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Further Credit Card Links


Pakistan Credit Cards

Pakistan Credit Cards evolved with the introduction of credit cards by Habib Bank, the biggest bank in the country, when it launched the gold card a couple of decades ago. Credit cards gained popularity in Pakistan, however, only in the 1990s when Citibank launched its Citibank Pakistan Visa Card. The aggressive marketing and huge investment not only made Citibank the industry leader in Pakistan but proved to be a turning point in the history of credit cards in the nation.

After the successful launch of the Citibank credit card, Muslim Commercial Bank, the National Bank of Pakistan and Bank of America soon followed suit with their own credit cards.

Credit Cards Pakistan: Types

The various credit cards used in Pakistan currently are as follows:


  • Balance Transfer Card: This type of card can be used to transfer a high interest balance onto a low APR credit card.

  • Instant Approval Card: This type of card offers instant approval on

  • select credit cards from specific banks.

  • Business Credit Card: This card offers an expense management service that facilitates keeping track of outgoing business money. Additional credit cards for employees may be availed for their business travel expenses.

  • Student Credit Card: These are credit cards for high school and college students with lower credit limits and fewer incentives to help keep their spending in check.

  • Prepaid Credit Card: This type of card aims at controlling spending.

  • Reward Credit Cards: These are credit cards that "reward" purchases in the form of Cash Back or Points when the card holder spends on gas, airlines, hotel stay, travel or finance.
  • Pakistan Credit Cards: Major Issuers and Banks

    The largest issuers of credit cards in Pakistan include:

    Allied Bank

    • Allied Bank Essentials MasterCard
    • Allied Bank Premium MasterCard

    American Express

    Bank of America

    Citibank

    • Citibank Silver Credit Card
    • Citibank Gold Credit Card
    • Citibank Caltex Credit Card-Silver
    • Citibank Caltex Credit Card-Gold
    • Citibank Clear Credit Card
    • Citi Mobilink Credit Card

    Habib Bank Ltd

    • Habib Bank Gold Card
    • Habib Bank Green Card

    Muslim Commercial Bank

    National Bank

    United Bank Limited

    • UBL Chip Credit Card
    • UBL Auto Credit Card

    HSBC Bank

    Standard Chartered Bank

    • American Express Credit Card
    • Easy credit Card
    • Master Card
    • VISA Card
    • PIA Co-Brand Credit Card
    • Cricket Credit Card

    Pakistani law currently does not allow e-commerce retailers to accept payment by credit cards online. This is why no Pakistan-based site can transact business via credit card on the internet. However, credit cards issued in Pakistan are accepted elsewhere on the internet.

    The government is actively working on removing credit card payment obstacles, in order to facilitate expansion of the internet in Pakistan.

    Malaysia Credit Cards

    Malaysia credit cards come with a low interest rate of 13.5% for tier 1 cardholders. The interest rate was dropped from 15% by the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) on March 31, 2009.

    Credit Cards Malaysia: Types

    Malaysia credit cards are available in three categories to cater to the diverse needs of different income groups. The three categories are:


  • Classic Card: For people with regular incomes or low credit ratings

  • Gold Card: For people with good income levels or strong credit ratings. Gold cards provide sufficient travel accident/inconvenience cover and offer a wide range of reward programs.

  • Platinum Card: Meant for the affluent and usually offered by special invitation only. Platinum cards come with concierge services and exclusive offers with airlines, premiere hotels and restaurants.

  • A wide range of Malaysia credit cards are available with special features and benefits, including:

    Making Credit Card Payments

    Canada Credit Cards

    Canada Credit Card Industry

    Almost all financial institutions and leading banks in Canada offer Canada Credit Cards. These credit cars may offer varied advantages, such as low interest rates, cash back, discounts and frequent flyer miles. The features of Canada Credit Cards are based on the profiles of the applicants, such as student and business.

    In August 1968, the first all-purpose Canada credit card was introduced in the market. It was called Chargex. The name was replaced in 1979 by Visa. In a little over a decade, the card was adopted by more than 6 million users. Bank of Montreal introduced Mastercharge (now MasterCard) in 1973. In 2008, there were 31 million Visa cards in circulation in Canada and an even higher number of MasterCard credit cards, since the latter has a larger number of big issuers.

