January usually means tightening routines and watching expenses more closely — especially once daily commutes are back in full swing. That’s where Shell is stepping in with a timely perk for motorists.
For two weekends only, Shell V-Power will be available at the prevailing price of Shell FuelSave 98, letting drivers upgrade to Shell’s premium performance fuel without paying extra.
The promotion runs on:
9–11 January
16–18 January
It’s a rare chance for motorists who typically fuel up with Shell FuelSave 98 to experience Shell V-Power — known for keeping engines cleaner and performing closer to new — at the same price point, just by filling up on the right days
I’ve been on the lookout for a credit card with the best rewards and after some research, I stumbled on this combo:
UOB Lady’s Credit Card x UOB Lady’s Savings Account
I’m excited to make the most out of my savings and spending, knowing that signing up for both can earn me up to an impressive 25X UNI$ per S$5 spent, equivalent to 10 miles per S$1!
How It Works for Me:
UOB Lady’s Credit Card: I earn 10X UNI$ per S$5 spent on up to two of my preferred rewards category(ies). That’s 4 miles for every S$1 I spend.
UOB Lady’s Savings Account: I boost my rewards with up to an additional 15X UNI$ per S$5 spent on my preferred rewards category(ies), adding up to 6 more miles per S$1.
Plus, there’s no lock-in period, giving me the flexibility to choose and change my preferred rewards category(ies) every quarter.
And the best part? There’s no minimum spend required, allowing me to earn rewards on my terms!
Painting the Picture:
I have plans to maintain a S$50,000 Monthly Average Balance (MAB) in my UOB Lady’s Savings Account and spend S$800 each month on my preferred rewards category(ies) with my UOB Lady’s Credit Card.
For me, a monthly S$800 spend is easily attainable since I spend the bulk on the Beauty & Wellness and Dining categories.
Here’s the rough breakdown if you’re interested:
Gym membership ($100)
Beauty/cosmetic buys ($100)
Personal grooming such as hairdressing, facial treatment/hair removal, nails/lash/eyebrows, etc. ($300)
Dining at my favourite restaurant and ordering food via foodpanda ($300)
This means in just one month, I could rack up 3,200 UNI$.
Keeping this up for 12 months means I could gather a whopping 38,400 UNI$ in a year!
Redeeming My Rewards:
I can convert these UNI$ into 76,800 KrisFlyer miles (1 UNI$ = 2 miles).
With that, I could snag my round-trip business class ticket to Hong Kong* within a year! It would be my first-ever business class experience.
But if I decide not to spend all my UNI$ on flying, I have plenty of other options too.
I can redeem my UNI$ for rewards from a variety of dining, shopping, and travel merchants on UOB Rewards+.
In essence, whether I’m aiming for luxury travel or indulging in simple everyday perks, the benefits add up quickly!
*Based on Singapore Airline’s Saver Awards Chart as of October 2023, excluding taxes, charges, and fees.
Maximizing Your Rewards:
You can choose and change your preferred rewards category(ies) every quarter. These include:
Dining
Travel
Fashion
Beauty & Wellness
Family
Transport
Entertainment
This flexibility means you can adapt as your spending habits and priorities shift.
Switch to whatever categories you deem fit quarterly to maximize your UNI$ and get the best rewards for your spending and savings!
For example, during the year-end holiday season, I can switch my rewards category to Travel. This allows me to book air tickets and easily hit the S$800 spending target in a single transaction!
By consistently managing my spending, I can easily accumulate a significant amount of UNI$ annually. During travel months, I can reach the monthly spending target even faster by booking air tickets and covering other travel expenses.
If you have more savings to park aside and can maintain at least a S$100,000 MAB, you can earn an additional 15X Lady’s Savings Bonus UNI$ on your preferred rewards category(ies).
So, it’s smart to consolidate your purchases with the Lady’s Credit Card to maximize your Lady’s Savings Bonus UNI$.
Curious About Your Rewards?
Wondering how many UNI$ and miles YOU can rack up based on YOUR spending and savings?
Simply click this link to UOB’s official website and click on ‘Calculator’ to access the ‘Lady’s Card and Lady’s Savings Account Calculator’ to enter your details and see your potential rewards in a flash!
