If you’re looking at which priority banking relationship to pursue, congrats, you’ve amassed a significant amount of wealth and are doing something right with your finances.
UOB Privilege Banking and OCBC Premier Banking both sit in the affluent-banking segment, offering dedicated relationship management, wealth services and access to premium banking products.
But with both banks setting their entry point at $350,000 in qualifying assets under management (AUM), you’re going to have to think about what you get for maintaining that level of assets with each bank.
This article looks at 3 areas: AUM requirements, premium card perks and the practical requirements of maintaining each banking relationship.
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1. UOB Wealth Banking vs OCBC Premier at a glance
2. UOB Wealth Banking vs OCBC Premier: Minimum AUM requirements
UOB requires customers to maintain at least $350,000 in cash deposits and/or investments to qualify as a Privilege Banking customer.
The bank's terms state that the minimum $350,000 balance must be maintained at all times, although the bank determines the qualifying cash deposits and investment balances from time to time.
This means the $350,000 threshold is not simply an amount you need to deposit once to obtain the status. Maintaining the required relationship balance is part of remaining a UOB Privilege Banking customer.
UOB Privilege Banking also comes with access to a dedicated Client Advisor, wealth advisory services and support for banking needs across ASEAN.
OCBC Premier Banking also starts at $350,000 in qualifying AUM for customers residing in Singapore.
The qualifying assets can be held in deposits and investments that meet OCBC's criteria. OCBC also has a higher Premier Private Client tier, which requires $1.5 million in qualifying assets.
3. Card perks: UOB Privilege Visa Infinite vs OCBC Premier Visa Infinite card
The 2 cards use different rewards currencies, so you can't compare 2 miles per S$1 directly with 28 OCBC$ per S$5.
With the UOB Privilege Banking Card, the calculation is relatively straightforward. You earn 1.2 miles per S$1 on other local purchases, while selected local luxury merchants and overseas dining and shopping earn 2 miles per S$1. For example, S$1,000 of eligible overseas dining or shopping would earn 2,000 miles, while S$1,000 of other local spending would earn 1,200 miles. UOB also waives miles conversion fees.
The OCBC Premier Visa Infinite earns OCBC$ instead. You get 16 OCBC$ for every S$5 spent locally, or 28 OCBC$ for every S$5 spent in foreign currency. OCBC$ can then be converted into different rewards, including airline miles, hotel points, vouchers and statement credit.
For example, S$1,000 of local spending would earn 3,200 OCBC$, while S$1,000 of foreign-currency spending would earn 5,600 OCBC$. OCBC's current redemption rate for KrisFlyer is 25,000 OCBC$ for 10,000 KrisFlyer miles, so those amounts would be equivalent to 1,280 KrisFlyer miles and 2,240 KrisFlyer miles, respectively, assuming that redemption option.
This makes the type of spending particularly important. UOB's card gives you a simple miles-per-dollar structure, with its higher earn rate concentrated on specific overseas and luxury spending categories. OCBC gives you OCBC$ rather than miles directly, but offers more flexibility in how those rewards are redeemed.
Another thing worth highlighting is the annual fee for UOB. If the fee is paid rather than waived, UOB awards 30,000 UNI$, equivalent to 60,000 air miles.
ALSO READ: 9 Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore (August 2026)
4. Which is easier to qualify for?
While both need $350,000 AUM to qualify, there is a slight difference. UOB's Privilege Banking terms explicitly state that customers must maintain the minimum required monthly cash deposit and/or investment balance of S$350,000 at all times.
For OCBC, the current Premier Banking page states that customers in Singapore can start a Premier Banking relationship with S$350,000 in qualifying AUM, and nothing published about maintaining that amount.
This is worth checking if you are deciding between the two, because the practical cost of a premium banking relationship is not just reaching the entry threshold but maintaining the required relationship over time.
What about the UOB Wealth Premium Account?
If you have come across the UOB Wealth Premium Account while researching UOB's wealth products, note that it is associated with UOB Wealth Banking rather than being the qualification mechanism for UOB Privilege Banking.
UOB Wealth Banking starts at $100,000 in qualifying AUM.
ALSO READ: Priority Banking in Singapore (2025): Benefits, Eligibility, And More
5. Other perks worth knowing
The banking relationship itself can be just as important as the credit card.
UOB Privilege Banking provides access to a dedicated Client Advisor and wealth advisory services, including portfolio advice and investment solutions. The bank also highlights support across ASEAN through a single point of contact, which may be useful for customers with regional banking needs.
UOB Privilege Banking customers also have access to lifestyle benefits, including dining, travel and entertainment experiences.
OCBC Premier Banking provides a dedicated Relationship Manager and access to Premier Banking Centres in Singapore and across the region. Customers can also access wealth specialists and advisory services.
Other Premier privileges include priority service at selected OCBC branches, preferential services and access to the Premier Dividend+ Savings Account.
OCBC also offers overseas transfers in 19 currencies without cable and commission fees through its Premier Banking proposition.
6. Which one should you choose?
If you are primarily interested in miles and premium card benefits, compare the actual earn rates and perks of the UOB Privilege Banking Card and OCBC Premier Visa Infinite Card. The UOB card has a stronger focus on miles, while the OCBC card gives you the option of converting OCBC$ to miles, cash, hotel points and other rewards.
If you value lower ongoing card costs, the OCBC Premier Visa Infinite has no annual fee, while the UOB Privilege Banking Card has a $1,962 annual fee that can be waived for qualifying Privilege Banking clients.
It’s up to you which of the privileges you value and will use more.
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