Personal Finance Tips

EastWest Credit Card Review: Features, Fees, and How to Apply

Michelle Alyssa

31.12.25

Read time 5 minutes

EastWest¹ has a full range of credit cards to suit different customer needs, including travel, cash back and rewards cards.

This EastWest credit card review covers the key card products for travellers, and how to redeem EastWest credit card points on trips abroad. You can also learn more about the Wise card, an easy way to stretch your pesos when paying in foreign currencies.

What is an EastWest Credit Card?

EastWest is a popular bank with a broad range of services, including travel, cashback and reward credit cards².

Travel credit cards - which we’ll look at in this guide - tend to be optimized for frequent travellers, with perks like airmiles, insurance and lounge access. Other options include cash back cards which repay you a percentage of your spending monthly, or reward cards which can earn points to redeem as gifts and vouchers.

We’ll cover EastWest credit card points conversion later, to help you decide which card is the best fit for you.

What to consider when choosing an EastWest Credit Card?

Before you make your EastWest credit card application it’s worth comparing a few cards to make sure you’re picking the best one for your spending habits. Some things to consider include:

Minimum income requirements: All banks will assess your credit worthiness before offering you a credit card, and to decide on your credit limit. This may mean meeting minimum income requirements and proving a stable source of income.

Annual fees: If your card has annual fees, these will apply even if you seldom use the card for spending. Some cards offer annual fee waivers, which can bring down your overall costs if you need a card for occasional use only.

Foreign transaction fees: While travel credit cards usually reward overseas spending with points or miles, you’ll also pay a foreign transaction fee when you spend internationally. EastWest foreign transaction fees on travel cards run from 1.7% - 2.5%.

Other perks and benefits: Look at how your card earns you rewards, and what the conversion rates are for the benefits you might choose. Your card may also offer lounge access, travel insurance and other travel friendly features.

Best EastWest Credit Cards for travel

Let’s look more closely at the 5 travel cards EastWest bank offers:

Card	Annual fee	Reward rate	Foreign transaction fee
Priority Visa Infinite³	No annual fee (Priority customers only)	1 Infinite Rewards Point for every 10 PHP spent	1.7%
Platinum Mastercard⁴	No annual fee	1 Platinum Rewards Point for every 40 PHP spend	2.5%
JCB Platinum⁵	3,500 PHP	1 Rewards Point per 100 PHP spent	2%
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer World Mastercard⁶	5,000 PHP	Up to 1 KrisFlyer Mile per 12 PHP spend on select categories	1.7%
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Platinum Mastercard⁷	4,000 PHP	Up to 1 KrisFlyer Mile per 15 PHP spend on select categories	1.7%

*Details correct at time of research - 12th December 2025

Priority Visa Infinite - Best for Priority customers looking for no annual fee

The Priority Visa Infinite is for members of the EastWest exclusive Priority club only. The card has no annual fee to pay, and offers rewards you can trade for air miles and other perks. You also benefit from Priority Pass membership, which lets you get into airport lounges up to 6 times/year for free when you travel.

No annual fee
Low foreign transaction fee
Complimentary travel insurance
Up to 10,000 PHP in welcome bonus

Miles earn rate: 1 Infinite Rewards Point for every 10 PHP spent
Foreign transaction fees: 1.7%
Overseas ATM withdrawal fees: 200 PHP + foreign transaction fee + interest

Platinum Mastercard - Best for no annual fees, with lounge access and insurance

The annual fees for the Platinum Mastercard have been waived. Your card also offers travel insurance cover, Priority Pass membership for airport lounge access at a lower than usual cost, and Platinum Rewards you can trade for premium rewards from select partner establishments.

Lifetime free membership - no annual fee
Earn rewards as you spend
Up to 20 million PHP insurance included
Access airport lounges for 27 USD/person, with free visits for high spenders

Miles earn rate: 1 Platinum Rewards Point for every 40 PHP spend
Foreign transaction fees: 2.5%
Overseas ATM withdrawal fees: 200 PHP + foreign transaction fee + interest

JCB Platinum - Best for frequent travellers to Japan

The JCB Platinum card has some offers which might suit frequent travellers to Japan, including entry to JCB Airport Lounges in Japan and Hawaii, and JCB Plaza Lounges located in major shopping areas. There’s an annual fee of 3,500 PHP which is waived in year one, allowing you to test out the card and its perks without the extra cost.

No annual fee in year one, or for your first supplementary card
Complimentary comprehensive travel accident and inconvenience insurance
Entry to JCB lounges
Rewards can be redeemed as airline miles, cash rebate, or annual membership fee waiver

Miles earn rate: 1 Rewards Point per 100 PHP spent
Foreign transaction fees: 2%
Overseas ATM withdrawal fees: 200 PHP + foreign transaction fee + interest

Singapore Airlines Krisflyer World Mastercard - Best for high Krisflyer miles earning

The Singapore Airlines Krisflyer World Mastercard has a fairly high annual fee at 5,000 PHP but offers a fast reward earning opportunity on SIA spending, travel and when you’re abroad. You’ll also get up to 10 complimentary airport lounge entries per year, and a relatively low foreign transaction fee when you spend overseas.

Miles earn rate: 1 KrisFlyer Mile per 12 PHP spend on Singapore Airlines, travel and overseas, 1 mile per 38 PHP spend on other airlines, ecommerce and dining, and 1 mile per 78 PHP spend on everything else
Foreign transaction fees: 1.7%
Overseas ATM withdrawal fees: 200 PHP + foreign transaction fee + interest

Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Platinum Mastercard - Best for Mastercard travel and lifestyle perks

The Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Platinum Mastercard offers a range of travel and lifestyle perks, including promotional prices on hotel stays, and higher reward earning opportunities when you travel and spend abroad. There’s an annual fee of 4,000 PHP.

Earn Krisflyer rewards directly with no need to convert
Low foreign transaction fee
No fee for first supplementary card
Travel insurance included

Miles earn rate: 1 KrisFlyer Mile per 15 PHP spend on Singapore Airlines, travel and overseas, 1 mile per 45 PHP spend on other airlines, ecommerce and dining, and 1 mile per 88 PHP spend on everything else
Foreign transaction fees: 1.7%
Overseas ATM withdrawal fees: 200 PHP + foreign transaction fee + interest

Understanding EastWest’s rewards and miles conversion rates

It’s important to know how to use EastWest credit card points, so you can make the most out of your card.

EastWest credit card points conversion methods depend on the card you select. Some cards allow you to earn EastWest reward points which you can then convert to airmiles, redeem as gifts or spend with partner merchants. The Krisflyer branded cards allow you to earn Krisflyer miles directly with no need to convert - a hassle free option if you know you’ll want to spend your points on miles anyway.

You can learn about how to redeem EastWest credit card points on the EastWest landing page for your specific card type. For example with the JCB Platinum card you can redeem points for Mabuhay Miles, Asia Miles, a cash rebate or annual fee waiver⁸.

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

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.

💳 Get your Wise card today

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How to apply for EastWest credit card

You can apply for an EastWest credit card online following the ESTA Chatbot’s prompts. Just tap the ‘Apply now’ option on the EastWest website. You’ll need a government issued form of ID with you when you apply.

How to activate EastWest credit card
Activate your EastWest card by calling EastWest on (02) 8888-1700, or by following the activation instructions sent via SMS. You can also get help from ESTA, EastWest’s Chatbot.

How to pay EastWest credit card
Pay your EastWest credit card bill in an EastWest store or ATM, a BDO bank, using GCash or Maya, or at SM Bills Payment Centers⁹.

Sources:

*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.

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