Published: July 14, 2020 | Updated: October 21, 2020 | Posted by: Venus Zoleta | Credit Card
Spending more money on groceries lately? These days, using a credit card just for grocery purchases is a wise and practical decision, whether you shop at a supermarket or on an online grocery store.
A dedicated card for groceries allows you to track your grocery spending and manage your budget better. You may also get cash back, rewards, discounts, and other special offers from your issuing bank.
There are plenty of best credit cards for groceries in the Philippines, but the right one for you will depend on your preference. You might want to earn cash back or rewards with your card, or you might prefer something that lets you save on credit card fees and charges.
Based on such criteria, here are the best credit cards for grocery shopping in the Philippines.
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Citibank offers the highest rebate rate on grocery purchases in the Philippines through the Citi Cash Back Visa. To qualify for the maximum 6% rebate, the total credit card transaction (excluding groceries and Meralco bill payments) must be at least PHP 10,000 per month.
As such, this is the best credit card for people who always do grocery shopping for a large family. Savings from using this cash back card can reach up to PHP 12,000 per year. Earned rebates don’t expire, so they can be used anytime making it one of the best credit cards for groceries and cash back.
If you’re looking for a second (or third) credit card to use only for essential purchases in the Philippines, this cash back credit card can give you the best value.
Security Bank offers a tiered cash back scheme on its Complete Cashback Mastercard. Grocery purchases earn the highest rebate at 5%, followed by gas, utility payments, dining, and shopping transactions. This lets you save as much as PHP 12,000 cash back per year.
Online and overseas transactions, however, are not eligible for rebates. Also, you should have an existing credit card for at least one year to qualify for the Complete Cashback Mastercard.
The EastWest EveryDay Mastercard is ideal for high-income earners who frequently purchase both essentials and non-essentials. The cash back you’ll earn depends on how much you spend on non-essentials (those made at merchants other than supermarkets, gasoline stations, and drugstores).
You can earn the highest rebate of 5% on essential spending (groceries, fuel, and medicines) if your non-essential purchases reach at least PHP 10,000 per month. If your total monthly non-essential purchase falls between PHP 5,000 and PHP 10,000, you’ll get a 3% rebate on your essential purchases. Lastly, if your total non-essential transaction for the month is below PHP 5,000, your cash back on essential purchases will be 0.5%.
Both local and overseas purchases using the card will earn cash back.
Do you live or work near a Landmark establishment? This co-branded RCBC credit card is perfect for maximizing cash back on your purchases not only at Landmark Supermarket but also at Anson’s and Landmark Department Store.
Unlike other cash back credit cards in the Philippines, the RCBC Landmark Anson’s Mastercard has no maximum rebate cap, which means there’s no limit to the cash back you can earn in a month or year. Also, transactions made with this card earn rewards points—so it’s a cash back-and-rewards credit card in one.
However, only straight-charge transactions made from Mondays to Fridays are qualified for rebates.
Loyal Robinsons shoppers can save a great deal on groceries and other types of spending with Robinsons Bank’s cash back credit card.
Earn up to PHP 20,000 rebate every year when you shop at Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Appliances, South Star Drug, Daiso, and other Robinsons-affiliated merchants.
Transactions worth over PHP 3,500 at other establishments also qualify for cash back of up to 1% using this Robinsons credit card.
With this UnionBank credit card, all your purchases—including groceries—earn a 1.5% rebate. Cash back earned with the Gold Mastercard has no limits and no expiration, so you can save as much money on your purchases and redeem your rebates anytime.
For grocery spending, HSBC gives one rewards point per PHP 20 spent using the Red Mastercard. This is already a fast way to collect points, but you can earn rewards faster with other spending types. For instance, buying items online can earn you 4 points per PHP 20 spend, making it the one of the best credit cards for groceries and online shopping.
To get an HSBC Red Mastercard, you should have a credit card issued in the Philippines for at least 12 months. You may also qualify for a welcome gift if you apply for this HSBC credit card within the promo period.
Citi Rewards is one of the best credit cards with grocery rewards because of its fast earn rate. It lets you earn 1 point for every PHP 30 spent anywhere, including supermarkets, online stores, and food delivery apps. You can earn as many points as possible—there’s no earning limit. Accumulated points don’t expire, too.
