Having free annual fee credit cards in the Philippines is now possible. Thanks to the increasing competition in the credit card business, more and more companies are offering credit cards with no annual fees.
Owning a credit card brings a lot of benefits.
The main reason why people get credit cards is that it gives us access to money (credit limit) and gives us the flexibility to maximize its benefits. It’s like having a very accessible loan that you can tap into at any time (for a fee of course). It also gives us access to tons of freebies and discounts.
One of the reasons why I maintain one of the best travel credit cards in the Philippines – Citi PremierMiles, is because it helps me earn miles from my purchases and also I get to avail myself of a lot of discounts with their partner hotels (if there are promotions).
I also have an RCBC Bankard Visa Platinum Credit Card so I can have free lounge access when I travel locally. (Update 10/26/20: I already have discontinued using this card).
However, it comes with a cost as well.
There is an annual fee that you have to pay and the cost of it depends on the type of card that you have. There is also an interest charge that you have to pay in case you cannot pay your monthly bill in full.
But worry not, if the annual fee keeps you away from acquiring a credit card, I have some good news for you. There are credit cards that offer a free annual fee for life.
I only listed here the credit cards that have no annual fee without asking you to meet a certain spending amount threshold.
Note to Readers: Please be advised that the information written here is valid as of the time of writing but may have been updated by the time you see/read this post. Please refer to the linked credit card or bank web pages to get the updated details. If the links are not working by the time you see the article, please go to the bank’s homepage.
Here is our list of Free Annual Fee Credit Cards in the Philippines:
Table of Contents
Metrobank M Mastercard
Metrobank is one of the first banks that offered a free annual fee credit card through its Metrobank M Mastercard. Even though the annual fee is free, you still get discounts, free gifts, and great deals with your Metrobank card via their M Here partner establishments.
Click here for more information about the Metrobank M Mastercard
PSBank Credit Mastercard
PSBank also offers a free annual fee credit card that gives you access to a variety of basic credit card features such as 0% Installment Program, 24 Hour Customer Service, and Cash Advance. It is also very convenient to use this as you can check your balance via text.
Click here for more information about the PSBank Credit Mastercard or here.
AUB Credit Cards
Asia United Bank is offering four credit cards with free annual fee for life. The credit cards that they are offering include:
a. AUB Easy Mastercard
b. AUB Classic Mastercard
c. AUB Gold Mastercard
d. AUB Platinum Mastercard
The most unique feature of AUB Credit Cards is the flexibility of payment. You can choose how many times you want to pay when you want to pay, and how much you want to pay and you can also choose your payment due date (15 options).
Each of the four aforementioned cards also has its own set of rewards, privileges, and entry requirements. The higher the entry requirement is, of course, the better the reward program is.
Click here for more information about AUB Credit Cards
Eastwest Platinum Mastercard
Eastwest Platinum Mastercard offers a ton of benefits that we can only dream of for now such as Free Priority Pass Membership, Free Travel Insurance, and more. However, the required gross annual income requirement for this card is quite high (contact their bank representatives to know more) but if you’re one of the lucky ones who earn more than this amount then I suggest that you apply for the Eastwest Platinum Mastercard. Not only does it give the principal card owner free annual fee for life, but it also grants the same privilege to the supplementary cards.
Click here for more information about Eastwest Platinum Mastercard
Eastwest Priority Banking Visa Infinite Card
This card is by invitation only and it’s being offered to Eastwest Bank’s priority customers. This card is feature-packed and if you’re one of the lucky ones that are considered priority customers, then I highly suggest that you get this card. Just like the Eastwest Platinum Mastercard, the free annual fee privilege extends to your supplementary cards as well.
Click here for more information about Eastwest Priority Banking Visa Infinite Card
HSBC Premier Mastercard
This credit card is only being offered to HSBC Premier Bank depositors. If you wish to qualify for an HSBC Premier, you have to maintain a certain minimum Total Relationship Balance (TRB), feel free to contact the HSBC near you to discuss this. Your TRB would include your deposits and investments. The credit card is packed with awesome benefits that any business traveler will definitely enjoy.
Click here for more information about HSBC Premier Mastercard
Citi Simplicity Card
Citibank is one of the credit card providers that give a lot of benefits and for this particular card, it offers no annual fee every single year. You could save money just by simply not having to pay credit card annual fees. I personally have this card and you can read my short review about it here.
Click here for more information about Citi Simplicity Card
PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard
According to PNB’s website, PNB Ze-Lo offers the following: Zero Annual Fee, Zero Late Fee, and Zero Overlimit Fees. This card also offers a lower monthly minimum amount due.
Be sure to check the Terms and Conditions just to be sure and to confirm with bank representatives before you sign up for the card.
Click here for more information about PNB Ze-Lo Credit Mastercard
PNB – The Travel Club Platinum Mastercard
This is the only co-branded credit card (as of the time of writing) that offers a waived annual fee for life. And just like all co-branded credit cards, it does offer discounts with the partner merchant, which, in this case, The Travel Club. Discounts and freebies change from time to time and it’s better to check PNB’s website to ensure that you’re getting the latest information about this credit card.
Click here for more information about PNB – The Travel Club Platinum Mastercard
BPI eCredit
BPI eCredit prides itself on being the first-ever virtual credit line designed for internet shopping. Use BPI eCredit anytime you buy online, then settle your e-purchases conveniently with the rest of your BPI MasterCard bills. It’s a free companion card to your existing BPI Mastercard and BPI eCredit protects your credit line by assigning a lower credit limit and a different credit card number so you can shop online in a secure way.
Click here for more information about BPI eCredit
Security Bank Next Mastercard
Security Bank’s Next Mastercard is probably the cutest credit card in town (as of the time of writing). This is probably marketed toward the younger generation. The main key feature is that it automatically converts purchases of at least PHP5,000 to easy installment plans of 3, 6, and 12 months with an add-on rate of 1% monthly. Now, I’m not sure if it’s a feature that you can turn on/off especially if you want to pay your credit card dues in full (better check with Security Bank) before you avail this card.
And also, you get unlimited access to the Marhaba Lounge NAIA Terminals 1 and 3. Your card should be active and valid to access the lounge. Please note that it is not entirely free as the cardholder is subject to a USD17 fee per visit and travel companions are subject to a USD19 fee per person per visit.
Other Credit Cards
Every now and then, banks and credit card companies have promotional offers that offer free annual fees for a certain period of time or for life when you apply for a card during the promotional period. So if the eleven cards mentioned above do not suit your needs, check with other banks to see what they’re currently offering.
Also, if you have an existing credit card that does not offer a free annual fee, there are some ways you could have the fee waived. Check out my post about it to know more – How to Waive Credit Card Annual Fees.
Note: This article was originally posted in June 2019 and updated in October 2023.
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Do you know any other credit cards that offer free annual fee for life? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.
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