Trust Bank vs MariBank 2026: Which Digital Bank Is Better for Singapore?
Singapore’s two leading digital banks — Trust Bank (Standard Chartered x FairPrice) and MariBank (Sea Group/Shopee) — both offer competitive savings rates and cashback credit cards. But which one deserves your money? We compare interest rates, credit cards, features, and more to help you decide.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Data accurate as at May 2026. Terms and conditions apply — always verify current rates on the respective bank websites.
Trust Bank vs MariBank: Overview
Both Trust Bank and MariBank are fully licensed digital banks regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). They’re both SDIC-insured and have attracted hundreds of thousands of customers since launching. But they take very different approaches to banking.
Trust Bank is a joint venture between Standard Chartered (60%) and FairPrice Group (40%). Launched in September 2022, it has over 900,000 customers. Its strength lies in the FairPrice ecosystem — Linkpoints, NTUC deals, and grocery savings.
MariBank is wholly owned by Sea Group, the parent company of Shopee. Launched in 2023, it’s tightly integrated with the Shopee ecosystem — offering Shopee Coins, enhanced cashback on Shopee purchases, and seamless checkout through Mari Instant Checkout.
Let’s break down how they compare across every dimension that matters.
Savings Interest Rates Comparison
This is where most customers start — and the differences are significant.
| Metric | Trust Bank | MariBank |
|---|---|---|
| Base Rate (No Conditions) | 0.05% p.a. | 0.88% p.a. |
| Maximum Rate | 2.40% p.a. | 2.88% p.a. |
| Deposit Cap (Bonus Rate) | S$1,200,000 | S$75,000 |
| Conditions for Max Rate | Salary + spend + invest + referral | Salary + Mari card spend |
| Realistic Rate (Salary Only) | ~0.50% p.a. | ~1.88% p.a. |
| Interest on Excess (Above Cap) | 0.05% p.a. | 0% p.a. |
Data as at May 2026. Verify current rates at trustbank.sg and maribank.sg.
Winner — Savings Rate: MariBank. MariBank wins on both the no-condition rate (0.88% vs 0.05%) and the maximum achievable rate (2.88% vs 2.40%). The realistic rate that most salary-crediting customers can achieve is also significantly higher at MariBank — around 1.88% vs 0.50% at Trust Bank.
However, Trust Bank has a massive advantage in deposit cap — S$1.2 million vs just S$75,000 at MariBank. If you have more than S$75K to park, Trust Bank is the only digital bank option that doesn’t cut off your bonus interest at a relatively low threshold.
For alternative fixed-income options, check our Singapore Savings Bonds guide and T-Bills guide.
Credit Card Comparison
Both banks offer cashback credit cards with no annual fees — but the reward structures are quite different.
| Feature | Trust Credit Card | Mari Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | None | None |
| Local Cashback | 1% | 1.5% |
| Foreign Spend Cashback | 0.5% | 1.5% |
| Preferred Category Max | Up to 15% | N/A (flat rate) |
| FX Fee | None | None |
| Cashback Cap | S$250/quarter (preferred) | S$1,500/month (FX) |
| Card Network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Ecosystem Perks | Linkpoints (FairPrice) | Shopee Coins |
Winner — Credit Card (Everyday Spending): MariBank. The Mari Credit Card offers a flat 1.5% cashback on both local and foreign spending with no minimum spend requirement. That’s simple, generous, and hard to beat — especially for overseas transactions where Trust Bank only gives 0.5%.
Winner — Credit Card (Category Spending): Trust Bank. If you can concentrate S$2,000/month in a single category, Trust Bank’s 15% preferred category cashback is far higher than anything MariBank offers. This is ideal for heavy spenders in specific categories like groceries or dining.
Features & App Experience
| Feature | Trust Bank | MariBank |
|---|---|---|
| MAS Full Banking Licence | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Feature | TrustInvest (US stocks/ETFs) | Not available |
| Personal Loans | Yes | Yes (FlexiLoan) |
| Insurance Products | Yes (life insurance) | No |
| Numberless Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayNow | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Customer Support | Yes (in-app chat) | Yes (in-app chat) |
Trust Bank has the broader product range — it’s the only digital bank offering both investment and insurance products alongside banking. MariBank keeps things simpler with just savings, credit card, and personal loans.
Deposit Cap & SDIC Coverage
Both banks provide SDIC coverage up to S$100,000 per depositor — the same as DBS, OCBC, or UOB. However, the deposit caps for earning bonus interest differ dramatically:
Trust Bank allows bonus interest on balances up to S$1.2 million. MariBank caps bonus interest at just S$75,000, with amounts above that earning 0% interest. This is a critical difference for anyone with significant savings.
For context, if you have S$200,000 in savings, you could earn bonus interest on the full amount at Trust Bank. At MariBank, you’d earn bonus interest on the first S$75K and nothing on the remaining S$125K — making Trust Bank the clear choice for larger balances.
Ecosystem & Rewards
Trust Bank (FairPrice Ecosystem): Earn Linkpoints on card spend, enjoy exclusive FairPrice deals, access NTUC FairPrice, Unity Pharmacy, and other FairPrice Group promotions. If you spend S$500+/month at FairPrice, the rewards can be substantial.
MariBank (Shopee Ecosystem): Earn 1.5 Shopee Coins per S$1 spent on Shopee via Mari Instant Checkout, enjoy faster checkout flows on Shopee, and benefit from Shopee-exclusive promotions. If you’re a heavy Shopee user, this integration adds significant value.
The ecosystem choice often comes down to where you shop more — FairPrice or Shopee.
Winner by Use Case
| Use Case | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best no-condition savings rate | MariBank | 0.88% vs 0.05% — no contest |
| Best for large savings (>S$75K) | Trust Bank | S$1.2M cap vs S$75K cap |
| Best everyday cashback card | MariBank | Flat 1.5% on everything vs 1% local |
| Best for overseas spending | MariBank | 1.5% FX cashback vs 0.5% |
| Best category-specific cashback | Trust Bank | Up to 15% in preferred category |
| Best for FairPrice shoppers | Trust Bank | Linkpoints + exclusive FairPrice deals |
| Best for Shopee shoppers | MariBank | Shopee Coins + instant checkout |
| Best for investing | Trust Bank | TrustInvest available; MariBank has none |
Final Verdict: Which Digital Bank Should You Choose?
The honest answer? Use both. There’s no rule saying you can only have one digital bank account. Many savvy Singaporeans open accounts at both Trust Bank and MariBank to maximise their combined benefits:
Park your first S$75K in MariBank for the higher base rate (0.88% unconditional, up to 2.88% with salary credit). This maximises your interest on the portion that MariBank covers.
Park additional savings above S$75K in Trust Bank to take advantage of the S$1.2M cap. Even if the rate is lower, earning some bonus interest on amounts above S$75K is better than earning 0% at MariBank.
Use the Mari Credit Card for everyday and overseas spending for the flat 1.5% cashback. Use the Trust Credit Card for your preferred spending category to earn up to 15% cashback on concentrated spending.
For more on building your savings strategy, explore our retirement planning calculator and Endowus for investment options.
Sign up for Trust Bank with referral code BANK50 via our Trust Bank referral code page, and check out the MariBank referral code page for the latest MariBank promotions.