foreign merchant or platform processes your payment in SGD via Dynamic Currency Conversion (common on platforms like Agoda, Airbnb, or iHerb), a 1% Currency Conversion Fee still applies. Always choose to pay in the local currency, not SGD, when given the option overseas.

How It Stacks Up Against the Other Zero-FX Cards in Singapore

Three cards currently charge zero FX fees for overseas transactions in Singapore: the Mari Credit Card, the Trust Bank credit card, and the UOB EVOL card (from June 2025).

Here is what separates them:

Mari Credit Card (MariBank)

0% FX fee — permanent card feature from 1 January 2026
1.5% cashback on overseas foreign currency spend — up to S$1,500/month (promotional, valid till 31 Dec 2026)
1.5% unlimited cashback on local SGD spend — no cap
No annual fee, permanently
No ATM withdrawals — card cannot be used at ATMs locally or overseas
Instant cashback crediting when transactions post (from March 2026)

Trust Bank credit card

0% FX fee on overseas spend
No overseas cashback
Supports overseas ATM withdrawals — a genuine advantage for cash access abroad
Best for FairPrice and NTUC-linked spend in Singapore

UOB EVOL

0% FX fee from June 2025
1% cashback on overseas spend with no minimum
No annual fee if you make at least 3 transactions per statement month
Up to 10% cashback on local online and mobile spend with min. S$800 — a strong dual-purpose card for those who hit the threshold

For pure overseas card spend with instant cashback and no conditions, the Mari Credit Card wins on headline rate (1.5% vs 1%). For travellers who need frequent ATM cash access overseas, Trust Bank is the more practical choice. For people who spend heavily online locally AND travel, the UOB EVOL's dual-tier structure may deliver more in total.

Many travellers carry the Mari Credit Card for card spend and a separate card for ATM cash. No penalty for that approach.

The Part Most Reviews Skip: Cashback Exclusions

Not every transaction earns the 1.5%. The categories excluded from cashback on the Mari Credit Card — per MariBank's published terms — include:

Utilities and town council charges
Insurance premiums
Hospital, medical, and healthcare bills
Education and tuition fees
Government services and tax payments
Top-ups to e-wallets (EZ-Link, NETS FlashPay, GrabPay, etc.) and transit cards
Cash advances and balance transfers

Standard exclusions that appear across most Singapore credit cards. Nothing unusual, but worth knowing so you are not surprised when a large insurance or utilities payment earns zero cashback.

Also: the card currently has a S$500 credit limit for applicants who do not meet the S$30,000 annual income requirement. For those who do meet the income threshold, the limit is set based on MariBank's credit assessment. The S$500 limit covers most everyday and travel transactions but may be constraining for large bookings. Check the app after approval to confirm your assigned limit.

The New User Welcome Rewards (September 2026)

For first-time applicants in September 2026, signing up via the Mari Credit Card Bundle path unlocks the most value:

Step 1 — Referral cash (instantly on approval)Enter signup code 8ZUU96EA in the "Have a Referral / Promo Code?" field during the application. Must be done before the Singpass step — it cannot be added retroactively. Reward: S$15 cash credited to your Mari Savings Account the moment your application is approved. Both you and the person whose code you use receive this amount.

Step 2 — S$30 Welcome CashbackSpend a minimum of S$300 on your Mari Credit Card within 30 days of card approval. Shopee Instant Checkout transactions do not count toward this S$300 — use the card for everyday purchases: groceries, transport, dining, subscriptions. Reward: S$30 cashback (10% on the qualifying spend).

Step 3 — S$70 Shopee Voucher PackUse your Mari Credit Card via Shopee Instant Checkout. This is triggered by Shopee spend — the same spend that does not count toward the S$30 cashback. The two rewards draw from different qualifying spend pools, so you can claim both. Reward: S$70 Shopee vouchers.

Total new user welcome value: up to S$115 (S$15 + S$30 + S$70).

Promotion: 1–30 September 2026 · Cap: first 10,000 successful referrals · Approved applications only — not just submitted.

Full September 2026 terms: dlcuration.com/maribank-referral-code.html

How to Apply (The Sequence That Matters)

Download the MariBank app → Apple App Store, Google Play, or Huawei AppGallery
Tap Sign Up → register with a Singapore mobile number
Select Mari Credit Card Bundle during the product selection step
In the "Have a Referral / Promo Code?" field, enter 8ZUU96EA — confirm it appears correctly
Proceed to Singpass / MyInfo verification and submit
On approval: S$15 referral cash credited instantly to your Mari Savings Account
Card is issued digitally — available for Apple Pay and Google Pay immediately. Physical card can be requested in-app.

Income requirement: minimum S$30,000 p.a. if aged 55 and below; S$15,000 p.a. if aged 56 and above. For those below the income threshold, the Mari Debit Card (no income requirement) is an alternative that also earns 0.5% cashback on overseas foreign currency spend with zero FX fees — eligible to foreigners aged 16 and above as well.

The Honest Verdict

The 2026 revamp of the Mari Credit Card is a genuine step-change. A card that previously required mental arithmetic to justify overseas use now earns 1.5% on top of zero FX fees — a combination that outperforms most Singapore travel cards on foreign currency spend alone.

Its weaknesses are real: no ATM access, exclusions on utilities and insurance, and a S$500 credit limit for those below the income threshold. None of these are dealbreakers for a card positioned as a daily spending and travel companion alongside a separate ATM-linked card.

For September 2026, the S$115 new user welcome stack makes it a strong month to apply if you have been sitting on the fence.

Signup code: 8ZUU96EA · Mari Credit Card Bundle path · Closes 30 September 2026

Not financial advice. All figures based on MariBank's published product terms and September 2026 promotion T&Cs. Verify current terms on the official MariBank website before applying. Overseas cashback and FX rate promotions valid until 31 December 2026.

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