UOB Visa Signature Credit Card: Should You Apply?
UOB Visa Signature Credit Card: Should You Apply?
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- 4 mi (2 UNI$) / S$1 local contactless & petrol
- 4 mi (2 UNI$) / S$1 overseas (inc. online)
- Free travel insurance
Cons
- General spend earns 0.4 mi (0.2 UNI$) / S$1
- S$1k local + S$1k overseas min. spend
- Petrol rate excludes SPC & Shell
- Few travel perks
Modern spenders who split their time between Singapore and abroad can quickly accrue miles with UOB Visa Signature Card. In fact, cardholders who spend at least S$1k overseas earn 4 miles per S$1 in foreign currency; those who spend S$1k locally also earn 4 miles per S$1 on petrol and all contactless purchases (both via Visa payWave & mobile wallets). This makes it fairly easy for average spenders to maximise earnings on nearly all purchases, no matter where they are. Even better, those who meet both minimum spend requirements can immediately max out the 8k miles monthly rewards cap (though S$2k spend in either category can also max out earnings, which is ideal for those with variable travel schedules). Ultimately, modern consumers with moderate budgets can enjoy convenience and rapid miles accrual with UOB Visa Signature Card.
UOB Visa Signature Credit Card Features and Benefits
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Key Features:
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What Makes UOB Visa Signature Credit Card Stand Out
UOB Visa Signature Card is a great option for modern, moderate spenders with variable travel schedules. Cardholders who spend at least S$1k/month overseas earn 4 miles per S$1 foreign currency spend–one of the highest overseas rates currently on the market. Perhaps even better, consumers who spend S$1k/month locally also earn 4 miles per S$1 on petrol and contactless spend. "Contactless" transactions include payments via Visa payWave and with mobile wallets (Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay & more), making it easy for modern spenders to earn on nearly all purchases.
This rewards structure is perfect for consumers who split their time between Singapore and overseas destinations, but who may have inconsistent travel schedules. Typical miles and cashback cards have skewed priorities: miles cards tend to offer higher overseas rates but lower local rates, while cashback cards rarely offer a special boost for spend in foreign currencies. UOB Visa Signature Card stands out by offering the best of both worlds. Even better, cardholders with S$2k monthly budgets can easily max out the monthly rewards cap regardless of their travel schedule. Those who meet both minimums (S$1k locally and S$1k overseas) can immediately max out the 8k monthly rewards limit. However, consumers who allocate all S$2k overseas or locally can also max out their rewards.
Earnings Comparison Based on Budget Amount & Distribution
| Overseas Budget | Local Contactless/Petrol | Total Spend Amt | Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| S$950 | S$950 | S$1,900 | 720 miles |
| S$900 | S$1,000 | S$1,900 | 4,000 miles |
| S$1,000 | S$1,000 | S$2,000 | 8,000 miles |
| S$2,000 | S$2,000 | S$4,000 | 8,800 miles |
Unfortunately, this card isn't infinitely flexible. Because of the dual S$1k minimums, cardholders with moderate budgets may need to split their spend equally or allocate all of their spend to one bucket (local or overseas). Lower spenders with diversified budgets may fail to reach either minimum, ultimately earning just 0.4 miles per S$1. Higher spenders, on the other hand, may overshoot the minimums and end up maxing out the 8k miles/month cap after S$2k spend, earning at the base rate for further transactions. These drawbacks apply to both local and overseas spenders, but frequent travellers may especially find issue with UOB Visa Signature Card. Cardholders receive free travel insurance, but the plan is quite basic, and there are no provisions for complimentary lounge access, bonus renewal miles or hotel booking perks.
Comparison to Traditional Miles Cards: Trade-Offs Between Rates, Mins/Caps & Perks
| Credit Card | Primary Rewards | Minimums & Caps | Key Travel Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| UOB Visa Sig. |
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| DBS Altitude |
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| Citi PMV |
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It's also worth mentioning that there's a S$214.0 annual fee, waived just the 1st year. This may seem high at first–however, it's just S$21.4 higher than the S$192.6 market standard. Consumers who feel this card fits their lifestyle should keep in mind the scale of this differential. Ultimately, UOB Visa Signature Card is ideal for modern, moderate spenders with occasional–and perhaps variable–travel schedules.
