Complete Guide to the Best Credit Cards for Young Professionals

Credit cards are not only for high-earning and successful 40-somethings, as proven by TransUnion’s Q1 2022 Consumer Pulse Study. Survey results show that half of those looking to apply for credit in the next year consist of younger Filipinos.^[1] 

If you’re among that 50%, 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. You can 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.

12 Best Credit Cards for Young Professionals in the Philippines

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

1. Citi Simplicity+ Card

If you’re a first-time credit cardholder, you can’t go wrong with Citibank’s beginner-friendly offering. The Citi Simplicity+ Card may not be as flashy as other cards on this list, but it’s definitely the most budget-savvy. It comes with no annual fees for life and no extra fees for overlimit and late payments, making it one of the best credit cards for young adults with no annual fee. 

Aside from getting access to Citibank credit card promos for 2022, you can also receive a cool welcome gift. If you apply for any Citi credit card on the Moneymax website until September 21 and spend at least ₱10,000 (single or accumulated) within 60 days from the date of approval, you get either ₱5,000 GCash or a pair of Apple AirPods 2. 

To learn more about this credit card, read our comprehensive Citi Simplicity+ Card review.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement:
  • ₱15,000 for existing cardholders
  • ₱20,833 for first-time cardholders
• Rewards:
  • 3x reward points when you shop and dine
  • 1 reward point for every ₱30 spend
• Welcome gift:
  • Get free Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS coffee machine (worth ₱5,199) or ₱5,000 GCash until October 20, 2022
• 0% interest installment up to 24 months with Citi PayLite

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: No annual fees for life
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: None
• Overlimit fee: None

Note: This product is sold by UnionBank of the Philippines, using certain trademarks temporarily under license from Citigroup Inc. and related group entities.

2. Citi Rewards Card

Do you want to earn reward points with every swipe? The Citi Rewards Card can help! After all, earning reward points is one of the exciting perks of owning a credit card for young professionals. With the Citi Rewards Card, you can earn one reward point for every ₱30 spend, plus thrice the reward points for all your dining and shopping transactions. 

Learn more about this card through our Citi Rewards Card review.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Minimum monthly income requirement:
  • ₱15,000 for existing cardholders
  • ₱20,833 for first-time cardholders
• Rewards:
  • 3x reward points when you shop and dine
  • 1 reward point for every ₱30 spend
• Welcome gift:
  • Get free Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS coffee machine (worth ₱5,199) or ₱5,000 GCash until October 20, 2022
• 0% interest installment up to 24 months with Citi PayLite

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: Free when you apply today until November 30, 2022^[2]
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,500 or the unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower
• Overlimit fee: ₱1,500 or the highest overlimit amount during the billing period, whichever is lower

Note: This product is sold by Union Bank of the Philippines, using certain trademarks temporarily under license from Citigroup Inc. and related group entities.

3. 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 reward 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:
  • Earn 4x reward points on online shopping, dining, and overseas spend
  • Earn 1 reward 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: Free when you apply today until December 31, 2022^[3]
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱800

4. 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: the 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 every other HSBC credit card promo out there.

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: Free when you apply today until December 31, 2022
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱800

5. 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 reward 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
• Reward:
  • 2x rewards points on any of your two preferred spend categories: dining, clothing, travel, or transportation
  • 1 reward point for every ₱50 spend
• 0% interest installments up to 36 months
• Free travel insurance and purchase protection coverage

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱1,500 (free on the first year)
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱600

6. 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
• Reward:
  • 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 up to 36 months
• Free access to world-class lounges worldwide

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱3,600 (free on the first year)
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower 
• Overlimit fee: ₱600

7. 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
• Reward:
  • 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^[4]
• Get exclusive discounts from select Lazada merchants

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱3,000 (free on the first year)
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

8. UnionBank PlayEveryday Credit Card

The UnionBank PlayEveryday is a credit card for millennials and Gen Zers 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 reward 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 reward point for every ₱10 spend
• Earn badges, join leaderboards across UnionBank Online users

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱1,500
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

9. 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 every Security Bank credit card promo available, including 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 up to 12 months
• Free online purchase protection coverage up to $200

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: No annual fees for life
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱1,000 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower
• Overlimit fee: ₱500

10. Security Bank Gold Rewards Mastercard

Another golden entry on the list of best credit cards for young professionals is the Security Bank Gold Rewards Mastercard. Earn reward 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: ₱40,000
• Reward: 1 reward point for every ₱20 spend
• Secure online shopping with SecureCode

Fees and Charges:

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

11. BPI Amore Cashback Card

Do you frequently shop at Ayala Malls in the Philippines? Don’t come empty-handed. If you’re looking for cash back opportunities, take the BPI Amore Cashback Card with you. It’s considered one of the best credit cards for millennials and Gen Zers, 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: ₱30,000
• 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: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower

12. 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 2022. 

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 up to 36 months
  

Fees and Charges:

• Annual fee: ₱1,550
• Interest rate: 2%
• Cash advance fee: ₱200
• Late payment fee: ₱850 or unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower

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 2022, or you’re looking for 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] Filipinos optimistic about economy in 2022 – survey (Manila Bulletin, 2022)
• ^[2] Greater Rewards for You with Citi Credit Cards (Citibank website)
• ^[3] HSBC - Enjoy Waived Annual Fees (HSBC website)
• ^[4] UnionBank Lazada Credit Card Terms and Conditions (UnionBank website)