Moneymax Reviews: Comparing AUB’s Budget-Tier Credit Cards

Looking for affordable credit card options? Asia United Bank (AUB) offers a few cards that can go perfectly with your lifestyle.

In this AUB credit card review, we’re pitting two of the bank's basic cards against each other. In the white corner, we have the AUB Easy Mastercard. In the red corner, we have the AUB Classic Mastercard.

Let’s take an in-depth look at these competing AUB credit cards.

AUB Credit Card Review: Should You Go Easy or Go Classic?

Before we start with our AUB credit card review, let’s check out the key features of both cards. On paper, they have the same features—you can even easily mistake one for the other!

Take note of these before you apply for an AUB credit card:

• Annual fee: No annual fees for life
• Interest rate: 3%
• Minimum monthly income requirement: ₱21,000
• Late payment fee:
  • Weekly payment: ₱250
  • Semi-monthly payment: ₱500 
  • Monthly payment: ₱1,000 or the unpaid minimum amount due, whichever is lower
• Foreign transaction fee: 1.5% service fee added to the sum of peso conversion and Mastercard fees
• Card replacement fee: ₱500

Read on for a more in-depth review of each card.

AUB Easy Mastercard Review

True to its name, the AUB Easy Mastercard makes owning a credit card a lot easier, especially for first-time cardholders. It’s one of the most unique credit cards out there, thanks to the freedom it provides when it comes to payments.

With an AUB Easy card, you can choose how many times to pay every month. You can choose to pay once a month, twice a month, or weekly. This gives you enough leeway to budget your payments or slowly clear out your credit card balance without going over the limit.

You can also choose exactly when to pay your credit card dues. Here are your choices:

• For monthly payments, choose your due date from the 1st to the 30th day of the month
• For bi-monthly payments, choose from the 15 payment due dates below:
  • 1st and 16th
  • 2nd and 17th
  • 3rd and 18th
  • 4th and 19th
  • 5th and 20th
  • 6th and 21st
  • 7th and 22nd
  • 8th and 23rd
  • 9th and 24th
  • 10th and 25th
  • 11th and 26th
  • 12th and 27th
  • 13th and 28th
  • 14th and 29th
  • 15th and 30th
• For weekly payments, choose any day of the week as your due date

Most importantly, you can choose the exact amount you want to pay. The following amount options will be the minimum amount due in your statement:

• For monthly payments, choose any of the following amounts as your minimum amount due:
  • ₱750
  • ₱800
  • ₱1,000
  • ₱1,500
  • ₱2,000
  • ₱2,500
  • ₱3,000
• For bi-monthly payments, choose any of the following amounts as your minimum amount due:
  • ₱500
  • ₱1,000
  • ₱1,500
• For weekly payments, choose any of the following amounts as your minimum amount due:
  • ₱250
  • ₱500
  • ₱750

Want to give the AUB Easy Mastercard a try? Here’s a quick recap of some of its most important features:

AUB Classic Mastercard Review

Just like its counterpart, the AUB Classic Mastercard aims to make credit card payments more convenient. It has the same payment schedule options as the AUB Easy Mastercard. The catch is that it has a higher minimum amount due options.

• For monthly payments, choose any of these as your minimum amount due:
  • ₱4,000
  • ₱5,000
  • ₱6,000
  • ₱7,000
  • ₱8,000
  • ₱9,000
• For bi-monthly payments, choose any of these as your minimum amount due:
  • ₱2,000
  • ₱2,500
  • ₱3,000
  • ₱3,500
  • ₱4,000
  • ₱4,500
• For weekly payments, choose any of these as your minimum amount due:
  • ₱1,000
  • ₱1,250
  • ₱1,500
  • ₱1,750
  • ₱2,000
  • ₱2,250

You can enroll supplementary cards to your AUB Classic Mastercard—with no annual fees too! That’s the added benefit of choosing the more expensive AUB Mastercard.

Considering getting the AUB Classic Mastercard? Check out this quick rundown of some of its features:

What Other Perks Can I Enjoy with My AUB Mastercard?

Whether you choose the AUB Easy Mastercard or the AUB Classic Mastercard, you’ll get the perks and benefits listed below. And mind you, these aren’t anything to scoff at!

✔️ No Annual Fees for Life

There’s no need to worry about annual fees because both cards don’t have any. That’s right, no annual fees for life! That’s already a lot better than other credit cards that only waive fees for the first year.

