Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite

Average MPR: 0.42

Recommendation: Poor

Annual Fee

RM800

Airport Lounge Access

8X Access
International Lounges
LoungeKey

Annual Income

Priority Banking Customer

Airline Miles Earn Rate

Local: 0.14 MPR

Overseas: 0.71 MPR

Payment Network

Review | Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite

The Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite (SCB PBVI) is the flagship credit card for affluent customers under Standard Chartered Malaysia’s priority banking and priority private banking tiers.

With the discontinuation of the Standard Chartered Visa Infinite from SCB’s credit card lineup, the SCB PBVI now stands as the only option in the bank’s affluent category. Its closest counterpart, the Standard Chartered Journey, caters to a broader market segment, requiring a minimum annual income of RM96,000—far below the threshold set for the PBVI.

Once regarded as a powerhouse in the world of airline miles and affluent credit cards, the SCB PBVI was a staple in the wallets of high-net-worth individuals, thanks to benefits like the prestigious Priority Pass membership.

However, those days are long past. What remains today is a stark contrast to the card’s earlier offerings, underscoring how the SCB PBVI has gradually faded from its former “top-of-wallet” status. Now, it is often overshadowed by other premium cards that continue to offer the benefits once associated with the SCB PBVI.

Air Miles Conversion

The SCB PBVI offers a modest 0.14 miles per ringgit (MPR) on all local spending, with no spend accelerators on popular categories like dining or groceries.

This setup mirrors the “default” structure seen in some other banks, such as Maybank, where base earnings apply universally. However, in the case of the SCB PBVI, the lack of spend accelerators is a significant limitation, especially considering that points earned from the Standard Chartered Journey—another card in the bank’s lineup—cannot be pooled with those from the SCB PBVI.

For context, the SC Journey card offers an impressive 0.5 MPR on dining, an earn rate that stands out within its RM96,000 annual income bracket. Yet, since these points can’t be consolidated across both cards, the SCB PBVI falls short as a well-rounded card for local spending.

While one might argue that holding both cards—using the SC Journey for local dining and the SCB PBVI for overseas transactions—could be a viable strategy, this approach is often inefficient and could lead to “stranded points.” The SC Journey card has a minimum points conversion threshold of 10,000 Airmiles Points, while the SCB PBVI has a slightly lower threshold of 7,000 points, further complicating the redemption process.

When it comes to overseas spending, the SCB PBVI offers a respectable 0.71 miles per ringgit (MPR), with straightforward conversion options to popular loyalty programs such as Enrich, KrisFlyer, and Asia Miles. However, while the breadth of airline program choices is appealing, transferring points to Enrich Miles may not be optimal for those looking to maximize point value.

It’s also worth noting that Malaysia’s affluent credit card segment is highly competitive, particularly for cards with asset under management (AUM) requirements. Several competing cards offer considerably stronger MPR rates, putting the SCB PBVI at a disadvantage. For instance, CIMB’s Travel World Elite, which is available to the open market with a RM250,000 annual income requirement, starts at 0.8 MPR. Even more compelling is the UOB Visa Infinite, which provides an impressive 0.83 MPR and has a lower entry threshold of RM120,000.

Even the annual fee itself is a good enough reason not to even consider the SCB PBVI, with close competitors waiving annual fees with no conditions attached at all.

In summary, the SCB PBVI falls significantly short in terms of value, especially when considering that competing cards with lower entry barriers deliver superior MPR rates. This puts the SCB PBVI in a weak competitive position, making it challenging for it to stand out among more rewarding options in the affluent segment.

Airport Lounge Access

Lounge access is a definite highlight for the SCB PBVI, though the benefit structure is somewhat nuanced.

While the SCB PBVI product page advertises unlimited lounge access with one guest, this perk is exclusively available to cardholders with a minimum asset under management (AUM) of RM3 million. For most SCB PBVI cardholders, who typically have an AUM ranging from RM250,000 to RM2.99 million, the benefit includes 8 complimentary lounge visits per year, with the option to bring a guest each time.

Access is facilitated through LoungeKey, but unlike some other programs, SCB PBVI cardholders must present the physical credit card rather than accessing lounges via the LoungeKey app. While this isn’t a major inconvenience, it’s worth keeping in mind for frequent travelers.

In terms of overall value, the SCB PBVI’s lounge access benefits are competitive within the affluent segment and, in some cases, even stand out. LoungeKey’s extensive global network ensures that cardholders have a broad range of lounges to choose from, delivering a solid value proposition for those seeking a premium travel experience.

I previously wrote a more in-depth article on Priority Pass, DragonPass and LoungeKey here so do check out that article as well.

In terms of lounge access, the SCB PBVI stands out by being the only credit card in its segment to offer LoungeKey access, providing cardholders with the widest lounge network compared to its competitors. However, it lacks access to specific lounges in Malaysia that some may find valuable. Notably, it does not include perks such as entry to the UOB Private Lounge (well obviously!) or the exclusive Plaza Premium First lounge, long reserved for CIMB credit cardholders and, more recently, offered with the Maybank World Elite Mastercard.

For those indifferent to these exclusive lounges, this may not be a significant drawback. However, if you’re passing through KLIA Terminal 1 and hoping to relax in the Plaza Premium Lounge, you may find yourself wishing for a UOB or CIMB card in your wallet!

Final Thoughts

The Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite undoubtedly has the foundation to be a top-tier credit card, yet it falls short in a few critical areas that prevent it from achieving “top-of-wallet” status among Malaysia’s affluent consumers. The SCB PBVI’s 0.71 MPR for overseas spend and 0.14 MPR for local transactions position it as a decent contender, but without spend accelerators or points pooling with the SC Journey, the card risks missing out on key opportunities to capture high-spend customers.

Given how rapidly the landscape is evolving in Malaysia, the success of other global and regional banks in this market—such as HSBC with its broad appeal and UOB with its targeted perks—highlights how nimble players can claim substantial market share with a few strategic adjustments. In the case of the SCB PBVI, allowing points pooling between the SC Journey and SCB PBVI could be the single game-changer needed to make Standard Chartered’s ecosystem one of the strongest on the market.

The airline miles market remains lucrative, particularly as local competitors struggle with high conversion thresholds and newly introduced restrictions. With Maybank’s thresholds being unfavorably high and CIMB implementing restrictive policies, the timing is right for SCB PBVI to claim its place as a serious contender.

Further, SCB PBVI’s LoungeKey access offers an impressive global lounge network—a unique competitive edge in the local market. However, without access to prestigious local lounges, such as the Plaza Premium First at KLIA Terminal 1, it risks missing out on serving those travelers who value premium local experiences.

Ultimately, the SCB PBVI represents a card with real potential, but to become a true powerhouse in Malaysia’s credit card scene, Standard Chartered will need to make a few strategic moves. With the right enhancements, the SCB PBVI could evolve from a respectable option to a market leader in the affluent credit card space.

Be sure to check out my Enrich Ultimate Guide, KrisFlyer Ultimate Guide, Asia Miles Ultimate Guide, Ultimate Category-Specific Guide and Airport Lounge Ultimate Guide to compare the best credit cards in these respective categories.