For the longest time, UOB cardholders have had to be vigilant about UOB$ merchants (formerly known as SMART$ merchants), where UOB$ cashback would be awarded in lieu of UNI$ points.
Despite the similar-sounding names, UOB$ and UNI$ are worlds apart. UOB$ is a form of return cashback that can be spent on the next bill with the same merchant. UNI$ is UOB’s points currency, which can be converted into airline miles. And with a median UOB$ rebate of just 3.5%, you would almost always be worse off earning UOB$, compared to up to 4 mpd through UNI$.
So imagine my shock when I learned last month that UOB would finally be ending this policy, and allowing cardholders earn both UNI$ and UOB$ cashback at UOB$ merchants. That day is finally here, and changes the game completely, making UOB$ merchants something to look forward to rather than avoid!
UOB$ merchants now earn UNI$ too
From 1 November 2024, UOB cardholders can double dip on both UOB$ and UNI$ on their transactions at UOB$ merchants, a reversal of the previous one-or-the-other policy.
For example, previously if I spent S$10 at Toast Box with my UOB Preferred Platinum Visa, I would earn S$0.30 worth of UOB$ (S$0.60 on Fridays) and no miles. Going forward, I will earn both the UOB$ and 20 UNI$ (equivalent to 40 miles), assuming payment via mobile contactless.
| ๐ Illustration: S$10 spent at Toast Box with UOB Pref. Plat. Visa | ||
| Till 31 Oct 24 | From 1 Nov 24 | |
| UOB$ | S$0.30 (S$0.60 on Fridays) |
|
| UNI$ | – | 20 UNI$ (equivalent to 40 miles) |
The UOB Rewards terms and conditions have been updated to reflect this change.
|
UNI$ will not be awarded for: 20.5 any transactions at UOB$ merchants where UOB$ are issued (up and until 31 Oct 2024); |
How have earn rates at UOB$ merchants changed?
With the revised policy, here’s how the earn rates at UOB$ merchants have changed for some popular UOB miles-earning cards.
| ๐ณ Earn Rates at UOB$ Merchants | ||
| Card | Till 31 Oct 24 | From 1 Nov 24 |
 UOB Lady’s CardApply |
3.6 mpd | 4 mpd^ |
 UOB Lady’s SolitaireApply |
3.6 mpd | 4 mpd^ |
 UOB Visa Signature Apply |
3.6 mpd | 4 mpd* |
 UOB Pref. Plat. VisaApply |
No miles | 4 mpd* |
 UOB ReserveBy invite only |
No miles | 1.6 mpd |
 UOB PRVI Miles AMEXApply |
1.4 mpd# |
1.4 mpd# |
 UOB PRVI Miles MastercardApply |
No miles | 1.4 mpd |
 UOB PRVI Miles VisaApply |
No miles | 1.4 mpd |
 UOB Visa Infinite Metal CardApply |
No miles | 1.4 mpd |
 KrisFlyer UOB CardApply |
No miles | 1.2 mpd |
| ^Provided the MCC falls under your quarterly bonus category *Provided you use mobile contactless payments (UOB Preferred Platinum Visa) or contactless payment (UOB Visa Signature) #The UOB PRVI Miles AMEX does not participate in the UOB$ programme |
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In short, you’ll be earning more miles than before, together with extra UOB$ cashback. It really is a win-win situation, and flips your thought process 180 degrees. Instead of avoiding UOB cards at UOB$ merchants, you’ll now want to use them here!
Full list of UOB$ merchants
If there’s one fly in the ointment, it’s that this development coincides with several big names such as Cold Storage, Giant, Guardian, Starbucks and Sushiro leaving the UOB$ programme. This would normally have been a cause for celebration, but for the policy change!
As a reminder, here’s the current list of UOB$ merchants.
