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Aspire vs. OCBC: Smarter finance for growing businesses
More than just a business account, Aspire brings together seamless FX payments, real-time expense management, and integrated accountingโall in one powerful platform. Gain full financial visibility, streamline operations and cut unnecessary costs as you grow, making a clear choice over OCBC.
Trusted by 50,000+ modern businesses
Aspire vs. OCBC key differences
Hereโs a side-by-side comparison of Aspire and OCBC to highlight key differences and help you choose the best business account for your needs.
Business Account
Free, 100% online setup
Account opening
Free, 100% online setup or apply in-branch
Free
Monthly fees
Up to SGD $10 per month
Free via FAST and PayNow QR Code and Virtual Payment Address (VPA)
Receive local payments
Free via FAST
SGD $0.20 per transfer via PayNow QR Code, UEN and SGQR Label
SGD $0.20 per transfer via PayNow QR Code, UEN and SGQR Label
$0
Send local payments
SGD $0.50 for FAST transfers, SGD $0.20 for GIRO and PayNow transfers
FX rates from 0.22% above mid-market rates, fees from
SGD $35 or USDย $8
SGD $35 or USDย $8
Receive international payments
FX rates from 0.7% above mid-market rates, fees from SGD $10 (excluding agent fees)
From USD $15
in 18 currencies
in 18 currencies
Send international payments
From SGD $30
in 64 currencies
in 64 currencies
SGD, USD, EUR, GBPโจ
(more coming soon)
(more coming soon)
Multi-currency account
13 currencies
CARD
Issue physical and virtual cards
Unlimited 1% cashbackโจ
for SaaS and marketing spend
for SaaS and marketing spend
Cashback rewards
1% cashback for SaaS, marketing, eCommerce and T&E spend, 0.2% on all other spends
Create employee cards with spend controls and real-time tracking
Expense management
INVEST
Yield
Account type
Fixed deposit
SGD and USD
Currencies
SGD, USD and 9 other foreign currencies
2.04%^ (SGD)
3.88%^ (USD)
3.88%^ (USD)
Returns
(after annual fees)*
(after annual fees)*
From 0.05% (SGD)
From 2.9% (USD)
From 2.9% (USD)
0.5% annual fees
Fees and charges
Early withdrawal fees apply
$0
Minimum investment amount
Min. amount varies by currency, from SGD $5K or USD $5K
Up to SGD $100Kโจ
(extendable upon request)
(extendable upon request)
Maximum investment amount
Up to SGD $1M for SGD, no cap for USD and other foreign currencies
Up to SGD $100Kโจ
(1 business day)
(1 business day)
Liquidity and access to funds
Funds locked based on selected tenor
Comparison as of August 2025
*Returns are taken from company websites on their respective landing pages and are accurate as of 24 July 2025. Aspire does not take responsibility for any inaccuracy in the comparison table. Providers may update their returns from time to time, and the figures we extracted in the past do not predict future fees and performance.
^The return rates are based on 7-day performance as of 3rd July 2025. They do not guarantee future growth. Returns are not guaranteed and are projected based on how much your money could potentially grow over a year. Your capital may be at risk. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance. View the fundsโ historical performance for SGD and USD.
Automation and Support
Live chat, email, phone
Customer support channels
Live chat, phone
English: 24/7
Other languages: Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm SGT
Other languages: Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm SGT
Customer support availability
Chat: 24/7
Phone: Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm SGT, excluding public holidays
Phone: Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm SGT, excluding public holidays
Accounting integration
API integration
3 reasons why businesses choose Aspire over OCBC
Modern businesses need more than basic banking features. Here's how Aspire is designed for today's business needs:
Protect your margins with low FX rates
Save more on every international transfer with Aspireโs transparent, low FX rates starting from just 0.22% above mid-market. Unlike OCBC, which applies higher and often hidden markups, Aspire lets you keep more of your profits.
Pay locally, without the fees
Make essential local payments like payroll and supplier invoices without worrying about extra costs. Aspire offers free FAST and GIRO transfers, streamlining your day-to-day operations and keeping your cash flow healthy.
Take control over every team expense
Aspireโs corporate cards integrate seamlessly with powerful expense management tools, giving you real-time visibility, automated controls and simplified reconciliation so youโll never have to chase receipts again.
How Aspire works
Aspire brings together the security of traditional banking with the innovation of modern fintech to create the future of business finance. Here's what makes our platform uniquely powerful:
Trusted banking foundation
Your money is safeguarded in Tier 1 banks like DBS Singapore, and backed by partnerships with Citibank, JPMorgan, and Visa. Get the security of traditional banking with the speed of modern fintech - all fully compliant with MAS regulations.
Seamless global payments
Send and receive payments in 30+ currencies across 130+ countries at market-leading rates. Our transparent fee structure means no surprises, while smart workflows streamline your operations from payroll to revenue collection.
AI-powered financial control
Take charge with intelligent tools built for modern business. From multi-level approvals to real-time fraud detection, automated reconciliation to comprehensive integrations - work smarter, not harder.
We are backed by leading institutions and world-class investors
Frequently asked questions about Aspire vs. OCBC
Who should choose Aspire?
Aspire is ideal for businesses that need more than just traditional banking. Its all-in-one platform helps simplify financial operations, reduce costs and save time, with features like team cards, expense management, budgeting tools and accounting integrations built in.
Who should choose OCBC?
OCBC is suitable for businesses that prefer traditional banking with access to physical branches. However, for businesses seeking a seamless finance management platform, OCBC lacks advanced features like built-in expense controls, team cards and automation tools that streamline workflows and save time.
Which is better for daily business operations, Aspire or OCBC?
Aspire supports daily business needs with real-time expense tracking, budget controls, team cards, and direct accounting integrations. In contrast, OCBC focuses on core banking, which means many businesses still require separate tools to manage employee spend, reconcile accounts, and automate workflows.
Which offers better value, Aspire or OCBC?
Aspire delivers better value through zero monthly fees, free FAST and GIRO transfers, and low FX rates starting from just 0.22% above mid-market. OCBCโs services often come with higher fees and lack the built-in automation and spend management tools growing businesses need to optimise costs.
Which has better accounting integrations, Aspire or OCBC?
Aspire integrates seamlessly with Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite and Osome, and offers open API access for custom workflows. OCBC currently supports integration with Xero only, offering fewer options for businesses that need more advanced automation and flexibility.
Hear it first from our customers
โAs a startup, we needed more flexible solutions to support our increasing needs, as well as ones thatโd make the most financial sense in supporting our growth.โ
$110,000
Saved per year
900hrs
Saved per year
View Case Study
Gregory Van
CEO of Endowus
"By leveraging Aspire, First Page aimed to establish tighter control over our financial outflows, ensuring that all media spending stayed within the allocated budget limits. This was crucial for maintaining financial discipline and ensuring that our company's marketing efforts were both effective and sustainable."
$ 80,405
Saved per year
2,834hrs
Saved per year
View Case Study
Holly Qian
Head of Finance, First Page Digital
"In the past, we used different devices for calls, music, and work. Just like smartphones brought everything together, Aspire elegantly combines corporate cards, FX, business accounts, payables, and much more, into one user-friendly interface."
$28,037
Saved per year
860hrs
Saved per year
View Case Study
William Chong
Finance Director at Glints