MariBank Invest Review Singapore 2026: SavePlus, Income, Gold & Equity Explained
Updated June 2026 · Digital Banks · 9 min read
MariBank Invest (Mari Invest) is Singapore’s first digital bank investment account, offering four curated investment products — SavePlus, Income, Gold, and Singapore Equity — all accessible from S$1 with zero transaction fees. Launched by MariBank (backed by Sea Group), it lets you invest directly within your banking app. SavePlus returned 1.80% p.a. over one year and Income returned 3.87% p.a. as at 30 April 2026, after fund manager fees. These are not savings accounts and are not insured by SDIC.
Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data as at June 2026 unless noted.
- Mari Invest has four products: SavePlus (low-risk fund growth), Income (monthly payouts from PIMCO), Gold (physical gold exposure), and Singapore Equity (local stocks). All start from S$1 with zero platform fees.
- Returns are competitive but not guaranteed — Income’s 3.87% 1-year return beats the Mari Savings Account rate (0.88% p.a.), but these are investment products, not bank deposits.
- Best used as a complement to your Mari Savings Account — keep your emergency fund in savings (SDIC-insured), and use Mari Invest for money you can leave invested for 1+ years.
What is MariBank Invest (Mari Invest)?
Mari Invest is the investment arm of MariBank Singapore — Singapore’s fastest-growing digital bank, backed by Sea Group (the parent company of Shopee). It’s marketed as “Singapore’s first digital bank investment account.”
Unlike a robo-advisor or brokerage, Mari Invest keeps everything inside your MariBank app. You don’t need a separate account or platform. You invest directly from your Mari Savings Account balance, and your holdings are visible alongside your deposits.
There are four investment products under the Mari Invest umbrella:
- Mari Invest SavePlus — growth-oriented, managed by Lion Global Investors
- Mari Invest Income — monthly income payouts, managed by PIMCO
- Mari Invest Gold — Singapore Physical Gold Fund, managed by Lion Global Investors
- Mari Invest Singapore Equity — Singapore stock exposure, managed by Lion Global Investors
All products share three core features: minimum investment of S$1, zero transaction fees charged by MariBank, and professional fund management by established institutions.
MariBank is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). However, Mari Invest products are not bank deposits and are not protected by SDIC deposit insurance. Your returns are not guaranteed and you may lose part or all of your investment.
The four Mari Invest products explained
1. Mari Invest SavePlus
SavePlus is MariBank’s lowest-risk investment option. It invests in the Lion-MariBank SavePlus Fund, a money market and short-duration bond fund managed by Lion Global Investors (LGI) — a major Singapore-based fund manager.
Think of SavePlus as a step up from a savings account. It’s not a savings account, and it’s not capital-guaranteed — but it targets relatively stable, low-volatility returns. As of 30 April 2026, the fund had returned 1.80% p.a. over one year and 2.80% p.a. since inception.
There are no lock-in periods. You can redeem your SavePlus investment and move funds back to your savings account at any time.
2. Mari Invest Income
Income is for investors who want regular cash payouts. It invests in the PIMCO GIS Income Fund Admin SGD Hedged (Inc), managed by PIMCO — one of the world’s largest fixed income investment managers.
Payouts are made monthly and are credited to your MariBank account. Importantly, payouts are not guaranteed and may be made from the fund’s capital (not just income) — which means your unit price could decline even if you receive payouts.
Performance as at 30 April 2026:
- 1-year return: 3.87% p.a.
- 3-year return: 4.62% p.a.
- 5-year return: 1.66% p.a.
- Since inception: 4.17% p.a.
The 5-year figure is lower because this period includes 2022’s aggressive rate hike cycle, which hit bond funds hard globally. The more recent 1-year and 3-year returns reflect a recovery.
3. Mari Invest Gold
Gold lets you invest in physical gold without needing a bullion dealer or separate gold account. It uses the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund Class MariBank SGD Hedged (Acc), launched in December 2025.
