Quick Facts

• Discovery Miles are worth more than cash (R1.23 for every R1 value)
• You can earn Miles through healthy living, safe driving, and smart spending
• Three main programs: Vitality Health, Vitality Drive, and Vitality Money
• Miles can be used at over 40 retail partners in South Africa
• Conversion rate: 10 Discovery Miles = R1

1. What Are Discovery Rewards?

Discovery Rewards is a program in South Africa that rewards you for living healthy. You earn points called Discovery Miles when you make good choices. These Miles work like money you can use to buy things.

Discovery is a large insurance and banking company in South Africa. They created this program to help people live healthier lives. The idea is simple: the healthier you are, the more you save and earn.

There are three main reward programs:

• Vitality Health: Rewards for exercise, healthy eating, and medical check-ups
• Vitality Drive: Rewards for safe driving
• Vitality Money: Rewards for smart spending and saving

As of December 2025, Discovery has over 1.37 million members. The program is very popular because it really does save people money.

2. Understanding Discovery Miles

Discovery Miles (written as Ðiscovery Miles) are the currency of the reward program. Think of them like loyalty points, but they work better than most reward programs.

Conversion Rate

The basic conversion is simple:

• 10 Discovery Miles = R1
• So 100 Discovery Miles = R10
• And 1,000 Discovery Miles = R100

Why They’re Worth More Than Cash

Discovery Miles are actually worth R1.23 for every R1 in value. This is because you get discounts when you spend them. Here’s how:

• If you have one Vitality program, you get 5% discount
• If you have two Vitality programs, you get 10% discount
• If you have three Vitality programs, you get 15% discount

Miles D-Day (15th of Every Month)

On the 15th of every month, Discovery doubles your discount. This means:

Normal Discount	Miles D-Day Discount
5% becomes	10%
10% becomes	20%
15% becomes	30%

This makes Miles D-Day the best day to spend your Discovery Miles. You get up to 30% off at over 40 stores!

When Do Discovery Miles Expire?

Your Discovery Miles expire after 5 years from when you earned them. They can also expire if:

• You don’t earn or spend any Miles for 12 months in a row
• You cancel all your Vitality programs

The good news is that as of 2025, most Discovery Miles never expire. This is because members are actively using them.

✅ 3. How to Earn Discovery Miles

There are many ways to earn Discovery Miles. The more programs you join, the more Miles you earn. Let’s look at each way:

Through Exercise (Vitality Active Rewards)

Every week, you can earn Miles by reaching your exercise goals. This is the most popular way to earn. Here’s how it works:

• Set up a fitness device (smart watch, phone, or gym membership)
• Achieve your weekly exercise goal (3-5 times per week)
• Play your gameboard on “Rewards Wednesday”
• Earn up to 750 Discovery Miles per week

Real Example: Joyce exercises 3 times per week. She earns about 6,700 Discovery Miles per month. That’s R670 worth of rewards (or R837 on Miles D-Day).

Through Healthy Shopping

Buy healthy food and products to earn Miles back:

• HealthyFood at Checkers and Woolworths: Up to 25% back in Discovery Miles
• HealthyCare at Clicks and Dis-Chem: Up to 25% back in Discovery Miles
• HealthyBaby products: Up to 25% back in Discovery Miles

To get the 25% back, you must have done a Vitality Health Check in the last 12 months.

Through Safe Driving

If you have Discovery Insure for your car, you can earn Miles for driving safely:

• Keep your daily driving points balance
• Avoid harsh braking, speeding, and other bad driving events
• Earn up to 50% back on fuel at BP and Shell
• Play your Drive gameboard for extra Miles

Through Discovery Bank Spending

When you use your Discovery Bank card, you earn Miles:

• Credit Card: 1 Mile for every R15 spent
• Debit Card: Earn Miles on qualifying transactions
• Virtual Card: Earn MORE Miles than physical card (use this when you can!)

Through Financial Wellness

Vitality Money rewards you for being financially healthy:

• Keep money in your Discovery Bank savings account
• Spend responsibly (achieve your spending goal)
• Pay your Discovery Life policy from Discovery Bank
• Earn up to 7.5% of your policy payment back in Miles

New in 2025: Sleep Rewards

Discovery launched Sleep Rewards in 2025. You can now earn Miles for getting good sleep:

• Track your sleep with Apple, Garmin, Samsung devices, or Ōura Ring 4
• Meet your weekly sleep goals
• Earn Discovery Miles or partner rewards

4. Vitality Health Rewards

Vitality Health is the main rewards program. You earn points by living healthier. These points increase your Vitality status from Blue to Diamond.