    Canada has a wide range of credit cards and credit card types. There are more than 200 credit cards issued in Canada.

    Canadian credit cards include store cards, airline cards, rewards cards, low interest rate credit cards, and all types of Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards. This content is part of the extensive resources on credit cards featured in EconomyWatch.com.

    Canada has one of the world's most developed and robust banking and financial services industries in the world. So it stands to reason Canada has a comprehensive and established range of credit cards, ideal for any type of consumer, from students to corporations.

    Some of the banks that issue credit cards in Canada are MBNA Canada, HomeTrust, HSBC, BMO Bank of Montreal, CapitalOne Bank Canada, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, Laurentian Bank Canada, ICICI Bank, CIBC, Caisses Desjardins, and RBC Royal Bank.

    One of the best ways to select a credit card is via the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) website. This site is run by the Government of Canada and contains a database of all availabe credit cards in Canada. It allows people to compare the various credit cards in Canada available and select the one most appropriate for their needs.

    The FCAC website is updated every quarter, or four times a year. Visitors can view the information on the many credit cards in Canada in a .pdf table that compares each credit card, or they can browse the various cards via a sort of credit card wizard tool.

    This interactive tool asks various questions concerning the user's financial needs and habits such as,

    "What kind of credit card are you looking for?

    -Regular credit cards (standard, gold, platinum)

    -Specialized credit cards (Student, U.S. dollar, retail, secured or charge card)"

    After you have answered all the questions it will suggest the most appropriate card.

    Canada Credit Cards: Top Rated

    Here is a list of the best Canadian Credit Cards along with their main features:

    MBNA Platinum Plus MasterCard credit card:

    • Zero annual fee.
    • AIR (Annual Interest Rate: 17. 99% )
    • Inaugural interest rate comprises only 1.99% for the first 10 months on Balance Transfers and Cash Advances.
    • A credit limit up to $100,000.
    • Canadian residents, who have a Canadian credit file and have attained the age of majority based on their province of residence, are eligible to apply.
    • Applicants should not have a history of bankruptcies or delinquent accounts.
    • Only applicants with annual income of more than $35,000 will qualify.

    BMO Mosaik MasterCard No Fee CashBack:

    • No annual fee.
    • AIR: 19.50% .
    • Cardholders earn 1.5% CashBack at Shell outlets and 0.5% CashBack on all card purchases.
    • Instant small purchase payment with MasterCard PayPass Tap & Go feature.

    The MBNA Gold MasterCard

    • No annual fee.
    • Low AIR of 9.99% only.
    • Balance transfer fee of 1% of the transaction amount.
    • Credit limit of up to $100,000.
    • Canadian resident with good credit history can apply.

    American Express Air Miles Platinum Credit Card

    • Most lucrative travel reward card.
    • Annual fee: $50.
    • Purchase rate of 18.50 % and 19.99 % on cash advances.
    • Introductory balance transfer charge of 4.99 % for the first six months.
    • AIR MILES reward program: 1 reward mile = $10 in Card purchase at AIR. MILES partner store and $15 in Card purchase anywhere in Canada.

    CIBC Aero Classic Visa Card

    • Annual fee: $29.
    • AIR: 19.50%.
    • Aeroplan Miles reward program: Cardholders receive one Aeroplan Mile for every card transaction worth $ 2.
    • They can earn double Aeroplan Miles if they use their card at participating CIBC Bonus Rewards establishments.

    -Capital One Reward Miles MasterCard: No Annual Fee

    • No annual fee.
    • Flexible AIR which is equivalent to prime + 13.55 %.
    • No balance transfer charge.
    • One reward mile is awarded for every dollar spent through the card.
    • The reward miles never expire and can be redeemed anytime.

    -BMO Mosaik MasterCard Silver AIR MILES Reward Option

    • Annual fee: $70.
    • Low AIR of 11.90%.
    • Extra reward miles for purchases at Shell outlets.
    • Cardholders earn one reward mile for every $20 spent from their card.
    • Bonus of 100 AIR MILES reward miles.

