When it comes to real-world use, I’m quite immersed in the Maya ecosystem. Apart from the usual Maya Savings account, I also have the Landers Credit Card that doubles as a membership. As someone who travels frequently for work, I’ve always welcomed more options for credit card companies with travel perks – at the minimum, airport lounge access. When Maya Black was announced, I immediately applied. I chose the Maya Black Express option, which meant placing a security deposit upfront (more on this later), but the process was super straightforward. All it took was literally clicking “APPLY,” answering a few questions, and within a few days, the physical card was delivered.
Aesthetically, the VISA card design looks quite premium with a sleek matte black finish and minimalist design. Unlike other credit cards, the Maya Black card is app-centric, which means all information such as your card number and CVV are not on the physical card. Just like the Landers card and the regular debit cards, the app adds several layers of security such as card freezing, a random rotating CVV, cash advances, spending limits for various transactions, and even the initiating or blocking of foreign transactions.
I want to talk about spending limits, as again, Maya has a very detailed curation of how you can apply these limits depending on your spending habits. You can use the card to specify what type of transactions can push through, which means choosing whether online payments, foreign payments, and chip payments can be accepted. If you’re the type of person who is paranoid with security, you can turn off online payments so that only transactions with the EMV “tap” push through. Or, you can have a dedicated online-only card for various purchases across the Internet. The choice is yours! Personally, I freeze all my Maya cards when not in use and unfreeze them with a tap of a button when making purchases for maximum security.
I also have to add that the spending limit or your credit limit is defined by the minimum Express Deposit you make when you apply for a card, which is computed at 80% of the Express Deposit. So, for instance, a deposit of P20,000, yields a spending limit of P16,000. As a longtime Maya user, I simply reallocated funds from my Maya Savings account to the card. Surprisingly, it did not reduce the balance on my savings account, but merely labelled the P20,000 as a security deposit, which means I am still earning the same interest.
Maya Black is meant for travelers. Charging expenses on the card earns Maya Miles which can soon be spent across the merchant network on the app and converted as Miles credits for airline flights. As an added perk, Maya Black gives travelers one free Dragonpass lounge access per quarter. As a user of other travel-centric credit cards, I have to say that the Dragonpass integration with Maya Black is the best I’ve seen so far as there was no need to link an existing Dragonpass account: the Maya app creates one for you once you activate the card. You don’t even need to use the Dragonpass app anymore, as Maya has the built-in QR code that gives you direct access to your free lounge.
Other upcoming travel perks include travel insurance, eSIM, hotels, and linking your account with Mabuhay Miles. This card also has no annual fees for life (NAFFL) as long as you use the card at least once a month. Once you activate the VISA card, Maya greets you with a welcome reward of 3,000 Maya Miles if you spend P5,000 within 60 days. Maya Black Preferred Partners under the ‘Deals’ tab also give out accelerated miles points. As of this writing, some notable sales include Massimo Dutti’s 50% off sale, giving you 5x Miles points, accelerated miles with Seaoil, and 10x miles with purchases from Open_Source, Digital Walker, and Beyond the Box. And more!
Overall, I think the Maya Black Credit Card is a no-brainer. This is the perfect card if you’re starting to build your credit line and want to experience affordable luxury in travel (like lounge access!). The fact that the card has no fixed annual fees makes it easier to manage. But it’s also a good card to supplement your existing cards as it has more aggressive rewards for miles. Its app-centric design also gives you peace of mind because you can see transactions in real time, freeze your card when not in use, and customize your spending limit behaviors.
