How to buy gold from UOB: A step-by-step guide (September 2026)

What Happened? 

Gold remains closely watched by Singapore investors in 2026.

Gold prices have remained volatile in 2026, rising to a record high earlier in the year before pulling back in recent months.

For investors looking to buy gold in Singapore, UOB continues to offer both physical gold and a Gold Savings Account (GSA).

Due to strong demand, UOB has moved to an appointment-only system for physical gold purchases and GSA-to-physical-gold conversions.

In this article, I will share a step-by-step guide to help you understand how to buy gold from UOB, including how to purchase physical gold bars and investing through a Gold Savings Account (GSA), as well as the latest changes to note if you’re planning to purchase gold from UOB.

How to buy gold from UOB

UOB offers two main ways to invest in gold: by purchasing physical gold bars or through a Gold Savings Account.

UOB's gold kilobar price reflects gold of 99.99% fineness quoted in Singapore dollars per kilogram. Gold bullion coins and smaller bars may be priced differently, including applicable premiums.

Prices may differ from international quotes due to exchange rates and local market conditions. You may refer to the gold prices at UOB here.

Physical gold purchases are exempt from GST, so no additional tax is charged.

UOB also offers gold certificates, while XAU trading and gold-linked structured products are available to UOB Privilege Banking customers.

#1 - How to buy physical gold from UOB

If you prefer to own and hold gold as a tangible asset, you may buy physical gold directly with UOB. 

They are available for purchase only by UOB account holders. 

To buy physical gold from UOB, there are currently two ways to make a purchase.

• Buy in person at the Gold Counter, UOB Main Branch or
• Buy online via UOB Personal Internet Banking and collect your gold in person

Step-by-step guide on how to buy physical gold from UOB - Gold Counter, UOB Main Branch

If you want to buy physical gold directly from the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter, you will first need to make an appointment.

Walk-in purchases are no longer accepted.

Gold bars and coins can be purchased at the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm, excluding public holidays, after your appointment is confirmed.

Step 1: Be a UOB account holder

Only existing UOB Singapore account holders can buy physical gold from UOB.

If you do not have a UOB account yet, you can open a UOB One Savings Account or UOB Stash Savings Account.

If your UOB account was opened online, you may also need to update your signature at a UOB branch before buying gold. UOB states that verification may take at least 72 hours.

Step 2: Check the available physical gold products

Before heading to the branch, you can first check the UOB physical gold stock availability here. 

Physical gold purchases are subject to UOB's available inventory.

For PAMP gold bars, UOB currently imposes a limit of five pieces per denomination per customer per week. An appointment does not guarantee that a particular product will be available.

Step 3: Book an appointment

Purchases at the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter are by appointment.

UOB releases its appointment booking form from 6pm on the working day before the intended appointment, subject to availability.

Step 4: Head to the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter

The UOB Gold Counter is located at: UOB Main Branch Gold Counter
📍 Address: 80 Raffles Place, UOB Plaza 1 (Basement, Banking Hall)

The Gold Counter is generally open from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm, excluding public holidays.

Step 5: Pay for the gold

Payment is made through an eligible UOB Singapore account.

The amount you pay will depend on UOB's prevailing selling price for the specific gold product at the time of purchase.

As gold prices can change throughout the day, the amount may differ from prices you saw earlier.

Step 6: Collect and keep the gold safely

Once you receive the physical gold, keep the packaging and proof of purchase carefully.

This is particularly important if you are looking to sell the gold back to UOB in future.

UOB generally requires the physical gold to meet its buyback conditions, including having satisfactory proof of purchase and an intact UOB seal.

Step-by-step guide on how to buy physical gold from UOB - UOB Personal Internet Banking and collect them from the Gold Counter.

Another way to buy physical gold is through UOB Personal Internet Banking.

This allows you to complete the purchase online first before collecting the physical gold from the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter.

You will still need to be an existing UOB Singapore account holder before you can make a purchase.

Step 1: Be a UOB account holder

Only existing UOB account holders can buy or sell physical gold through the bank.

