The DBS Black World Mastercard is a highly popular credit card for earning air miles. Not only do you get to enjoy HK$4/mile for overseas spending and HK$6/mile for local spending all year round, but now, if you successfully register in DBS Card+, you can enjoy an even lower rate of HK$3/mile along with amazing travel privileges worldwide!
Some people claim that the DBS Black World Mastercard is the top competitor to the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard. But is it really worth applying for? Let’s take a closer look to discover more!
DBS Black World Mastercard: Is it worth applying? MoneySmart credit card rating
| DBS Black World Mastercard—Is it MoneySmart? | ||
| Overall: ★★★☆☆ | ||
| Best for: Earning miles | ||
| Category | Our rating | Explanation |
| Earn rates: air miles & cashback | ★★★☆☆ | – HK$4/mile for overseas spending and HK$6/mile for local spending |
| Earn categories | ★★★☆☆ | – Mostly the card is used for earning miles. |
| Annual fees and charges | ★★☆☆☆ | – First year annual fee waiver of HK$3,600 |
| Accessibility | ★★★☆☆ | – Annual income requirement of HK$240,000 |
| Extras/periphery rewards | ★★★★☆ | – Up to 12% Off Hotel Booking Offer from Expedia – 10% Off on Hotel Booking from Hotels.com |
| Welcome offer | ★★★★☆ | – Up to 42,000 miles as a welcome offer |
Table of contents: DBS Black World Mastercard review
- DBS Black World Mastercard: Is it worth applying? MoneySmart credit card rating
- DBS Black World Mastercard: HK$4/mile
- DBS Black World Mastercard: Perks and more
- DBS Black World Mastercard: Basic information
- DBS Black World Mastercard: Welcome offer
- Which is better? DBS Black World Mastercard or Cathay Pacific Mastercard
- DBS Black World Mastercard: Advantages and disadvantages
- Review: Should you apply for DBS Black World Mastercard?
- Frequently asked questions: DBS Black Mastercard
- Related articles
DBS Black World Mastercard: HK$4/mile
The DBS Black World Mastercard offers a decent air miles earning rate. The card earns you HK$4/mile for overseas spending and HK$6/mile for local spending.
| Earning Category | Mile Rate |
| Local Spending | HK$6/mile |
| Overseas Spending | HK$4/mile |
| Local Dining Spending | HK$6/mile |
| Local Online Shopping | HK$6/mile |
| Overseas Online Shopping | HK$4/mile |
| E-wallet Spending | HK$6/mile |
Plus, if you register in DBS Card+, you can enjoy an even lower rate of HK$3/mile along with amazing worldwide travel privileges!
DBS Card+ exclusive privileges
Register now on the DBS Card+ App. Starting from the day after successful registration, accumulate retail spending of HK$80,000 in a designated spending period to enjoy the following benefits:
- Enjoy as low as HK$3/mile for local and overseas retail spending (A total of 4X DBS$, including basic and extra rewards, i.e. every HK$250 = DBS$4).
- Receive a Klook HK$500 discount code
- Airport limousine service
- Luggage delivery: You can redeem your points as Asia Miles, Avios, KrisFlyer, and more, without any conversion fee. What’s even better is that your points will never expire! So you can enjoy the benefits for as long as you like.
DBS Black World Mastercard: Perks and more
With DBS Black World Mastercard, you now can enjoy a fantastic offer of up to 12% off your next hotel booking when you visit Expedia, plus an exclusive 10% discount on your hotel booking when you book through Hotels.com.
DBS$ exclusive travelling redemption perks
As a cardholder, you can easily exchange your DBS$ for air tickets and hotel accommodations on iGO Rewards. You also get access to a wide range of travel offers on popular websites like Agoda and Klook, among others.
DBS Black World Mastercard: Basic information
| Feature | Details |
| Minimum Annual Income Requirement | HK$240,000 |
| Annual Fee | HK$3,600 (First year waiver) |
| Interest-Free Repayment Period | Up to 60 days |
| Minimum Repayment Amount (HKD) | As low as HK$300 |
| Late Payment Fee | Minimum payment amount or HK$350 |
| Actual Annual Interest Rate (Retail) | 34.58% |
| Actual Annual Interest Rate (Cash) | 35.94% |
| Foreign Currency Transaction Fee | 1.95% |
DBS Black World Mastercard has a minimum annual income requirement of HK$240,000. That is quite a fair threshold compared to other credit cards. But note that the DBS Black World Mastercard has the first-year annual fee waiver of HK$3,600. After that, you can always call the hotline for a fee waiver (DBS hotline: 2290 8888).
