CIMB World Mastercard Review: Unlimited 2% Cashback With a Hint of Luxury

An unlimited 2% cashback card with no annual fee? CIMB’s World Mastercard wants to spoil you — if you spend in the right places.

Cashback credit cards are a staple in many Singaporeans’ wallets, but most come with caps, exclusions, or high fees. The CIMB World Mastercard turns that on its head, offering unlimited 2% cashback in popular lifestyle categories like dining, ride-hailing, and digital entertainment — all without charging an annual fee.

But is this too good to be true? While the perks are clear, the benefits only kick in with consistent monthly spending. In this 2025 review, we break down how the card works, who it's best for, how it compares to other cashback cards, and whether it’s a match for your spending habits.

The CIMB World Mastercard is designed to reward you for spending on the finer things in life. This card offers one of the rarest perks in the cashback world — unlimited 2% cashback, to specific categories including dining, online food delivery, digital entertainment, ride-hailing, taxis, petrol, and luxury goods. Other spending earns a modest 1% cashback — and you must spend at least S$1,000 per month to unlock the higher rate. Still, with no annual fee and some travel perks thrown in, it’s a compelling card for savvy lifestyle spenders.

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The CIMB World Mastercard is designed for cardholders who value straightforward cashback with no annual fees. Cardholders can enjoy up to 10% cashback on a generous range of spend categories including online shopping, groceries, beauty and wellness, pet care, and cruise transactions — perfect for families, working professionals, and pet parents alike.

Beyond cashback, it also comes with complimentary travel insurance, no fees for supplementary cards, and no annual fee for life. The catch? Cashback is capped monthly, and you’ll need to hit a minimum monthly spend to unlock the full benefits.

#1 Unlimited cashback on selected categories… at a price

The biggest draw of the CIMB World Mastercard is the unlimited 2% cashback on curated lifestyle categories — but there’s a catch. You’ll need to spend at least S$1,000 each month to unlock the higher cashback tier. Otherwise, you’re only getting 1%.

Dining & online food delivery
Perfect for foodies who regularly dine out or order in via Deliveroo, Foodpanda, or GrabFood.

Think Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, and even YouTube — a great fit if you’re subscribed to multiple streaming platforms.

For those who shop high-end, cashback includes premium retailers such as Chanel, Prada, and selected boutiques — rare coverage for a cashback card.

#2 No annual fees and free supplementary cards

The CIMB World Mastercard is refreshingly light on fees. There’s no annual fee for both principal and supplementary cards — not just for the first year, but for life. This makes it an ideal low-maintenance card to keep even if you’re not spending heavily every month.

#3 Exclusive golfing & travel privileges

The card also appeals to those who value lifestyle perks. Enjoy 50% off green fees/golf lessons at the choice locations, and 50% off golf lessons at Golf Performance 360 Golf Academy — niche but potentially valuable.

This card is ideal for:

1. Working professionals who consistently spend over S$1,000 per month on dining, entertainment, and transport

2. Frequent riders and drivers who spend heavily on taxis, ride-hailing, or petrol

3. Luxury shoppers who want to earn cashback without complex rewards programmes

However, this card may not suit:

1. Students or fresh grads with low monthly spend or income

2. Budget-conscious users looking for cashback on everyday categories like groceries
   Travel-heavy users seeking rewards in miles rather than cashback

Up to 31 July 2025, CIMB is offering a welcome promotion for new principal cardholders of the CIMB World Mastercard, CIMB Visa Signature, or CIMB Visa Infinite cards. This promotion is valid for applications submitted between 1 January and 31 July 2025. T&Cs apply.

Here's how you can earn up to S$188 cashback:

• Step 1: Activate your new card and spend a minimum of S$108 on eligible retail or online transactions within the first 30 days from the card approval date to receive S$88 cashback.

• Step 2: Increase your total eligible spending to at least S$988 within 60 days from the card approval date to earn an additional S$100 cashback.

There’s no shortage of cashback credit cards in Singapore, so how does the CIMB World Mastercard stack up against the competition in 2025?

Its unlimited 2% cashback on specific lifestyle categories is among the highest in the market — especially when paired with zero annual fees. However, that value only kicks in if you hit a minimum spend of S$1,000 each month. If you’re looking for a card that rewards all spending categories (even modest ones), other cards might suit you better.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how the CIMB World Mastercard fares against other popular cashback cards in Singapore:

Comparison to other cashback credit cards

UOB Absolute Cashback Card

The UOB Absolute Cashback Card offers a simple, no-strings-attached 1.7% cashback on virtually every spend category — including insurance, school fees, and government services when used via payment platforms like CardUp. That’s a major plus for users with varied or hard-to-categorise spending. However, it charges an annual fee after the first year unless waived. The CIMB World Mastercard, on the other hand, gives a higher 2% cashback but only for select lifestyle categories and only when you spend S$1,000/month. If your spending is focused on food, petrol, and entertainment, CIMB offers more value — for free.

Citi Cash Back+

Citi’s Cash Back+ card provides 1.6% cashback across all spending without caps or category exclusions. It’s a good fit for those who want hassle-free rewards without tracking spend categories. However, CIMB World Mastercard goes further with 2% cashback in lifestyle categories — making it more rewarding if your spend is concentrated there. That said, Citi’s card may be better if your monthly spend is inconsistent or lower than S$1,000.

Maybank FC Barcelona Card

Maybank’s FC Barcelona Card offers tiered cashback ranging from 0.4% to 1.6% depending on your monthly spend. While it includes some lifestyle categories and football-themed perks, its maximum cashback still falls short of CIMB’s 2% — and it comes with an annual fee. CIMB is again the better option for high-spenders in its reward categories, and its free-for-life structure gives it a long-term advantage.

Applying for the CIMB World Mastercard is simple and fully digital. Here’s how to do it:

1. Visit the CIMB Singapore website and navigate to the credit cards section.

2. Select the CIMB World Mastercard and click on “Apply Now.”

3. Log in via Singpass MyInfo for a quicker, paperless application.

4. Submit your income documents if required (especially for foreigners or self-employed individuals).

5. You’ll receive a confirmation email, and your application will be processed within 1–2 weeks.

Once approved, your card will be mailed to your registered address. Activation can be done via the CIMB Clicks app or online banking.