The SGD Hedged version means currency fluctuations between SGD and USD (gold is priced in USD) are hedged, reducing exchange rate risk. This is a growth (accumulating) fund — there are no regular payouts; returns come from price appreciation.
Gold has rallied significantly in 2025–2026 amid global macro uncertainty. However, gold is a volatile asset — its price can swing 10–20% in a given year. This product is better suited for investors who want gold as a diversifier in a broader portfolio, not as a primary income source.
4. Mari Invest Singapore Equity
The newest Mari Invest product focuses on Singapore equities. This gives you diversified exposure to Singapore-listed stocks through a professionally managed fund, again via Lion Global Investors.
Singapore’s stock market (SGX) is well-known for dividend-paying blue-chip companies like DBS, OCBC, UOB, and Singtel. A Singapore equity fund captures this dividend income plus capital growth potential. If you’re interested in S-REITs specifically, this may include REIT exposure depending on the fund composition.
Returns and performance data
Here’s how the Mari Invest products compare on returns, based on official MariBank data as at 30 April 2026:
| Product | 1-Year Return | Since Inception | Fund Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| SavePlus | 1.80% p.a. | 2.80% p.a. | Lion Global Investors |
| Income | 3.87% p.a. | 4.17% p.a. | PIMCO |
| Gold | N/A (Dec 2025 launch) | ~10–15% (gold rally)* | Lion Global Investors |
| Singapore Equity | New product | — | Lion Global Investors |
Source: MariBank website, Lion Global Investors, PIMCO. As at 30 April 2026. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. *Gold estimate based on gold price movement since Dec 2025 fund launch; SGD-hedged version may vary.
Source: MariBank website, Lion Global Investors, PIMCO. As at 30 April 2026. After fund manager fees, zero MariBank platform fees.
A few important caveats on these numbers:
- Returns after fund manager fees only. MariBank charges no additional platform or transaction fees.
- Not guaranteed. These are historical returns. The next 12 months could be better or worse.
- Income payouts may include return of capital. The PIMCO fund may pay out capital as income — which doesn’t represent a real return but reduces your principal.
- Gold and SG Equity are new. There isn’t enough track record to draw conclusions yet.
Fees: what does it actually cost?
This is one of Mari Invest’s strongest selling points. MariBank charges zero transaction fees and zero platform fees for all four investment products. There are no subscription charges, redemption fees, or switching costs.
The only fees you pay are the underlying fund manager’s ongoing charges, which are already reflected in the fund’s unit price and performance figures. You don’t see these as a separate line item — they’re baked into the returns shown.
| Fee Type | MariBank Charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription / Transaction fee | 0% | No charge to buy |
| Redemption fee | 0% | No charge to sell |
| Platform / Admin fee | 0% | No ongoing MariBank charge |
| Fund manager ongoing fees | Varies by fund | Already deducted from returns shown |
Source: MariBank website, June 2026. Platform fees apply to MariBank’s charges only; underlying fund manager fees are separate.
For context, a traditional bank’s unit trust platform might charge 1.5–2% upfront subscription fees. Zero transaction fees is a genuine competitive advantage here — especially for regular, small-amount investing.
If you’re already using Endowus or Syfe for your investment needs, note that those platforms also offer zero-commission fund investing and a wider fund selection. Mari Invest’s edge is convenience — it’s already inside your banking app.
Mari Invest vs Mari Savings Account
Many MariBank users wonder whether they should keep their money in the Mari Savings Account (0.88% p.a., SDIC-insured, no conditions) or move it to Mari Invest for potentially higher returns. Here’s how to think about it:
Source: MariBank website, June 2026. All figures as stated; past returns not indicative of future performance.
Keep money in savings if:
- It’s your emergency fund — 3–6 months of expenses that you must not lose.
- You need access to it within days without any risk of capital loss.
