Looking for a CIMB® credit card¹ in Malaysia? CIMB has a broad selection of conventional and Islamic credit cards, including cash reward cards, travel reward cards, and cards which have extra benefits when you spend with partners such as Petronas®.
This guide looks at the key features and fees for 5 popular credit cards from CIMB, plus we’ve got a run through of how to apply for a CIMB credit card. As a comparison we’ll also introduce the Wise card - for a travel debit card you can use when overseas, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.
| Minimum annual income / eligibility | Annual fees | Cashback / rewards | Interest rates² | Foreign transaction fees² | |
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| CIMB Travel Platinum | 24,000 MYR/year | No annual fee | Up to 5x rewards on spending, plus travel rewards | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | Network rate + 1% |
| CIMB Travel World Elite | 250,000 MYR/year | 1,215.09 MYR - can be waived or reduced depending on card use | Up to 10x points on spending | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | No foreign transaction fee |
| CIMB Petronas Visa Infinite-i Credit Card | 120,000 MYR/year | No annual fee | Up to 6% cash rebate on spending, and 12% on Petronas spending | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | Network rate + 1% |
| CIMB Cash Rebate Platinum Mastercard | 24,000 MYR/year | No annual fee | Up to 5% cash rebate on spending | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | Network rate + 1% |
| CIMB Travel World Credit Card | 100,000 MYR/year | 554.72 MYR- can be waived or reduced depending on card use | Up to 8x rewards on spending, plus travel rewards | 15% - 18% depending on personal card use | Network rate + 1% |
Before you can start your CIMB credit card application, you’ll need to pick the right card for you. There are lots of different credit card options out there, so the best one for you will come down to your personal preference and how you’re likely to use the card day to day. Here are some important points to consider when you choose the right card for your needs:
Don’t forget, credit cards aren’t always the right choice. There are often fees to pay with credit card use, and you’ll need to hit a minimum income level to make an application. It’s worth also weighing up some debit card options, either from your own bank, or from a specialist provider like Wise. Wise offers a multi-currency account and linked debit card you can use to spend overseas with the mid-market rate and no foreign transaction fee to pay - we’ll cover all this and more a little later.
Learn about more great Malaysian credit cards in this full review.
If you’re looking for a rewards card which has specific travel benefits, with a relatively low annual income requirement, the CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card³ may be the one for you.
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The CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card comes with 5x reward points on overseas and travel spending, and 2x rewards on all other card spend. You’ll be able to redeem your rewards on flights and hotel stays, or to pay with points when shopping at CIMB partner merchants.
The CIMB Travel World Elite⁴ has a high minimum annual income requirement, but is the only of CIMB’s cards to offer no foreign transaction fee.
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If you use your credit card a lot and have an eligible annual income, the CIMB Travel World Elite card can be a faster way to earn rewards - plus you’ll get 12x airport lounge passes to make your travel more comfortable. Redeem rewards on flights and hotel stays, or when shopping with a variety of merchants. The annual fee is high but can be waived if you spend 240,000 MYR/year with the card.
If you drive, the CIMB Petronas Visa Infinite-i Credit Card⁵ can be a good way to get extra cash rebates when you fill up with Petronas - plus there are cash rebates on other spending too.
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The CIMB Petronas Visa is an Islamic card option which comes with great cash rebates, particularly if you’ll use your card to fill up when driving. There’s no annual fee to pay, and you can get cash rebates on most eligible spending, including when you spend overseas. There’s also the option of some free airport lounge access when you’re travelling.
The CIMB Cash Rebate Platinum Mastercard⁶ is a popular all rounder from CIMB, with no annual fee, relatively low income requirements, and a good cash rebate offer.
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The CIMB Cash Rebate Platinum Mastercard has up to 5% cash rebate on spending with no annual fee to worry about, which can make this a good pick if you’re looking for a card that rewards you for spending with few extra fees. To achieve the highest cash back available you’ll need to use your card fairly regularly and have a 3,000 MYR or more statement value monthly.
For higher reward earning potential when you’re overseas, the CIMB Travel World Credit Card⁷ could be a good pick.
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The CIMB Travel World Credit Card has an annual fee which can be waived or reduced depending on how much you use your card, and comes with up to 8x rewards when you travel. Local spending offers 2x rewards, so you’ll still get benefits when you spend at home - and all rewards can be redeemed against flights and hotel stays as well as spending with partner merchants.
If you’d rather not worry about interest costs or late fees, you may want to check out the international debit card from Wise - perfect if you’re planning on travel and looking for low cost ways to spend overseas.
While the CIMB cards we’ve profiled here can add up to 1% foreign transaction fee for overseas spending, Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate with low fees from 0.43% for currency conversion⁸. That can mean it’s cheaper to spend when you travel, and when you shop online with international retailers.
Plus, because it’s a debit card, there’s no cash advance fee when you make an ATM withdrawal. Get some fee free ATM withdrawals every month, with low fees after that, no annual costs, and no interest to worry about.
Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
You can apply for a CIMB credit card online if you’re a Malaysian resident and have an NRIC. Here’s how to apply for a CIMB credit card:
Sources:
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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