📖 14 min read

GXS Bank, Trust Bank, and MariBank are Singapore’s three digital banks — all SDIC-insured, all mobile-first, and all competing for your savings. In mid-2026, Trust Bank leads with the highest potential rate at 2.40% p.a. (with salary credit and card spending), GXS Bank offers 1.08% on Saving Pockets with no conditions (up to 1.6% on Boost Pocket with lock-in), and MariBank pays 0.88% flat with zero requirements. Your choice depends on how much you’re parking and whether you want a debit card.

This is an editorial comparison. Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data as at July 2026 unless noted.

TL;DR:

  • GXS Bank pays 1.08% on Saving Pockets (up to 1.6% on Boost Pocket) with no conditions — solid for cash parking up to S$95,000
  • MariBank offers 0.88% flat with no hoops — simplest option, with a S$100,000 cap. Now also offers Mari Debit Card, Mari Credit Card (unlimited cashback, no annual fee), and Mari Fixed Deposit
  • Trust Bank has the highest deposit cap (S$1,200,000) and a useful debit card, but its base rate is just 0.05% without meeting salary and spend requirements

Quick Verdict

This three-way comparison gets asked on r/singaporefi nearly every week. The answer is simpler than you’d think.

GXS Bank offers a no-conditions rate. 1.08% p.a. on Saving Pockets (up to 1.6% on Boost Pocket) with no conditions — no salary credit, no card spend, no GIRO. Just deposit money and earn. The catch: S$95,000 cap.

MariBank is the simplest. 0.88% flat rate, no conditions, no hoops. Perfect for people who just want to park cash and forget about it. S$100,000 cap.

Trust Bank is the most “bank-like”. It has a credit card (linked to NTUC), a debit card, and the highest deposit cap at S$1,200,000. But without meeting salary and spend conditions, you earn a pitiful 0.05%.

Interest Rate Comparison

GXS vs Trust Bank vs MariBank feature comparison chart Singapore 2026
Rate Component GXS Bank Trust Bank MariBank
Base rate (no conditions) 1.08% 0.05% 0.88%
With salary credit N/A (no bonus tiers) ~1.50% N/A (no bonus tiers)
With salary + card spend N/A ~2.40% N/A
Maximum rate (Saving Pockets) 1.08% 2.40% 0.88%
GXS Boost Pocket (with lock-in) Up to 1.6% N/A N/A
Deposit cap for best rate S$95,000 S$1,200,000 S$100,000

Source: GXS.com.sg, TrustBank.sg, MariBank.sg — as at July 2026

Trust Bank: up to 2.40% (with conditions) | GXS: 1.08% no conditions (up to 1.6% with Boost Pocket lock-in) | MariBank: 0.88% no conditions

The striking thing about this comparison is that digital bank rates have normalised significantly since 2023. GXS and MariBank are still completely passive — you deposit and earn — but their rates (1.08% and 0.88%) are now lower than Trust Bank’s conditional rate of 2.40%. Trust Bank requires salary credit and spending conditions, making it function more like a traditional bank’s bonus savings account, but it now offers the highest returns among the three.

Features & Products

GXS Bank

GXS Bank is backed by Grab and Singtel. Beyond savings, it offers FlexiLoan (personal loans via the Grab app), Boost Pockets (time deposit-like), and a Visa debit card. GXS FlexiLoan interest rates are competitive for small personal loans. The Grab integration means you can use GrabPay and GXS together for a seamless experience. Use a GXS referral code for sign-up bonuses.

Trust Bank

Trust Bank is backed by Standard Chartered and FairPrice Group (NTUC). It offers the most traditional banking experience among the three — Mastercard debit card, a credit card linked to NTUC rewards (earn LinkPoints on FairPrice purchases), and a generous deposit cap of S$1,200,000. It’s the only digital bank that accepts foreigners. Sign up with a Trust Bank referral code for bonus rewards.

MariBank

MariBank is owned by Sea Group (Shopee’s parent). It’s no longer the stripped-down option it once was. Beyond its savings account and personal loans, MariBank now offers a Mari Debit Card, Mari Credit Card (unlimited cashback, no annual fee), and Mari Fixed Deposit (with promotional rates). The appeal of its savings account remains the 0.88% flat rate with zero conditions, though this has come down significantly from its earlier 2.68% rate. MariBank has evolved into a more complete digital banking option. Get extra cashback with a MariBank referral code.

Deposit Caps (This Matters More Than Rates)

The most overlooked factor in digital bank comparisons isn’t the interest rate — it’s how much money you can actually put in.

GXS caps at S$95,000 and MariBank at S$100,000. That means if you have more than S$100,000 in savings, you’d need to split it across multiple banks.

Trust Bank, with its S$1,200,000 cap, solves this — but only if you meet the conditions for the higher rate. At the base rate of 0.05%, you’d earn just S$50/year on S$100,000. That’s worse than a traditional DBS savings account.

For most Singaporeans with S$20,000–S$95,000 in savings, GXS offers a reasonable no-conditions rate. For amounts above S$95,000, consider a multi-bank strategy — perhaps GXS (first S$95,000) + MariBank (next S$100,000) + a traditional bank for the rest.

