Torn between YouTrip and MariBank? You’re not alone.
Both cards are popular among Singaporeans for overseas spending — but they’re built for very different purposes.
YouTrip is Singapore’s leading multi-currency travel card, designed specifically to help travellers spend abroad without burning money on FX fees. MariBank, Sea Group’s digital bank, offers a savings account plus a debit and credit card that can also be used overseas.
In this comparison, we break down exchange rates, fees, features, and which card is actually better for your next trip — so you can make the right call before you fly.
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TL;DR: YouTrip vs Maribank at a Glance
| Feature | YouTrip | MariBank |
|---|---|---|
| Card Type | Prepaid multi-currency travel card | Debit card (no income req.) + Credit card (income req. applies) |
| Exchange Rates | ✅ Wholesale Mastercard rate, 0% markup | Mastercard rate, 0% markup (from Jan 2026) |
| FX Fees | ✅ 0% on 12 supported currencies | 0% (from Jan 2026) |
| Overseas ATM | ✅ Free up to S$400/month*2% fee applies thereafter | ❌ Not supported |
| Savings Interest | ❌ None (prepaid card) | ✅ Up to 0.88% p.a. |
| Rate Lock | ✅ Yes – 12 in-app currency wallets; spend in 150+ countries | ❌ No |
| Cashback | Multiple cashback campaigns + merchant deals | Debit: 0.5% local + 0.5% overseas; Credit: 1.5% local + 1.5% overseas* |
| eSIM | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Overseas Transfers | ✅ Yes — 40+ countries | ✅ Yes — 40+ countries |
| SDIC Protected | ❌ No | ✅ Yes, up to S$100,000 |
| Best For | ✅ Frequent travellers | Everyday banking + local cashback |
*Credit card overseas cashback valid till 31 Dec 2026, capped at S$1,500/month
📚 Table of Contents:
- What Is YouTrip?
- What is Maribank?
- Exchange Rates
- Fees
- YouTrip Pros & Cons
- Maribank Pros & Cons
- Verdict: Which Card Should You Use?
- FAQs
What Is YouTrip?
YouTrip is a Singapore-based multi-currency travel card and mobile wallet. Running on the Mastercard network, it lets you hold, exchange, and spend in 12 foreign currencies at wholesale rates across 150+ countries — with zero FX markup. What you see in the app is exactly what you pay abroad.
Key YouTrip features:
- Physical and virtual Mastercard
- 12 wallet currencies: SGD, USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, HKD, AUD, NZD, CHF, SEK, MYR, THB
- 0% FX markup in 150+ countries
- Free overseas ATM withdrawals up to S$400/month; 2% fee thereafter
- Rate locking — secure exchange rates before your trip
- Built-in eSIM for data plans in 140+ countries
- Overseas transfers to 40+ destinations
- Instant top-up via PayNow, linked bank account, or debit/credit card
📖 Related guide: YouTrip Exchange Rates: Everything You Need to Know
What is Maribank?
MariBank is Singapore’s fully digital bank, operated by Sea Group — the parent company behind Shopee and Garena. MAS-licensed and SDIC-insured up to S$100,000, it’s a properly regulated bank offering a savings account, investment products, and two Mastercard cards.
The Mari Debit Card is open to anyone aged 16+ with no income requirement. The Mari Credit Card offers higher cashback but requires a minimum annual income to apply. Neither card supports overseas ATM withdrawals.
Key MariBank features:
- 0% FX fee on all foreign currency transactions (from Jan 2026)
- Debit card: 0.5% cashback on local and overseas spend (overseas capped at S$1,500/month, valid till Dec 2026)
- Credit card: 1.5% cashback on local and overseas spend (overseas capped at S$1,500/month, valid till Dec 2026)
- 0.88% p.a. savings interest — no conditions required
- Full banking features: bill payments, local and overseas transfers
📖 Related guide: Maribank Singapore Guide: Credit Card, Interest Rates, Fees & Overseas Spending
YouTrip vs Maribank: Exchange Rates
Here’s how much S$1 costs in the following currencies with each card:
| Currency | YouTrip | Maribank |
|---|---|---|
| JPY | 123.64 | 122.83 |
| MYR | 3.087 | 3.075 |
| USD | 0.7787 | 0.7786 |
| EUR | 0.6765 | 0.6698 |
*Rates taken as of 9 Mar 2026
Verdict: YouTrip edges ahead across the board, with the gap most noticeable on JPY and EUR, where small differences add up over a longer trip. MariBank’s Mastercard wholesale rate is fair and markup-free, but YouTrip’s slightly more competitive rates — combined with the option to lock in before you travel — give it the edge.
📖 Related guide: Wise vs Revolut Singapore: Which Multi-Currency Card Is Best?
