Personal Finance

Maybank MAE card review - a great multi-currency debit card in Malaysia?

Hannes Ausmees

19.01.26 (last updated)

Read time 6 minutes

MAE1 is Maybank’s e-wallet - a popular way to manage your money on the move, with features for budgeting, saving, splitting bills, sending payments and more. As well as using MAE to keep on top of your day to day finances, you can get a linked MAE card² for spending and withdrawals at home and abroad.

This Maybank MAE card review runs through all there is to know about the MAE card including the MAE virtual card option - and we’ll also compare it to a couple of other popular card options from BigPay and Wise to help you decide which suits you best.

Table of contents
What is the MAE card? MAE card vs Maybank debit card MAE card fees, exchange rates and limits Debit card comparison - MAE card vs BigPay vs Wise card How to apply for the MAE card Summary

What is the MAE card by Maybank and what are the benefits?

Before we move on to how to use the MAE card, let’s take a look at the MAE card from Maybank’s benefits.

Order your MAE visa debit card via the MAE app for delivery to your home address
Get a MAE virtual card to use online or with a mobile wallet
Spend and make withdrawals in Malaysia and overseas
Freeze and unfreeze your MAE card in the app for security
Get a full MAE account overview in the app so you can always see where your money is going
Use MAE to budget and save - spending is automatically categorised and tracked

There’s a fee of RM8 to get your MAE debit card, and then an ongoing charge of RM8 a year³. There’s a default spending limit set to RM3,000 per transaction - but you can alter your limits within the MAE app, up to a maximum spend of RM10,000 per month.

You can use your MAE card internationally, but it’s useful to know that you have to activate the card specifically for overseas use before you can make foreign currency payments. Enter the dates of your travel in the MAE app to make sure you can use your card overseas without any hassle.

MAE card vs Maybank debit card - what’s the difference?

The MAE card is linked specifically to the MAE e-wallet. However, Maybank also offers a selection of other debit and credit cards which may be attached to different account types.

MAE accounts can be opened by new and existing Maybank customers simply by downloading the MAE app, entering your personal details, and uploading an image of your ID documents. You’ll then be able to top up your account and order a MAE card for convenient spending and withdrawals.

MAE card annual fee, exchange rates and limits

While it’s free to get a MAE account, there are a couple of different charges you’ll want to be aware of. Here are the key costs to consider:

Transaction	MAE fee⁴
Open MAE account	No fee
Add funds to MAE account	No fee
Debit card annual fee	RM8
Replacement card fee	RM12
Over the counter top up fee	RM5 (waived until further notice)
Duplicate statement fee	RM10 - RM20 + RM1 per page
Send transfers	No fee for standard transfers to a bank account DuitNow transfers incur a fee of RM10

There are also MAE and MAE card limits you’ll need to consider.

MAE account/transaction type	MAE limit
Maximum MAE account balance	RM4,999 for standard accounts - if you have a MAE card, your maximum balance is upgraded to RM10,000
Maximum monthly transactions	RM5,000 for standard accounts - if you have a MAE card, your maximum monthly spending limit is upgraded to RM10,000
Maximum annual transactions	RM60,000 - if you have a MAE card, your maximum annual spending limit is upgraded to RM120,000
Top up limits	Minimum top up amount RM10 Mobile top up maximum RM500/day

MAE exchange rate

You can use your MAE card internationally for spending and withdrawals. However, as your MAE account is designed to hold MYR, your funds will need to be converted to the currency you need when you make international payments. The currency exchange rate will be determined by the card network - in this case, Visa. That means you won’t necessarily see the exact rate being used to switch your funds until after the purchase has already been completed.

While the foreign exchange rates used by Visa are generally pretty fair, they won’t necessarily be the very best out there. You may find there’s an extra fee added into the rate, which means your international purchases cost more than you expect.

It’s also worth noting that if you use the MAE scan and pay function to spend in a foreign currency, your money will be converted using the exchange rate set by Maybank’s partner organisation, plus a margin.

Debit card comparison - MAE card vs BigPay vs Wise card

MAE by Maybank is a helpful tool for managing your money on the move - but it’s not the only option. Here’s a quick comparison of the MAE card against a couple of other popular e wallets and cards - BigPay and Wise.

Feature	MAE Card	BigPay Card⁶	Wise card
Eligibility	Malaysian citizen or foreigners	Malaysian citizen, residents, or foreigners	Wise accounts are available in many regions globally
Account service fee	Account is free to open, but there’s an annual card fee of RM8	RM2.50/month for inactive accounts - fee waived at time of research⁷	No fee
Currencies available	MYR	MYR	40+
Exchange rate	Exchange rate will be determined by Maybank, Visa or Maybank’s payment partner, and is likely to include a markup	Mastercard or Visa exchange rate	Mid-market exchange rate
Send international bank payments to	Availability depends on your account status - if you step up to a full Maybank account you’ll be able to send payments internationally via Maybank2u⁵ If you have a MAE account only you may only be able to make payments to Cambodia	45+ countries, including the UK, the EU, China, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal	80+ countries around the world
International bank payments - fees	Varies by payment type	RM0.5 - RM22 depending on market	Low, transparent fee based on destination
Local account details to get paid into account from abroad	No	No	Yes - bank details to get paid fee free from 30+ countries
ATM withdrawal charges	No fee for first 4 local Maybank ATMs	RM6 in Malaysia; RM10 overseas	Up to RM1,000/month fee free
Foreign transaction fee	Fees may apply depending on the payment type	Up to 0.5% + network charges	Free to spend any currency you hold in your account Currency conversion from 0.41%

_Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

The Maybank MAE account and card has some handy features, like an automatic top up option, and great ways to track and categorise spending. However, it’s not necessarily the best option for making international payments, and you won’t be able to hold any currency other than ringgit in your account.

If you transact internationally often, you could be better off with the Wise Account and card, to spend in 150+ countries. Use your Wise account to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and get paid fee free like a local from 30+ countries. You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate every time, with no ongoing charges or minimum balance to worry about.

Check out the Wise Account, to manage your money on the move in multiple currencies, and spend with your linked physical and virtual Wise card easily.

Wise-card

Order your Wise card today 💳

How to apply for the MAE card

Here’s how to get your MAE card once you have the app all set up:

Open the MAE app
Tap More, and then Apply
Select Cards and tap MAE card
Enter your delivery details for the physical card

As well as a physical MAE card which is delivered to your home you can also get a MAE virtual card which you can use for online spending, and link to a mobile wallet like Samsung Pay.

How to track the MAE card delivery

If you’re wondering how long it’ll take for MAE card delivery you’ll be pleased to know cards usually arrive in about 7 working days. There’s no tracking facility once the card has been mailed out, so Maybank request customers get in touch if a card has not arrived within 7 working days of being requested.

How to activate your MAE card

Once you have a physical MAE debit card you’ll be able to activate it via the MAE app.

Open the MAE app
Select Cards and then Activate now
Enter the activation code which comes with the card
Set a PIN for security

It’s also worth knowing that to use your MAE card internationally you’ll need to activate it for international use. You can do this in the MAE app by entering the dates you’ll be away.

Summary

MAE is a handy e-wallet for use within Malaysia, with the linked MAE card for in person spending and withdrawals. Get your MAE account for free in the MAE app, and order your linked debit card for 8 MYR. MAE will help you track, categorise and get an overview of all your spending - even when you’re out and about.

Compare the MAE card to a few other options, including the Wise Account and card, to see which e wallet works best for your needs.

Sources:

Learn more about Wise card benefits in Malaysia

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.