For comparison purposes only. Final terms are determined by the issuing bank.
Review
A Grab replacement card with selective 8% cashback
The Maybank Cash Back Mastercard Platinum is the card Maybank introduced after the Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum was discontinued. It is no longer just a Grab-focused card. The new structure gives cashback on Digital Lifestyle, Dining and Online Entertainment, but the fit is still quite specific.
To get the best rate, you need at least RM1,500 total retail spend in a statement month. Once you hit that, the card gives 8% cashback in each bonus category, capped at RM18 per category per month. If you use all three categories well, the maximum cashback is RM54 per month. On RM1,500 spending, that works out to about 3.6% effective cashback.
The categories need a closer look. Digital Lifestyle covers online spending such as ride-hailing and online groceries. This includes examples like GrabRides, GrabMart, Lotus's online, Jaya Grocer online and myAEON2go. Online Entertainment covers streaming, apps and digital content, with examples such as Netflix, Spotify, Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Steam.
In positioning, it feels a little like a mix between UOB One and UOB EVOL. Dining and Grab-related spending give it some everyday use, while Online Entertainment and app-store spending make it feel closer to a digital cashback card. The important difference is that e-wallet reloads do not earn cashback, so it is not as flexible as cards that still reward e-wallet top-ups.
The RM1,500 monthly spend is not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is the condition to watch. If your spending naturally fits the three categories, the card can be useful. If you miss the threshold, cashback drops to 0.2%, including the bonus categories, which makes the card much less attractive for casual use.
The card also has a useful travel perk: 0% foreign currency mark-up, but only in Singapore, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. That is helpful if you travel to those countries, but it is not the same as having no FX mark-up everywhere.
Maybank's digital wallet support is a plus. The card supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, which helps for dining and contactless spending. The minimum annual income requirement is RM24,000. The annual fee is free for the first year, then RM70 for the principal card and RM45 for supplementary cards. I would not assume an annual fee waiver unless Maybank publishes one.
Verdict: The Maybank Cash Back Mastercard Platinum is worth considering if you can spend around RM1,500 a month and your spending fits its Digital Lifestyle, Dining and Online Entertainment categories. The 8% rate is strong, and RM54 monthly cashback is decent for an entry-level card. But the categories are selective, e-wallet reloads are excluded, and the card becomes very ordinary if you do not meet the monthly spend requirement.
Pros
- 8% cashback on Digital Lifestyle, Dining and Online Entertainment
- Maximum cashback of RM54 per month if all categories are used well
- Effective cashback can reach about 3.6% at RM1,500 spend
- Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
- 0% FX mark-up in selected countries
Cons
- Requires RM1,500 monthly spend to unlock 8% cashback
- Each bonus category is capped at RM18 per month
- E-wallet reloads do not earn cashback
- Categories are useful but quite selective
- No annual fee waiver information is shown after the first year
Cashback
| Category | Below RM1,500Total monthly spend | RM1,500+Total monthly spend | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
Digital Lifestyle1 | 0.2% | 8% | RM18 |
Dining2 | 0.2% | 8% | RM18 |
Online Entertainment3 | 0.2% | 8% | RM18 |
Other Retail Spend Excludes: e-Wallet | 0.2% | 0.2% | Uncapped |
including ride-hailing & online groceries.
including online delivery.
Video and music streaming, games, Apple app store and Google Play
Rewards rates, caps and eligibility are subject to bank-defined terms and conditions.
Information is compiled independently and may not always reflect the latest updates. Please refer to the relevant official website for final and up-to-date details.
Cashback Calculator
Cashback estimates are for reference only. Actual rewards may vary by merchant category, exclusions, and bank terms. Please refer to the official terms for final confirmation.
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Cashback Summary
Card benefits
0% FX Mark-up
Save on your overseas spend with no FX mark-up fee imposed by Maybank when you tap or swipe in 5 countries: 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇮🇩 Indonesia.