YouTrip vs Maribank: Fees
| Fees | YouTrip | MariBank |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ✅ Free | ✅ Free |
| FX Markup | ✅ 0% | ✅ 0% (from Jan 2026) |
| Overseas ATM | ✅ Free up to S$400/month; 2% thereafter | ❌ Not supported |
| Top-Up | ✅ Free (PayNow, bank account, debit/credit card) | N/A |
| Interest on Outstanding Balance | N/A | Mari Credit card: 27.99% p.a. |
| Late Interest | N/A | Mari Credit card: 30.99% p.a. |
| Inactivity Fee | ✅ None | ✅ None |
Both cards are fee-free on annual charges and FX markup. The key difference is ATM access — YouTrip supports free overseas withdrawals up to S$400/month; MariBank doesn’t support overseas ATM withdrawals on either card.
📖 Related guide: Trust Card Vs YouTrip: Which Is The Better Card For Overseas Spending?
YouTrip Pros & Cons:
✅ Pros
- Zero FX markup: Wholesale Mastercard rates with no hidden fees
- Rate Lock: Secure exchange rates before your trip — ideal for budgeting
- Free overseas ATM withdrawals: Up to S$400/month, one of the most generous allowances on any Singapore card
- 12 currency wallets: Hold and exchange in-app before you fly
- Overseas transfers: Send money to 40+ countries with DuitNow, UPI & Gcash
- Built-in eSIM: Data plans for 140+ countries in the same app
- No annual fee
❌ Cons
- No savings interest: YouTrip is a spending card — your balance earns nothing.
- Prepaid only: Requires topping up; no credit facility
- Not a bank account: No SDIC protection, no bill payments or salary crediting.
📖 Related guide: Best Singapore Credit Card For Overseas Spending
Maribank Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Two card options: debit (no income req., from age 16) and credit (1.5% cashback)
- 0% FX fees on overseas transactions from January 2026
- 0.88% p.a. savings interest, no conditions attached
- SDIC-insured up to S$100,000
- Full banking features: bill payments, fund transfers, and more
- No annual fees
❌ Cons
- No rate locking or currency wallets
- No eSIM
- No overseas ATM support on either card
Overseas cashback is a limited promo ending 31 Dec 2026
📖 Related guide: Money Changer Near Me: 14 Best Money Changers In Singapore
Verdict: Which Card Should You Use?
Choose YouTrip if you:
- Travel frequently
- Want rate transparency and the ability to lock in exchange rates
- Need overseas ATM access
- Want a travel eSIM in the same app
- Need to send money overseas
Choose MariBank if you:
- Want one app for everyday Singapore banking
- Want cashback on local and occasional overseas spending (0.5% debit; 1.5% credit)
- Travel rarely and don’t need multi-currency wallets
- Prioritise SDIC-insured deposit protection
The bottom line: for travel, YouTrip wins. MariBank is a solid everyday bank that works overseas, but it wasn’t designed for it. If you want rate control, ATM access, and an eSIM in one app, YouTrip is the stronger choice.
💡 Smart pairing: YouTrip for overseas spending and cash. MariBank for everyday local banking and cashback.
📖 Related guide: Best Multi-Currency Cards In Singapore: A Full Comparison Guide
YouTrip vs Maribank FAQs
YouTrip. It offers rate locking, free ATM withdrawals up to S$400/month, and 12 dedicated currency wallets.
MariBank’s 2026 updates — 0% FX fees and overseas cashback on both cards — are welcome improvements, but it still lacks ATM support and advance rate control.
No — from January 2026, MariBank waived foreign currency transaction fees on both the Mari Debit and Credit Cards. The Mastercard rate applies at the point of transaction with no markup.
Yes. MariBank is MAS-licensed and SDIC-insured up to S$100,000 — the same regulatory standing as any established Singapore bank.
No. YouTrip is a prepaid e-wallet. It doesn’t offer savings interest, SDIC protection, or bill payments. You need to top up before spending.
YouTrip. It uses wholesale Mastercard interbank rates, shows live rates before you exchange, and lets you lock them in ahead of your trip.
MariBank’s rates are only confirmed at the point of transaction, with no advance visibility or locking.
Yes — and it’s a smart setup. Top up YouTrip before travelling to lock in rates and access free ATM withdrawals. Keep MariBank for everyday local spending and to earn cashback on SGD transactions.
YouTrip offers free overseas ATM withdrawals up to S$400/month. A 2% fee applies beyond that. Local ATM withdrawals are not supported.
12 in-app wallet currencies: SGD, MYR, JPY, THB, USD, EUR, GBP, HKD, AUD, NZD, CHF, and SEK. All other currencies are handled automatically at Mastercard’s wholesale rate with no markup.
The Smarter Alternative for Travel
Looking for a simpler, fee-free solution for overseas spending? YouTrip provides a modern, multi-currency alternative that eliminates FX fees, hidden markups, and annual fees — making it a practical choice for Singaporeans travelling abroad in 2026.
Not on YouTrip yet? Get a free YouTrip card + S$5 YouTrip credits with code <YTBLOG5>.
Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. Join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and Community Group (@YouTripSquad) for travel tips, event invites, and more!
Bon voyage!
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