Goodbye GrabPay, good day higher numberless card options!

There’s no must bemoan the lack of the GrabPay card, because it was hardly that unbelievable to start with. However for these of you who assume you’ll miss the numberless card function, you’ll be glad to know that whereas Seize was certainly the primary to launch that function right here, 2 different card issuers have adopted since – so right here’s these 2 different choices you may contemplate as a substitute.

After I first learn the information yesterday about Seize’s choice to discontinue their GrabPay card (from June), my first thought was that it might need been an April Idiot’s prank performed by the model.

Besides that it wasn’t.

Shortly after, I obtained a number of DMs on my Instagram from readers asking if I knew of every other playing cards that might supply “comparable advantages”. That originally left me bewildered, as a result of in my head I used to be pondering, “WHAT advantages did the GrabPay card have within the first place?”

You’ve seen me function numerous playing cards right here on the weblog, and I’ve talked extensively about how I’m an everyday Seize consumer right here, right here and right here.

However let’s get actual, that doesn’t imply each Seize providing is nice. And the GrabPay card is high of that so-horrible-why-does-it-even-exist record.

The historical past of GrabPay card

The GrabPay Card, basically a pay as you go MasterCard, was launched in late 2019 and again then, had no less than some justifiable use instances for it:

That was the ultimate nail within the coffin for the GrabPay card. The adjustments not solely rendered the GrabPay card ineffective, but additionally made the the whole Seize level techniques an excessive amount of effort for too little reward. And let’s be sincere, whereas the GrabPay Card’s reward scheme was first rate at finest, however once you weigh it in opposition to among the heavyweight bank card choices on the market, it’s like bringing a knife to a gunfight. What’s extra, navigating Seize’s rewards system was about as easy as a hedge maze – you’re higher off with out it in your life anyway.

Since then, it has just about been a ineffective card to maintain; you’d be higher off with a specialised card that rewards you for spending on Seize, similar to DBS Girl’s World, Citi Rewards or HSBC Revolution for miles (4 mpd) or 10+% cashback with UOB One Card.

Safety as a card profit

Nevertheless, there was one minor card profit left: Seize’s numberless card function.

Keep in mind, again in 2019 when Seize first launched the cardboard, it touted it as Asia’s first numberless bodily card for enhanced safety. That meant that even should you lose your card, you didn’t have to fret about somebody stealing and utilizing your bank card numbers for his or her on-line purchases since your entire card particulars securely saved throughout the Seize app, and you possibly can lock the cardboard immediately by way of the app in case of an emergency​ (learn: scams).

After a number of voice messages with this reader, I lastly understood why she was nonetheless utilizing the cardboard – it was primarily for her on-line transactions on suspicious-looking web sites. She was additionally trying right into a numberless bank card for her aged mom to convey out in substitute of her POSB Debit card, so she requested me for assist.

Whereas I personally select to not preserve a card in my arsenal except it has safety AND different advantages (which is why GrabPay didn’t meet my necessities), I’ve to acknowledge that there are some teams of customers who don’t thoughts proudly owning a card solely for safety functions.

Besides that…you actually don’t must settle. Let me let you know why.

Higher options to the GrabPay card: Belief card and Hugo card

Severely, should you haven’t ditched your GrabPay card already by now, isn’t it good that this discontinuation now forces you to interrupt up with a card that hardly serves you?

There’s no must mourn the upcoming closure both as a result of actually, there are higher playing cards on the market that may supply BOTH safety and rewards. The GrabPay Card might need been an honest contender in its heyday, however the fintech evolution in Singapore has already levelled up since. So in that sense, the top of the GrabPay Card isn’t only a closure; it’s an opportunity so that you can degree up your monetary sport.

Utilizing numberless playing cards as the principle precedence function, right here’s 2 playing cards that I like to recommend you guys try to exchange GrabPay card as a substitute – Belief and Hugo.

