Best Credit Cards for Millennials and Gen Zs in 2023

Credit cards are not only for high-earning and successful 40-somethings. According to the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP), young Filipinos—especially fresh college graduates—are a major force driving up numbers for the credit card industry.^[1]

If you count yourself among that population, this list of the best credit cards for young professionals in the Philippines is for you.

We’ve laid out all your best options so you can make the right choice before you apply for a credit card. Use the Moneymax website to easily compare credit card perks, features, and fees. You can also directly apply for a credit card through the website.

14 Best Credit Cards for Young Professionals in the Philippines

Here are some of the top credit cards perfect for younger professionals like you:

Read more about them and other options below.

💳 UnionBank Classic Visa Card

Do you want to earn rewards with every swipe? The UnionBank Classic Visa Card can help! After all, accumulating points is one of the exciting perks of owning a credit card for young professionals.

With this UnionBank credit card, you can earn one rewards point for every ₱35 spend. Redeem shopping GCs, travel rewards, cash rebates, annual fee waivers, and more with your accumulated points.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱15,000
• Rewards: 1 rewards point for every ₱35 spend 
• 0% interest installment up to 36 months

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱1,500 (Free when you apply and get approved on or before July 31, 2023)^[2]
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

💳 HSBC Red Mastercard

Are you a cardholder already looking for your next credit card? Consider one of the best credit cards for young professionals: the HSBC Red Mastercard. Earn points quickly with every ₱20 spend and quadruple your rewards points every time you dine and go shopping online or overseas. 

To learn more about this card, read our HSBC Red Mastercard review.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱16,667
• Rewards:
  • 4x rewards points on online shopping, dining, and overseas spend
  • 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
• Rebate: 6% fuel rebate on your first purchase 3% rebate all year round at Caltex 
• 0% interest installments up to 36 months at participating merchants

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱2,500 (Free for the first year)^[4]
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱800

💳 HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back

If you’re a money-savvy Gen Zer who cares about rebates, HSBC has the perfect credit card for you: HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back. Earn 5% cash back on dining transactions, 3% rebate on Caltex fuel spend all year round, and 0.5% cash back on all other spend when you use this golden credit card. You can also enjoy plenty of other HSBC credit card promos.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱16,667
• Rebate:
  • 5% cash back on dining transactions
  • 6% fuel rebate on your first purchase, 3% rebate all year round at Caltex
• 0.5% cash back on all other spend
• 0% interest installments up to 36 months at participating merchants

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱2,500 (Free for the first year)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱800

💳 Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®

Looking for more bang for your buck? If you want points on your lifestyle spending, consider the Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®. Earn up to 2x rewards points when you spend at restaurants, department stores, or online shops. 

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱29,167 
• Rewards:
  • 1 rewards point (non-expiring) for every ₱20 spend
  • 2x rewards points when you spend online, on dining, or at department stores
• 0% interest installments for up to 24 months
• Exclusive credit card features from Metrobank

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱2,500 (Free for life when you apply until December 31, 2023, and meet the minimum annual spend requirement of ₱180,000)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower

💳 Metrobank Platinum Mastercard®

If you enjoy leading a premium lifestyle as a young professional, get the Metrobank Platinum Mastercard®. Shop from your favorite shops to earn rewards points for every ₱20 spend and enjoy eCommerce purchase protection of up to US$200. Or explore new restaurants and enjoy up to 50% off on dining deals! 

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱58,333
• Rewards: 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
• Up to 50% off on dining offers
• eCommerce purchase protection of up to US$200

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱5,000 (Free for life when you apply until February 29, 2024, and meet the minimum annual spend of ₱400,000)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower

💳 Security Bank Gold Mastercard

Another golden entry on the list of best credit cards for young professionals is the Security Bank Gold Rewards Mastercard. Earn rewards points quickly with its one point per ₱20 spend conversion rate. Use this credit card to redeem exciting freebies, gain access to the Marhaba Lounge in NAIA Terminals 1 and 3, and avail of credit card promos.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱30,000
• Reward: 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
• Secure online shopping with SecureCode

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱2,500 (Free for the first year)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

💳 Security Bank Complete Cashback Mastercard

If you're a young professional just starting out, saving your hard-earned money is most likely a big priority for you. With the Security Bank Complete Cashback Mastercard, you can enjoy up to 5% cash back on groceries, 4% on fuel, 3% on bill payments, 2% on dining expenses, and 1% on shopping.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱65,000
• Up to 5% rebate on essential spend categories
• Exclusive access to Marhaba Lounge at NAIA 1 and 3

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱3,000 (Free for the first year)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

💳 Security Bank Next Mastercard

If your monthly income makes the cut, this credit card deserves a place on your list of best credit cards for young adults with no annual fee. The Security Bank Next Mastercard automatically converts all your purchases into a 12-month installment plan. Plus, you can enjoy Security Bank credit card promos for dining, shopping, and travel deals.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement:
  • ₱45,000 for existing cardholders
  • ₱50,000 for first-time cardholders
• Auto-convert purchases into installments of up to 12 months
• Free online purchase protection coverage up to $200

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: No annual fees for life
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

💳 BPI Amore Cashback Card

Do you frequently shop at Ayala Malls in the Philippines? Don’t come empty-handed. If you’re looking for cashback opportunities, take the BPI Amore Cashback Card with you.

