Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 student credit cards come packed full of great benefits. Both students and young working adults can apply, and all cardholders get unlimited cashback on all everyday spending. There’s also an annual fee waiver available for the first year but be warned – what you save in annual fees could wind up lost via other Standard Chartered finance charges.
About the Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card
Anyone who owns a Standard Chartered Manhattan Card can claim cashback at a rate of 0.25% on all spending and online shopping. What’s more, this credit card has unlimited cashback earning potential – meaning you can earn as much cashback as you like (i.e., the more you spend, the more cashback you will earn!).
Key Features – Annual Fee Waiver, Cash Rebates and More
- Cardholders can earn cashback at 0.25% on all spending and online shopping – no matter how high spend that is.
- You’ll also pay no annual fee for the first year, thanks to a one-year waiver worth $32.10.
- Unlike other student credit cards, this credit card isn’t just for students – young working adults with a min income of at least $18,000 or more can also apply.
- Like many of the best student credit cards, this credit card comes with no minimum spend requirements or earnings cap.
- Spend on bills is also included for cashback purposes and customers get a $500 limit with this credit card, too.
Pros and Cons – From Cash Rebates to Credit Limit Terms
Pros
- All cardholders can earn as much cashback as they like at a cash rebate rate of 0.25%
- Loose spending category restrictions mean you can earn while online shopping, paying Telco bills, recurring bills and more
- Any 18 to 32-year-olds with a min income of $18,000 can apply
- Annual fee waiver means you’ll pay no fee for the first year
Cons
- 0.25% cash rebate rewards rate is one of the lowest on the student credit card market right now
- Cash advance fees of 6% or $15 and late payment charges of $100 may apply
- Other student credit cards might offer broader potential for accumulating rewards and points as opposed to solely cashback
Key Benefits of the Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card
1. Shopping
All Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 customers can earn flat cashback at 0.25% across all spending and online shopping. If you usually manage a high spend in an average calendar month, you can quickly and easily rack up cashback on everyday spending, online shopping and other transactions, though there are no retail-specific rewards or benefits advertised with this credit card at the time of writing.
2. Recurring Bills
Telco bills and other general spending are eligible for earning rewards at the standard 0.25% cashback rate with this card. This makes the Standard Chartered Manhattan Card an excellent fit for low income working adults, who can apply for this card after earning $18,000 or more and claim cashback on life’s most essential purchases.
3. Dining
Again, Standard Chartered doesn’t shout about any specific dining-related rewards with this card, but food and restaurant transactions will still attract cashback at that 0.25% flat rate. This is very much a simple, straightforward credit card that offers no-nonsense cashback rewards, but relatively little else when compared to competitors – as we will see.
Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card Vs. Other Student Credit Cards
So, the Standard Chartered Manhattan Card ticks all the right boxes for low income working adults and students who desire no-nonsense, simple cashback rewards. But how does it compare to other popular cards on the market? Let’s take a look:
| Student Credit Card
|
Minimum Spend Requirements | Cashback Cap | Annual Fee Cost | Credit Card Limit | Who Can Apply? | Top Card Benefits |
| Standard Chartered Bank Manhattan $500 Card
|
N/A | N/A | $32.10
Waived for the first year
|
$500 | Must be 18 to 32 years old
Must be earning more than $18,000 annually Applicants don’t have to be students
|
Earn 0.25% cashback on all spend
|
| DBS Live Fresh Student Card
|
N/A | $15 on Sustainable Spend / Merchant Spend
$20 on Misc. Spend |
$192.60
5-year fee waiver available
|
$500 | No min income threshold to meet
Over 21s only |
Get up to 5% cashback on spending with selected brands using the DBS Live Fresh Student Card
0.3% cashback available on all other spending
|
| Citibank Clear Card
|
N/A | N/A | $29.96
1-year fee waiver available
|
$500 | All applicants must already be enrolled in local tertiary institutions
Over 18s only
|
Huge potential to earn and redeem points under the Citi ThankYou scheme
Excellent dining out benefits
|
| CIMB AWSM Card
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | $500 | Applicants must be earning less than $30,000 annually to be approved for a CIMB AWSM Card | Get 1% unlimited cashback on eligible spending with a CIMB AWSM Card
Pay no fees annually
|
| Maybank eVibes Student Card
|
N/A | N/A | $20
Fee waived if card remains active
|
$500 | Only students and NSFs enrolled in local tertiary institutions can apply
You must be earning less than $30,00 annually to get a Maybank eVibes Card 18-30s only
|
Enjoy 1% cashback available on all spend (i.e., not limited to specific retail spending) |
Verdict: is the Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card Worth it?
