Review of best American Express (Amex) credit cards in Malaysia - how do they compare?

If you’re looking for a new credit card to use for your day to day spending, you have plenty of options, both in terms of banks and card networks - including American Express®¹ which is offered exclusively through Maybank®.

If you’re wondering how to apply for an Amex credit card from Amex Malaysia, this guide is for you. We’ll walk through 5 of the most popular credit cards from American Express Malaysia, including features, fees and eligibility, so you can get started on your Amex credit card application. And because credit cards aren’t right for everyone, we’ll also introduce the Wise card as an alternative which has been optimised for your international spending.

*Fees and charges correct at time of research - 18th September 2023

Where is American Express accepted in Malaysia?

Amex cards in Malaysia are issued through Maybank exclusively. While American Express isn’t the most common network used by Malaysian credit cards, it does have pretty good acceptance rates globally. In Malaysia, Maybank lists out 150 merchants which accept Amex10, from grocery stores to pharmacies, airlines and attractions. Plus, American Express is widespread in the US and in many other countries globally.

To make sure you’re covered for all eventualities, having a card on the American Express network alongside one or more on other popular global card networks can be a good decision. That way, if one card can’t be used for a specific transaction, you can always pick another.

Here’s a bit more of a detailed look at the 5 Amex credit and charge cards we’ve featured above.

Maybank 2 Gold Card

The Maybank 2 Gold Card is actually 2 separate cards you can receive with one application and approval. One card is issued on the Amex network, while the other is on the Visa®/Mastercard® networks, for optimum coverage.

The Maybank 2 Gold Card is a neat idea if you’re not sure which network you want your card to be issued on. As both cards have different reward schemes you’ll be able to use the one which has the best offer for the specific transaction, and then pay everything all at once with a single monthly bill.

Maybank American Express Platinum Credit Card

Earn rewards you can convert for airmiles, and get discounts on select spending with hotels in Malaysia for local getaways and dining.

The American Express Platinum Credit Card offers some good travel perks and benefits which include discounts on dining in some large Malaysian hotels. You’ll also get some insurance cover and the Amex Global Assistance service when you’re abroad, which can be reassuring.

Maybank American Express Green Charge Card

As well as credit cards, Maybank also issues several American Express charge cards - we’ve included a couple of popular options here, so you can compare them. First, the Green Card which has no annual fee or interest.

Charge cards are different to credit cards in that you can’t run up interest costs. This can help you to manage your budget, but you’ll need to keep an eye on your spending and clear down your bill every month. The Amex Green Charge Card is a good option for a charge card as it’ll offer benefits like travel insurance cover, without having an annual fee to pay.

Maybank American Express Platinum Charge Card

If you’re thinking of a charge card rather than a credit card and want some premium benefits to enjoy as well, the Amex Platinum Charge Card may be a good fit.

The Platinum Charge Card has a high minimum salary requirement and a high annual fee - but in return you get some top tier perks and benefits and ways to earn rewards faster compared to many other cards. If you’re a high card spender, and want to offer supplementary cards to family members, this might be an option as you’ll be able to get up to 5 linked cards on one monthly bill.

Maybank Islamic Ikhwan American Express Platinum Card-i

If you’re looking for an Islamic card option on the American Express network, check out the Maybank Islamic Ikhwan American Express Platinum Card-i.

With this card you can earn a selection of cash back and treats points, which can then be exchanged for rewards at a later date. The way you’re rewarded depends on the specific transaction, with some extras for online spending during the months of Ramadhan and Syawal.

Bring the Wise card - the most international debit card in the world - along with you when travelling or shopping abroad

Credit cards aren’t the right pick for every transaction. If you’re spending in a foreign currency with a credit card you might find that foreign transaction fees push up the costs up to 3.5%. Instead, consider getting a Wise card - an international debit card - to use alongside your Amex Credit Card when you travel.

You can open a Wise account online or with your phone, and order your Wise card to be delivered to your home address. Use your Wise account to hold 40+ currencies, which you can then spend in 150+ countries. Whenever you need to convert from one currency to another you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with low fees from 0.43%¹¹. That makes it easier to keep on top of your foreign currency spending - and can mean your money goes further too.

Order your Wise card today! 💳