Open a UOB One Savings Account and UOB Stash Savings Account to get started easily.

Step 2: Log in to UOB Personal Internet Banking

After logging in, select:

Investment > Gold and Silver > Physical Gold

You can then view the physical gold products currently available for online purchase.

Step 3: Place your order and make payment

You can choose from the available kilobar or smaller gold bar products. Availability may vary depending on UOB's inventory.

Payment will be debited directly from your UOB Singapore current or savings account, so you will need to ensure there are sufficient funds before completing the purchase.

Step 4: Make an appointment to collect your gold

After completing the purchase online, you will need to make an appointment to collect the physical gold.

Collection is strictly by appointment.

You can collect the gold from the next working day and must do so within 10 working days from the transaction date, excluding weekends and public holidays.

Step 5: Collect the physical gold

Collection can be made at the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter.

📍 Address: 80 Raffles Place, UOB Plaza 1 (Basement, Banking Hall)

The opening hours of the Gold Counter at the UOB Main Branch is Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Note that if collection is delayed beyond 10 working days, there will be late collection fees.

How to sell physical gold back to UOB

If you later want to sell your physical gold back to UOB, you do not currently need to make an appointment.

You can walk in to the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter, although UOB recommends checking the crowd situation or obtaining a Branch Q number through UOB TMRW before visiting.

The Gold Counter's selling hours are generally Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm, excluding public holidays.

However, UOB has conditions on the physical gold it will buy back.

For gold purchased on or after 1 March 2025, you must be a UOB Singapore current or savings account holder.

UOB generally accepts eligible gold coins and bars originally purchased from UOB Singapore or the former OUB Singapore, subject to its buyback conditions.

You will need satisfactory proof of purchase, while the gold must be in acceptable condition with the UOB seal intact.

You should therefore keep the original packaging and proof of purchase if you may want to sell the gold back to UOB later.

There will also be a difference between UOB's selling price and buying price. As a result, the gold price generally needs to rise before you can recover this buy-sell spread.

#2 - Open a UOB Gold Savings Account (GSA)

If you want exposure to gold without having to store physical gold yourself, another option is the UOB Gold Savings Account (GSA).

The GSA allows you to buy, hold and sell gold in grams, with your holdings recorded in your account rather than held as physical bars.

Here are some of the key features:

After opening the GSA, you can buy, sell and check your holdings using UOB Personal Internet Banking or UOB TMRW.

The minimum holding requirement and transaction is 5 grams of gold in the GSA. This means you must retain at least 5 grams after any conversion. For example, to convert 100 grams into a physical bar, your balance must be at least 105 grams.

The GSA Physical Gold Conversion feature allows you to convert eligible GSA holdings into 100g physical gold cast bars. Do note that you will also need to make an appointment via the UOB website if you wish to convert the gold.

However, GSA holdings bought with CPF funds cannot be converted to physical gold. 

Also, there is a service charge of 0.25% p.a. based on the highest gold balance recorded in each calendar month. The total service charge is deducted from the GSA at the end of the year or when the account is closed. GST also applies to the service charge.

There is also an early account closure fee of S$30 (subject to GST) if the account is closed within six months of opening.

Step-by-step guide on how to open a UOB Gold Savings Account (GSA)

Step 1: Prepare your documents

For Singaporeans and Permanent Residents:

• NRIC or valid passport

For foreigners:

• Valid passport
• Proof of residency such as a work permit, student pass, or utility bill
• Banker’s reference letter or letter of introduction

Step 2: Visit a UOB branch

Go to any UOB branch to open a Gold Savings Account. Remember to get a queue number through the UOB website or with the UOB TMRW app before heading over to the branch. You can check the crowd situation here before visiting. 

Step 3: Start buying gold

Once your account is set up, the minimum purchase is 5 grams.

You can buy or sell gold conveniently through:

• UOB Personal Internet Banking
• UOB TMRW mobile app
• Any UOB branch during operating hours

Once set up, you can view your holdings and buy or sell gold through UOB Personal Internet Banking or UOB TMRW from Monday to Friday, 8am to 11pm, excluding Singapore public holidays.

