The UBS Visa Signature and UBS Visa Infinite credit cards allow you to keep your finances under one umbrella if you’re a client at UBS, a wealth management firm. They might not be easy to come by, though.
The cards are marketed only to wealth management clients at the firm, although you don’t have to be a UBS client to qualify. Eligibility depends on whether you can meet a minimum asset threshold — undisclosed by the firm — on top of typical credit requirements. If you’re interested, you’ll have to connect with a UBS advisor for more details. Applications are not directly available online.
The cards could be worth considering if you prefer to have all of your finances under one roof as a UBS wealth management client. However, you’ll find more value, simplicity and flexibility with other credit cards.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. The UBS Visa Infinite has more perks
As is the case with most rewards credit cards with high annual fees, the UBS Visa Infinite card’s perks are abundant and help offset the $650 yearly cost.
As a cardholder, you’ll get:
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A welcome offer: Depending on your eligibility and the assets you have under management with UBS, new cardholders may be eligible to receive 125,000 My Choice Reward points with the UBS Visa Infinite card, or 25,000 points. (For the UBS Visa Signature card, the offer is 50,000 My Choice Rewards points, or 5,000 points.) Unlike with other credit cards, there isn’t a spending requirement to earn these offers, but the firm’s requirements for assets under management are not shared publicly.
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Ongoing rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on commercial air travel; 2 points per dollar spent on eligible groceries, select digital entertainment, newspapers and cable TV; and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.
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Lounge access: Access over 1,500 airport lounges with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.
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A $500 annual credit: Get a $500 annual credit for restaurant transactions, Amazon Prime membership fees or airport lounge access made with the card when you spend $25,000 or greater during either the current calendar year-to-date or the prior calendar year. You’ll receive an email alert and see it displayed on your account when you’re eligible to claim the credit. You must claim it within 120 days of the transaction date.
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A $500 airline fee credit for qualifying air travel expenses: You must enroll to be eligible for this benefit on UBS online services and select an eligible domestic carrier. Terms apply. This credit can be used toward checked bags, upgrades, change fees, cancellation fees, lounge fees, pet travel and more.
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A statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck applications: Get a credit toward either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years when you use the card to pay for application fees.
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Premium hotel benefits: Get perks at a select portfolio of hotels with the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection. Reservations must be booked either on a Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection website or through UBS Concierge. Terms and benefits vary by property.
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VIP amenities at select Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont and Park Hyatt properties: You’ll get things like complimentary breakfast for two, a credit to be used on the premises and more, depending on the property.
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A complimentary 30-day cell data roaming plan: Get 5GB per cardholder in over 125 countries via GigSky, an eSIM and global data service provider.
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Travel protections: Receive primary collision and theft insurance on rental cars, travel accident insurance, emergency medical evacuation coverage and lost luggage coverage, as well as reimbursements for delayed or cancelled trips.
2. The $0-annual-fee option offers an Amazon Prime credit
The UBS Visa Signature doesn’t charge an annual fee and comes with far fewer perks than its higher-end sibling. However, it can still be somewhat valuable if it matches your lifestyle and spending, particularly with Amazon Prime perk.
Cardholders receive a $140 annual credit toward an Amazon Prime membership in the first year of having the card. After that, to qualify for the $140 credit, you’ll have to spend $12,000 or greater annually by the anniversary date of enrollment and charge the Prime membership to the card.
In addition to the Amazon Prime credit, the card also offers the following benefits:
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Rewards: Earn 1 My Choice Rewards point per dollar spent on eligible purchases.
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Protections: The card has travel protections, purchase protections and cell phone protection. Terms apply.
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24/7 UBS Concierge service: Get assistance with travel planning, event ticket access, restaurant reservations and more.
3. Redemption is flexible, but point values vary
Points earned on both cards can be redeemed for travel (car rentals, airfare, cruises, hotels, vacation packages), gift cards or certificates, merchandise, or a statement credit for a specific purchase of $100 or more. Depending on which card you have, booking fees apply for airline and cruise tickets booked through the UBS Rewards Service Center. You may also redeem points to cover annual service fees for your UBS Resource Management Account or Business Service Account, but you’ll have to call the UBS Rewards Service Center to request this option.
The value of your points may vary depending on how you use them. For instance, points redeemed for statement credits and gift cards are worth 1 cent apiece, but the value of points for merchandise varies based on product.
Flight and airline redemptions can offer greater point value, up to certain thresholds. As an example, points for a flight of up to $350 are worth between one cent a piece and 1.4 cents apiece. Points for a flight of up to $900 could be redeemed at a value between 1.1 cents to 1.8 cents each. For tickets that cost more, you’ll have to pay the difference using rewards points at a rate of 5,000 points for any additional cost of up to $50.
There are no blackout dates for flights, cruises and hotels. Points also don’t expire as long as the card is open and active.
4. Both cards offer fee-free cash advances and ATM rebates
If your card is linked to a Resource Management Account or Business Services Account, you’ll also get unlimited ATM fee rebates in the U.S. (up to $5 per transaction for the Visa Signature and up to $10 per transaction for the Visa Infinite).
A cash advance should typically be a last resort because it usually triggers fees and a higher interest rate that starts accruing immediately, but a UBS card can be the rare exception.
5. There are more flexible and rewarding options
Cardholders also get unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and more than 1,300 lounges in Capital One’s Partner Network. There’s a credit of up to $120 for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck when you pay with the card, and it provides travel protections, among other perks. New cardholders also get this welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Information related to the Prime Visa credit card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