Vitality Status Levels

Status	What You Get
Blue (Starting level)	Basic rewards and discounts
Bronze	Better gym discounts, movie discounts
Silver	Even better discounts on everything
Gold	Maximum discounts and rewards
Diamond (Highest)	Premium rewards, earn 4.6 times more Miles than Blue

Main Vitality Health Benefits

Virgin Active Gym Membership

Save up to 75% on gym membership. Normal Virgin Active costs R800-R1,400 per month in 2025. With Vitality, you can pay only R250!

Requirements:

• One-time activation fee of R699
• Visit gym at least 36 times per year (3 times per month)
• Keep your Vitality status active

Ster-Kinekor Movies

Get half-price movies. Normal movie ticket costs R80-R120. With Vitality, you pay R40-R60.

Grocery Savings

Get 25% back in Discovery Miles on healthy food at:

• Checkers (in-store and Sixty60 delivery)
• Woolworths (in-store, app, and Dash delivery)

Real Example: You spend R1,600 on healthy food. You get R400 back in Discovery Miles (that’s 4,000 Miles).

Personal Care Savings

Get 25% back on personal care items at Clicks and Dis-Chem. This includes vitamins, toiletries, and pharmacy items.

Travel Discounts

Save up to 25% on flights with:

• British Airways
• Emirates
• Qantas

Save up to 25% on hotels, bed and breakfasts, and resorts. Over 500 places to choose from in South Africa.

5. Vitality Drive Rewards

Vitality Drive is for people with Discovery Insure car insurance. You earn rewards for driving safely. The program uses a device in your car to track how you drive.

How Drive Points Work

Every day, you start with 60 Drive points. You keep these points by driving well:

• Good driving: No harsh braking, no speeding, smooth driving
• Bad driving events: Harsh braking, sharp turning, speeding
• Bad events reduce your daily points

Main Vitality Drive Benefits

Fuel Rewards

Get up to 50% back on fuel at BP and Shell. This is one of the best benefits!

Real Example: You spend R1,000 on fuel. You get R500 back in Discovery Miles or as money in your Insure Funder Account.

Gautrain Savings

Get up to 50% back on Gautrain costs. Good for people who use the Gautrain to work.

Uber Discounts

Save up to 25% on Uber trips when you drive safely.

Safety Features

Discovery Insure includes Impact Alert. This feature can detect if you’re in a bad accident. It sends help even if you can’t call.

Car Care Discounts

Save money at:

• Tiger Wheel & Tyre
• Bosch Car Service
• Other car service providers

6. Vitality Money Rewards

Vitality Money is for Discovery Bank customers. You earn rewards for being financially healthy. This includes saving money, spending wisely, and paying bills on time.

Main Vitality Money Benefits

High Savings Interest

Discovery Bank offers the best savings rates in 2025:

• Gold Card: Up to 7.5% interest on savings
• Platinum Card: Up to 7.5% interest on savings
• Black Card: Up to 6.5% interest on savings
• Purple Card: Up to 6.5% interest on savings

This is much better than most SA banks which offer 3-5% interest.

Discovery Miles on Card Spending

Earn Discovery Miles every time you use your Discovery Bank card. The virtual card earns MORE than the physical card.

Grocery and Fuel Rewards

With Vitality Money, you can get up to 75% back (not 25%) on:

• Healthy food at Checkers and Woolworths
• Personal care at Clicks and Dis-Chem
• Fuel at BP and Shell (up to 20% back in Miles)

Travel Benefits

Discovery Bank customers with Vitality Money get amazing travel benefits:

• Up to 75% off flights (domestic and international)
• Free airport lounge access (over 1,200 lounges worldwide)
• Fast-track security at OR Tambo and Cape Town airports
• Use Discovery Miles to pay for flights and hotels

Zero Monthly Fees Option

The Discovery Account has NO monthly fees. This is good for people who want to earn Discovery Miles without paying monthly charges.

