Welcome to the January 2025 roundup of UOB$ merchants, which highlights the places where UOB cardholders can earn additional cashback, on top of their UNI$. This cashback can then be spent on your next visit to the same merchant.
While there are no joiners or leavers this month, there are two significant developments to highlight.
First, UOB has discontinued its “double UOB$ Fridays” promotion, which offered 2x UOB$ every Friday at more than 30 merchants across Singapore like Crystal Jade and Toast Box.
Second, the Lux Retail category gets a boost this month, with UOB cardholders earning 10% UOB$ with a minimum spend of S$1,500, all the way till 25 April 2025. This is double last month’s rate of 5% UOB$ cashback (though there has also been an increase in the minimum spend from S$1,000).
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UOB$ Programme |
💳 UOB $ Merchants |
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Why did UOB$ merchants use to be a problem?
UOB$ merchants (formerly known as SMART$ merchants) used to be one of the biggest minefields for UOB cardholders, because UOB$ cashback would be awarded in lieu of UNI$.
Despite the similar-sounding names, UOB$ 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
With a median UOB$ rebate of just 3.5%, you would almost always be worse off earning UOB$, compared to up to 4 mpd of UNI$.
But on 1 November 2024, everything changed as UOB revised its policy to allow double dipping on UNI$ and UOB$ at UOB$ merchants.
Now, instead of avoiding UOB$ merchants, UOB cardholders should be seeking them out. UOB$ rebates may be modest, but so long as they’re in addition to UNI$, you have little to lose.
How do UOB$ work?
When UOB cardholders spend at UOB$ merchants, they earn UOB$ which can be redeemed on the next transaction with the same merchant at a rate of 1 UOB$ = S$1.
For example, suppose you visit UOB$ merchant Miniso (4% rebates) and use your UOB Preferred Platinum Visa to pay for a S$20 transaction (via mobile contactless). You will earn:
- 40 UNI$ (which can be convert into 80 airline miles)
- 0.80 UOB$ (which can be used to offset a future transaction at Miniso)
UOB$ can be tracked via the UOB TMRW app. To view the UOB$ you’ve earned, tap on Rewards+ > My rewards > UOB$.
This shows a summary of the UOB$ you’ve earned at various merchants, as well as the expiry date.
All UOB cards participate in the UOB$ programme, with the exception of:
- UOB PRVI Miles AMEX
- UOB Absolute Cashback Card
- UOB Preferred Platinum AMEX Card (no longer issued)
- UOB UnionPay Platinum Card
- UOB Travel Account Card
- UOB Purchasing Card
Changes for January 2025
New UOB$ merchants
No new merchants have joined the UOB$ programme in the month of January 2025.
Removed UOB$ merchants
No merchants have left the UOB$ programme in the month of January 2025.
However, there are some changes to earn rates worth highlighting.
Previously, UOB offered double UOB$ every Friday at selected merchants like Bee Cheng Hiang, Carls Jr., Crystal Jade, Polar Puffs and Cakes and Toast Box. This promotion has not been renewed for 2025, affecting the following 31 merchants.
🛍️ “Double UOB$ Friday” Merchants | |
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The other big change for this month is that merchants under the Lux Retail category like Club21 and DKNY now offer 10% UOB$ cashback with a minimum spend of S$1,500, versus 5% UOB$ cashback with a minimum spend of S$1,000 last month.
Full list of UOB$ merchants
Here’s the latest list of UOB$ merchants, current as of 30 January 2025 (sections are expanded by default for easier searching; you can tap on individual sections to collapse them for easier navigation).
Dining
Dining
Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro | 5% |
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A&A Bistro & Café | 3% |
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Aburi-EN | 3% |
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Bee Cheng Hiang | 2% |
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Bonchon | 5% | |
BreadTalk | 3% | |
Canadian 2 for 1 Pizza | 5% |
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Canteen by Trapeze Rec. Club | 3% |
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Carl’s Jr | 3% | |
Cellarbration | 3% | |
Cinnabon | 5% | |
Co Chung | 10% |
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Crystal Jade Group | 3% |
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Famous Kitchen | 5% | |
Famous Palace | 5% | |
Famous Treasure | 5% | |
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) |
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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% | |
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) |
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Tenkaichi Japanese BBQ Restaurant | 5% |
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Tian Tian You Yu | 10% |
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Toast Box | 3% |
Gourmet Dining
Gourmet Dining
Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
Kappou Miyako | 5% (cap S$100) |
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Lux Retail
Lux Retail
Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
CDG | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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Club21 | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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DKNY | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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Jil Sander | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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Mulberry | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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Paul Smith | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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PLAY CDG | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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Sacai | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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Stella McCartney | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
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Thom Browne | 10% (min. S$1.5K) |
Retail and Services
Retail and Services
Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
Aesthetic Works MediSpa | 3% (min. S$500) |
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agnès B | 5% | |
Buff’d Nail Spa | 3% | |
CASA | 3% |
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Code Bright Academy | 3% | |
COSLAB | 3% |
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Crocodile | 3% | |
Delta Dental Surgeons | 3% |
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Fortune Supermarket | 2% | |
Gordon Max | 3% |
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G-Star Raw | 5% | |
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$100) |
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Le Coq Sportif | 5% |
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LFC | 6% |
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Limited Edt Underground | 6% |
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M)phosis | 3% | |
Maco Nail Spa | 3% | |
Miniso | 4% | |
Mr Jeff | 5% |
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New Era | 6% | |
Nitori | 3% | |
Optique Paris Miki | 2% | |
OZARA | 3% |
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Picota Nail Spa | 3% | |
Pixie Nail Spa | 3% | |
Qoosh Nail Spa | 3% | |
Replay | 5% |
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Salivan Beauty Clinic | 5% |
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Sports Fashion | 6% |
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Surfer’s Paradise | 3% |
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The Stretch Clinic | 5% |
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Under Armour | 6% |
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Weston Corp | 6% | |
Winter Time | 2% |
Travel and Entertainment
Travel and Entertainment
Merchant | Rebate | Remarks |
Cathay Cineplexes | 2% | |
City Tours | 10% |
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Conclusion
UOB cardholders can now earn both UOB$ cashback and UNI$ points at UOB$ merchants, which means no more fretting over missing points. In fact, this gives you extra incentive to use a UOB card, since the extra cashback is just the icing on the cake.
Unfortunately, January 2025 sees an end to “double UOB$ Fridays”, with the 31 merchants now earning the same flat rate every day of the week.
On the plus side, those shopping at luxury retailers like DKNY and Paul Smith will now earn a higher rebate of 10%, although the minimum spend has also increased to S$1,500.