This July, sign up for a credit card and you could walk away with welcome gifts like:

• Up to $550 cash with $500 minimum spend (plus a chance to win $10,000!)
• Up to 142,500 Membership Rewards® points (enough to redeem to a Return Trip to London on Singapore Airlines)
• A chance to win a Paris getaway for two (including flights, hotels and iconic experiences)

Clearly, we're spoilt for choice — banks in Singapore are competing so hard for new credit card customers that they are practically raining Apple products, Nintendo Switches, ergonomic chairs, and other freebies on us. Even if you don't see any item you want, some welcome gifts are just straight up cold, hard cash!

An overview: Best credit card promotions in Singapore (July 2025)

☆ Standard Chartered Pinball Sure Win Promotion

From now till July 31, 2025, sign up for selected Standard Chartered credit cards to win 1 turn in the SC Pinball Sure Win Promotion. You'll stand a chance to win prizes like a Paris Getaway for Two (flights, hotels and iconic experiences), Samsonite luggage, FairPrice/ Klook vouchers, and more. T&Cs apply.

1. Citibank credit card promotion

Looking to sign up for a new Citibank credit card? You're in luck. Citibank credit card welcome gifts are looking very attractive right now.

Among the Citi credit cards on promotion, my top pick this month is the Citi SMRT Card. Don't judge it by its name. This card is one of Singapore's underrated cashback cards with five per cent cashback on groceries, transport and online spend. The kicker? This month, apply for the Citi SMRT Card and get up to $550 cash, plus a chance to win $10,000!

If you are a miles chaser, another top pick is the Citi PremierMiles Card. This card lets you earn Citi Miles that never expire.

Here's a summary of all the Citibank credit cards with ongoing promotions:

2. Standard Chartered credit card promotions

This month, it's tough to pick the best Standard Chartered credit card promotion. However, the unlimited cashback Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card promotion comes up top in terms of cash value with $350 cash or 4,000 SmartPoints. Plus, get two per cent unlimited cashback on it from now till Oct 31, 2025 when you spend $800 a month.

This month, you can also get $230 cash via PayNow or 2,990 SmartPoints when you apply for the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card or Standard Chartered Rewards+ Credit Card.

Here's a summary of all Standard Chartered credit card promotions this month:

From now till July 31, 2025, sign up for selected Standard Chartered credit cards to win 1 turn in the SC Pinball Sure Win Promotion. You'll stand a chance to win prizes like a Paris Getaway for Two (flights, hotels and iconic experiences), Samsonite luggage, FairPrice/ Klook vouchers, and more. The best part? This giveaway runs on top of your welcome gifts in the table above.

3. CIMB credit card promotion

There are three credit cards with an ongoing promotion to get $188 cashback for those new to CIMB credit cards.

The most accessible CIMB credit card is the CIMB World Mastercard, which has a $0 minimum spend per month. Note, however, that you'll need to hit $1,000 spend a month to enjoy the card's higher two per cent unlimited cashback rate.

Here are all the CIMB credit card promotions:

4. UOB credit card promotions

Right now, several UOB credit cards have a special SG60 promotion: get $60 cash guaranteed when you spend $500 within 30 days! Plus, one lucky winner will clinch $6,000 cash in our grand draw, and 60 consolation winners get $100 cash. The applicable credit cards are:

• UOB One Credit Card
• UOB Absolute Cashback Card
• UOB Lady's Card
• UOB PRVI American Express Miles Card
• UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles Card
• UOB PRVI VISA Miles Card

On top of this SG60 promotion, these UOB credit cards come with the following welcome rewards this July:

5. HSBC credit card promotions

The HSBC credit card line-up gained an exciting new lifestyle card last year — the HSBC Live+ Credit Card. Although the card's generous eight per cent cashback on dining, shopping and entertainment was supposed to end on Dec 31, 2024, it's since been (sort of) extended. If you sign up for the card from now till Sept 30, 2025, you get to enjoy a total of eight per cent cashback at selected dining, shopping and/or entertainment merchants for the first two calendar quarters from your card issue date.

Coupled with the welcome gifts it comes with, the HSBC Live+ is one attractive card.

6. AMEX credit card promotions

This month, the juiciest Amex welcome promotion is the 160,000 Membership Rewards® points (equivalent to 100,000 Air Miles) you'll earn with the American Express The Platinum Card.

You'll need to spend $8,000 within the first six months from card approval, which will also earn you 10,000 Membership Rewards® points.

Here are all the American Express credit card promotions this month:

7. DBS credit card promotions

The juiciest DBS credit card sign-up promotion this month belongs to the DBS yuu Card-get up to $380 cash rewards, comprising $300 cashback and $80 Esso fuel discount Voucher:

These other DBS credit cards do not have ongoing sign-up promotions:

• DBS Vantage Visa Infinite Card
• SAFRA DBS Card
• DBS Live Fresh Student Card
• DBS Woman's Card
• DBS Woman's World Card
• DBS Esso Card

A word on the DBS Woman's and Woman's World Card: Don't be fooled by the name. You can apply for these cards no matter your gender.

8. POSB credit card promotion

The POSB Everyday Card is a straightforward cash rebates card with (strictly speaking) no minimum spend; certain bonus reward categories require you to spend above $800/month.

As the name suggests, you can apply for the POSB Everyday Card to make the most out of your day-to-day spending. The latest POSB Everyday Card promotion is as fuss-free as the card — $300 cashback when you apply and spend $800 within 60 days.

9. Maybank credit card promotions

While Maybank credit cards aren't currently offering welcome gifts, they're still worth checking out.

My top pick is the Maybank Family & Friends Card, a cashback card that offers up to eight per cent cashback on five cashback categories of your choice, plus up to eight per cent cashback on Malaysian Ringgit and Indonesia Rupiah spend.

10. OCBC credit card promotions

This month, OCBC credit cards come with goodies such as 1,960 SmartPoints or $150 cash. Don't know which card to choose? We got you. For the foodies, the OCBC 365 Credit Card earns you five per cent cashback on everyday dining with a minimum monthly spend of $800.

For a card that earns rebates you on a wider range of spend categories, consider the OCBC Rewards Credit Card for up to four miles per dollar at selected retailers. Psst, this card is also a good choice to pair with the Amaze Card!

Credit card promotions - is there a catch?

With free AirPods Pro, ergonomic standing desks and thousands of miles raining down on us, you might be wondering: Is there a catch to all these freebies?

Truth is, there is one drawback to signing up for credit card promotions: You won't be eligible for more freebies in the future. Well, at least for a year. Here's how it works:

If you're thinking of gaming the system by cancelling your card and re-applying, tough luck!

Another thing to note is that you must hit the minimum spend to get your reward. If you're really lucky, you'll get your shiny new iPad or cashback immediately upon card approval. 

However, most banks require you to spend a minimum sum (say, $1,000 in the first month) and sometimes even fork out the first year's annual credit card fee (goodbye, fee waiver!). After all that, banks will make you wait a few months before you can even smell the freebie.

So what's the lesson here? Read the T&Cs carefully, and only sign up when you're confident you can hit the minimum spend.

This article was first published in MoneySmart.