SBI Card is implementing new fees effective November 1, 2025. Users will face a 1% charge on education payments made via third-party apps, though direct payments to institutions remain free. Additionally, a 1% fee will apply to wallet loads exceeding Rs 1,000.
Banks don’t like people who game their systems to procure ‘ill-gotten’ reward points and have gone after them in a big way over time. Some of these measures include shutting down points on high-value purchases, such as jewellery, altogether. Here, a whole bunch of genuine users have suffered due to the deeds of a few.
SBI Card unveils its 'Khushiyan Unlimited' campaign, offering over 1250 merchant-funded deals, cashback, and instant discounts for its credit card holders. This festive initiative covers various spending categories like e-commerce, jewellery, and groceries. Special EMI offers provide up to 27.5% instant discount on consumer durables and electronics. Several SBI credit cards are highlighted for their unique benefits and rewards.
Diwali shopping continues with new discounts expected. Credit cards offer significant savings during festive sales. Different cards cater to various spending habits. SimplyCLICK SBI suits sale shoppers. CASHBACK SBI provides broad online savings. Co-branded cards benefit loyal customers. HDFC Millennia is ideal for young professionals. High spenders prefer HDFC INFINIA. Choosing the right card maximises benefits.
SBI Card will implement new fees from November 1, 2025. The new charges will apply to select transactions such as education-related payments and wallet loads, as outlined in SBI Card’s.
SBI Card and IndiGo introduce the IndiGo SBI Card. This card is part of the IndiGo BluChip loyalty program. Cardholders can earn rewards on purchases. The premium card comes in two variants.
International airlines’ co-branded cards focus on attracting more Indians to their loyalty programs and rolling out the red carpet. International airlines are now capitalising on this gap. All major West Asian carriers, along with Lufthansa in the West and Singapore Airlines in the East, have co-branded partnerships in India, offering appealing benefits to their cardholders.
Apple's flagship iPhone 17 series will be available for pre-order soon. Croma has already started pre-orders for the phones. Pre-orders begin today, and availability starts September 19. Customers can save money using credit card deals. HDFC Infinia and ICICI Emerald cards offer significant savings, while SBI and Amazon Pay cards offer cashback.
SBI Card will automatically migrate existing Credit Card Protection Plan (CPP) customers to updated plan variants upon policy renewal starting September 16, 2025. Customers will receive notifications via SMS and email 24 hours before the renewal. The updated CPP offers benefits like card blocking, emergency travel assistance, fraud protection, and mobile wallet protection, with Classic, Premium, and Platinum options available.
SBI credit card rule change: Starting December 1, 2024, SBI has done away with reward points on various digital gaming platforms for some of its credit cards. Some of these cards include Gold Defense SBI Card, SBI Card Platinum and Prime. Effective this month, SBI will levy a fee on all utility payments that go beyond a certain limit in a single billing cycle. Read on to know about SBI credit cards that have been affected, and the fee charged.
With the rewards boost, banks are hoping not just to keep their high net-worth individuals (HNIs) and mass affluent customers happy and engaged, but also to make a neat profit on them, given that their portals have a slightly higher fare compared to booking directly with the airline or hotels.
ICICI Bank is planning to charge payment aggregators (PAs) for processing UPI transactions, a move confirmed by sources but unacknowledged by the bank. This could lead to increased costs for PAs, potentially trickling down to consumers in the future. For PAs with an escrow account with the bank, the charges will be significantly less as compared to those who do not operate this account with ICICI. Read on to know when, and if, these charges will trickle down to the consumer.
ICICI Bank, Times Internet, and Visa launch the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card. It targets ultra-high net worth individuals. Cardholders enjoy unlimited lounge access and lifestyle services. The card offers milestone rewards and points on spending. There is a joining and annual fee. Spending over twenty-five lakh rupees waives the annual fee.
Chrometophobia is an extreme case of fear, anxiety and panic at the thought of spending money. A small fraction of people suffers from this irrational affliction. It is not a very well-understood or diagnosed condition, but in some milder formats, it does exist around us. Some of us are able, but not willing to spend.
NPCI is reportedly considering enabling UPI payments via face ID or biometrics, potentially eliminating the need for PINs. This move aims to enhance transaction speed, security, and accessibility. While NPCI has not made any official comments on this matter, experts believe biometric authentication will reduce fraud and improve user experience.
Kotak Mahindra Bank introduces 'Kotak Solitaire,' an exclusive, invitation-only banking program tailored for India's high-net-worth individuals and families. This premium experience offers pre-approved credit lines up to Rs 8 crore, family-centric banking, and personalized support.
PayPal is launching PayPal World, a platform to integrate global payment systems, including India's UPI. This collaboration with NPCI International will enable Indian UPI users to make P2P transactions with PayPal users worldwide. This means that soon, UPI users can shop online and potentially even in physical stores globally where PayPal is accepted, simplifying cross-border payments and reducing currency conversion fees.