✅ 7. How to Spend Discovery Miles

You can spend your Discovery Miles at over 40 partners in South Africa. There are three main ways to spend them:

1. Shopping Online

Use the Discovery Bank app or Vitality Mall to shop online:

• Add items to your cart on partner websites
• Select Discovery Miles as payment method
• Log in to your Discovery Bank account
• Complete the purchase

Online Partners Include:

• Takealot
• Woolworths (app and online)
• Yuppiechef
• Hirsch’s
• Many more

2. Shopping In-Store

Use the Discovery Bank app to pay in stores:

1. Open the Discovery Bank app
2. Tap your Discovery Miles balance
3. Select “Pay in-store”
4. Enter the Rand amount you want to spend
5. Generate a QR code or voucher
6. Show it to the cashier

Your voucher is valid for 3 hours. If you don’t use the full amount, only the used portion is deducted.

3. Instant Rewards

When you achieve your weekly goals, you can choose an instant reward instead of waiting for Rewards Wednesday:

• Free coffee or smoothie
• Shopping vouchers
• Entertainment rewards
• Donate to MoveToGive charity

Discovery members claim almost 100,000 coffees, hot drinks, and smoothies every month!

4. Travel Bookings

Use Discovery Miles to pay for:

• Flights (domestic and international)
• Hotels and accommodation
• Car rentals

Book through Vitality Travel platform (integrated with Booking.com).

5. Utilities and Vouchers

You can use Discovery Miles to buy:

• Prepaid electricity
• Prepaid water
• Airtime vouchers
• Digital vouchers

Get up to 15% off on these items. Over R7 million is spent on prepaid airtime and electricity every month using Discovery Miles!

Important Rules About Spending

• Minimum redemption fees apply at some partners
• You can’t get cash for your Discovery Miles
• If you return an in-store purchase, you get store credit (not Discovery Miles back)
• Discovery Miles are not currency – they’re rewards

⚠️ 8. Costs and Fees to Know

Discovery Rewards programs are not free. You must pay monthly fees. Here’s what you need to know as of December 2025:

Vitality Health Costs

There are two types of Vitality Health membership:

Membership Type	Monthly Cost	What You Get
Vitality Active	Cheaper option	Basic rewards, fewer perks
Vitality Premium	R359 per month (single member)	All rewards, maximum discounts

Special Promotion: New members get 3 months FREE when signing up in 2025 (valid until 31 December 2025).

Vitality Money Costs (Discovery Bank)

Vitality Money is included with Discovery Bank accounts:

Account Type	Monthly Fee	Income Required
Discovery Account	R0 (zero monthly fee!)	No minimum
Gold Card	R219 (transaction) + R110 (credit card)	R100,000-R350,000 per year
Platinum Card	R219 (transaction) + R110 (credit card)	R350,000-R850,000 per year
Black Card	Higher fees	R850,000-R2.5 million per year
Purple Card	Premium fees	R2.5 million+ per year

Vitality Money fee (R35-R45 per month) is included in premium account fees.

Vitality Drive Costs

Vitality Drive comes with Discovery Insure. The cost depends on your car insurance premium. Discovery Insure is usually more expensive than other insurers, but you save money through rewards.

Discovery Medical Aid Increases 2025

If you have Discovery Health Medical Scheme, be aware of 2025 increases:

• Average increase: 9.3% across all plans
• Range: 7.4% to 10.9% depending on your plan
• 50% of members will see 8.4% or less increase

Will It Pay for Itself?

Real Example – Joyce’s Monthly Savings:

• She pays R359 per month for Vitality Health
• She earns 6,700 Discovery Miles per month (worth R670-R837)
• She saves R250 per month on gym (would be R1,000 without Vitality)
• Total monthly benefit: R1,500+
• Cost: R359
• Net saving: R1,141+ per month!

The rewards can definitely pay for themselves IF you use them. If you don’t exercise, don’t drive safely, or don’t use the rewards, it won’t be worth it.

🚨 9. Scams and Fraud Warnings

Criminals in South Africa are targeting Discovery customers with many scams. In 2025, scam cases increased significantly. 57% of South Africans were targeted by scams in the past 12 months. Here’s what to watch for:

Fake Discovery Communications

The Scam: You receive an SMS or email claiming to be from Discovery. It says you haven’t paid your medical aid, or you qualify for a refund. The message asks you to call a number or click a link.

The Truth: This is a scam. Criminals want your banking details or want you to download fake apps.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Don’t click links in suspicious messages
• Don’t call numbers from unknown messages
• Verify by calling Discovery directly: 0860 99 88 77
• Check the Discovery website for official contact numbers

Fake Banking Officials

The Scam: Someone calls pretending to be from Discovery Bank. They say there’s fraud on your account. They ask for your card details, PIN, or OTP (one-time password).

