Overview

Initial Impression: UOB Zenith immediately stands out as an exclusive, luxury-tier credit card with perks that outmatch those within its weight class

Benchmarking

UOB Zenith sits between affluent cards like TTB Absolute and ultra-exclusive cards like KBank Wisdom, offering a good mix of preferential points earn rate and perks.

Earn Mechanism

UOB Zenith uses the UOB Reward point system. However, the key difference is that general spending earns a bonus rate apart from a few select categories. 

• Base Earning Rate: Earn 1 UOB point for every 25 baht spent on eligible purchases
• Local Spending Bonus: Receive 2x points (i.e., 2 point per 25 baht spent) for all transactions in THB with limited exceptions
• Foreign Spending Bonus: Receive 4x points (i.e., 4 point per 25 baht spent) for all transactions in foreign currency

You can see how this earn mechanism works in the examples below:

There is no general cap on bonus points you can earn with UOB Zenith. However, points earned on spending at supermarkets (e.g., MCC 5411) will be capped at 100,000 baht spend per billing cycle.

Maximum Spending Eligible for Points 

UOB stands for having one of the widest ranges of airline partners to transfer UOB points. 

Note: For ease of comparison, all examples would refer to Thai Airways ROP miles unless otherwise stated.

Based on the points earn rate, we can infer the following miles earn rate for UOB Zenith:

Getting Cashback

UOB Point is that they could also be redeemed directly for cashback via its “Pay with Points” scheme on the UOB TMRW app. However, provided UOB Zenith’s special points to miles exchange ratio, far greater value is received when converting to miles.

The exchange rate will vary by the nature of the transaction you wish to substitute with points and any ongoing campaigns. For reference, we’ve listed an exemplary example below:

Based on the points earn rate, we can infer the following cashback rate for UOB Zenith:

Spending Overseas

When you use a credit card overseas, your purchases are charged in a foreign currency and then converted to Thai Baht. This conversion comes with a foreign exchange (FX) spread or fee—a hidden cost many cardholders overlook.

UOB Zenith’s FX fees are right on par with all other cards. While you can somewhat offset the spread with the preferential 4x points bonus, it more or less results in a net-zero situation. Here's a breakdown of the charges:

• Currency Conversion Fee: Foreign Currency Conversion Fee of ~2% on top of the Visa/Mastercard spread.
• Exchange Spread: Depending on which version of the UOB Zenith card you get, this will refer to either Visa or Mastercard’s spread that is built into their respective rates. This typically stands at ~1%.

For example, you spend 30,000 baht on an overseas trip.

Lounge Access

With UOB Zenith, you’ll get complimentary visits to Priority Pass airport lounges globally every calendar year. 

To get in, just show your Priority Pass card and boarding pass at the lounge entrance. Keep in mind, UOB Zenith gives you a Priority Pass card separately — your credit card alone won’t work as a pass. The great this is that there are no additional conditions to enjoy this perk.

Now, the next question may be “what lounges can I use in Bangkok”? For that, we’ve compiled a list of lounges available for PriorityPass holders at Suvarnabhumi Airport:

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the UOB Zenith, you must meet specific eligibility criteria based on nationality, income, and employment status. Here's a breakdown of the requirements:

A. Ordinary Requirements:

Thai Nationals

Foreigner

B. Alternative Requirements:

With the exception of exclusive invitations that are considered on a case-by-case basis by UOB, there are no alternative qualifications for UOB Zenith

Annual Fee

UOB Zenith has a rather steep annual fee for both the primary and supplementary cards. As of January 2025, UOB Thailand does not offer an automatic or official annual fee waiver for the UOB Zenith Credit Card. This policy applies to all credit card tiers, including the UOB Zenith. However, the bank may still consider waivers on a case-by-case basis.

Primary Card

Supplementary Card

While UOB Zenith supplementary cards can be used to help earn points, points redemptions are strictly limited to the primary card. Nonetheless, points pooling remains a handy way to boost points acquisition.

For example, if both you and your spouse spend ฿15,000 per month, you’ll earn points as if you spent ฿30,000—reaching travel or cashback rewards much quicker.