Annual Fee Waivers: What Works with Each Bank

An annual fee waiver is a request to remove a credit card annual fee that has been billed on your statement.
In Singapore, many issuers support self-serve fee waiver flows, so you can submit a waiver request quickly and track the outcome.
The best results usually come from pairing the right request channel with a clear history of on-time payments.

How Annual Fee Waivers Work In Singapore

What A Waiver Is and what It Is Not

• Waiver: the annual fee is removed or reversed, so you do not pay it.
  Many banks do this through automated systems.
• Conditional waiver: the annual fee is waived if you meet a spending condition or card rules.
  This is common on selected mass-market cards.
• Offset: some issuers let you use reward points to cover a billed fee.
  It is different from a true waiver, but can still lower your out-of-pocket cost.

What Banks Commonly Look At

• A clean record of on-time repayment and low reliance on revolving balances.
  It signals responsible usage.
• Recent, meaningful card activity.
  A waiver request is often stronger when the card is actively used for eligible spend.
• How often you ask.
  If you request a credit card annual fee waiver repeatedly across multiple cards, approvals may become harder.

Before You Submit A Waiver Request

• Confirm the fee line item is posted (not pending).
  A posted annual fee is easier for the automated waiver flow to detect.
• Use the issuer’s preferred self-serve channel first.
  It is usually faster than calling and typically logs a cleaner waiver request.
• If your card offers a “pay fee to receive bonus miles/points” option, decide what you want before you request.
  A waiver can remove the bonus entitlement on some products.

Bank-By-Bank Waiver Methods

Issuer	What Usually Works Fast	Backup Approach	Good To Know
DBS / POSB	DBS digibot fee waiver flow	Automated phone banking	Requests run via automated system
UOB	UOB TMRW app “Waive fees”	Phone banking / digital assistant	Fee waivers are handled via self-serve
OCBC	OCBC app “Request fee waiver”	OCBC internet banking	Choose the card, submit the waiver request
Standard Chartered	Online banking service request	In-app request (where available)	Select eligible fee transactions to waive
Citi	CitiPhone hotline request	Follow-up via digital contact options	Voice prompts are commonly used
HSBC	Policy-based waivers by spend	Hotline request where applicable	Some cards tie waivers to spend or points
Maybank	Customer service hotline request	Online feedback for non-sensitive queries	Have card and phone details ready
American Express	Pay with points for annual fee	Contact support via official channels	Offsetting differs from a waiver

What Works With DBS and POSB

For DBS annual fee waiver and POSB annual fee waiver, the smoothest approach is to use the bank’s automated waiver journey.
The DBS digibot route is designed for speed and works well when the annual fee has already appeared on your statement.
If you prefer phone, the same automated system style is commonly used rather than a manual request.

• Use DBS digibot: type Fee Waiver, authenticate, then select Credit Cards Fee Waiver.
• Keep notifications on: outcomes are typically sent to your registered contact via SMS/email.
• If you hold multiple DBS/POSB cards, submit the waiver request per card fee line item, not as a single blanket request.

What Works With UOB

With UOB annual fee waiver requests, the highest success rate usually comes from the UOB TMRW app because it is a dedicated self-serve waiver flow.
UOB also supports phone banking and a digital assistant pathway, but the key theme is the same: submit the fee waiver through automated channels.
If you want the process to feel effortless, this is one of the more consistent setups.

• In UOB TMRW: go to Accounts, select the card, then choose Waive fees and pick Annual Fee.
• On phone banking: follow the fee waiver menu prompts and complete the verification steps.
• If the result is declined, treat it as a final automated decision for that attempt and plan your next step calmly (for example, reassess whether the card’s benefits justify the fee).

What Works With OCBC

For an OCBC annual fee waiver, the bank provides an in-app request that is easy to repeat each year.
The flow is straightforward: open the relevant card services screen, choose Request fee waiver, then submit for the card you want.
If you use OCBC internet banking on desktop, the same credit card fee waiver option appears under customer service.

• In OCBC app: tap More, go to Card Services, then choose Request fee waiver.
• On desktop: go to Customer service and select Credit card fee waiver, then submit the waiver request.
• If you have multiple OCBC cards, submit each annual fee waiver separately so the system can match the right fee.

What Works With Standard Chartered

A Standard Chartered annual fee waiver is typically managed through a structured service request path inside online banking.
The system shows eligible cards and then lets you pick the fee transactions you want waived.
This “select and confirm” method works well because it reduces ambiguity and keeps the waiver request tied to a specific billed fee.

• In online banking: go to Help & Services, then Service request by category, under Card Management choose Credit Card Fee Waiver.
• Choose the fee type, select your eligible card(s), then pick the specific fee transactions to waive.
• If you hold several cards, submit in batches that stay neat and clear for the automated review (the platform commonly allows multiple selections).

What Works With Citi

A Citi annual fee waiver request is often handled through the CitiPhone hotline flow with voice prompts.
The best approach is simple: call using the phone number linked to your banking profile, follow the automated menu, and submit the annual membership fee waiver request cleanly.
If you get routed to an officer, keep it short and direct; a calm request often reads better than a long story.

• Use the CitiPhone hotline and follow the prompts related to fees or annual membership fee.
• If the system offers a confirmation, accept it and wait for the usual message update; avoid repeating the waiver request multiple times in the same day.
• If you have a relationship package that includes fee waivers, confirm whether your card is covered before requesting.

What Works With HSBC

HSBC is a good example of issuer-specific waiver rules.
Some cards offer a first-year or multi-year annual fee waiver, then shift to spend-based waivers in later years.
On certain products, a fee can be waived when you meet a spend threshold; on others, a waiver request may depend on keeping enough reward points in the account.
Read the card’s product terms before you decide, because waivr logic can be card-specific.

• Spend-based waivers: if a card states a minimum annual spend for annual fee waiver, meeting that level is usually the cleanest path.
• Points-linked waivers: if a product requires a minimum reward points balance to process the fee waiver, keep the points available until the decision is posted.
• If your fee is billed and not waived automatically, use HSBC’s official support channels for a membership fee waiver request.

What Works With Maybank

For a Maybank annual fee waiver, the most reliable route is usually a direct hotline request.
The key is being prepared: have your card number and registered mobile ready, then follow the automated prompts until the fee waiver option appears.
If you are eligible through a premium relationship tier or a specific card programme, mention it briefly and keep the waiver request focused.

• Use Maybank customer service: call the official hotline, then navigate to the fee waiver options.
• Confirm the fee type: annual fee is different from late fee or finance charge.
• If you submit via phone, wait for the outcome message instead of resubmitting right away; duplicate requests can slow processing.

What Works With American Express

American Express often treats annual fees as a membership-style feature, and some cardholders prefer using points rather than asking for a classic annual fee waiver.
If your product supports “pay with points” for the card annual fee, that can act like an offset.
When you do need help, using official support channels keeps your request aligned with your card’s specific terms.

• If available on your product: use Membership Rewards to offset the annual fee rather than requesting a waiver.
• For account-specific questions: contact American Express support using the official contact options or the number on the back of your card.
• If you are weighing “pay fee for benefits” vs fee waiver, decide based on the value of your perks over the next 12 months.

A Short Request That Sounds Natural

When A Waiver Is Not The Best Choice

• If your card explicitly offers a valuable “pay annual fee to receive bonus miles” deal, waiving can remove the bonus.
  Compare the points value to the fee.
• If you seldom use the card, even a successful annual fee waiver can become an annual chore.
  A no-fee alternative may fit better.
• If your issuer’s automated decision is firm, consider whether a different card in the same bank’s lineup offers a built-in waiver with normal spend.