How Does UOB Visa Signature Credit Card's Rewards Program Work?
Use our quick guide below to learn how you can redeem UOB Visa Signature Card's rewards.
- Spend earns in UNI$ (points)
- Spend incurred by supplementary cardmembers accrues to principal cardmember's account (therefore contributing towards maxing out the rewards cap)
- UNI$ can be redeemed for merchant vouchers, cash credit or air miles
- Miles are redeemed in blocks of UNI$5,000 for 10,000 air miles (KrisFlyer or Asia)
- Cardholders must pay S$25 fee/miles redemption or a S$50 fee for 1 year of auto-conversion
- UNI$ expire 2 years after the periodic quarter in which they were earned
- UNI$ cannot be replaced or reinstated
UOB Visa Signature Credit Card's Rewards Exclusions
The following credit card expenditures are ineligible for rewards.
How does UOB Visa Signature Credit Card Compare to Other Cards?
Read our comparisons of UOB Visa Signature Card with other cards and learn what makes each card unique in their own way. We compare and contrast each card to highlight its uniqueness to help you identify the card that you need.
| UOB Visa Signature v. Maybank Horizon Visa | |
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| Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card is one of the best options on the market for miles-seeking consumers who spend time both in Singapore and abroad. Cardholders earn an impressive 3.2 miles per S$1 on local dining, petrol, taxi fares & Agoda bookings, plus 2 miles on air tickets, travel packages and foreign currency transactions. While Maybank Horizon Visa Card's rates are generally lower than UOB Visa Signature's, it has a much lower S$300 minimum spend requirement and higher 12k miles/month earnings cap.
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| UOB Visa Signature v. OCBC Voyage | |
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| OCBC Voyage Card offers wealthier travellers a convenient way to earn boosted miles even while at home. Cardholders earn 2.3 miles per S$1 overseas and 1.2 miles per S$1 locally–elevated to 1.6 miles for local dining. As dining makes up a large part of many consumers' budgets, this added perk is quite attractive for frequent travellers who often spend extended periods within Singapore.
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| UOB Visa Signature v. UOB One Card | |
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| While UOB One Card offers cashback rather than miles, it may just be the best rewards card on the market for consumers with consistent S$2k/month budgets. Cardholders who maintain this spend level for 3 months earn 5% flat cashback, up to S$100/month (S$300/quarter). Consumers earn a special +5% boost (up to 10%) on Grab rides and select UOB Travel, plus +1% (up to 6%) on SP bills. Lower or inconsistent spenders earn just 3.33% cashback, which is less competitive overall.
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| UOB Visa Signature v. Maybank Horizon Visa |
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| Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card is one of the best options on the market for miles-seeking consumers who spend time both in Singapore and abroad. Cardholders earn an impressive 3.2 miles per S$1 on local dining, petrol, taxi fares & Agoda bookings, plus 2 miles on air tickets, travel packages and foreign currency transactions. While Maybank Horizon Visa Card's rates are generally lower than UOB Visa Signature's, it has a much lower S$300 minimum spend requirement and higher 12k miles/month earnings cap.
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| UOB Visa Signature v. OCBC Voyage |
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| OCBC Voyage Card offers wealthier travellers a convenient way to earn boosted miles even while at home. Cardholders earn 2.3 miles per S$1 overseas and 1.2 miles per S$1 locally–elevated to 1.6 miles for local dining. As dining makes up a large part of many consumers' budgets, this added perk is quite attractive for frequent travellers who often spend extended periods within Singapore.
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| UOB Visa Signature v. UOB One Card |
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| While UOB One Card offers cashback rather than miles, it may just be the best rewards card on the market for consumers with consistent S$2k/month budgets. Cardholders who maintain this spend level for 3 months earn 5% flat cashback, up to S$100/month (S$300/quarter). Consumers earn a special +5% boost (up to 10%) on Grab rides and select UOB Travel, plus +1% (up to 6%) on SP bills. Lower or inconsistent spenders earn just 3.33% cashback, which is less competitive overall.
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Zoryana is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, who focuses on evaluating credit cards, savings and fixed deposits in Singapore. She holds a BA in Political Science and an MPA in International Finance and Economic Policy, both from Columbia University. Prior to joining ValueChampion, Zoryana worked in treasury management consulting.