UBS Bank has a premium UBS Visa Infinite card with a consumer version and a business version that are essentially the same.
The card comes with an annual fee of $650 and a sign-up bonus of 25,000 points. Some are getting a sign-up bonus offer of 125,000 points. The card also comes with plenty of perks, including a random $500 airline credit and a potential $500 credit spending bonus, Priority Pass lounge access, and more.
UBS is an international bank with footprints in the US, Switzerland and elsewhere. We wrote a review of the card in 2020and I’m doing it again now since the card changed significantly with their 1/1/25 refresh.
Application Information
Direct connection to the card | See the target bid of 125k at this link
The card is not available for online application. You can go to a branch or call them at 800-762-1000. They will send a paper application to your address. (You may also need an open checking account to be able to use online banking.)
Important note: It is not easy to get an approval from UBS as they are mainly interested in high net worth individuals.
Rewards Program
Signup bonus
There are two versions of the mentioned signup bonus:
- The standard signup bonus offer is 25,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first three months.
- There is an added offer of 125,000 points after spending $6,000 within the first three months. Valid until 30.6.26. Talk to your UBS financial advisor or call 866-UBS-VISA (866-827-8472).
Earning rewards
This card earns the following fees per $1 spent:
- Earn 3x points on commercial air travel
- Earn 2x points on eligible groceries, select digital entertainment, newspapers and cable TV
- Earn 1 point on all other eligible purchases
There is no limit to how many points you can earn and points do not expire as long as the card is open.
Redemption of rewards
Minimum, points can be redeemed at one percent per point as statement credit ($100 minimum) which is a good base.
To maximize value, you’ll want to redeem for travel on any commercial airline. These flights must be booked through UBS and paid for by card. You will receive the following redemption values:
- 50,000 points gets you a flight worth up to $900 (ends at 1.8 CPP)
- 25,000 points gets you a flight worth up to $350 (ends at 1.4 CPP)
If you book a flight that costs $250, you’ll still pay 25,000 points and only get 1 CPP. If you book a flight that costs MORE than $350/$900, you’ll pay 5,000 points per $50. You must cover the full cost of the ticket with reward points.
Examples of scenarios:
- The $1,101 flight will cost 75,000 points (50k + 25k)
- $1,100 flight will cost 70,000 points (50k + 20k)
- $950 flight will cost 55,000 points (50k + 5k)
- The $900 flight will cost 50,000 points
- The $800 flight will cost 50,000 points
- $500 flight will cost 40,000 points (25k + 15k)
- $351 flight will cost 30,000 points (25k + 5k)
- The $350 flight will cost 25,000 points
- The $200 flight will cost 25,000 points
You can also redeem points to pay the $650 annual fee. The redemption rate for this is not yet known.
Card Benefits
Being a premium travel credit card, this card comes with many different benefits:
$500 airline fee credit
You get up to $500 a year in airline fee credits with a select US airline. Qualifying purchases include baggage fees, seat upgrades, lounge fees, change fees, onboard purchases and similar fees. Check-in and airline selection required.
“Qualifying” transactions are defined as airline ancillary fee transactions made on eligible US domestic airlines and include: preferred seat upgrades, ticket change/cancellation fees, checked baggage fees, in-flight entertainment, in-flight food and beverage fees, airport lounge fees (excluding those other Club travel fees Airport, UBS).
In other words: this will work similar to random Amex airline credits, NOT like Sapphire Reserve or Prestige.
Since the year is based on the calendar year, it will be possible to double the first year and get two $500 credits. We have to see what works to be reimbursed. Refunds should come automatically without you having to call.
$500 Spending Bonus ($25k spend)
Get $500 in annual credit after spending $25,000 each calendar year. You can get up to $500 in statement credits for:
- Shopping at the restaurant
- Amazon Prime Membership
- Airport lounge memberships or day passes
Credit must be claimed at online login; it is not automatic. The credit must be claimed every calendar year and does not carry over.
As I understand it, by spending $25k in a single calendar year, you then get two $500 credits: one to use before December of the current year, and then reset (with no new spending) to use from January to December of the following year. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Other benefits
- Lounge access with Priority Pass
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Benefit $120 every 4 years (I believe past authorized user cards have received their $120 credit.)
- An annual GigSky global data benefit, offering 5GB of international eSIM data valid for 30 days in 100+ countries
- Standard travel protection with Visa Infinite
- Car rental insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, emergency medical evacuation insurance, baggage delay coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, roadside assistance.
- There is no ATM withdrawal fee if it is withdrawn from your resource management account with UBS.
- There are no foreign transaction fees
Final Thoughts
It will likely not be easy to get this card as UBS is apparently reluctant to deal only with high net worth individuals. If you can, there’s good first-year value here with two random $500 airline credits and two $500 bonus spending credits, which can apparently be achieved with a single $25,000 spend.
It’s probably not worth it because of the $650 fee and the $25K required for those credits, but if you can get the 125,000 point sign-up bonus, it makes it interesting for high spenders. Someone who can get the CPP 1.8 per ride repayment will also find it easier to justify the fare and expenses.
Hat tip to reader KafkaExploring