    ‘BMO Credit Cards’ are trademarks of the Bank of Montreal, to find more, log on to www.bmo.com

    ‘MBNA Credit Cards’ are trademarks of MBNA America Bank. Know more at www.bankofamerica.com

    ‘Capitalone Credit Cards’ are trademarks of Capital One Small Business. Know more at- www.capitalone.com

    ‘American Express Credit Cards’ are trademarks of American Express Company. To know more visit: www.americanexpress.com

    ‘CIBC Credit Cards’ are trademarks of The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, learn more at www.cibc.com


    Canada Credit Cards

    Credit Card Payments Online

    Singapore Credit Cards

    Singapore credit cards are issued by banks as well as non-banking financial institutes. Getting a credit card in Singapore is easy. Difficulty lies in resisting the temptation of acquiring multiple cards since they are available conveniently across this port country.

    The banks in Singapore offer Master and Visa cards. The non- banking credit cards include Diners Club, American Express, and JCB cards. Bank credit cards are more easily available from account holding banks. Acquiring credit cards from non-account holding banks is tougher and unnecessary.

    Singapore credit cards often come with multiple benefits. These benefits vary from one card category to another and from one card company to the next one. Facilities like waiver of yearly fees, accumulation of points on every purchase, and free insurance are offered to card holders.

    The factors determining the selection of credit cards in Singapore are their convenience of usage and flexibility. Women in Singapore are motivated by the promotional aspect of debit cards, whereas men are driven by the economic aspect. The better educated, elderly, high income earners, professionals and married males prefer to use credit cards because of convenience factor. Credit card ownership is directly proportional to an individual income, education, age group, and marital status.

    Credit card issuing banks in Singapore
    Some of the renowned banks issuing credit cards are:

    1. Citibank - Citibank issues Citi Platinum Visa and MasterCard, Citi Clear Platinum card, Citi TANGS Platinum Visa card, and Citibank Paragon Platinum MasterCard.

    2. HSBC Bank - The credit cards issued by Singapore HSBC Bank include HSBC Platinum Credit Card, HSBC Premier MasterCard, and Gold Visa/ MasterCard.

    3. DBS Bank Limited - The exhaustive list of DBS Bank credit cards include DBS Visa Platinum card, DBS Platinum card, DBS SAAB Platinum card, DBS NUSS Visa Platinum card, DBS Esso Platinum MasterCard, DBS Altitude American Express card, DBS American Express credit card, DBS Visa/ MasterCard, DBS woman’s card, Takashimaya Platinum American Express card, Takashimaya Visa card, BHG Visa Platinum card, and Capita Card Visa Platinum credit card.

    4. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd. (OCBC Ltd.) - The credit cards issued by OCBC Ltd comprise OCBC Platinum MasterCard, OCBC Visa/ MasterCard, OCBC-NTU Visa Gold card, NTUC Plus, BEST-OCBC Master Card, OCBC Arts Platinum MasterCard, Robinsons Visa Platinum card, Robinsons Visa Platinum Elite card, IKEA friends Visa card, Titanium, and SAFRA Visa card.

    5. United Overseas Bank Limited - United Overseas Bank Limited offers UOB Preferred Platinum card, UOB One card, UOB Visa Signature card, UOB Lady’s Platinum card, UOB Lady’s card, UOB JCB Platinum card, SingTel-UOB Visa Platinum card, Metro-UOB Gold card, UOB MasterCard Gold/ Classic card, UOB Visa Gold Smart/ Classic card, UOB ORA Visa credit card, and UOB Tung Lok Visa Platinum card.

    India Credit Cards

    Market for credit cards in India is made up of 18 major banks and financial institutions providing credit card products and services. There are 11 major types of credit cards available in India.

