DBS Live Fresh student card: Everything you should know

Elle Kasser

If you’re aged 21 - 27, studying in Singapore, and looking for a credit card, the DBS Live Fresh student card may be the one for you. Get the first eco-friendly card in Singapore, earn cashback, and use your DBS card to spend on and offline, all over the world.

Check out this DBS Live Fresh student card review for all you need to know about getting your card, using it at home and abroad - and earning perks and rewards as you go.

📝Table of contents:

DBS Live Fresh student card: Key features

Let’s start with a rundown of the key features of the DBS Live Fresh student card - we’ll dive into some of these in more detail in just a moment¹.

  • Available for higher education students - Singapore citizens and PR only
  • No minimum income required
  • Use wherever you see the Visa sign displayed
  • 500 SGD credit limit offered
  • Annual fee of 192.60 SGD, waived for 5 years
  • Earn up to 5 % cashback with DBS partner merchants - and 0.3% on all other eligible spend, to a maximum of 50 SGD a month
  • As with all credit cards, late fees and penalties apply if you don’t repay your balance on time

Eligibility for the DBS Live Fresh student card

To apply for this card, you must be 21 - 27 years old, a singapore citizen or PR, and a student at one of the following:¹

  • National University of Singapore (NUS)
  • Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
  • Singapore Management University (SMU)
  • Singapore Institute of Management (SIM)
  • Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
  • Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
  • Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
  • Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)
  • Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
  • Temasek Polytechnic (TP)
  • Singapore Polytechnic (SP)
  • Republic Polytechnic (RP)

DBS Live Fresh - Singapore’s first eco-friendly card

DBS Live Fresh cards are Singapore’s first eco-friendly cards, made from 85.5% recycled plastic, and offering up to 5% cashback on spend at planet friendly merchants.

DBS eco-friendly partners cover eateries, retailers and transport options, so you can earn 5% when you hop on the MRT instead of driving, when you pick up your dinner from Just Dabao, or when you choose to buy organic groceries.¹

Using DBS Live Fresh with EZ-Link

Use your DBS Live Fresh student card when you travel by bus or MRT. Simply tap your card when you get on the bus or enter the station - or link your card to your existing EZ-Link if you’d rather. You’ll also get 5% cashback on every ride - what’s not to love?


Using DBS Live Fresh student card abroad

You’ll be able to use your DBS Live Fresh student card at home, and when you travel. Spending in a foreign currency means you’ll pay extra fees though, so do check that out before you get started. You’ll pay a total of 3.25% extra when you use your card overseas, which includes a 1% Visa fee, and an administrative fee of 2.25% paid to DBS.

Another alternative for when you travel is to check out some of the fresh new alternatives there are out there - like the Wise multi-currency account and linked card.

Multi-currency accounts give broader options to hold and manage multiple foreign currencies all in one place, so you can handle and exchange currencies on the go, and spend with your card wherever in the world you are

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What exchange rate does the DBS Live Fresh card use?

When you spend in a foreign currency, the cost will be converted back to SGD using the Visa exchange rate.


DBS Live Fresh Visa student card fees

As with all financial products, you’ll want to read the terms and conditions before you sign up for a DBS Live Fresh student card. Here are a few of the important fees you should know about - get the full details online.

Service/Fee type DBS Live Fresh student card fee¹
Annual fee 192.60 SGD - waived for 5 years
Credit limit 500 SGD
Finance charging 26.8% p.a.
Late payment fee 100 SGD for bills over 200 SGD 3% additional penalty interest also applies
Minimum monthly payment 3% or 50 SGD, whichever is greater + any overdue or excess amounts
Cash advance 8% fee or 15 SGD, whichever is greater 28% interest charge applies from the date of withdrawal until the amount is repaid in full
Foreign currency transactions 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Dynamic currency conversion fee 1%

DBS Live Fresh cashback and rewards

With the DBS Fresh Live card you can earn cashback up to 50 SGD/month[2,3], across categories including green cashback, and everyday spending at some of your favourite retailers.

Cashback on daily spending with DBS partners

You can get up to 5% cashback on spending, up to 15 SGD a month, at DBS partners including:

  • McDonalds
  • McDelivery
  • Starbucks
  • Golden Village
  • Netflix
  • Spotify

Green cashback

The full list of partner retailers and services offering green cashback is available online - and may change from time to time. This offer is available throughout 2021. At the time of writing you could earn 5% additional cashback - to a maximum of 15 SGD/month - on spend with partners including:³

Green cashback category 5% cashback on spend with:
Eco-eateries Just DabaoOpen Farm CommunityThe Summerhouse
Eco-retailers Little FarmsRyan’s GroceryScoop WholefoodsSuperNatureYour Sustainable Store
Eco-transport Any WheelBlue SGSimplyGo on bus and MRT ridesElectric vehicle chargingSG Bike

Cashback on all other spending

Even if you’re not spending at a DBS partner merchant or eco-friendly location, you’ll still have the chance to earn 0.3% cashback, to a maximum of 20 SGD a month. There are some exclusions, such as payments for utility bills or to government agencies - you can check these out in the full terms and conditions.

Play Fortnite with DBS

Finally you can also join the Live Fresh Club on Fortnite, using the DBS code to access Fortnite’s creative mode. Play with friends or on your own, in a game inspired by Singapore’s most iconic club.

If you’re a student in Singapore, getting a student credit card can be a good way to access perks and rewards on your normal spending. The DBS Live Fresh student account is an especially good pick if you shop and spend with DBS partner retailers, which range from McDonalds and Starbucks to Scoop Wholefoods and public transport services.

Think the DBS Live Fresh student card might be right for you? Check out the full details - including features, fees and eligibility - on the DBS website.


Sources:

  1. DBS Live Fresh Student Card - DBS Singapore
  2. DBS Live Fresh Student Card Cashback Programme - Terms and Conditions
  3. DBS Live Fresh Student Card Cashback

Sources checked on 29 July 2021


*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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