The Truth: Real banks NEVER ask for your full card details, PIN, or OTP over the phone.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Hang up immediately if someone asks for these details
• Call Discovery Bank back on the official number: 0860 99 88 77
• Use in-app calling in the Discovery Bank app (it’s more secure)

Fake Police Officials

The Scam: Someone calls claiming to be a police detective. They say your ID or phone number is linked to fraud. They pressure you to transfer money “for the investigation” and promise to return it later.

The Truth: SAPS (South African Police Service) will NEVER ask for money to investigate or drop a case. This is 100% a scam.

Loyalty Programme Expiry Scam

The Scam: You get a message saying your Discovery Miles are about to expire. You must click a link to claim them.

The Truth: Discovery Miles expire after 5 years. Discovery will not send urgent messages about expiring Miles. Always check your balance in the official app.

Investment Scams Using Discovery CEO

The Scam: A video appears online showing Adrian Gore (Discovery CEO) promoting an investment opportunity. This is a DEEPFAKE video made with AI.

The Truth: Discovery confirmed this video is fake. Adrian Gore does not promote investments through social media or unsolicited videos.

ATM Scams

Two main ATM scams target Discovery Bank customers:

1. Card Swapping:

• Criminal watches you enter your PIN
• They distract you
• They swap your card with a fake one
• You leave with their card, they use yours

2. Card Skimming:

• Criminals tamper with ATM to trap your card
• They offer to “help”
• They use a device to copy your card details

App Download Scams

The Scam: Someone convinces you to download an app that gives them remote access to your phone. They might claim it’s for customer support or to process a refund.

The Truth: Once they have access, they can see everything on your phone, including your banking app.

How to Protect Yourself:

• NEVER download apps that give remote access to your phone
• Discovery Bank will never ask you to do this
• Only download apps from official app stores

Important Statistics (2025)

• 65.3% of fraud in SA happens through digital banking
• R1.4 billion lost to digital banking fraud in 2024
• 76% of people received scam messages in 2025
• 60% of South Africans are more worried about banking security than last year

10. Your Consumer Rights

As a Discovery customer, you have important rights under South African law. Here’s what you need to know:

Your Banking Rights

• Right to clear information about fees and charges
• Right to safe and secure banking
• Right to complain if something goes wrong
• Right to privacy of your personal information (POPI Act)
• Right to fair treatment (Consumer Protection Act)

Your Insurance Rights

• Right to clear policy terms and conditions
• Right to fair treatment of claims
• Right to appeal claim decisions
• Right to cooling-off period (30 days for medical aid)

Discovery’s Commitments to You

Under the Code of Banking Practice, Discovery Bank commits to:

• Act fairly, reasonably, and ethically
• Provide safe and secure banking
• Protect your personal information
• Handle complaints properly
• Give you 20 days to respond to disputes

What to Do If Discovery Treats You Unfairly

You have the right to complain (see next section for details). Discovery must:

• Listen to your complaint
• Investigate it properly
• Respond within 20 days
• Fix the problem if they made a mistake

11. How to Complain

If you have a problem with Discovery, follow these steps:

Step 1: Complain to Discovery First

You must try to solve the problem with Discovery before going to an ombudsman.

Discovery Bank Complaints:

• Call: 0860 99 88 77
• Email: complaints@discovery.bank
• Use in-app calling in the Discovery Bank app
• WhatsApp: +27 11 324 4844

Discovery Health Complaints:

• Call: 0860 99 88 77
• Email through your Discovery portal

Discovery Insure Complaints:

• Call: 0860 751 751

Discovery has 6 weeks (about 40 days) to respond to your complaint.

Step 2: Go to the Ombudsman

If Discovery doesn’t solve your problem, you can complain to the ombudsman. This service is FREE.

