How Credit Cards Use MCC Codes
Every credit card transaction includes the merchant's MCC code. Your card issuer uses this code to look up their rewards structure and determine how many points, miles, or cashback you earn.
There are two main approaches card issuers use:
Whitelist vs Blacklist
Whitelist (Included MCCs)
Only specific MCC codes earn bonus rewards.
Example: HSBC Revolution only earns 4 MPD on whitelisted MCCs like online shopping, dining, and travel.
Blacklist (Excluded MCCs)
All MCC codes earn bonuses except exclusions.
Example: UOB Visa Signature earns 4 MPD on everything except insurance, utilities, and education.
Popular Cards and Their MCC Rules
UOB Visa Signature (Blacklist)
Earns 4 MPD on all MCCs except: insurance, utilities, education, government, and healthcare.
Best for: General spending across multiple categories
UOB PPV (Hybrid)
Online: Whitelist (MCC 5399, 5812, 5814, 3000-3299) | Offline: Blacklist only
Best for: Online shopping and dining
HSBC Revolution (Whitelist)
Only earns 4 MPD on specific whitelisted MCCs including online shopping, dining, travel, and beauty.
Best for: Targeted spending in bonus categories
OCBC Rewards (Whitelist)
Earns 4 MPD on whitelisted MCCs across categories like shopping, dining, beauty, and wellness.
Best for: Diversified bonus category spending
Important MCC Considerations
- Monthly Caps: Most cards cap bonus rewards at $1,000-$1,500 per month. Spending beyond caps earns base rates.
- Online vs Offline: Some cards have different MCC rules for online purchases vs in-store transactions.
- Foreign Currency: FCY transactions may have different eligibility or earn different rates.
- Contactless Required: Some cards require PayNow/Apple Pay/Google Pay to earn bonus rates.
- Merchant Variations: The same merchant may have different MCC codes for different payment methods or locations.
Watch Out for These Pitfalls
Same store, different MCC: A brand's online store may have a different MCC than their physical locations. Always check the specific MCC for how you plan to pay.
Payment processor matters: Some merchants use third-party payment processors that may have different MCC codes than the merchant itself.
Terms change: Banks periodically update MCC whitelists and blacklists. A merchant that earned bonuses last month may not earn them this month.
Practical Example: Shopee Shopping
Shopee MCC: 5399 (Miscellaneous General Merchandise)
When you shop on Shopee, here's which cards earn bonus rewards:
- ✅ UOB Visa Signature: 4 MPD (not blacklisted)
- ✅ UOB PPV: 4 MPD (whitelisted online MCC)
- ✅ HSBC Revolution: 4 MPD (whitelisted)
- ✅ OCBC Rewards: 4 MPD (whitelisted)
- ❌ Citi Rewards: 1 MPD (blacklisted - excluded from 4 MPD online bonus)
Note: All caps and conditions apply. Check individual card terms for details.
How to Maximize Rewards Using MCC
- Look up the MCC: Use CheckMCC.sg to find the merchant's MCC code before making a large purchase
- Check eligible cards: See which of your cards earn bonus rates on that MCC
- Verify caps: Check if you've hit monthly caps on bonus categories
- Choose the right card: Select the card that maximizes rewards for that specific MCC
- Track your spending: Monitor which cards you use for which categories to optimize rewards