The Flex Gold Visa allows you to maximize your rewards from grocery shopping. True to its name, this RCBC credit card provides flexibility. You can choose to double your points on your supermarket purchases and two other spending categories. You also have the option to switch your preferred categories for receiving 2x points every billing cycle based on changes to your spending habits.
If you often buy groceries and medicines at Mercury Drug, you might as well get yourself this Citibank credit card that provides a lot of benefits for loyal customers of the Philippines’ leading pharmacy chain.
With this Citi card, you can get 5x points on up to PHP 320,000 total monthly purchase at Mercury Drug per month. Purchases exceeding that monthly limit still earn 1 point per PHP 200 spend. The same earn rate also applies to transactions elsewhere (except for the drugstore chain’s competitors) using the Mercury Drug Citi. This is one of Citi’s best credit cards for groceries and health-related purchases.
This BDO credit card is a must-have for frequent SM shoppers, including those who always buy groceries from SM Markets (SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore) and other retail partners such as WalterMart and Alfamart.
The ShopMore Mastercard comes with a free SM Advantage Card, which lets you rack up points each time you shop at any SM establishment and partner merchants.
Aside from waived annual fees, what makes owning an AUB credit card easy on the budget is its payment flexibility. You can choose when, how often, and how much minimum amount to pay for your credit card bill. For instance, you may opt to set your due date/s every payday, whether it’s once or twice a month.
The Easy Mastercard isn’t just affordable to own but also rewarding to use. Rack up non-expiring points, as the card lets you earn 1 point per only PHP 20 spend. It’s one of the best credit cards for groceries you can have if you wish to save money on annual fees.
With its zero annual fees and low interest rate, the EastWest Platinum Mastercard allows you to save on your credit card payment. This rewards credit card comes with a free virtual card for secure online shopping.
Simplicity+ is Citibank’s no-frills credit card. With this card, you’ll never be charged annual fees, late payment fee, and overlimit fee. You’ll even get 10% cash back on interest charges when you pay at least your minimum balance on time.
This new PNB credit card is great for low-income earners and first-timers who need a card that lets them pay for groceries and other essentials without being burdened with steep fees.
On top of its waived annual fees, the PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard also has a lower interest rate than the industry standard. No worries when you suddenly fall short of budget because you won’t be charged when you miss a payment due date, or when your transaction exceeds your credit limit.
After comparing the different options listed above, here are our most recommended credit cards for grocery shopping:
Paying with a credit card at a grocery store is simple and straightforward. Just present your card to the cashier, who will swipe it on the point-of-sale (POS) terminal. You’ll be asked to enter your PIN using the terminal or put your signature on the charge slip. Then wait for your card and receipt to be given to you.
However, there’s a faster and safer way to pay for groceries with your credit card. You may simply tap your card over the POS terminal at the counter if your card has the contactless payment icon. The POS terminal is contactless-enabled if your total purchase is PHP 2,000 or below. Contactless payments don’t require a signature or PIN.
Remember to clean your hands with water and soap or rubbing alcohol after every transaction. You may even clean your credit card with an alcohol-based sanitizer or disinfecting wipe after using it.
While you’re deciding which credit card to get, you may also want to check out these articles about making wise choices when grocery shopping:
The best credit cards for groceries are those that allow you to maximize the benefits you want to gain from your card—be it cash back, rewards, or savings on credit card fees.
Looking for the best credit card in the Philippines? Below is a list of top credit card features with discounts and other perks. Compare your options with Moneymax!
Category | Description |
---|---|
No Annual Fee Credit Cards | Want to save money with your credit card? Skip the annual fees with these top cards. |
Rewards Credit Cards | Earn more rewards points with these best rewards credit cards! Ideal for online shopping and everyday spending. |
Cashback Credit Cards | Earn cash rebates with every purchase with a cash back credit card. Ideal for groceries and dining. |
Travel Credit Cards | Are you a frequent traveler? These best travel credit cards are ideal for racking up air miles and other travel rewards. |
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Venus is an experienced personal finance writer with a background in digital marketing, public relations, and journalism. She’s into stock, VUL, and mutual fund investing. Follow Venus on LinkedIn.