Not all that long ago, we gave you the lowdown on the then-recently introduced Citibank Rewards Platinum Card. Now it’s time to get to know it even better. And the RinggitPlus team believes that one of the best ways to do so is measure it up against another credit card.

The card that we picked for this purpose is another reward points powerhouse – the Maybank 2 Platinum Cards. So how will the Citibank card fare against its well-established competitor? First, have a look at the table below, which highlights the features of both cards in a nutshell.

Citibank Rewards Platinum vs Maybank 2 Platinum

Citibank Rewards Platinum

Maybank 2 Platinum

5x Citi Rewards points on up to 5 categories RM100 per year subscription fee for each category (two categories free for the first year) Maximum 60,000 claimable 5x Citi Rewards points per category per annum Maximum RM1,000 spend eligible for 5x Citi Rewards per category per month (RM12,000 for Travel category) Automatic protection for each subscribed category 20,000 welcome Citi Rewards points, subject to minimum spending conditions Minimum annual income: RM36,000

Cardholders get a Maybankard 2 American Express Card and Maybankard 2 MasterCard in one sign up, service tax and statement. 5x TreatsPoints with Maybankard 2 American Express Card worldwide (2x TreatsPoints on government bodies, education institutions and insurance providers) 1x TreatsPoints with Maybankard 2 MasterCard 5% weekend cash back with Maybankard 2 American Express Card, capped at RM50 per month Complimentary travel insurance coverage, retail protection and golf course use Minimum annual income: RM60,000

Putting it all in perspective

In order to get the best out of your Citibank Rewards Platinum Card, you need to ensure that you’re subscribed to the categories you spend the most on. So spare some thought to identify them before you sign up for the card.

By doing so, you’ll have a better bet that the monetary value of your Citi Rewards will be more than the minimum RM200 you’d have to shell out on reward subscription fees. Sign up for as many categories as you’d like, so long as you’re a heavy spender on each of them.

On the other hand, with your Maybank 2 Platinum Cards , you are not restricted to collecting your TreatsPoints within specific categories. This makes them ideal for those of us who don’t spend a lot on specific categories only and are looking for a great all-round card. The 5% weekend cashback is a nice little bonus too.

Different needs, different credit cards

After comparing the Citibank Rewards Platinum Card and Maybank 2 Platinum Cards side by side, we can only conclude that no card is better than the other. As always, their usefulness is determined on what you use them for.

If your spending habits include heavy expenditures within a narrow set of categories, we say go for the Citibank credit card. However, if you spend an average amount across a broad range of categories, the Maybank cards will suit your needs better.

The way we see it, the Citibank Rewards Platinum card will appeal more to singles, who tend to focus their spend on the categories that reflect their lifestyle habits. The Maybank 2 Platinum cards we find is geared towards those with families, as they would be very likely to spend evenly on several categories rather than heavily on one or two. The difference in minimum annual income requirements for both cards reflects this.

 

• TAGS:
• Citibank
• Citibank Rewards Platinum
• Financial Behaviour
• Maybank
• Maybank 2 Platinum
• Personal Finance