DCS is shifting more of its cards onto a monthly service fee model, in place of the usual once-a-year annual fee. If you hold a DCS card, here’s what’s changing, what has already changed, and how to keep the fee at zero.
I’ve recommended the DCS Ultimate Platinum in many of my reviews as one of the strongest cards for general spending — 2% cashback on almost everything, with no minimum spend — and I’ve covered the DCS Flex plenty too. If you hold either, here’s what this change means for you.
What’s Changing on 1 August 2026
From 1 August 2026, two DCS cards drop their annual fee and charge a monthly service fee instead:
- DCS Ultimate Platinum Mastercard
- COURTS DCS Mastercard
The new fees on both:
- Principal card: S$10.90 a month (S$10 + GST)
- Supplementary card: S$5.45 a month (S$5 + GST)
For context, the annual fee these replace was S$196.20 for a principal card and S$98.10 for a supplementary card.
The fee is automatically waived in any calendar month where you do either of the following on that card:
- Make at least 8 retail transactions (any amount), or
- Spend at least S$800
New cardholders also get the monthly fee waived automatically for the first 12 months.
Note that the waiver is assessed per card — a supplementary card has to hit 8 transactions or S$800 on that card to waive its own S$5.45.
When the Monthly Fee Starts for You
If you’re an existing cardholder, you won’t be double-charged. The monthly fee only begins after your next annual fee would have been due, so the switch follows your own card’s renewal cycle.
Two examples from DCS:
- If your last annual fee was charged on 1 September 2025, your monthly fee starts from 1 September 2026.
- If your annual fee was charged on 1 July 2026, your monthly fee won’t start until 1 July 2027.
The DCS Flex Already Works This Way
DCS has done this before. The DCS Flex Visa Platinum Card has charged a monthly fee since it launched.
The one real difference: the Flex waives its fee with just 5 transactions a month, and there’s no S$800 spend alternative. That makes its monthly bar lower than on the Ultimate Platinum and COURTS cards.
All Three Cards at a Glance
| Card | Monthly fee (principal / supp, incl. GST) | How to waive each month |
|---|---|---|
| DCS Ultimate Platinum Mastercard | S$10.90 / S$5.45 | 8 transactions OR S$800 spend (per card) |
| COURTS DCS Mastercard | S$10.90 / S$5.45 | 8 transactions OR S$800 spend (per card) |
| DCS Flex Visa Platinum Card | S$10.90 / S$5.45 | 5 transactions |
Is It Still Worth It?
It depends on how often you use the card.
If it’s your everyday card, the monthly model is clearly better. Hitting 8 transactions (or 5 on the Flex) is easy, so as long as you’re routing everyday spend through it — groceries, transport, dining, bills, subscriptions — the fee waives itself month to month. You no longer have to track your card anniversary or call in for a yearly waiver.
If you only reach for it occasionally, it’s more of a nuisance. What used to be a once-a-year fee you could plan around is now a monthly bar to clear, and every month you forget costs you S$10.90. If you want to keep it, set a monthly reminder to put a few recurring charges on the card — and if you can’t see yourself using it regularly, it’s worth asking whether it still earns its place in your wallet.
What to Use Instead
If the monthly minimum isn’t worth the hassle, the better fit is a flat cashback card with no fee and no minimum spend — so there’s nothing to track in the first place.
The cleanest swap is the Mari Credit Card, which doubles as one of the best cards for overseas spending too. It earns 1.5% unlimited cashback on local spend (no minimum, no cap) and 1.5% cashback overseas — on up to S$1,500 of foreign-currency spend a month — with zero foreign currency fees (till 31st Dec 2026). No annual fee, no minimum spend, no anniversary to track: it’s the opposite of the DCS monthly bar, and it covers both local and overseas in one card. You earn a little less than DCS’s 2% on local spend, but you save all the admin work — and you gain a zero fx fee overseas card as well.
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How to claim (tap to expand)
- Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
- Copy the referral code above and enter into the app when prompted
- Sign up with your details
If you want the highest flat rate, the UOB Absolute Card pays 1.7% on most spend with no minimum and no cap.
There is one trade-off to consider: it is an American Express card, and many merchants in Singapore do not accept AMEX, which limits its everyday usability.
There is no sign-up promotion for UOB cards at the moment. Join my Telegram channel to be notified of the best sign-up deal as soon as one becomes available.
One honest point: DCS still earns more if you spend enough to clear its waiver comfortably. Switching mainly makes sense if you’d rather not manage a monthly minimum at all — in which case Mari’s no-fee, no-minimum setup is the most painless versatile card for your everyday spend.
Terms & Conditions and Sources
Always read the full terms before deciding — rates, fees and fine print can change. Official references:
💳 Credit cards change their T&Cs every so often and it’s difficult to stay updated. That’s why I created a Telegram Broadcast where you can receive timely bite-sized updates.