Starting next month, NPCI's new guidelines will allow users to access loan amounts against their FDs, shares, gold, and property directly via UPI. This will also enable cash withdrawals, P2P, and P2PM transactions, expanding beyond the previous P2M limitations, allowing smooth transactions using various apps. All stakeholders have been asked to put the necessary infrastructure in place before August 31, 2025
UPI RuPay credit cards provide a way to earn rewards. Several banks offer these cards with UPI convenience. Users can get cashback and reward points on payments. ET Wealth lists 20 UPI RuPay credit cards. These cards offer benefits like lounge access. Linking the card to UPI apps is simple. Enjoy rewards with everyday UPI payments.
The UAE government has denied rolling out a new golden visa policy, wherein Indians could get a lifetime visa to the UAE by paying a one-time fee of Rs 23.3 lakh. However, even if the news was true, an X user highlighted that Dubai's high cost of living, potentially reaching around Rs 5 lakh monthly for a family, would make it potentially financially unsustainable in the long run.
Several banks, including SBI, HDFC Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, are updating their credit card rules starting in July 2025. SBI is discontinuing free air accident insurance on select cards, while HDFC Bank introduces new transaction fees and reward point limits. Kotak Mahindra Bank will replace the Myntra Kotak Credit Card with the Kotak League Credit Card.
HDFC Bank is set to revise its credit card transaction charges starting July 1, 2025, impacting online gaming, wallet loading, and utility bill payments. A 1% fee will apply to specific high-value transactions in these categories, with reward point policies also being revised.
SBI Card is set to implement significant changes for its credit cardholders starting July 15, 2025. These revisions include adjustments to the minimum amount due calculation and the order of payment settlement. Furthermore, complimentary air accident insurance coverage on several SBI and co-branded credit cards will be discontinued in July and August 2025.
The argument that parents sacrificed a lot in early years and it is now payback time fails to see that the child is now a parent too. At the same time, the thinking that parents must expect nothing from children is discounted as being too Western in cultural orientation, while also excluding children who genuinely like to spend on their parents.
HDFC Bank revises its airport lounge access policy for credit card users. New rules take effect from June 10, 2025. Access shifts to a voucher system based on spending.
Axis Bank Privilege Credit Cardholders on the American Express Network can enjoy exclusive benefits on food, shopping, and travel until June 30, 2025. Cardholders can avail discounts on Zomato, Blinkit, and Swiggy using specific promo codes on Saturdays.
A lot more needs to be done to educate borrowers on the finer aspects of credit behaviour. Often, the borrowers don’t understand the impact of missing even one or two payments, says Bhavesh Jain, MD & CEO of TransUnion CIBIL.
In June 2025, major banks like HDFC, Axis, Kotak Mahindra, and American Express are revising credit card terms. These changes impact airport lounge access, cashback, fuel rewards, and fee waivers.
HDFC Bank is set to implement changes to its credit card fee structure and rewards program starting July 1, 2025. New charges will apply to rent payments, online gaming, and wallet loading, while reward point accrual for insurance transactions will be capped based on the card type.
Axis Bank is updating terms for its REWARDS and Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Cards starting June 20, 2025. REWARDS cardholders will see a simplified spend exclusion approach for rewards and fee waivers, using categories instead of MCC codes.
Starting August 1, 2025, NPCI is regulating UPI API usage, limiting balance inquiries to 50 per app daily and restricting autopay mandates to only take place during non-peak hours. Banks must start sending balance updates with transaction notifications, and transaction status checks will be staggered throughout the day. Read on to know how this will impact your UPI transactions.
If, instead of foreign holidays, you prefer to travel within India, here’s a series to help you plan the best vacations in each of the 28 states and 8 Union Territories. We highlight tourist attractions, culinary choices, modes of travel, and the costs involved. In the 30th part of the series, Riju Mehta takes you to New Delhi.
Credit cards entice users with reward points, but the true value lies in the reward point conversion rate. Very often, people don't realize that even credit cards with high point values may have high redemption restrictions and hidden charges that diminish their actual monetary savings. Smart users should prioritize redemption flexibility and low associated fees over sheer point accumulation.
As Indians drop Turkey and Azerbaijan from their holiday plans, we bring you five affordable and culturally rich alternatives across Europe and Asia. By Yasmin Hussain.
HSBC India has introduced the HSBC Rewards Marketplace on May 14, 2025, an upgraded digital platform for credit cardholders to redeem reward points. The marketplace offers over 20,000 reward options, including instant redemptions and partnerships with airlines and hotel chains. Cardholders can easily track and redeem points through the HSBC Mobile Banking App for vouchers, merchandise, airmiles, and more.
Kotak Mahindra Bank is set to revise its credit card charges starting June 1, 2025. The changes include fees for standing instruction failures, dynamic currency conversion, and specific spending categories like utility, education, wallet loading, online gaming, and fuel. A new method for calculating the Minimum Amount Due will also be implemented, impacting how cardholders manage their payments.
