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Hong Leong · Visa · Cashback

HLB Essential

Earns
0.2% Dining
Minimum spend
RM3,000.01 a month or it pays 0.5%
Min income
RM24,000 a year
Annual fee
RM100 Waived at RM8,000 spend a year
See it on Hong Leong's site

Good for

  • 1% cash back on clothing, department stores and travel once you spend over RM3,000 a month, no cap.
  • 0.5% on insurance premiums at any spend.
  • First year free if you use the card once within 60 days.

Watch out

  • At RM3,000 a month or less, shopping and travel earn 0.5%.
  • Dining, groceries, petrol and everything else earn 0.2%.
  • RM100 annual fee unless you spend RM8,000 a year.

What it earns

Cash back, as a share of what you spend.

  • Counts toward the minimum: every billed purchase, except the ones below.
  • Does not count: Government / LHDN / JPJ and JomPAY / FPX / DuitNow to billers.
SpendingUnder RM3,000.01RM3,000.01 or moreMonthly cap
Fashion, Department store, Airlines (direct) and more 0.5% 1% None
Insurance 0.5% 0.5% None
Everything else 0.2% 0.2% None
Government / LHDN / JPJ and JomPAY / FPX / DuitNow to billers Nothing Nothing

Getting your cash back

How it's paid
Credited to your card on each statement Worked out at the end of each billing cycle and set against your balance. If the statement falls on the 31st, it shows only every two months.
Which month counts
Your billing cycle, by posting date The RM3,000 line counts eligible transactions posted in the cycle.

Travel

Overseas spending fee
2% 1% Visa plus 1% Hong Leong
Paying in ringgit abroad
1% When a shop abroad charges you in ringgit.

Fees and charges

What it costs if you don't pay in full, or use it for cash.

Annual fee
RM100 Free the first year. Waived if you spend RM8,000 in a year.
Extra (supplementary) cards
RM50 a year Free if that card spends RM8,000 in its card year. The first year is free if it makes one purchase within 60 days. The RM25 service tax still applies.
Service tax
RM25 a year per card A government charge on every credit card in Malaysia, billed by the bank.
Interest
15%, 17% or 18% a year Depends on how reliably you paid over the last 12 months. None if you pay the full balance by the due date (20 days after your statement).
Minimum monthly payment
5% of the balance, or RM50 Whichever is higher, plus all instalments, the tax, any amount over your limit and any unpaid past minimum.
Late payment
1% of the balance, RM10 to RM100 Charged when the minimum payment is late.
Cash withdrawal
5% fee, at least RM20 Plus 8% service tax on the fee, and 18% a year interest from the day you take it out.
Replacement card
RM50

Who can apply

Income
RM24,000 a year or more
Age
21 to 65 Extra cardholders from 18.
Documents
  • MyKad copy (both sides). Non-Malaysians: a passport valid for at least 6 more months
  • Employees: latest EPF statement with at least 6 months of contributions, or latest 3 months' computer-printed payslips
  • Employees outside a multinational company also need one of: latest BE form with tax receipt, latest EA form, or 3 months of bank statements showing your salary
  • Self-employed: latest business registration form, plus your latest B form with tax receipt or 6 months of company bank statements
  • Expatriates: latest 3 months' payslips, plus a work permit valid for at least 6 months or an employment letter dated in the last 3 months
You send these once the bank approves your application in principle.

Other perks

Pay by phone
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay Add it in the HLB Connect app.
Card network
Visa

Where this comes from