Who Backs Each Bank?

All three digital banks are licensed by MAS and your deposits are insured by SDIC up to S$100,000 — the same protection you get at DBS, OCBC, or UOB.

Bank Parent / Backer Licence Type Key Risk Factor
GXS Bank Grab + Singtel (60/40) Digital Full Bank Grab’s profitability journey
Trust Bank Standard Chartered + NTUC Full Bank StanChart is a 170-year-old bank — low risk
MariBank Sea Group (Shopee, Garena) Digital Full Bank Sea’s volatile earnings history

Source: MAS Financial Institutions Directory, company filings — as at July 2026

Trust Bank has the most conservative backing — Standard Chartered is a global bank with 170 years of history. GXS and MariBank are backed by tech companies (Grab/Singtel and Sea respectively), which carry slightly more business risk. However, SDIC insurance means your deposits are protected regardless of the parent company’s fortunes.

Earnings Comparison by Balance

GXS vs Trust Bank vs MariBank annual interest earned comparison Singapore 2026
Balance GXS (1.08%) Trust Bank (0.05% base) Trust Bank (2.40% max) MariBank (0.88%)
S$10,000 S$108 S$5 S$240 S$88
S$25,000 S$270 S$12.50 S$600 S$220
S$50,000 S$540 S$25 S$1,200 S$440
S$75,000 S$810 S$37.50 S$1,800 S$660

Source: Calculated from published rates, July 2026. Trust Bank shows both base rate (no conditions) and maximum (with salary + spend). GXS column uses the 1.08% Saving Pockets rate (no lock-in). GXS Boost Pocket offers up to 1.6% with lock-in periods — not shown in this table.

The numbers tell a stark story. At S$50,000, Trust Bank’s best rate earns you S$1,200 (with conditions) versus GXS’s S$540 (no conditions) or S$25 at Trust Bank’s base rate. Trust Bank now offers the highest rate if you meet its conditions.

If you’re using digital banks purely to earn interest on idle cash — which is what most people do — Trust Bank’s 2.40% (with conditions) beats both GXS and MariBank at every balance up to its S$1,200,000 cap. Use a retirement calculator to see how digital bank savings fit into your long-term plan.

Referral Bonuses

All three digital banks offer sign-up bonuses. These change monthly, so check the latest before opening your account.

Use our referral codes for the best current bonuses: GXS Bank referral | Trust Bank referral | MariBank referral

The sign-up bonuses are a nice one-time perk, but don’t let them sway your decision — the ongoing interest rate difference matters far more over a year than a one-time S$10–S$20 bonus.

TKN’s Take

Open all three. Seriously. They’re all free, take 5 minutes to set up, and have no fees.

The optimal strategy for most Singaporeans in 2026: consider Trust Bank if you can meet its salary and spend conditions (earning up to 2.40%), park up to S$95,000 in GXS (earning 1.08% no conditions), and use MariBank (earning 0.88% on up to S$100,000) for additional savings. If you have more than S$195,000 in cash across GXS and MariBank, the excess should go into a Singapore Savings Bond or T-bills rather than sitting in any savings account.

If you can only open one, choose Trust Bank if you can meet its bonus conditions (up to 2.40%), or GXS Bank for its no-conditions 1.08% rate. Rates across all three digital banks have come down significantly from 2023–2024 highs as SORA normalised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which digital bank has the highest interest rate in Singapore?
Trust Bank offers the highest potential rate at 2.40% p.a., but requires salary credit and card spending. For no-conditions rates, GXS Bank pays 1.08% on Saving Pockets (up to 1.6% on Boost Pocket with lock-in) and MariBank pays 0.88% flat.
Are digital bank deposits safe in Singapore?
Yes. All three banks are licensed by MAS, and deposits up to S$100,000 per depositor per bank are insured by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). This is the same protection as DBS, OCBC, and UOB.
Can I use GXS Bank or MariBank as my main bank?
Not easily. GXS has a Visa debit card but no GIRO or PayNow-to-bank transfers for all use cases. MariBank now offers both a Mari Debit Card and a Mari Credit Card. Trust Bank is the most “main bank” ready with a debit card, credit card, and full PayNow integration. Most people use a traditional bank (DBS/OCBC/UOB) as their main account and digital banks for saving.
Can foreigners open a digital bank account in Singapore?
Only Trust Bank accepts foreigners (anyone aged 16+ with a Singapore residential address and Singpass). GXS Bank requires Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents. MariBank requires Singapore Citizens or PRs aged 21 and above.
What happens if I exceed the deposit cap at GXS or MariBank?
GXS limits total deposits to S$95,000 and MariBank to S$100,000. You cannot deposit more than these amounts. If you have more cash to save, you’ll need to use other banks or investment products for the excess.
Should I split my savings across all three digital banks?
Yes, this is the optimal strategy. Park up to S$95,000 in GXS (1.08%), up to S$100,000 in MariBank (0.88%), and use Trust Bank for everyday spending and its bonus interest (up to 2.40% with conditions). This maximizes your total interest across all three.

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This article was researched with the help of AI. While we strive to keep all information accurate and up to date, there may be errors. If you notice any discrepancies, please contact us.