Just like this:
Subsequently, as a card member, you can easily view, track and redeem your UNI$ rewards all on the UOB TMRW app.
0% LuxePay Interest-Free Payment Plan over 6 or 12 months on your luxury purchase (shoes or bags)
Exclusive Birthday Treats during your birthday month
e-Commerce Protection for your online purchases
Complimentary Travel Insurance covering up to 100,000 USD
Receive a S$250 Sephora Gift Card when you spend a min. of S$6,000 on your UOB Lady’s Credit Card. Limited to the first 280 eligible cardmembers.
For the UOB Lady’s Savings Account:
Receive a Bespoke Puffy Bag with Rose Leather Charm worth S$98 by reBynd, an eco-conscious brand by Bynd Artisan, when you apply for the account online and deposits S$5,000 new funds into the account. Limited to the first 150 customers in each calendar month from 8 March to 30 April 2025 only.
That’s not all. UOB is also rewarding ALL customers who hold both the UOB Lady’s Credit Card and UOB Lady’s Savings Account as of 30 Apr 2025 with a lucky draw chance to win an Éclat KNOT Alone® Double Pave Bangle worth S$520 or Gentle Monster sunglasses worth S$490.
T&Cs apply, of course. Insured up to S$100k by SDIC.
So stop waiting and join me right away by signing up now here.
And they are none other than DBS and UOB, the two big local bank names we’re aware of.
So news has it that new security measures will be implemented to protect customers from scams.
These measures include…
DBS’ anti-malware tool for Android
Following in the footsteps of OCBC and Citibank, DBS announced that they have developed an anti-malware tool for Android phones.
This tool aims to prevent scammers from illegally accessing customers’ accounts by limiting app access when potential risks such as malware or malicious applications on customers’ phones are detected.
Starting early this month, if sideloaded apps with accessibility permission enabled or ongoing screen-sharing or mirroring are detected on devices, access to DBS’ banking app will be restricted.
Customers will only be able to regain access once they have taken the necessary action to secure their phones.
I’ve received an email with official updates from DBS yesterday (30 September 2023) since I’m their customer:
Check your email if you don’t want to take my word for it.
UOB, too, rolls out anti-malware security features
Similarly, UOB will be introducing new anti-malware security features on its banking app gradually.
These updates will restrict access to the app if apps downloaded from third-party or unauthorized sites with risky permissions are detected.
An error message will be sent, indicating the name of the potentially risky app.
To continue using UOB’s digital services, you will need to uninstall or disable accessibility permissions for the mentioned app.
Similar to DBS, access to UOB’s banking app will be denied if screen-sharing on other apps or tools is detected on your phone.
This measure aims to prevent scammers from gaining control of your device and compromising banking information.
You can only resume using the app by disabling screen sharing.
What bank users think
If you don’t already know, OCBC was the first to implement these new security measures in September 2023, followed by Citibank.
While these measures are designed to counter the threat of malware scams, not everyone accepts them with a huge “thank you.”
Some OCBC customers have expressed concerns about privacy on the bank’s social media platforms.
But it’s rather uncalled for because the head of anti-fraud at OCBC group financial crime compliance noted that it’s a misconception that the bank can scan phones and view personal content.
In short, your information does not get to the bank. Your privacy is yours to keep.
DBS Singapore Country Head also acknowledged that these measures may cause some inconvenience for customers but emphasized their importance in ensuring secure digital transactions.
UOB also reassured customers that their new security features do not monitor phone activities or collect and store personal data.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) says it supports local banks’ initiatives to increase the safety of online banking.
So while you may experience some additional inconvenience due to the recent security measures, they are necessary to maintain the security in digital banking.
UOB cardholders enter a room and make the whole world shimmer! UOB has recently announced a remarkable surge of 45 percent in card applications across Southeast Asia. This surge follows the revelation on June 21 that UOB’s credit and debit cardholders would have exclusive access to tickets for Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated The Eras Tour concerts in Singapore.
The news of UOB cardholders enjoying privileged access to Taylor Swift’s upcoming six-day performance in Singapore sparked a wave of anticipation among the public. Jacquelyn Tan, Head of Group Personal Financial Services at UOB, expressed her delight at the “very significant surge” in card application volumes, not only in Singapore but also across the bank’s markets in ASEAN.
