Christmas 2020: Credit Card Spend And Redeem Promotions

Towards the end of the year, banks traditionally roll out various spend and redeem promotions, aimed at encouraging customers to put their Christmas spending on their credit cards. 

In light of all that’s happened with COVID-19, however, this year’s line-up is credit card promotions more subdued. Restrictions on gatherings mean that banks can’t set up redemption booths in malls like they used to, and consequently, most have digitised their rewards (e.g. replacing physical gifts with statement rebates), or employed alternative mechanics like lucky draws.

Thankfully, there’s still a healthy number of spend and redeem promotions out there. Here’s a round-up of the various offers, how to qualify, and what’s up for grabs this Christmas. 

American Express

Promotion link: Christmas with Platinum
Spending period: 4 December to 23 December 2020
Terms and conditions: Link

While the popular American Express (AMEX) pop-up store at ION Orchard will not be making an appearance this year, AMEX Platinum Charge and Centurion cardholders can still redeem complimentary gift wrappers based on their spending from 4 to 23 December 2020.

Every $50 spent on a Platinum Charge or Centurion card in a maximum of two combined receipts will qualify for a gift wrapping set, which can be claimed at Mojito Redemption at #04-60/61 Plaza Singapura. 

Promotion link: Perfect Vacation at Home
Spending period: 1 December 2020 to 31 January 2021
Terms and conditions: Link

While this isn’t strictly speaking a Christmas promotion, AMEX Singapore Airlines co-brand cardholders can turn their year-end spending into lucky draw chances for the Perfect Vacation at Home Draw. 

From 1 December 2020 to 31 January 2021, AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card, AMEX Solitaire PPS Club Card and AMEX PPS Club Card members will earn 1 lucky draw chance for every cumulative spend of $50 (eligible spending excludes insurance, SPC transactions and GrabPay top-ups). Each cumulative spend of $50 with Singapore Airlines or KrisShop.com will entitle you to 2 lucky draw chances.

A total of 20 prizes are up for grabs, each prize includes:

• A one-night hotel stay for two adults from 1 to 30 April 2021 at either the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore or The Barracks Hotel Sentosa
• 20,000 KrisFlyer miles
• Two sets of welcome gifts consisting of AMEX and Singapore Airlines merchandise

Lucky draw winners will be drawn on 1 March 2021, and they will be notified within 7 business days of the draw. 

DBS/POSB

Promotion link: Power the Things you Love
Spending period: 1 November 2020 to 31 January 2021
Terms and conditions: Link

While not explicitly positioned as a Christmas campaign, DBS’s Power the Things you Love promotion is still a way of turning your festive spending into rewards.

Cardholders will first need to register via this link, after which they will receive a personalised spending goal that they must achieve by 31 January 2021. 

Eligible spending is limited to the following categories:

• Apparel
• Electronics and computers
• Specialty retail
• Bars and restaurants
• Home or office furnishings and appliances
• Department stores
• Watches and jewelry

The reward (which represents an 8% rebate on your spending) will be issued by 15 February 2021, and comes in the form of a cash credit that can be used to offset spending on shopping, dining or staycations made up till 15 May 2021. 

HSBC 

Promotion link: HSBC Christmas Spend and Get Promotion 2020
Spending period: 1 November to 31 December 2020
Terms and conditions: Link

HSBC cardholders will first need to select one of the following rewards:

Once they have chosen their gift, they must send the following SMS to 74722 from their mobile number registered with the bank:

OFFER<space>Last 4 alphanumeric characters of your NRIC (for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents) or Passport number<space>GIFT CODE

Do note that a maximum of one registration SMS can be sent; otherwise registrations will be null and void. In other words, you can only pick one gift.  

Upon registering, cardholders can begin spending and making transactions towards the minimum requirement. A redemption letter for the gift will be sent by 28 February 2021, if you are successful.

HSBC provides a list of excluded transactions in their campaign terms and conditions; the key ones to note are:

• PayPal
• CardUp/ipaymy
• Carousell
• Cleaning, maintenance and janitorial services
• Utilities
• Insurance
• Donations
• Government agencies

OCBC

Promotion link: OCBC 90N Top Spender Campaign
Spending period: 10 November to 20 December 2020
Terms and conditions: Link

This promotion is only open to OCBC 90N Card members, who will need to register via this link to participate. 

The top 150 spenders from 10 November to 20 December 2020 will win prizes including Dyson Pure cool Air Purifier fans, Garmin Venu Sq GPS smartwatches and JBL wireless headphones. 

OCBC has published a list of exclusion categories that will not count towards eligible spending; the key ones to note are donations, utilities, government services, education, and prepaid account top-ups. 

Winners will be notified by 28 February 2021. 

Standard Chartered

Promotion link: Standard Chartered Christmas Carnival
Spending period: 3 November to 31 December 2020
Terms and conditions: Link

Standard Chartered cardholders need to register by sending a SMS with the text XMAS20 to 77222 from their bank-registered mobile number. A processing period of 2 calendar days is required for registration to take effect.

Once registered, they will be eligible for a gift from either Tier A or Tier B

• Tier A: Spend $100 to $499.99 in a single eligible transaction on your registered card (maximum 150,000 redemptions)
• Tier B: Spend $500 and above in a single eligible transaction on your registered card (maximum 30,000 redemptions)

A unique link will be generated by the system and sent to the cardholder’s registered mobile number, and each cardholder can receive a maximum of 3 links per day. These links will bring you to a prize page where you will be randomly assigned one of the following prizes:

Non-eligible transactions include payments for insurance premiums, government transactions, top-ups of prepaid accounts like GrabPay or YouTrip, and gambling transactions. The full list of exclusions can be found at point 24 of the terms and conditions.

Interestingly enough, there is no exclusion for education, utilities, charitable donations or hospital payments, so this could be a good card to use for those. 

UOB

Promotion link: UOB RWS draw
Spending period: 1 November to 31 December 2020
Terms and conditions: Link

This promotion is only open to UOB Lady’s Card or Lady’s Solitaire Card members, who can register by sending the following SMS to 77862 from the mobile number they have registered with the bank

LADYSVACAY‹space›Last 4 alphanumeric of your NRIC

Once registered, they will earn 1 chance for every $50 spent in a single transaction from 1 November to 31 December 2020. If you are approved for a UOB Lady’s Card during this period, you will earn 2 chances per $50 spent in a single transaction. 

A total of 20 prizes will be given away. Each prize consists of:

• A 2-night stay at Hotel Michael Deluxe Room or Equarius Hotel Deluxe Room
• Daily breakfast for 2 adults
• Universal Studios Singapore tickets for 2 adults
• S.E.A Aquarium tickets for 2 adults

Eligible spending is defined in their terms and conditions, and excludes insurance, education, PayPal transactions, charitable donations, government services and utilities bills.

Winners will be announced by 26 February 2021. 

Conclusion

Although Christmas promotions will look a little different this year, there’s still plenty of great prizes up for grabs. Most of these promotions require prior registration, so be sure to do so before you start your big ticket spending. Also note that redemption quantities are limited, so don’t leave your shopping till the last moment. 

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