Chinabank Freedom Credit Card Review: Fees, Benefits and Eligibility

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Chinabank is a leading bank in the Philippines¹, offering a range of services and cards depending on your needs. One popular credit card is the Chinabank Freedom Mastercard. This allows you to earn Rewards Points whilst shopping in-person or online, which can be redeemed for a variety of perks².

This article will guide you through the details of the Chinabank Freedom Mastercard, including its perks, drawbacks and eligibility requirements, to help you decide whether it is the correct choice for you. We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

What is the Chinabank Freedom Credit Card?

The Chinabank Freedom Credit Card is a straightforward rewards card designed for everyday spending in the Philippines. It offers a perpetual annual fee waiver and lets you earn Rewards Points on eligible purchases.

This card is best suited to Filipinos who live and work in the Philippines and want a simple, low-maintenance credit card with basic rewards. Chinabank also offers other cards, such as the Chinabank Platinum Credit Card, which come with different features and eligibility requirements.

Before applying, it’s important to understand the card’s eligibility criteria, fees, and charges, which we’ll cover below.

If you also use e-wallets, you may find our guide on how to transfer money from Chinabank to GCash helpful, as it explains available transfer options, fees, and processing times.

Chinabank Freedom credit card eligibility requirements

There are several requirements for the Chinabank Freedom Credit Card. In order to qualify, you’ll need to³:

• Be between 21 and 65 years old
• Be the principal cardholder for a credit card with another bank, for at least 12 months
• Be a Filipino citizen, or work and reside permanently in the Philippines
• Be a regular employee, or self-employed, with a business which has operated legally in the Philippines for at least two years
• Have a gross annual income of at least 250,000 PHP

You’ll also need a valid email address, mobile number and landline number, as well as a valid government-issued photo ID and a signature.

If you aren’t currently eligible for a Freedom Credit Card, you may be eligible for a Secured Credit Card. This card is offered by Chinabank for those who are looking to build their credit history, which allows you to access credit established by a security deposit⁴.

Chinabank Freedom credit card fees and charges

Before you apply for a Chinabank Freedom Credit Card, make sure to understand the fees and charges associated with the account. Different transactions are subject to different fees, which means that how much you are charged will be impacted by how you use your card. Some of the charges for the freedom credit card are⁵:

All fees are correct as of 15th December 2025.

*This also applies to PHP transactions processed by foreign acquirers

You may also incur fees for other services provided as part of your account, such as a card upgrade or downgrade fee, and a temporary increase in your credit limit. To avoid unexpected charges, read through Chinabank’s list of fees and charges, and make note of any other fees that might apply to you. Consider the cumulative effect of fees, as these can add up rapidly.

Chinabank Freedom card benefits and features

The Chinabank Freedom Credit Card includes several standard features commonly found on everyday credit cards.

Cardholders receive both a physical card and a virtual credit card⁶, which can be used for online transactions. Statements are provided through paperless billing⁷, and account information can be accessed digitally at any time, allowing users to monitor spending and balances without visiting a branch.

A supplementary card⁸ can also be issued for another person. All cards share a single credit limit, though individual monthly spending limits can be set for each cardholder.

In terms of security, the card supports SMS transaction alerts⁹ and 3D Secure authentication for participating online merchants, which helps reduce the risk of unauthorised use.

How to earn Rewards Points

With a Chinabank Freedom Credit Card, you earn 1 Rewards Point for every 30PHP spent with your card.

You can redeem these points for airmiles with a range of providers, or receive cash credits. Alternatively, you can cash in for e-vouchers with a range of companies.

Rewards points conversion and redemption

Chinabank partners with several airlines, allowing you to redeem your Rewards Points for airmiles with a variety of providers. Different providers require a different number of points to be redeemed for miles. The table below gives an overview of what is offered by different carriers.

Chinabank also partners with other airlines, which allow the holders of other Chinabank credit cards to redeem their points for airmiles, but this is not an option for holders of the Chinabank Freedom Credit Card. Different credit cards also require different numbers of points to redeem airmiles. As a result, it may be worth considering your eligibility for a range of cards, and choosing the one which will allow you to redeem the most rewards, whilst keeping fees low.

You can also redeem your Rewards Points for cash credits. 25,000 Rewards Points can be redeemed for 500 PHP. When redeeming your Rewards Points, you’ll need to call the Chinabank customer hotline, or email creditcards@chinabank.ph. Make sure to provide any information needed for your specific redemption, such as relevant airline membership information to redeem airmiles.

Remember to bring along the Wise card - To worry less about additional fees and focus more on your travel experiences

The Chinabank Freedom Credit Card is designed for everyday spending in the Philippines, but overseas transactions incur a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, including some PHP transactions processed by foreign acquirers. Over time, these fees can add up.

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including USD, SGD, GBP, and JPY so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up PHP to get started.

A physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 369.60 PHP. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP each month, before low fees start.

While abroad, you can choose to spend directly in PHP and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.57%.

Save while you spend, and make overseas spending seamless with a Wise card.

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1. Chinabank - About Us
2. Chinabank - Freedom Credit Card
3. Chinabank - Credit card eligibility requirements
4. Chinabank - Secured Credit Card
5. Chinabank - Credit card fees and charges
6. Chinabank - Credit card features: virtual card
7. Chinabank - Credit card features: paperless billing
8. Chinabank - Credit card features: supplementary cards
9. Chinabank - Credit card features: security features
10. Chinabank - Credit card rewards: Mahabuy Miles
11. Chinabank - Credit card rewards: Asia Miles
12. Chinabank - Credit card rewards: Krisflyer
13. Chinabank - Credit card rewards: Air Asia