Dining
Dining
| Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
| 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro | 5% |
|
| A&A Bistro & Cafรฉ | 3% |
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| Aburi-EN | 3% |
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| Bee Cheng Hiang | 2% |
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| Bonchon | 5% | |
| BreadTalk | 3% |
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| Canadian 2 for 1 Pizza | 5% |
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| Canteen by Trapeze Rec. Club | 3% |
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| Carl’s Jr | 3% |
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| Cellarbration | 3% | |
| Cinnabon | 5% | |
| Co Chung | 10% |
|
| Crystal Jade Group | 3% |
|
| Famous Kitchen | 5% |
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| Famous Palace | 5% |
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| Famous Treasure | 5% |
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| Feng Tian Xiao Chu | 5% |
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| Francesca’s | 5% |
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| Hang Heung | 5% |
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| Hard Rock Cafe | 3% | |
| Hei Sushi | 3% | |
| House of Seafood | 3% (cap S$60) |
|
| House of White Beehoon | 3% |
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| I.N.U Cafe and Boutique | 5% |
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| Ivins | 3% (cap S$50) |
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| Jia He Xing | 3% | |
| Kinara Contemporary Indian Cuisine | 10% |
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| Kinara North West | 10% |
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| Kyojo Dining | 5% |
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| La Coffee | 3% | |
| Little Italy | 10% |
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| MOA Restrobar | 3% (min. S$40) |
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| Mr Biryani | 3% |
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| Mr. Coconut | 2% |
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| Mun Zuk | 5% |
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| Nanbantei Japanese Restaurant | 5% |
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| Nong Geng Ji | 5% |
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| Orchid Live Seafood | 3% (cap S$30) |
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| OSO Ristorante | 5% |
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| Patisserie G | 5% |
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| Pearl Hill Garden Restaurant | 5% |
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| Polar Puffs and Cakes | 2% |
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| Potato Corner | 3% | |
| Sakae Sushi | 3% | |
| Salmon Samurai | 3% |
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| Secret Mermaid | 3% | |
| Standing Sushi Bar | 3% | |
| Swatow Seafood Restaurant | 5% |
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| Tangmen Restaurant | 5% |
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| Tanuki Raw | 3% | |
| Tarte by Cheryl Koh | 5% | |
| Taste of India | 5% (cap S$8) |
|
| Tenkaichi Japanese BBQ Restaurant | 5% |
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| Tian Tian You Yu | 10% |
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| Toast Box | 3% |
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| Yole | 10% |
|
Gourmet Dining
Gourmet Dining
| Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
| Kappou Miyako | 5% (cap S$100) |
|
Lux Retail
Lux Retail
| Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
| CDG | 5% (min. S$1K) |
|
| Club21 | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| DKNY | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| Jil Sander | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| Mulberry | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| Paul Smith | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| PLAY CDG | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| Sacai | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| Stella McCartney | 5% (min. S$1K) |
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| Thom Browne | 5% (min. S$1K) |
Do note that the earn rate for all of the above merchants will be increased to 10% from 1 January to 25 April 2025, with a minimum spend of S$1,500.
Retail and Services
Retail and Services
| Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
| Aesthetic Works MediSpa | 3% (min. S$500) |
|
| agnรจs B | 5% |
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| Buff’d Nail Spa | 3% | |
| CASA | 3% |
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| Code Bright Academy | 3% | |
| COSLAB | 3% |
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| Crocodile | 3% |
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| Delta Dental Surgeons | 3% |
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| Fortune Supermarket | 2% | |
| Gordon Max | 3% |
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| G-Star Raw | 5% |
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| Guardian | 1% (min. S$50) |
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| Hall of Fame | 6% |
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| Hang Ten | 3% |
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| HoneyWorld | 3% | |
| iRun | 6% |
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| JD Sports | 5% (min. S$100) |
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| Le Coq Sportif | 5% |
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| LFC | 6% |
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| Limited Edt Underground | 6% |
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| M)phosis | 3% |
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| Maco Nail Spa | 3% | |
| Miniso | 4% |
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| Mr Jeff | 5% |
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| New Era | 6% | |
| Nitori | 3% |
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| Optique Paris Miki | 2% |
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| OZARA | 3% |
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| Picota Nail Spa | 3% | |
| Pixie Nail Spa | 3% | |
| Qoosh Nail Spa | 3% | |
| Replay | 5% |
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| Salivan Beauty Clinic | 5% |
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| Sports Fashion | 6% |
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| Surferโs Paradise | 3% |
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| The Stretch Clinic | 5% |
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| Under Armour | 6% |
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| Weston Corp | 6% |
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| Winter Time | 2% |
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Travel and Entertainment
Travel and Entertainment
| Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
| Cathay Cineplexes | 2% | |
| City Tours | 10% |
|
Conclusion
UOB cardholders can now earn both UOB$ cashback and UNI$ points on transactions at UOB$ merchants, a reversal of the longstanding either-or policy.
This means that you should actively seek to use UOB cards at UOB$ merchants wherever possible, as the extra UOB$ cashback, no matter how measly or restricted, is still something above and beyond the miles (of course, this assumes you haven’t busted the 4 mpd bonus caps on your UOB cards).
Future generations won’t know the paranoia we had with avoiding the dreaded UOB$, but we should be thankful for that.
Is the uob$ offset automatic? Meaning if i have uob$1 earned rebate and when pay for a toast box bill of $10, I end up with a $9 bill?
UOB can further enhance the attractiveness of its cards by offering more transfer partners but its numerous tie ups with SIA probably means itโs tough.