Affin Bank and Affin Islamic Bank have updated their card terms and conditions to clarify how cashback is calculated and when it may be withheld, alongside revisions to their Visa Debit Card terms.

The additional clauses for Affin credit cards were announced on 9 January 2026 and will take effect 21 calendar days after posting. The debit card updates apply under the revised terms issued for January 2026.

Cashback Eligibility Now Clearly Defined For Contactless Spending

For Affin DUO+ Visa cardholders, cashback is awarded only on eligible contactless retail transactions of RM250 and below per transaction.

Affin has clarified that it may withhold or reverse cashback if consecutive transactions are made at the same merchant within a short time frame to meet cashback eligibility. This practice, described as intentional splitting, includes making several smaller payments that together exceed RM250 at the same merchant.

In practical terms, splitting a larger bill into multiple smaller transactions to earn additional cashback may no longer qualify.

How Cashback Is Calculated At Transaction Level

The updated terms also set out how cashback amounts are calculated when rewards are credited.

Cashback is calculated on a per-transaction basis and credited using two decimal places as-is, without any rounding up or rounding down. This means the final cashback credited may differ slightly from manual calculations that assume rounding, especially for higher-value transactions.

The same calculation method applies across both conventional and Islamic Affin credit cards.

Personal Use Requirement Reinforced For Credit Cards

Affin has also reinforced that its credit cards, except for the Affin Business Platinum Card, are issued strictly for personal, non-commercial use.

Transactions linked to resale, business operations, income-generating activities, wholesale purchases, supplier payments, or spending on behalf of third parties do not qualify for cashback or Affin Reward Points. This clarification is relevant for cardholders who use personal cards for side businesses or informal selling.

Debit Card Terms Emphasise Cardholder Responsibility

Separately, Affin has revised the Terms and Conditions for its Visa Debit Cards, covering both conventional and Islamic accounts.

The revised terms reaffirm that cardholders are responsible for all debit card transactions, including contactless, online, and ATM usage. Customers are expected to safeguard their cards and PINs and to notify the bank promptly if a card is lost, stolen, or compromised.

Delays in reporting unauthorised transactions may affect how liability is assessed.

Contactless And Transaction Limits Remain In Place

Affin Visa Debit Cards continue to support contactless payments, subject to transaction and daily purchase limits set by the bank. Certain limits can be adjusted through Affin or Affin Islamic branches or approved banking channels.

Because contactless transactions below the set threshold do not require PIN verification, prompt reporting of lost or stolen cards remains important.

Overseas Usage And Conversion Charges Apply

The debit card terms continue to allow overseas withdrawals and card usage where sufficient funds are available.

Overseas transactions are converted to ringgit based on Visa’s exchange rate at the time of processing, with an additional foreign exchange spread of up to 1% applied. Cardholders also assume the risk associated with overseas usage, including the risk of card cloning when cross-border transactions are enabled.

Shariah Rules Continue To Apply For Islamic Cards

For Affin Islamic cardholders, the updated terms maintain the requirement that cards be used only for shariah-compliant goods and services.

If a card is used for non-shariah-compliant transactions, the bank may suspend or terminate card usage, and the cardholder remains liable for those transactions.

TLDR: What Affin Cardholders Need To Know

For most users, the updates do not change advertised cashback rates or introduce new fees. Instead, they clarify how cashback eligibility is assessed and reinforce existing rules around card usage.

Cardholders who rely on splitting transactions to maximise cashback, or who use personal cards for business-related spending, may need to adjust their habits. Understanding how rewards are calculated and when they may be withheld can help avoid surprises once the updated clauses take effect.

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