✔️ No Interest for New Purchases

And what’s more, AUB credit cards don’t charge interest on purchases made after the statement cutoff.^[1] So if you've already paid your previous minimum amount due, your next purchase after that won’t incur additional interest. Now that’s an incentive to pay your credit card bills on time!

✔️ Generous Rewards Program

Frequent travelers will surely get a kick out of AUB’s rewards program,^[2] because you can easily earn one non-expiring rewards point for every ₱50 spend. Convert your points to AirAsia Big rewards, eGift and Panda Travel vouchers, and even cash rebates.

✔️ Wide Acceptance at Over 5,000 Payment Channels

Shop from international stores online by linking your AUB Easy or Classic Mastercard for top-up transactions on your Alipay or Paypal account. Over 5,000 payment channels nationwide accept AUB credit cards, so you can easily shop locally.

AUB Easy and Classic Mastercard Alternatives

While the AUB Easy and Classic Mastercard are perfectly viable options, let’s look at the alternatives:

💳 UnionBank Rewards Credit Card

Want a credit card that offers more rewards? With the UnionBank Rewards Credit Card, earn one non-expiring point for every ₱30 spend and 3x points when you shop and dine here and abroad. Enjoy waived annual fees if you apply and get approved until August 31, 2023.

Read more: How to Apply for a UnionBank Credit Card in 3 Easy Steps

💳 Metrobank Titanium Mastercard^®

If you're a frequent shopper, use the Metrobank Titanium Mastercard^® to earn one point with every ₱20 spend and 2x points on online, dining, and department store purchases. Apply for this card until December 31, 2023, and meet the spending requirement of ₱180,000 to enjoy no annual fees. 

Read more: Metrobank Credit Card Application: Eligibility, Requirements, and More

💳 HSBC Red Mastercard

If you want rewards and cashback and don’t mind paying annual fees, check out the HSBC Red Mastercard. For only ₱2,500 per year, get 4x bonus points on online, shopping, dining, and overseas transactions; and up to 6% rebate on fuel purchases.

Read more: A First-Timer’s Guide to HSBC Credit Card Application

💳 Security Bank Gold Mastercard

Want access to exclusive promos from partner merchants and establishments? Earn one point for every ₱20 spend and redeem your favorite rewards. The Security Bank Gold Mastercard also offers waived annual fees for the first year. 

Read more: How to Apply and Get Approved for a Security Bank Credit Card

💳 BPI Blue Mastercard

Just looking for a fuss-free, everyday card for your purchases? With the BPI Blue Mastercard, avail of flexible installment plans with terms of up to 36 months. As a bonus, enjoy waived annual fees on your first year! 

💳 PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard

Got your heart set on a credit card with no annual fees forever? PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard offers that and more: zero annual fees for life on principal and supplementary cards, plus no late payment or overlimit fees! 

💳 Metrobank M Free Mastercard

The Metrobank M Free Mastercard also offers no annual fees for life. It has a lower monthly income requirement of ₱15,000, making it ideal for first-time cardholders looking for a low-maintenance credit card for their online shopping sprees.

💳 AUB Gold and Platinum Mastercard

If you just want a premium AUB credit card, consider upgrading to the AUB Gold or Platinum Mastercard. It comes with no annual fees, plus extra perks like free airport lounge access. You should be earning at least ₱50,000 a month to qualify for any of these cards.

Here's a quick comparison of all AUB cards:

Credit Card	Key Features
AUB Easy Mastercard	No annual fees forever 0% interest on new purchases Flexible payment schedule More minimum amount due options Rewards rate: ₱50/spend
AUB Classic Mastercard	No annual fees forever 0% interest on new purchases Flexible payment schedule Rewards rate: ₱50/spend
AUB Gold Mastercard	No annual fees forever 0% interest on new purchases Flexible payment schedule Unlimited supplementary cards with no annual fees Rewards rate: ₱50/point
AUB Platinum Mastercard	No annual fees forever 0% interest on new purchases Flexible payment schedule Unlimited supplementary cards with no annual fees Complimentary airport lounge access Rewards rate: ₱50/point

Read more: Need a Card? Here’s a Guide to Credit Card Online Application

Final Thoughts

There you have it—two of AUB’s budget-friendly cards. Did this AUB credit card review convince you to get either the Easy or Classic Mastercard?

Finding the right credit card takes time and effort. Make sure to weigh each card's pros and cons before you decide on one! 

Sources:

• ^[1] AUB No Interest on New Purchases
• ^[2] AUB Credit Card Features and Benefits