Author: Pauline Galeano

Avatar photo

Credit Card Expert Writer 📝 5 Years of Industry Insights 💳 Helping You Master Credit 💰 Passionate about Personal Finance 📊 She also covers local LA news. Share your feedbacks, questions and news at pauline@thewestnews.com

A New Way to Redeem KrisFlyer Miles On 1 November 2025, Singapore Airlines will add a new way to use KrisFlyer miles called Access awards. On the same day, the updated redemption charts will take effect. With Access awards, KrisFlyer members can use miles to secure confirmed seats immediately on Singapore Airlines flights. The number of miles needed depends on seat demand and seasonality, and can change throughout the year. How Access Awards Work Access is a new award type that joins Saver and Advantage options. It is only for flights operated by Singapore Airlines, not Scoot or partner airlines.…

Read More

The UOB Visa Signature is one of the oldest UOB cards. It launched in 2006 with a striking purple design. Today, it still offers one of the most versatile ways to earn miles in Singapore. You can earn 4 mpd on local and overseas spending, but the caps and minimum spend can trip you up if you are not careful. This card is no longer heavily promoted, but it still works well for those who want to earn miles quickly. It also pools points with other UOB cards, making redemptions easier. Changes to the Card Recent changes have affected how…

Read More

From now until 30 September 2025, new purchases of AMEX My Travel Insurance come with either a Samsonite luggage or up to S$150 eCapitaVouchers. Customers also receive S$5–20 in referral credits. American Express has refreshed the welcome gifts for its My Travel Insurance plans. Policyholders can now enjoy up to S$150 in eCapitaVouchers (eCV) or a Samsonite luggage when buying either a single-trip or annual plan. In addition, there is a referral bonus of S$5–20 in statement credits for purchases made through the referral programme. This is less generous than the previous referral offer, which provided up to 5,000 MR…

Read More

With 4 mpd on all foreign currency (FCY) spending and a wide range of bonus categories, the Maybank XL Rewards Card is an easy recommendation— as long as you’re under 40. This card offers 4 mpd on overseas spending, including education, hospitals, and utilities, plus bonus rates on dining, shopping, travel, and entertainment. Verdict ☑ Take It☐ Take It Or Leave It☐ Leave It Summary: With 4 mpd on FCY spend and multiple bonus categories, this card stands out— provided you’re not over 40. Pros Cons Overview: Maybank XL Rewards Card FeatureDetailsIncome RequirementS$30,000 p.a.Annual FeeS$87.20 (First 2 Years Waived)Supplementary FeeFreeLocal Earn0.4…

Read More

From now until 19 October 2025, new applicants for the HSBC Premier Mastercard can receive up to 106,200 bonus miles. This promotion is available to both new and existing HSBC cardholders, with no annual fee for those who qualify as HSBC Premier customers. The HSBC Premier Mastercard has recently seen several improvements. Enhancements include higher earn rates, unlimited airport lounge access for up to four cardholders, and double the complimentary airport limo rides, all without fees for Premier customers. These updated benefits take effect immediately, and HSBC has added a new welcome offer of up to 106,200 bonus miles. Both…

Read More

Should You Choose the Yendo Credit Card? What You Need to Know The Yendo credit card is a Mastercard that you can get by using your car as collateral. This option gives you access to a credit line of up to $10,000 without needing to make a cash deposit. When you check for pre-approval, Yendo does not run a hard credit pull, meaning no impact to your credit score. Instead of only looking at your credit history, Yendo also looks at your vehicle, your income, and your expenses. If you want to build credit but don’t want to pay a…

Read More

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a type of credit card rewards currency that you can earn with certain Chase credit cards. They give you access to some of the best airline and hotel transfer partners for redeeming points, making them extremely flexible and useful. You can also redeem Chase rewards points through the Chase Travel portal for things like flights, hotels, rental cars, tours, and more – all within a user-friendly platform. Even with growing competition from other programs (like Amex Membership Rewards or Citi ThankYou points), Chase Ultimate Rewards remains one of the most valuable transferable points currencies. Chase…

Read More

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are flexible. You can move them to different airline and hotel programs or use them to book travel directly. As of June 2025, TPG values them at 2.05 cents each. The best way to get that value is usually by using them for flights or hotels through transfer partners. You can also book travel in the Chase Travel℠ portal — flights, hotels, cars, cruises, and more. Other options, like gift cards or statement credits, are available but usually give you less value for each point. Best Ways to Redeem Points 1. Transfer to Airlines Moving points…

Read More

Why You Can Trust The West News + Independent editorial team 20,000+ credit data points reviewed 300+ financial products evaluated 10+ years in finance publishing Our team at The West News is committed to delivering accurate, unbiased information to help you make informed financial choices. We do not accept payment to influence our rankings. All ratings are based on in-depth analysis and real-world data. Read less ▲ “Guaranteed credit card approval is a myth.” In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, credit cards have become one of the most essential tools for managing your finances and making purchases conveniently. Or credit…

Read More

The sports betting industry has been gaining tremendous ground over the past few years, especially in the US, where the repeal of PASPA in 2018 opened the door for its legalization. That occurrence allowed the country’s top fantasy sports operators to get in on the betting side of things, teaming up with local land-based gambling entities to start offering wagering services in territories that have allowed this. At the time of writing, thirty-eight US states permit retail betting fun, and thirty of these will also enable the Internet. In 2025, the online betting realm is expected to pull in $77…

Read More