As the above table reveals, the Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card has a few major benefits over its competitors, including no minimum spend requirement or cap on cashback, unlike the DBS Live Fresh Card, and relatively unrestricted spending categories.
Additionally, the Standard Chartered Manhattan Card is one of the most accessible credit cards in our comparison, as most competitor cards are only available to specific students who have already enrolled with certain institutions, whereas low income adults earning $18,000 or more from all walks of life can apply for a Manhattan Card.
That said, Standard Chartered’s 0.25% cashback rewards rate is admittedly a little lacking when compared to what’s available elsewhere. Both the Maybank eVibes Card and the CIMB AWSM Card offer a much higher cashback rate of 1% – although this limited to certain spending categories with the CIMB AWSM Card. By and large, which card best suits you will depend on your student and income status and individual spending habits.
How to Apply for the Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card
Eligible students and low income working adults can apply for a Standard Chartered Manhattan Card on the Standard Chartered website here. However, you will need to ensure you can meet the credit card’s minimum income requirement and other eligibility criteria, which are as follows:
- Age Limit – 18 to 32-years-old
- Minimum Income Requirement – $18,000 per annum
- Student Status – Any students or low income working adults who meet the above conditions can apply
Before you can submit your application, you’ll also need to ensure you can provide evidence of the following documents:
- NRIC and/or Passport copy
- Student ID photocopy (students only)
- Parent/guardian NRIC or Passport copy (students only)
- Latest computerized payslip / 6 months’ CPF history and Income Tax Notice of Assessment (non-student adult applicants only)
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Credit Cards
1. What Alternative Student Credit Cards Can I Apply For?
If you’re considering applying for an alternative to the Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card, we’d recommend looking at either the CIMB AWSM Card or the Maybank eVibes Card. Both of these alternatives offer a higher cashback rate but may come with other drawbacks that don’t suit your spending habits – so compare cards carefully.
2. Which Student Credit Cards Are Best for Low Income?
The Standard Chartered Manhattan Card is one of the best student credit cards on the market for low income working adults, on account of its $18,000 minimum income threshold. This figure is unusually low, as many other Singaporean credit cards will require applicants to be earning at least $30,000 before they can apply.
3. Which Card is Best for Cashback Rebates?
If you want to maximize cashback when using your card, either a DBS Live Fresh Student Card or a CIMB AWSM Card is probably your best option. That said, you’ll want to double-check the terms and conditions of each credit card to ensure its cashback spending categories match up to your expectations. Ultimately, Standard Chartered’s card may still be the better option due to its broad earning potential.
4. Which Card Has the Best Credit Limit?
The majority of student credit cards on the market right now offer a $500 limit, but you might be able to find student credit options or other financial products that offer more if you shop around. It’s always wise to compare the market in order to get the best card to suit your unique circumstances with the most potential for earning rewards.
Final Word
If you want to earn cashback on all types of spending with no irritating category restrictions, the Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card is probably a good fit for you. And for low income working adults, it may very well be the best student credit card option available to you right now. Just be sure to keep the following in mind before you apply:
- Other cards might offer higher cash rebate rates – but these will usually be limited to specific spending categories only.
- Your annual fee waiver for this card only applies for the first year, whereas competitors might offer more generous fee exemptions for certain customers.
- While there is no minimum spend requirement and no annual fees for the first year with this card, you could get hit with late payment, cash advance and other charges if you’re not careful.
- It’s always sensible to compare the market before deciding which cards might be the best fit for you
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