- You prioritise SDIC insurance coverage (up to S$100,000 per depositor per bank).
Consider Mari Invest if:
- You have money you won’t need for at least 6–12 months.
- You want returns above the savings account rate and accept some investment risk.
- You want to start investing but find traditional brokerages or robo-advisors complicated.
- You prefer to manage everything in one app — no separate account needed.
The practical answer for most Singaporeans: keep 3–6 months of expenses in your Mari Savings Account (or GXS Bank for a higher 3.00% p.a. rate), and invest any surplus beyond that via Mari Invest or a broader investment platform.
If you want a structured long-term wealth building plan, the retirement planning calculator can help you model how different monthly investment amounts compound over time at different return assumptions.
How to start investing with Mari Invest
Getting started is simple if you already have a MariBank account. Here’s the process:
- Download the MariBank app (available on iOS, Android, and Huawei AppGallery).
- Open an account with Singpass MyInfo — no physical documents needed. You must be 18+ and a Singapore resident (citizen, PR, or valid pass holder).
- In the app, tap “Invest” to see the four Mari Invest products.
- Select your product — review the fund details, risk level, and historical returns.
- Enter your investment amount (minimum S$1) and confirm. Funds are deducted from your Mari Savings Account balance.
- Track your holdings, returns, and any income payouts directly in the app.
To redeem your investment, simply tap “Redeem” on the relevant product. The time for funds to return to your savings account varies by product — check the app for current redemption timelines.
If you’re new to MariBank, sign up using referral code 2DCT80WQ for any available welcome promotions. You can also explore our full MariBank review which covers the savings account, credit card, and now the full Mari Invest suite.
For those who want to invest more broadly beyond just MariBank’s curated funds, consider also looking at passive income strategies in Singapore that combine savings, ETFs, and REITs for diversified cash flow.
Pros and cons of MariBank Invest
| ✓ Pros | ✗ Cons |
|---|---|
| Zero transaction and platform fees — all four products | Not SDIC-insured — no capital guarantee on any product |
| Start from just S$1 — low barrier to entry | Only four products — limited diversification options |
| Seamless — all within MariBank app, no separate account | Gold and Singapore Equity products are very new — limited track record |
| Reputable fund managers — LGI (Temasek-linked) and PIMCO | Income payouts may include return of capital (reducing principal) |
| Income product delivers monthly payouts (3.87% 1-year return) | Broader platforms like Endowus or Syfe offer wider fund selection |
| Award-winning: “Best Digital Bank for Integrated Investing Options” (SingSaver 2025) | Requires MariBank account — not open to non-MariBank customers |
Bottom line: Mari Invest is an excellent starting point for Singaporeans who want to dip their toes into investing without the complexity of a full brokerage or robo-advisor. The zero fees and S$1 minimum make it genuinely accessible. But if you’re serious about building long-term wealth, you’ll likely outgrow Mari Invest’s four-product lineup and want a broader platform eventually.
For comparison, explore the Singapore T-bills guide for a capital-guaranteed alternative, or read our Singapore Savings Bonds guide for another low-risk option backed by the government.
Disclaimer: MariBank referral code 2DCT80WQ may earn The Kopi Notes a referral fee at no cost to you. All investment figures are from official MariBank sources and are educational only, not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MariBank Invest safe?
What is the difference between Mari Invest SavePlus and Income?
Can I lose money with Mari Invest?
How do I earn monthly income from Mari Invest Income?
Is Mari Invest better than Endowus or Syfe?
What is the MariBank Invest minimum investment?
Who is eligible for Mari Invest?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Mari Invest products are not bank deposits and are not covered by SDIC deposit insurance. Past performance of funds is not indicative of future returns. All figures cited are as at June 2026 and subject to change. MariBank referral code 2DCT80WQ may earn The Kopi Notes a referral fee at no cost to you. Always read the fund’s Product Highlights Sheet and consult a licensed financial adviser before investing.
