Withdrawing Cash at Changi

Hi guys, I'm off to Singapore in a few days and I'm not planning to take any SGD. I'm thinking to withdraw SGD directly from a bank ATM using my Ubank (Visa) debit card or alternatively my Macquarie Platinum Transaction Account (Mastercard) debit card.

Any tips on which of these 2 cards is better, or which ATM to use/avoid?

Thanks.

Comments

  • Why do you need cash?

    • +12

      Not all hawker centers accept card

      • -7

        Why not? It's Singapore.

        • +8

          It's Singapore.

          That's right. It's not Singarich

    • I had few shops in the airport itself, not accepting cards! It's bewildering to expect cash in international airport terminal, but that's what it is there. Majority accepts cards, but I had 2 shops declining card and accepting cash only. One was sandwich shop and the other was kid's craft shop, which may be temporarily setup there.

      • And yeah I believe, I had used revolut card to withdraw cash from atm there

  • -1

    I used Revolut which was the best exchange rate for me (as I have a paid plan) and was able to withdraw cash from the Citibank ATMs (which have the lowest fee too - around $2 I believe it was). Cash is handy for hawker centres where card isn’t accepted.

  • Revolut brothaaaa

  • -4

    Do you already have SGD in your bank accounts? If not the exchange rates at the ATM's in Changi are not good at all.

  • I was in Singapore last month. I applied for a Wise card before I went and used that to withdraw cash at any ATM. Then also used it to pay via tap in most places.
    Having said that, you may have run out of time to get one. Plus, I only used cash twice. Both in smaller hawker centres. In cases where a particular hawker vendor was cash only, they were friendly enough with a nearby drinks stall who did accept a card.

  • +2

    I was in Singapore last month and never used cash at all. Still have my 28 degrees card and a Wise card. Used Grab for car rides, and card for MRT rides. Everywhere I went to accepted cards including Lau Pa Sat hawker centre.

    • Same here; was there over Easter. Hawker centres accepted cards too

  • The only place I used cash in Singapore last year was in Chinatown, buying off some Uncles. Needless to say, they directed me to the nearest ATM but the exchange was eh (UOB).

  • +2

    I always bring some extra cash with me .in case unforeseen….feel more secure in foreign countries.

    • +1

      Same - extra cash and a backup credit card / bank card with a different bank.

      We just returned from KL and only needed the cash once though for the butterfly park we went to…everything else went on the CC.

  • how can you use your credit card when its storm or blackout.

  • Until this month you couldnt top up an EZ link card with a foreign credit card, so you will need cash if you are using EZ link (but you can tap on/off with a credit card, so it just depends on how many CCs you have vs how many people in your group - each one needs their own payment method). You now should be able to top up using your overseas card but only at a service kiosk and pay 4% of the top up as a fee. You cant use your CC at the machines (which require cash).

    yes there are many ATMs where you can withdraw cash. Ubank works totally fine (I dont have a Mac Bank card so cant compare). Many ATMs in Singapore charge a fee for using overseas cards ($5 or $8); there is an app called ATM Fee Saver which some people say is useful but I havent used it myself.

  • +5

    I have found that it is cheaper to carry cash (AUD) and exchange it at a money changer in the airport.

    Some cards are better than others (for example ING) but all of them have costs - from the Singapore Bank.

    • The airport gives a lesser value compared to when outside in the city, preferably do your exchange when you get to your location - providing there is a spot close! The withdrawal rate of ATM's can be higher as long as its a fee free withdrawal.

      I also used my Bankwest fee free card and stopped using my wise as it gave a better rate!

  • was there at the start of April - UoB and DBS ATMs were both fee free for me and just used MasterCard exchange rate (I was using Up card). Make sure to select SGD when it comes up with the prompt so you're not billed with the bank rate and exchange fee.

    used the card the entire time, 0 fees and 0 issues, though I got a tourist card for the MRT (don't do this, it's a waste of money unless youre going to be heavily using the MRT). 0 fees even on like $1.20 cokes from 7-11. it's great

    Got out money for hawker stalls mostly, quite a few at the smaller places are cash-only, but the major ones take card.

    • Yep, was there in Nov and withdrew from UoB and DBS using my Bankwest card. Fee free and quite easy to find around the place.

    • Hey. Just checking - you mentioned you didn’t get charged any fees with your UBank card, was that including by using tap payments?

      • +1

        up card, not ubank. entirely tap payments, from google pay

        • Thanks for the info. I’ve got an Up card as well so I’ll take that with me on the upcoming trip

  • Are the money changers at say Mustafa`s still as good as they use to be?

    • Money changer at airport better…..which I prefer.

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