    Major Credit Card Providers in India

    Following are major credit card providers in India:
    • ABN Amro
    • HDFC
    • American Express
    • ICICI Bank
    • Axis Bank
    • SBI
    • Bank of Baroda
    • Canara Bank
    • Citibank
    • Visa
    • HSBC
    • MasterCard
    • Deutsche Bank
    • Amex
    • Barclays Bank
    • Diners Club
    • Standard Chartered
    • Kotak Mahindra
    ABN Amro Credit Cards
    ABN Amro is issuing nine credit cards in India. They may be mentioned as below:
    • ABN AMRO Freedom Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO One Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO Smart Gold Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO Titanium One Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO Wellness Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO MakeMyTrip Go Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO Barista Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO Platinum Credit Card
    • ABN AMRO Adlabs Credit Card
    AMEX Credit Cards
    AMEX is issuing eleven credit cards in India. They may be mentioned as below:
    • American Express Kingfisher First Credit Card
    • American Express Credit Card
    • American Express Platinum Credit Card
    • American Express India Today Group Credit Card
    • American Express Indian Airlines Credit Card
    • American Express Indian Airlines Gold Charge Card
    • American Express HPCL Credit Card
    • American Express Indian Airlines Green Charge Card
    • American Express Gold Credit Card
    • American Express Gold Charge Card
    • American Express E Credit Card
    Axis Bank (UTI) Credit Cards
    Axis Bank (UTI) is offering nine credit cards in India. They may be enumerated as below:
    • Axis Bank Gold Plus Credit Card
    • Axis Bank Corporate Credit Card
    • Axis Bank Gold Credit Card
    • Axis Bank Secured Credit Card
    • Axis Bank Visa Platinum Credit Card
    • Axis Bank Shriram Credit Card
    • Axis Bank Silver Plus Credit Card
    • Axis Bank Travel Currency Card
    • Axis Bank Silver Credit Card
    Bank of Baroda (BOB) Credit Cards
    Bank of Baroda (BOB) is issuing eight credit cards in India. They may be enumerated as below:
    • BOBCARD Corporate Global Credit Card
    • BOBCARD Exclusive Woman credit card
    • NEXTGEN BOBCARD Gold Credit Card
    • BOBACRD Exclusive Youth Credit Card
    • BOBACRD Gold Visa Credit Card
    • BOBACARD Silver Credit Card
    • BOBACRD Gold MasterCard Credit Card
    • BOBACARD Exclusive Credit Card
    Credit Card Types in India
    Following are various types of credit cards available in India:
    • Premium Credit Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • Gold Credit Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Silver Credit Cards
    • Business Credit Cards
    • Balance Transfer Credit Cards
    • Co-branded Credit Card
    • Low Interest Credit Cards
    • Lifetime Free Credit Cards
    • Rewards


    Australia Credit Cards

    Australia credit cards strike a perfect balance between lucrative reward schemes and total security protection. Features of Australia credit cards are customized to fulfill the diverse financial requirements of the customers.

    Australia credit cards have something for everyone including travelers, common consumers, and business persons. Credit cards in Australia are popular for their versatility and wide variety of primary and additional benefits.

    Popular Australia Credit Cards

    Australian credit card market provides the customers with an array of credit cards to choose from. Some of the most popular Australia credit cards are as follows:
    • Aussie MasterCard
    • Citibank Clear Card
    • GE Money eco MasterCard
    • ANZ Balance Visa
    • NAB Low Rate Visa Credit Card
    Besides these top credit cards there are many other varieties of credit cards available in the Australian market. Some of the common types of Australia credit cards are listed below:
    • Reward Program Credit Cards
    • Low Interest Credit Cards
    • Interest Free Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Credit Cards
    • Gold and platinum Credit Cards
    • Balance Transfer Credit Cards
    Features of Australia Credit Cards

    Features of Australia credit cards are designed to cater to the various financial needs of the cardholders. With their convenient rates of interest, reward points, low annual fee, and many other attractive schemes, credit cards in Australia add to the financial flexibility of the cardholders.

