Extended Indefinitely: DBS yuu’s 18% Earn Rate Lives On, But Are There Now More Exclusions?
Originally set to end on 29th February 2024, DBS yuu’s massive 18% rebate earn rate has been extended indefinitely. My pick for Cashback Card of the Year 2023 seems to desire a second year of reign, but studying the changes I wouldn’t be too happy yet… There seems to be a big caveat to this extension that significantly affects the usefulness of the card.
Update 9th February 2024: voucher purchases and Singtel bill payments via Kiosks still work
DBS yuu Card
DBS yuu Card is an excellent card that gives up to 18% cash rebates or 10 miles per dollar (in conjunction with the yuu app)
🎁 New Cardholders
Apply as a new cardholder by 31st August 2026, use promo code SINGSAVER, and fill up the SingSaver Rewards Form to choose your gift¹:
HeyMax account required for Max Miles. You can also top up for more gift options. Tap Apply to see more details on the landing page.
Minimum spend of S$500 within 30 days from card approval is required to be eligible for rewards.
⚠️ Important Steps
- Make sure to apply with the promo code and fill up the SingSaver Rewards Redemption Form. No form means no reward, so do not miss this step.
- Maintain valid DBS PayLah! account by the end of the Qualifying Spend period to be eligible for the reward.
- Make a minimum spend of S$500 within 30 days of card approval.
Terms and Conditions: [1]
For reference only; refer to exact details in terms and conditions
Terms and conditions updated to remove 29th February 2024
In a previous version of the terms and conditions, there was a line to clarify that the DBS yuu’s 17.5% earn rate was a promotion that “shall run from 1 April 2023 to 29 February 2024”. This line has since been removed which signals that the earn rate is now an ongoing feature.
Yuu-sers who have grown addicted accustomed to the DBS yuu card will no doubt be happy with such a change, but sharper eyes would spot more alterations to the terms and conditions that nerf the card significantly.
Subtle change signals the imposition of more exclusions
Update 9th February 2024: voucher purchases and Singtel bill payments via Kiosks still work
While discussing this issue with yuulion (a blog that supposedly focuses on airlines miles, travel or something), he pointed out another line that was removed:
This removal should be quite concerning to those who have been using the DBS yuu card for things like voucher purchases and Singtel kiosk bill payment because Appendix 1 specifies these as exclusions for the awarding of yuu points.
Previously, the sentence “applicable to the 1X yuu Point” was quite clear that things like voucher purchases were only excluded from the base 1X yuu points awarded when you scan your yuu app at participating merchants. This was entirely fine since 1X points only represented 0.5% rebate, and you could still get 35X yuu points (17.5% rebates) if you hit the DBS yuu’s minimum spend or 9X points (4.5% rebates) if you don’t. Indeed, this was the earn rate we have been getting for the past year – a generous 17.5% rebate as long as you met the minimum spend.
The notable absence of such a line implies that all points may no longer awarded for things that fall under Appendix 1. That includes more than just vouchers, with even things like cigarettes, infant milk powder, and even sushi or sashmi (though if you’re willingly eating Cold Storage sushi you probably have more pressing issues than rebates to contend with). DBS may be employing something called “Level 3 data” that allows the bank to see exactly what items are being bought within a transaction, effectively making such exclusions quite easily enforceable.
Some experimentation is in order
As it is important to do in the world of credit card rewards, some experimentation now has to be done before we know the fate of our bonus points for vouchers and Singtel kiosk bill payments moving forward. I have a friend who just bought a bunch of Dairy Farm vouchers on 1st February – a day after the change in terms and conditions dated 31st January 2024 – so we will know in a few days if the usual 9X points are posted. If you want to keep updated on such things and other great deals, you need to stay subscribed.
Nerfed, nerfed but buffed, buffed but nerfed…
DBS’s cards team seems to have had a busy week, going from a clearcut nerf of DBS Woman’s World Mastercard to the DBS LiveFresh nerf that’s actually more a buff. DBS yuu’s earn rate persisting beyond the scheduled 29th February 2024 end-date looks like reason to cheer, but if my guess is correct, voucher/Singtel bill payment being excluded could be a painful nerf that has now kicked in immediately.
Let’s hope I’m just being paranoid, but until then I would advise you to hold off any big purchases that fall under the exclusion list of the current terms and conditions.
Seth Wee was a licensed financial adviser representative from 2009 to 2025, with over 16 years of experience in Singapore’s financial advisory industry.
He started Sethisfy.com in 2019 to share practical insights on credit cards, banking products, and miles strategies, helping readers identify financial products that deliver the best value. Seth has been featured in CNA, Channel 8, Today, and a host of other publications. In 2025, he was also part of a panel at CPF’s Ready For Life festival.
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