DBS Black World Mastercard: Welcome offer
New customers who successfully apply for DBS Black World Mastercard by April 2 2024 can enjoy the first year annual fee waiver , up to 42,000 miles and/or HK$50 InstaRedeem Discount upon spending with the new card in the first 3 months and activating DBS Card+ account and the physical New Card in the first month. Here are the details of the welcome offer tier:
| Spending Requirement | Miles Reward |
| Total eligible spending: HK$8,000 | 8,000 miles (i.e. DBS$384) |
| Total eligible spending: HK$20,000 | 12,000 miles (i.e. DBS$576) |
| Total eligible spending: HK$80,000 | 40,000 miles (i.e. DBS$1,920) |
| Accumulate Octopus Automatic Add-Value transaction of HK$1,000+ or apply for Flexi Shopping (any amount) with 12+ monthly instalments via the New Card within 3 months of issuance. | Extra 2,000 miles (i.e. DBS$96) |
Which is better? DBS Black World Mastercard or Cathay Pacific Mastercard
Among the options for travel credit cards, DBS Black World Mastercard and Cathay Pacific Mastercard are two major competitors in the field.
So, which card is more suitable for you? Let’s take a quick look at the comparison below.
| Credit Card | Spending on Cathay and HK Express | Local Dining | Overseas Spending | Online Shopping |
| Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard | HK$2/mile | HK$4/mile | HK$4/mile | HK$4/mile |
| DBS Black World Mastercard | – | HK$6/mile | HK$4/mile | HK$6/mile (Local) HK$4/mile (Overseas) |
The Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard offers a conversion rate of HK$2/mile on Cathay and HK Express. Dining, food delivery platforms, online, and overseas spending have a conversion rate of HK$4/mile, while other categories have a rate of HK$6/mile—automatically credited to the cardholder’s Asia Miles account without any conversion fee or minimum.
On the other hand, the DBS Black World Mastercard gives HK$4/for overseas spending and HK$6/mile for local spending. It offers flexibility in redeeming points such as Asia Miles, Avios, KrisFlyer, and more, with the added benefit that these points never expire.
Winner? The Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard wins for its lower conversion rate on specific categories and automatic point conversion, making it more convenient. However, for other mileage programs, the DBS Black World Mastercard gives you more choices.
This is not the end…
Check out Travel Credit Card Duel: Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard vs. DBS Black World Mastercard for more detailed comparison!
DBS Black World Mastercard: Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of DBS Black World Mastercard:
- Points do not expire, allowing for flexibility in travel plans.
- No fees for converting points to Asia Miles, Avios, Krisflyer, or PhoenixMiles.
- HK$6/mile for local spending and HK$4/mile overseas spending
- Accepted worldwide as it is a Mastercard.
- DBS$ can be redeemed for various mileage programs, including Asia Miles, Avios, Krisflyer, and even China Eastern miles.
- iGO Rewards allows for direct redemption of flights and hotels using DBS$, often offering attractive discounts of up to 55%.
- Welcome offer of up to 42,000 miles
- Low annual income requirement, making approval easy. An income of HK$240,000 is reasonable for this card, and lower incomes are sometimes approved.
- Discounts are frequently available on websites such as Hutchgo, agoda, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Klook.
Disadvantages of DBS Black World Mastercard:
- No rewards for online bill payments.
- Octopus automatic add-value service charges HK$12/mile.
- Transactions in HKD with non-Hong Kong registered merchants are not eligible for rewards.
Review: Should you apply for DBS Black World Mastercard?
The key to finding the right answer lies in the flight ticket redemption options. While the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard may have a lower mile earning rate, it only allows miles redemption through Asia Miles. If you’re interested in a miles program other than Asia Miles, it’s worth keeping an eye on the DBS Black World Mastercard.
What’s more, with the DBS Card+ App, you can earn miles for as little as HK$3/mile for both local and overseas retail spending. All you need to do is register the card on the app and accumulate retail spending of HK$80,000 within the Spending Phase. Just remember, you may have to be a bit patient before you can fully enjoy the benefits.
On top of that, there’s an enticing offer of up to 12% off hotel bookings from Expedia and a 10% discount on hotel bookings from Hotels.com. Perfect for the frequent travellers!
In summary, the DBS Black World Mastercard shines brightly among other credit cards that earn miles, making it a standout choice.
Frequently asked questions: DBS Black Mastercard
Can I earn DBS$ or points by using electronic wallets with DBS credit cards?
You can earn DBS$ or points by using electronic wallets with DBS credit cards. Whether it’s topping up Payme, transferring funds through Wechat Pay or Alipay, or auto-loading Octopus with DBS Compass Visa, DBS Black World Mastercard, DBS Live Fresh Credit Card, or DBS Eminent Card, you can earn DBS$ or points!
Does DBS Black Mastercard have an annual fee?
The first year annual fee of HK$3,600 of DBS Black Mastercard is waived, but starting from the second year, you will need to call to request a fee waiver.
What mileage can DBS$ from DBS Black Mastercard be redeemed for?
DBS$ from DBS Black Mastercard can be redeemed for Avios, Asia Miles, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
How does DBS Black World Mastercard reward miles?
The DBS Black World Mastercard rewards 1 mile for every HK$4 spent overseas. Additionally, local spending offers a rate of HK$6/mile. Furthermore, it offers flexibility in redeeming points for various programs such as Asia Miles, Avios, KrisFlyer, and more.
Related articles
Want to stay ahead of the crowd? Visit the MoneySmart blog for more financial tips!
MoneySmart—Your One-Stop Financial Products Platform
Homepage: www.moneysmart.hk/en/