    Aussie MasterCard comes with the following benefits:
    • 11.99% Rate of interest on purchases
    • 0% Rate of interest on balance transfer made within 6 months from the account opening date
    • Annual fee of $49
    • 55 purchase interest free days
    Citibank Clear Card provides the cardholders with the following basic benefits:
    • 0% Rate of interest on balance transfers up to 6 months
    • 11.99% Rate of interest on card purchases
    • 55 Purchase interest free days
    • $65 Annual fee
    Features of GE Money eco MasterCard are as follows:
    • 18.94% Rate of interest on card purchases
    • 0% Rate of interest on balance transfers within 6 months from account opening
    • $49 Annual fee
    • 55 Purchase interest free days
    Some of the basic features of ANZ Balance Visa card are given below:
    • Annual purchase rate of 13.99%
    • 2.90% Rate of interest on balance transfer up to 12 months from the account opening date
    • $57 Annual fee
    • 55 Purchase interest free days
    NAB Low Rate Visa Credit Card comes with the following features:
    • Purchase rate of 12.79%
    • 0% Rate of interest on balance transfers within 6 months from account opening
    • $49 Annual fee
    • 55 Purchase interest free days


    UK Credit Cards

    UK credit cards offer purchase flexibility and financial freedom to customers. The UK has a long history of credit cards, with Barclaycard arriving on the market in 1966. Today, the market is flooded with a range of credit card products. One can select a UK credit card based on individual credit and purchasing needs.

    Types of UK Credit Cards

    Some of the most popular categories of UK credit cards are:

    Personal credit cards: Almost every financial institution provides personal credit card services. This service caters to the financial needs of individuals. The personal credit card product line offers several products, such as:


  • Standard credit card for customers with credit ratings barely enough to qualify for a credit card.

  • Gold credit card for people with good to excellent ratings. This UK credit card comes with several rewards programs, such as shopping discounts, air miles or cashback.

    • Platinum credit card for people with excellent ratings and a sound financial history. The Platinum card symbolizes high status in the society. It comes with a high spending limit and an array of facilities, such as travel insurance, personal concierge and additional cards.

    Business credit cards: Business credit card UK comes with huge purchasing limits and added features. It is designed to meet the financial needs of business enterprises. The business card offers discounts on purchases for business purposes, such as office equipment, official travel and meetings.

    Zero-interest credit cards: This card offers a no-interest period for balance transfers and purchases for a specified duration. It also offers relief from high interest rates charged on outstanding bills. However, an individual is required to make timely payments and not exceed the credit limit in order to enjoy the zero interest benefits.

    Rewards credit cards: Most credit cards offer some form of rewards. Rewards cards allow users to earn points on everyday purchases. These points can be later redeemed to get discounts, gifts, vouchers and other complimentary benefits. A cashback card provides a percentage of the total purchase amount as cashback.



    Statistics compiled by APACS, the banking payments association, show that United Kingdom cardholders spend around £10 billion a month on their credit cards.

    According to the report, there are more credit cards in UK than there are people, although growth has stopped in the aftermath of the Credit Crunch. The APACS annual report has shown that nearly two thirds of adults own a credit card. The number of people with multiple credit cards in the UK is now more than half cardholders.

    Features of UK Credit Cards:
    Popular categories of UK Personal Credit Cards include:
    • 0% Introductory APR
    • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
    • Money Back and Rewards Credit Cards
    • No Annual Fee Cards
    • Gas Credit Cards
    • Business Credit Cards

    Low Interest Credit Cards in UK:

    Low interest and 0% APR credit cards have grown in popularity as the UK credit card market has become more saturated. So it is always better for a credit card holder to opt for a card provider charging lower interest rates. For example, a person with fairly large balance should try for a credit card provider who can offer 0% for transferring his or her debt or can switch to a having a comparatively lower APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for life.

    Moreover, before applying for a credit card in United Kingdom, one should look for a card with lower rate of interest, or depending on usage habits focus on more airline miles, petrol rebates, gift certificates, cash rewards or other benefits of the rewards program.

    Specialty credit cards

    Some banks offer specialty cards in association with different organizations or institutions. The BT credit card, WWF MasterCard, UNICEF Visa Card, Disney Card and Marks and Spencer Card are a few examples of specialty card.

    UK Credit Cards Issuers

    In United Kingdom, most of the traditional banks or building societies offer various credit cards. Companies such as Abbey, Alliance & Leicester, Barclays, Co-Operative Bank, Halifax, HSBC, and Lloyds TSB are regarded as the major credit card providers in the country.

    Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all extremely active in the UK, while Diners Club is also present. Some of the most popular UK credit card issuers are HSBC, Citibank, Abbey National, Bank of Scotland, Barclays and MBNA.


    UK Credit Cards

    USA Credit Cards

    As the most advanced credit card market, it is unsurprising that USA boasts the widest range of credit cards in the world.

    In the US credit card companies deal separately with consumers with various types of credit history. The major categories in this context are excellent credit, bad credit, good credit, no credit history and fair credit. The prevailence of American credit cards assists consumers to manage their expenses, and if used properly can be a time saver. Unfortunately a lot of people end up with debts on their cards that they are paying high interest rates on without realising it. If you default on credit card payments, or have done so in the past, you may need to clean up your credit report.

    There are various types of credit cards that are available in the United States - low interest credit cards, airline credit cards, balance transfer cards, business credit cards, instant approval cards, student credit cards, reward credit cards, prepaid and debit cards, cash back credit cards and credit card specials. There are several types of rewards credit cards available in the US – points, hotel or travel, retail, home improvement and gas cards.

    Broadly speaking, there are three categories of credit cards in the US. These are:

    Business Credit Cards

    Business credit cards are best suited for businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals to manage their business accounts. They are used for several reasons, such as purchasing official supplies and paying for official trips. Some of the leading business credit cards available today are Citi Professional (SM) Cash Card from MasterCard, Advanta Platinum Business Card and Simply Cash Business Card from American Express.

    Secured Credit Cards

    A secured credit card is one in which the cardholder is required to deposit a certain amount as an escrow (asset). In case a cardholder stops making payments, the bank has the authority to withdraw money from the escrow. This type of credit cards is suited for those with no credit or poor credit. Among the more popular secured credit cards are Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard and New Millennium Bank Secured Gold Visa or MasterCard.

    Unsecured Credit Cards

    Unsecured credit cards are traditional credit cards or charge cards. In this case, the card issuer allows the cardholder to enjoy a credit limit sans keeping any assets. Typically, this type of credit cards is difficult to get, since it requires the cardholder’s credit history to be excellent and unblemished. This means that the cardholder should not have any debts outstanding. Some of the popular unsecured credit cards are First PREMIER Bank MasterCard, Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card and Discover Motiva Card.

    There may be several types of unsecured credit cards. These include:
    • Rewards Credit Cards – Apart from purchasing power, these cards offer several reward schemes. Examples are American Express Preferred Rewards Green Card, Maximum Rewards Platinum Edition Visa Card and Citi Diamond Preferred Reward Card.
    • Travel Credit Cards – Cardholder earn multiple points when making travel related expenses using these cards. Expenses may include buying flight or train tickets, paying for gas, making a hotel reservation or paying for car rentals. Examples are Miles by Discover Card, Blue Sky from American Express and Disney’s Rewards Visa Card from Chase.
    • Gas Credit Cards – These specialty credit cards are suitable for people who purchase gas regularly. Examples are Discover Open Road Card, Capital One No Hassel Miles Rewards for Travel and Gas and Shell Card Credit Card.
    • Bad Credit Credit Cards – Suitable for those who have bad credit and find it difficult to have a credit card approved. People with bad credit may need a new credit line to overcome their poor credit status. Examples are First PREMIER Bank Gold MasterCard, Total Visa Card and Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard.
    • No Credit Credit Cards – Suitable for those with no credit history. Examples are Bank of America Secured Visa Platinum, Capital One Standard Platinum and Citi Platinum Select MasterCard.
    • Balance Transfer Credit Cards – Offer cardholders the option to consolidate debt payments. Examples are Blue from American Express, Clear from American Express and Citi Platinum Select Card.
    American Express is a global financial services provider that was incorporated in 1850 and is headquartered at New York City. The company deals in a number of financial products and services. Apart from the credit cards the other well known business areas of American Express are travelers' cheques and change cards.

    Bank of America is known as the biggest commercial banks in the United States of America. Among the major commercial banks of USA it has the highest market capitalization and maximum amount of deposits. The bank is headquartered at Charlotte in North Carolina. HSBC Bank is among the major clearing banks of the United Kingdom. The company was established in 1836 and is headquartered at London, England.