Best FD-Backed Credit Cards in India (2026): FD Needed, Limits and Fees

An FD-backed credit card is issued against a fixed deposit you open with the bank. The FD is the security, so there's no income proof or credit history needed, and approval is close to certain. Your FD keeps earning interest, and the card builds your credit score like any other. Here are the FD-backed cards worth considering in 2026, how much FD each needs, and which suits whom.

The best FD-backed credit cards in India (2026)

Best overall: IDFC FIRST Quantum+

• FD needed: from ₹5,000. Credit limit is 100% of the FD.
• Fee: lifetime free.
• Rewards: 1% cashback, 2% on online spends above ₹10,000 a cycle, capped at ₹500 a cycle. 1% on UPI through the IDFC FIRST app.
• Extras: zero forex markup, interest-free cash withdrawal for up to 45 days (₹199 fee).

The best mix of a low FD, real cashback and no fees. Full review.

IDFC FIRST WOW!

• FD needed: ₹20,000 (₹25,000 for NRIs). Limit is 100% of the FD.
• Fee: lifetime free.
• Rewards: about 0.5% in points. The draw is zero forex markup, so it suits students and travellers spending abroad.

Full review. IDFC also offers WOW! Black, with higher rewards for a ₹750 fee.

For IndiGo flyers: IndiGo IDFC FIRST Dual FD

Needs a bigger FD, ₹1,00,000, and earns IndiGo BluChips, 6 per ₹100 on IndiGo bookings, with zero forex markup. Worth it only if you fly IndiGo regularly. Full review.

Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent

• FD needed: ₹10,000, held for at least 181 days. Limit up to 90% of the FD.
• Fee: lifetime free.
• Rewards: low, about 0.2%. It's a credit-building card, not a rewards card.

Full review.

Lowest FD: SBM Bank cards (ZET and others)

SBM Bank issues FD-backed cards through apps like ZET, from an FD of just ₹2,000, with a limit of about 90% of the deposit. They suit students and first-time users who want to start a credit history with the smallest amount. Rewards are modest.

From the big banks

• BOBCARD: FD-backed versions of its Easy, Select and Premier cards have no joining or annual fee, per BOBCARD's terms. An FD-backed Eterna is also available, with the same rewards as the regular Eterna.
• Axis Bank Insta Easy: against an FD of about ₹20,000, with a limit of around 80%, and no joining or annual fee.
• ICICI Bank: Coral and Instant Platinum cards against an FD of about ₹50,000, with a limit of 85% to 90%.
• HDFC Bank: cards against an FD from about ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 (reports differ), with a limit of up to 90%.

If you already bank with one of these, an FD-backed card there is often the easiest to get, and some upgrade to a regular card later.

How FD-backed cards work

• Credit limit: usually 80% to 100% of the FD. A bigger FD means a bigger limit.
• Your FD keeps earning interest at the normal rate, but it's locked as security while the card is open. You can't break it without closing the card first.
• You still pay the bill. The FD is only used if you stop paying. Unpaid bills attract the same 3.5% to 3.75% a month interest as any card.
• It builds your credit score exactly like a regular card, since it's reported to credit bureaus the same way (FD-backed vs regular cards).

How to choose

• Smallest FD: an SBM Bank card from ₹2,000.
• Best rewards for no fee: IDFC FIRST Quantum+.
• Spending abroad or studying overseas: IDFC FIRST WOW! (zero forex markup).
• Already bank with Kotak, Axis, ICICI, HDFC or Bank of Baroda: their FD-backed card, for an easier upgrade later.

Use the card for small, regular spends, pay the full bill every month, and keep usage under about 30% of the limit. After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, most people can qualify for a regular, unsecured card. See what an FD-backed card is for the basics, or every lifetime free card if you already have a credit history.

FD minimums and limits are from banks' published terms and recent comparisons as of October 2026. Banks change these, so confirm the current figures with the bank before opening the FD.

Sources: IDFC FIRST Bank, IDFC FIRST Quantum+, Kotak, BOBCARD MITC, 1 Finance, Paisabazaar (SBM)