Converting from Gold Savings Account to physical gold

If you already hold gold in your Gold Savings Account (GSA) that was purchased with non-CPF funds, you may convert it into a 100g physical gold bar under the GSA Physical Gold Conversion Programme.

However, there are several conditions to take note of.

First, the conversion is available only in 100g physical gold cast bars.

Second, a S$100 conversion fee applies for every 100g bar.

Third, you must maintain at least 5g in your GSA after the conversion.

This means that if you want to convert 100g into a physical gold bar, you will need at least 105g in your GSA before making the conversion.

Importantly, GSA holdings purchased using CPF funds cannot be converted into physical gold.

Conversions are also appointment-only and are carried out at the UOB Main Branch Gold Counter.

The current conversion hours are generally Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm, excluding public holidays.

Can I use CPF to buy gold from UOB?

You can use part of your CPF Ordinary Account savings to invest in eligible gold products under the CPF Investment Scheme, after setting aside S$20,000 in your OA.

CPF members can invest up to 10% of their investible savings in gold products under CPFIS-OA. These include gold ETFs, gold savings accounts, gold certificates and physical gold.

For UOB gold products such as the GSA, Gold Certificates and eligible physical gold, you will need a UOB CPF Investment Account.

Do note that the process and charges may differ from cash purchases, and GSA holdings purchased using CPF funds cannot be converted into physical gold.

Physical gold vs UOB Gold Savings Account

So how do the two main UOB gold options compare?

Physical gold may appeal more if you specifically want to own and hold the metal yourself.

However, you would also need to think about secure storage and how easily you can sell the gold later.

The GSA removes the need to store physical gold and makes subsequent buying and selling more convenient, but you would pay an ongoing 0.25% p.a. service fee.

What you need to know before buying gold from UOB

Before you start buying gold, here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Gold prices fluctuate: The value of your holdings will move in line with global gold prices.
• Market risk: Gold prices can move sharply in the short term.
• No interest or dividends: The Gold Savings Account does not pay interest as gold is not a deposit product.
• Deposits not insured: Gold accounts are not covered under Singapore’s Deposit Insurance Scheme.
• GSA service fees: UOB charges 0.25% p.a. based on the highest gold balance recorded in each calendar month. The charge is calculated monthly and deducted annually or when the account is closed.
• Storage and insurance: For physical gold, you are responsible for safekeeping and insurance after collection.

What would Beansprout do?

If I were considering gold, I would first ask what role I want it to play in my portfolio.

Within Beansprout’s Four Pots framework, I would see gold as part of my Growth Pot, where I invest for long-term capital appreciation and diversification.

However, I would not view gold in the same way as stocks or other growth assets that generate earnings or dividends. Gold does not produce income, so I would mainly consider gold for diversification and as a potential store of value within the Growth Pot.

I would therefore first decide how much gold exposure I actually want before choosing how to invest in it.

If I specifically want to own physical gold, buying gold bars from UOB gives me direct ownership. However, I would consider the buy-sell spread, storage requirements and the need to preserve the original packaging and proof of purchase. I would also plan ahead, as purchases at the UOB Gold Counter are now subject to appointment requirements.

If I mainly want exposure to movements in the gold price, I would compare the UOB Gold Savings Account with gold ETFs instead. The GSA avoids the need to store physical gold, but comes with a 0.25% p.a. service fee and a minimum transaction and balance of 5g. A gold ETF may offer another way to gain exposure through an existing brokerage account.

If I were considering using CPF savings, I would be more cautious. I would compare the potential role of gold in my portfolio against the interest I could continue earning by leaving my savings in my CPF OA, as well as the risks of gold price movements.

Ultimately, I would choose the way of investing in gold based on the role I want gold to play, the amount I intend to invest, and how important physical ownership is to me.

You can also learn more about the role gold may play in a portfolio, read our complete guide to buying gold in Singapore, or track the latest gold price in Singapore.

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