It’s considered one of the best credit cards for millennials and Gen Zs, since you can earn a 4% rebate for every ₱1,000 supermarket spend, a 1% rebate on drugstore and utility bill payments, and a 0.30% rebate on everything else.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱15,000
• Rebates:
  • 4% cashback on supermarkets and department store spend
  • 1% cashback on drugstore and bills payment spend
• 0% interest installments up to 36 months
• Exclusive privileges at any Ayala Malls nationwide

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱2,050
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower

💳 Petron-BPI Mastercard

Rising fuel prices can get troublesome for a young professional like you. If you’re getting a credit card, you might as well go for the Petron-BPI Mastercard, which gives you a 3% rebate on fuel at participating Petron stations nationwide.

Aside from fuel savings, this credit card also gives you access to all available BPI credit card promos in 2023. 

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱15,000
• Rebates: 3% rebate on fuel (Maximum of ₱15,000 per year)
• Welcome gift: Free ₱200 fuel voucher
• 0% interest installments for up to 36 months
  

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱1,550
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower

💳 UnionBank Lazada Credit Card

Here’s something every age group can agree on: online shopping is life. For your next budol find, get the UnionBank Lazada Credit Card, one of the best credit cards for young adults. Get six times the Lazada credits for every ₱200 spent on Lazada and enjoy exclusive discounts from select merchants. 

Find out more about this online shopping essential by checking out our UnionBank Lazada Credit Card review.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱30,000
• Rewards:
  • 6x Lazada credits for every ₱200 Lazada spend
  • 1 Lazada credit for every ₱200 spend on all other spend
  • Free ₱50 monthly shipping vouchers at Lazada
  • Free ₱500 discount vouchers for 5 Lazada Sales all-year-round
• Welcome gift: Free ₱5,000 Lazada credits when you spend ₱40,000 within 60 days of approval^[3]
• Get exclusive discounts from select Lazada merchants

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱3,000 (Free for the first year)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

💳 UnionBank PlayEveryday Credit Card

The UnionBank PlayEveryday is a credit card for millennials and Gen Zs alike because it has a gamification feature that younger people can enjoy. Customize your avatar, earn badges, and join leaderboards on the UnionBank Online app. Plus, earn rewards points for every ₱10 spend and get access to all available UnionBank credit card promos. 

Find out more about this card through our UnionBank PlayEveryday review.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱30,000
• Reward: 1 rewards point for every ₱10 spend
• Earn badges, join leaderboards across UnionBank Online users

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱1,500
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

💳 RCBC Flex Visa

Looking to flex your financial independence as a new member of the workforce? Consider getting one of the top credit cards for young professionals, the RCBC Flex Visa.

Avail of RCBC credit card promos any time of the year, earn one rewards point for every ₱50 spend, and earn double the points on any of your two preferred spend categories (choose between dining, clothing, travel, and transportation). 

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱15,000
• Rewards:
  • 2x rewards points on any of your two preferred spend categories: dining, clothing, travel, or transportation
  • 1 rewards point for every ₱50 spend
• 0% interest installments for up to 36 months
• Free travel insurance and purchase protection coverage

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱1,500 (Free for the first year)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱600

💳 RCBC AirAsia Credit Card

One of the best credit cards for young professionals who prioritize travel is the RCBC AirAsia Credit Card. Right off the bat, you get 8,000 AirAsia BIG points for free when you spend at least ₱20,000 (single or accumulated) within 60 days of approval.

After that, you can earn more BIG points quicker for every spend as low as ₱22. Plan your revenge travel with this air miles credit card!

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱20,833
• Rewards:
  • 2 AirAsia BIG points for every ₱25 AirAsia spend
  • 1 AirAsia BIG point for every ₱28 domestic retail spend
  • 1 AirAsia BIG point for every ₱22 international retail spend
•  Welcome gift: Free 8,000 BIG points when you spend ₱20,000 within 60 days of approval
• 0% interest installments for up to 36 months
• Free access to world-class lounges worldwide

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱3,600 (Free for the first year)
• Interest rate: 3%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱600

Final Thoughts

There you have it—the best credit cards for young professionals that will allow you to unlock new financial possibilities. Whether you’re in the market for every credit card dining promo in 2023 or the best credit card welcome gift, don’t forget to do your research and compare your options.

And when you officially become a cardholder, make sure to swipe responsibly!

Sources:

• ^[1] CCAP cautions youth in credit card use (BusinessMirror, 2023)
• ^[2] UnionBank Credit Card No Annual Fee Promo
• ^[3] UnionBank Lazada Credit Card Terms and Conditions
• ^[4] HSBC - Enjoy Waived Annual Fees