Foreign-currency fees on Singapore credit cards
When you pay in a foreign currency, most Singapore cards add a fee of about 3.25% on top of the exchange rate. Part goes to Visa or Mastercard; the rest to the bank.
| Issuer | Fee on foreign-currency spend |
|---|---|
| DBS / POSB | 3.25% (1% network + 2.25% bank) |
| OCBC | 3.25% (1% network + 2.25% bank) |
| UOB | 3.25% (UOB EVOL: no UOB admin fee) |
| Citi | Up to 3.25% |
| HSBC | 2.25% bank + up to 1% network |
| Standard Chartered | 3.5% (1% network + 2.5% bank) |
| Maybank | 2.25% bank + up to 1% network |
| American Express | 3.25% |
Paying in SGD overseas isn't free either
If a shop abroad offers to charge you in Singapore dollars, the merchant sets the exchange rate, and Visa or Mastercard usually still add about 1% for a transaction processed overseas. Paying in the local currency is usually cheaper.
Does a miles card make up for the fee?
Cards that earn 2 or more miles per S$1 overseas can offset part of the fee if you value miles highly. At 1.5¢ a mile, 2.2 miles per S$1 is worth about 3.3%, roughly the same as the fee.
Sources: DBS, OCBC, UOB, Citi, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Maybank and American Express fee schedules, checked 27 Oct 2026.