For Banking Complaints:

National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO)

• Call: 0860 800 900
• Email: info@nfosa.co.za
• Website: www.nfosa.co.za

For Insurance and Medical Aid Complaints:

FAIS Ombudsman (Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services)

• Call: 012 762 5000 or 012 470 9080
• Website: www.faisombud.co.za

For Credit-Related Issues:

National Credit Regulator (NCR)

• Call: 0860 627 627 or 011 554 2700
• Website: www.ncr.org.za

Step 3: Report to the Regulator

Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)

The FSCA regulates financial companies in South Africa:

• Call: 0800 110 443 or 0800 202 087
• Switchboard: 012 428 8000
• Email: info@fsca.co.za
• Website: www.fsca.co.za

Report Fraud

If you’re a victim of fraud or scam:

Discovery Fraud Line (24/7):

• Call: 011 324 4444
• SMS: 33490
• WhatsApp: +27 31 308 4664
• Email: discoveryforensics@whistleblowing.co.za

South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC):

• Report banking fraud and scams
• Website: www.sabric.co.za

South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS):

• Protects against identity theft
• Website: www.safps.org.za

SAPS (South African Police Service):

• Open a criminal case at your nearest police station
• Get a case number for your records

Important Time Limits

• Discovery has 6 weeks to respond to your complaint
• You have 6 months after Discovery’s response to go to an ombudsman
• Don’t wait too long – report problems quickly!

✅ 12. Our Final Recommendations

Who Should Join Discovery Rewards?

Discovery Rewards is good for you if:

• You exercise regularly (3+ times per week)
• You want to save money on gym membership
• You shop at Checkers, Woolworths, Clicks, or Dis-Chem
• You have a car and drive regularly
• You’re willing to track your health and fitness
• You can afford the monthly fees

Discovery Rewards is NOT good for you if:

• You don’t exercise at all
• You can’t afford the monthly fees
• You won’t use the gym or rewards
• You prefer simple banking without tracking
• You don’t drive (for Vitality Drive)

Start Small

You don’t need to join everything at once. Consider this approach:

1. Month 1-3: Start with the Discovery Account (zero monthly fee). This lets you test Discovery Miles without big costs.
2. Month 4-6: If you’re exercising regularly, add Vitality Health. Use the 3-month free promotion.
3. After 6 months: Decide if you want Discovery Insure for car insurance and Vitality Drive.

Best Tips to Maximize Your Rewards

1. Always use your virtual card instead of physical card (earn more Miles)
2. Wait for Miles D-Day (15th of every month) to spend your Miles (get double discounts)
3. Track your exercise with a fitness device or phone app
4. Do your Vitality Health Check once per year (unlocks 25% cashback on healthy food)
5. Achieve your weekly exercise goal (3+ times per week)
6. Play your gameboard on Rewards Wednesday – don’t forget!
7. Shop at partner stores to earn and spend Miles
8. Drive safely to earn Drive points and fuel rewards
9. Keep money in your Discovery Bank savings (earn high interest + Miles)
10. Join all three programs (Health, Drive, Money) for maximum Miles – Diamond members earn 16x more with Vitality Money!

Safety Reminders

• Never share your PIN, OTP, or card details
• Don’t download apps that give remote access
• Use in-app calling for security
• Check your account regularly
• Report fraud immediately: 011 324 4444 (24/7)

Check Your Eligibility

Before applying for Discovery Bank accounts:

• You must be 18 years or older
• You need a valid South African ID or passport
• You need proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
• You need proof of income for credit cards
• Check the income requirements for your preferred card tier

How to Apply

Online Application:

1. Visit www.discovery.co.za or download the Discovery Bank app
2. Choose your account type
3. Upload your documents (ID, proof of address, income)
4. Get pre-approval within minutes
5. Full approval takes 1-3 days
6. Your card arrives within 5-7 business days

Visit a Discovery Store:

• Bring your ID, proof of address, and proof of income
• Staff will help you apply
• Process is the same as online

Remember

Discovery Rewards can save you a lot of money if you use it properly. The key is to actually USE the rewards. Don’t pay monthly fees if you won’t exercise, drive safely, or shop at partner stores.

Calculate your own situation first. Add up what you’d save on gym, groceries, fuel, and other rewards. Compare this to the monthly fees. Only join if it makes sense for your lifestyle and budget.

Most importantly, stay safe from scams. Never share your banking details with anyone, no matter how convincing they sound.

Discovery Customer Service:
Call: 0860 99 88 77
WhatsApp: +27 11 324 4844
Website: www.discovery.co.za

Report Fraud (24/7):
Call: 011 324 4444

Banking Ombudsman (Free):
National Financial Ombud: 0860 800 900
Website: www.nfosa.co.za

Financial Regulator:
FSCA: 0800 110 443
Website: www.fsca.co.za