Belief (financial institution) card

Belief Financial institution Singapore is a digital financial institution backed by Customary Chartered and FairPrice Group, and their Belief bank card can also be a numberless bodily card.

• Your Belief Visa Signature Card is a numberless bank card, which signifies that solely you may entry your card particulars on the Belief app. Similar to the GrabPay card. Within the (uncommon) occasion that your card particulars are compromised, you may instantly disable it on the app. You may also set the credit score restrict (I selected a low $1,000 for mine) and modify it anytime, so that you shouldn’t have to fret about scammers siphoning off more cash than you may afford to lose or pay again.
• Cash in your Belief account is safeguarded by Customary Chartered Financial institution with a $100k SDIC safety.
• You get to earn upsized LinkPoints and luxuriate in service provider promos (I’m an everyday at Wang and Burger King with my Belief card perks).

In contrast to Seize who nerfed their rewards, Belief has really elevated it (from a beforehand 15% to as much as 21%* financial savings at the moment on FairPrice Group groceries and meals spend). There are additionally different advantages together with preferential mortgage charges and the choice to purchase low cost insurance coverage ($0.50 per thirty days) for household accident plans underwritten by NTUC Revenue.

Learn my detailed evaluate of Belief financial institution and its card right here to determine if that is best for you. Whereas the $170 can not be earned since they eliminated the bonus $25 welcome voucher again in 2022, you may nonetheless get a $10 welcome Fairprice e-voucher instantly upon signup and different perks.

Don’t neglect to make use of my referral code earlier than you signal as much as get $10 FairPrice vouchers! Use 0BWH3B31 (that’s a zero in entrance).

Hugo Card

For those who like the thought of with the ability to “make investments as you spend”, then Hugo is perhaps proper up your alley:

• Your Hugo Platinum Visa Debit Card is a numberless debit card, which signifies that solely you may entry your card particulars on the Hugo app. Similar to the GrabPay card. Within the (uncommon) occasion that your card particulars are compromised, you may instantly disable it on the app and really feel secure that the utmost the scammers can siphon off is proscribed to the money you’ve saved in your Hugo debit account.
• It really works like every Visa contactless card would, and cash in your Hugo account is safeguarded by DBS Financial institution i.e. even when Hugo had been to stop operations at some point, your cash will nonetheless be there in DBS.
• It “rounds up” your financial savings (something in cents) and invests that spare turn into your Gold vault. I’m in earnings now because of this due to how a lot gold costs have risen since I began utilizing Hugo!
• This card will also be ideally suited for these of you pondering of giving your children or aged mother and father a Hugo Account + card, since you may load their spending allowance every month (with out worrying about them busting the finances!) and observe the place they’re spending at. Keep away from a situation of your children spending 1000’s of {dollars} on on-line video games, merchandise or even thriller containers!

You possibly can learn my detailed evaluate concerning the Hugo card and its whole app providing right here to determine if it’s best for you.

Unlock entry to Hugo and stand up to S$80 Goldback welcome profit instantly as a Price range Babe reader right here!

TDLR Conclusion: Goodbye GrabPay card, say good day to Belief or Hugo!

As you may see, there actually is not any must mourn the lack of the GrabPay card – I’d say as a substitute that the cardboard ought to have been closed earlier (again in 2022, in all probability) as soon as it ceased to turn into helpful to most individuals.

And should you assume you’ll miss the numberless card safety function, then take this as your likelihood to take a look at Belief card or Hugo card as a substitute. I’ve each and use them for various causes (Belief card for my FPG purchasing, and Hugo for smaller purchases / make investments into gold), however you could desire to get simply 1 as a substitute should you’d fairly preserve your pockets slim.

In brief, right here’s a fast abstract of how the three playing cards stack up:

Which is able to you like?

With love,
Price range Babe

Apply for Belief card right here and key in 0BWH3B31 to get a S$10 FairPrice e-voucher.

Apply for Hugo card right here and begin incomes as much as S$80 Goldback.