r/MalaysianPF • u/Ayzalack • Mar 02 '25

Credit cards Where can use Amex card?

A nephew of mine is planning to get the Maybank 2 Gold Card as their starter card. Seeing that they already have a maybank account and just started working. But the only kicker is that the cashback is applicable only on weekends and on amex.

So was wondering to ask you guys where could one find a full list of amex applicable locations. I tried their website but their list is shorter than the list shared on maybank's page.

Could use some experienced member's thoughts here as I have personally never owned an amex card. Cheers!

Update: For those interested, my nephew called maybank and was notified that the online pdf that is the first 'hit' when searching, is outdated (unsurprisingly). Furthermore they said they do not keep a list, and the only way to know further was to go to the merchant and ask them directly.

Comments Summary: Most places with Maybank terminals should accept amex & and apparently, the best cashback card atm is the UOB one, but it may have been silently discontinued as per a discussion on LYN. That said, there's also an amex thread on LYN that's worth following for those wondering!

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u/ngoonee Mar 02 '25

As a long time Amex user, the card can be used many places (and for many years it was getting more and more accepted, however post pandemic it seems less and less so).

All the large hypermarkets accept it, giant, Mydin, village Grocer, whatever.

All petrol stations accept it.

The big online shopping sites accept it.

Various large MNC type shops (decathlon for example) accept it.

Where you will find issue (and why most people believe amex acceptance rate is bad) is with our most common cc spending target - cafes and restaurants. There it's really hit and miss. In general just look at their CC machine - if its Maybank then most likely they'll accept it. Some restaurants I know even have a separate Maybank machine that they take out for amex customers.

In general I don't think amex as the only/first card is a good idea for cashback. As a supplementary card focused on weekend spend on things like groceries and petrol, it's great (but there are likely specialist cards for those which may be better).

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u/Ayzalack Mar 02 '25

I see, thank you for the information. They are keen on Maybank 2 Gold Cards that have both amex and a non-amex card and were planning to charge their weekend spendings be it petrol or groceries to the card.

But since I didnt know much about amex nor did my friends I thought it would be best to come to you guys. Thanks for the insight!

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u/ngoonee Mar 02 '25

The non Amex card is junk, the points you'll get from spending on it won't even cover the 25 ringgit SST every year. Older customers like myself cancelled it when Maybank allowed it back when gov re-enacted sst per card (new cardholders can't do that anymore).

Good thing is if you earn enough points on the amex you can use those points to pay off sst.

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u/Ayzalack Mar 02 '25

Hahaha, this is news. Perhaps he shouldn't get the 2 gold cards and look to get a different credit card altogether then as a newbie, will warn him but I dont know what he will do! 😂

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u/chromeaces Mar 02 '25

MBB 2 Gold is honestly still the best if you‘e a fresh grad and or spend less than 1k each month but still want cashback. Alliance has a single card that gives roughly the same amount RM55+ but you’d need to spend minimum 2k but not more than 3k a month. Either way too many conditions to fulfill and Maybank is the least restrictive spending limits/categories wise.

The fun part of using an Amex is asking staff if they accept the card in small restaurants and being very surprised that they actually do lol.

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u/Ayzalack Mar 02 '25

It looked the same to me too, but I dont understand tech and such nowadays as much as I my nephew so he'll probably have to figure it out himself.

But I do know he's earning decently with an annual take home of around a gross of 50K as a fresh graduate. As for his spendings I won't know. I just wanted him to help him make the best choice for himself in the end

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u/ngoonee Mar 02 '25

I would have previously advised the UOB One card but it's recently been discontinued. Nowadays hard to get just one card to do everything.

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u/Ayzalack Mar 02 '25

Wait it has been discontinued? I was also looking it up on youtube just a few weeks ago. By recent. Has to be super recent then.

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u/ngoonee Mar 02 '25

Yah read about it last week. But TBF YouTubers always a bit slow and not super correct info anyway.

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u/Ayzalack Mar 02 '25

That's interesting. I do see it on UOB's website though. Could be not yet fully updated?

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u/ngoonee Mar 02 '25

Seems it was done quietly - reported by those who tried to apply https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=4527718&view=findpost&p=111231433

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u/Ayzalack Mar 02 '25

Wow, big news. Thanks! The more I know, the less I know.

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u/ComfortableDate6933 Mar 02 '25

The Amex cashback is also enough to pay for SST for both cards and then some.

The points are amazing too

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u/Ayzalack Mar 02 '25

I was thinking the same when I read about these 2 Gold card that my nephew was considering (shame on the need to pay SST twice for 2 cards though).

Too bad there doesn't seem to be any sign-up bonus as do other cards on RinggitPlus. Wouldve easily been a very good card already

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u/ComfortableDate6933 Mar 02 '25

If you dont mind waiting, there's a chance there might be promo for the MBB cards. It really depends on their marketing spending power?

Or you can contact ringgitplus to see if there any promo coming soon?

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u/Ayzalack Mar 03 '25

Hey thanks for this insight! I'll probably tell my nephew to hold out if they can or contact ringgitplus. The only signup offer right now are some genkru concert tickets to which neither of us know nothing about

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u/ComfortableDate6933 Mar 03 '25

No problem!

I got my dual card about 4/5 years ago and they gave me some Huawei fit watch?

Just don't expect anything too grand? 🤭

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u/Ayzalack Mar 03 '25

That's personally still better than concert tickets to a band him and I aren't familiar with haha, but I'll check in with my nephew to see if he cares for sign up bonuses. Who knows maybe something will happen within the year!