SOARING NUMBERS TO REAP EXCLUSIVE PERKS
With this announcement, UOB has granted over seven million customers the exclusive opportunity to attend Swift’s Singapore concert, which will be her only performance in Southeast Asia as part of The Eras Tour next year.
The impact of this announcement has been felt across ASEAN countries, as card applications experienced a notable surge. According to a media statement, the daily average of UOB credit card applications in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam during the week of June 21-27 witnessed a remarkable 45 percent increase compared to the preceding weeks of the month. Additionally, debit card applications in Singapore and Vietnam soared by nearly 130 percent.
Examining the demographics of credit card applications approved between June 21-30 in the five ASEAN markets reveals interesting trends. Customers aged 30 to 40 years constituted over one-third of the total applicants, while the 20 to 30-year-old demographic made up almost 32 percent. Among these new credit cardholders, females accounted for the majority at 52 percent. Notably, the UOB One Credit Card emerged as the preferred choice among applicants during this period.
UOB TRENDS IN SINGAPORE
In Singapore, the announcement of Swift’s concert triggered a noticeable shift in the demographics of new cardholders between June 21-27. The proportion of 25 to 29-year-olds increased from 22 percent to 27 percent in the week following the announcement. Moreover, there was a significant increase of almost 10 percent in the proportion of new female cardholders compared to the earlier part of the month when the male-female ratio was nearly equal. The UOB One Credit and Debit Card stood out as clear favorites among new local card applicants in their respective categories.
To accommodate the anticipated surge in card applications, UOB took proactive measures to increase the capacity of the relevant business units responsible for processing these applications.
Image Credits: unsplash.com
TAYLOR SWIFT EFFECT
Swift’s exclusive appearance in Singapore contributes to the nation’s concert frenzy as post-Covid travel resumes. Tickets for Coldplay’s concert sold out within hours of their release, and Hong Kong pop star Jacky Cheung is set to perform for a record-breaking 11 nights. According to travel platform Agoda, accommodation searches in the city-state during Coldplay’s concert dates in January experienced an astounding 8.7-times increase, driven primarily by Malaysia and Indonesia, as stated in a released statement last month. Ultimately, various sectors within the hotel and tourism industry are poised to experience a surge in sales in the upcoming year.
Skip the queue for the hottest seats with UOB Cards
Taylor Swift announced additional dates to Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour today. Singapore will be the only stop in Southeast Asia. Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in Singapore is presented by Marina Bay Sands and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, official bank and pre-sale partner UOB, and official experience partner Klook, promoted by AEG Presents Asia, and produced by Taylor Swift Touring.
The shows in Singapore will take place on March 2, 3, and 4, 2024 at Singapore National Stadium.
UOB is the Official Bank and Presale Partner for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in Singapore.
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Fan Registration for General On-Sale:
Friday, June 23 at 12PM (SGT) to Wednesday, June 28 at 12PM (SGT)
UOB Cardmembers Presale (no Fan Registration required):
Wednesday, July 5 at 12PM (SGT) to Friday, July 7 at 9AM (SGT) *Not available at Singpost outlets or hotline.
General On-Sale:
Starts from Friday, July 7 at 12PM (SGT)
For those who do not own a UOB Card may consider applying for one of the cards below. * Disclaimer: Applying for the card now may not guarantee that it may get approved before the presale date. It will take time for the application to be processed due to a surge during this period.
UOB PRVI Miles World MasterCard / Visa / Amex Card
Earn 6 miles per S$1 spent on major airlines and hotels booked through Expedia, UOB Travel, and Agoda
2.4 miles for every S$1 spent overseas, 1.4 miles for every S$1 spent locally
No minimum spend and cap on miles earned at all times
Welcome offer for new-to-bank customers (Get up to 50,000 miles):
To receive 45,200 miles, spend at least S$1,000 per month for 2 consecutive months, pay the 1st year annual fee (S$240) and SMS PMAF<space>last 4 alphanumeric characters of NRIC/passport by 30 June 2023
To receive an additional 4,800 miles (for 50,000 total miles), make a min. overseas spend of S$1,000 per month for 2 consecutive months
