The Best Shopping Credit Cards for 2017 - Guest Post by John from iMoney PH

If you are going to shop, you may as well be rewarded for it. That’s where a shopping credit card comes into play. Using a shopping credit card for your purchases is a great way to put money back in your pocket, and help you get exclusive discounts at various retailers nationwide.

There is an abundance of shopping credit cards available, which can make choosing just one seem like a daunting task. With so many great offers out there, how do you pick the right one for you? We’ve done the research for you, and have come up with a list of the three best shopping credit cards for 2017.

Why Are These Cards the Best, and Which Is Right for Me?

BDO Shopmore MasterCard: Our Pick for The Budget-Friendly Card

The Basics:

With the BDO Shopmore MasterCard, you earn one point for every ₱200 spent at affiliate SM retail stores, and SM partner establishments such as property and hotels. 

The Benefits:

With your BDO Shopmore MasterCard you get a SM Advantage Card for free, and earn an additional 0.5 point on top of regular points earned on your SM Advantage Card. A huge benefit of the BDO Shopmore credit card is the ability to earn a 5% rebate on a minimum spend of ₱5,000.00 during SM’s 3-day sale events. If you shop during the first two hours on the first day of the sale you can get an additional 10% discount by simply presenting your SM Advantage Card.

Special Promotions:

Right now, there is a BDO credit card promo which will provide you with a free ₱100 gift certificate to The SM Store when you spend ₱3,000 anywhere! There is a huge list of participating redemption stores for you to choose from. In addition, the annual fee is waived for the first year!

The Bottom Line: 

The BDO Shopmore MasterCard is the perfect card for the budget-minded consumer. It requires a low monthly fee, and offers a great set of rewards for the casual shopper.

BPI Ayala Malls Amore Card: Our Pick for The Mall Shopper

The Basics:

If you are a mall shopper, the BPI Ayala Malls Amore Card is the right credit card for you. With the BPI Ayala Malls Amore Card, you can enjoy special mall perks, while also earning shopping rebates up to ₱15,000 per calendar year for your purchases at various shops, restaurants, and Ayala Malls establishments. With the BPI Ayala Malls Amore Card, you will earn 1%, 4%, or 3% rebates for every ₱1,000 spent at BPI affiliates at Ayala Malls. There are different merchant categories for each rebate percentage.

The Benefits:

What’s unique about this credit card are the freebies, exclusive discounts, and privileges you receive all year long. For instance, you receive a 5% discount on Ayala Cinema tickets, as well as express lane access for ticket purchases. You will also have access to reserved seating at mall shows, unlimited use of family and customer lounges, and exclusive invitations to special events.

Special Promotions:

Right now, you can get 50% off on select gym memberships at Gold’s Gym when you pay using your BPI credit card, in addition to many other great shopping discounts. You can also have your annual fee waived for life!

The Bottom Line:

If you feel that you’re spending most of your time at the mall, then the BPI Ayala Malls Amore credit card could be your ultimate shopping buddy.

Citi Rewards Card: Our Choice for The No Limits Card

The Basics:

If you want to build rewards fast, the Citi Rewards credit card is the perfect card for you. With the Citi Rewards Card, you will earn one point for every ₱30 spent. Best of all these rewards never expire, and can be used for your purchases at over 1,000 shops, theatres, and restaurants throughout the Philippines.

The Benefits:

The major thing that sets the Citi Rewards Credit Card apart from the competition is the ability to earn rewards fast. With this credit card, you will receive 3x rewards when you shop, dine, or book tickets with Cebu Pacific.

Special Promotions:

At the moment, there’s a great Citibank credit card promotion running now through March 31, 2017 that will waive the annual fee for new customers for life!

The Bottom Line:

The Citibank Rewards credit card is truly an all-inclusive card for the consumer who doesn’t want to limit their rewards. It provides consumers with an extremely flexible rewards program, and an ability to earn rewards three times faster than most other shopping credit cards. 

Which Card Will You Pick?

We have provided you with the three best shopping credit cards for 2017. If budget is at the top of your mind, you could benefit from the low-cost structure of BDO Shopmore MasterCard. If you do a lot of shopping at the mall, BPI’s Ayala Malls Amore Credit Card should be at the top of your consideration list. If you want extreme flexibility with your rewards program, and the potential to earn rewards fast, the Citi Rewards Credit Card is perfect for you. Regardless of which card you choose, the important thing is that you will be rewarded for the money you are already spending. 

Short Author Bio:

This article is contributed by John from iMoney Philippines, the country’s premier financial comparison site. We aspire to provide up-to-date information on various financial products as well as practical money saving insights to the benefit of the common Filipino.