Best Standard Chartered Bank Credit Cards 2026

Standard Chartered credit cards offer rewards on dining, fuel, and travel with top options like Smart and Ultimate credit cards.

Top Standard Chartered Bank Credit Cards in India 2026

Joining Fee ₹49 / month
Annual Fee ₹49 / month
Best Suited For Instant Merchant Discounts on Myntra, Zomato & Yatra
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

20% off at Myntra (up to ₹700/month); 10% off at Zomato (up to ₹150/transaction, 5x/month); 20-25% off on Yatra flights/hotels (1x/quarter per category)

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 20% off at Myntra, up to ₹700, once a month
  • 10% off at Zomato, up to ₹150/transaction, 5 times a month
  • Up to 25% off on Yatra flight and hotel bookings
  • Fee waiver threshold (Monthly fee waived on ₹5,000 monthly retail spend)

Limitations

  • Discounts require the DIGISMART promo code and are limited to 1 transaction/quarter per category on Yatra
  • Myntra discount is limited to once a month
  • Monthly fee structure means costs add up if the card sits unused
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹499 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹499 + Taxes
Best Suited For 2% Online Shopping Cashback & Extended EMIs
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

2% cashback on online spends (up to ₹1,000/month); 1% on other spends (up to ₹500/month)

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 2% cashback on all online spends, capped at ₹1,000/month
  • Low-interest EMI conversion at 0.99%/month with zero processing fee
  • Up to 90 days interest-free period
  • Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹1.2 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • No airport lounge access
  • 1% cashback on other spends is capped at ₹500/month
  • Cashback categories are capped monthly, limiting upside for high spenders
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹999 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹999 + Taxes
Best Suited For 5% Supermarket & Department Store Cashback
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

5% cashback on supermarket, grocery & department store purchases (min ₹1,000/transaction, capped ₹500/month); 3 points per ₹150 on other spends

Welcome Benefits

5,000 Reward Points welcome bonus

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 5% cashback on supermarket, grocery & department store purchases
  • 5,000 Reward Points welcome bonus on joining
  • 3 Reward Points per ₹150 on other retail categories
  • Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹1.2 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • Standard Chartered is no longer accepting new applications for this card
  • Supermarket cashback is capped at ₹500/month, ₹150/transaction
  • Requires a minimum ₹1,000 transaction to qualify for the 5% rate
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹1,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹1,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Everyday Reward Points & Fuel Waivers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

4 Reward Points per ₹150 on all retail spends (excl. govt/insurance/fuel); +4 extra points per ₹150 on monthly spends above ₹20,000

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 4 Reward Points per ₹150 on all retail spends, doubling above ₹20,000 monthly spend
  • 4 domestic lounge visits/year (1 per quarter)
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver (up to ₹400/month)
  • Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹3 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • Government, insurance & fuel spends are excluded from reward points
  • Fuel surcharge waiver is capped at ₹400/month
  • No joining fee, but a ₹1,000 renewal fee applies from year 2
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹750 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹750 + Taxes
Best Suited For 5% Cashback on Fuel, Telecom & Utility Bills
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

5% cashback on fuel, telecom & utility bills (capped ₹100/transaction, ₹200-400/month per category); 1 point per ₹150 on other spends

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 5% cashback on fuel, telecom & utility bill payments
  • 100% cashback up to ₹1,500 on fuel transactions within the first 90 days
  • Minimum ₹750 transaction size unlocks the 5% telecom/utility rate
  • Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹90,000 annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • Fuel cashback is capped at just ₹100/month
  • Utility and telecom cashback are each capped at ₹100-200/month
  • Base rate on general spends is a modest 1 point per ₹150
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹250 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹250 + Taxes
Best Suited For
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

5 Reward Points per ₹150 on hotels, restaurants & fuel; 1 point per ₹150 on other categories, uncapped

Welcome Benefits

100% cashback up to ₹500 on restaurant spends within the first 90 days

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 5 Reward Points per ₹150 on hotels, restaurants & fuel, with no monthly cap
  • Complimentary Priority Pass membership covering 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide
  • 100% cashback up to ₹500 on restaurant spends within the first 90 days
  • 15% discount at 850+ participating restaurants across India

Limitations

  • Base reward rate outside bonus categories is a low 1 point per ₹150
  • Joining fee waiver requires ₹500 spend within 30 days of issuance
  • Complimentary travel insurance terms vary; confirm current coverage with Standard Chartered
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹350 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹350 + Taxes
Best Suited For Travel Spends at EaseMyTrip and Standalone Airline/Hotel Bookings
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10 reward points per ₹100 spent at standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile apps, or outlets (excluding other aggregators); 2 reward points per ₹100 spent on all other retail spends, including transactions via EaseMyTrip

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Instant discount and rewards on travel bookings at EaseMyTrip
  • No minimum booking value condition on flight and hotel discounts
  • Accelerated reward points on travel spends made directly on standalone brand websites other than EaseMyTrip
  • No capping on the earned reward points
  • Complimentary domestic lounge access at an exceptionally low annual fee threshold

Limitations

  • Low base reward rate of 0.5% (2 points per ₹100 spent) on regular categories
  • Primary instant discount benefits are strictly restricted to the EaseMyTrip platform
  • International lounge access benefits are no longer available on this card
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Rs. 5,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee Rs. 5,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Premium-type Reward Multipliers, High Base Points Accrual, and Golf Privileges
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

5 reward points for every ₹150 spent across all standard categories (3.33% reward yield parity)

Welcome Benefits

Premium welcome benefits up to Rs. 5,000 value pack matching the upfront onboarding fees

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 5 reward points per ₹150 spent, a 3.33% return rate across all categories
  • 2% forex markup on international spends
  • Complimentary golf games and coaching sessions
  • Welcome benefits worth roughly ₹5,000, close to offsetting the joining fee

Limitations

  • Strict exclusions applied across key day-to-day categories including fuel and cash advances
  • Reward points accrued on card renewal are forfeited if fee payments are processed via promotional EMI conversions
  • No automatic ongoing lifestyle milestone benefits provided outside standard tier paths
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals & IDFC FIRST Private Wealth Clients
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Uncapped 10X points on incremental spends; 6X on online spends; 3X on offline spends

Welcome Benefits

200,000 welcome reward points, or a luxury welcome gift, on activation

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Uncapped, accelerating reward points with 1:1 transfers to airline and hotel partners
  • 0.75% monthly interest rate, among the lowest of any Indian credit card
  • Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge access for cardholder and guests

Limitations

  • Massive upfront annual entry milestone fee layer of ₹50,000 applied to account status
  • Strictly accessible to clients keeping ultra-premium wealth management relationship brackets with IDFC First Bank
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Axis Burgundy Private Banking Clients & Ultra-High Net Worth Travelers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

15 EDGE Reward points per ₹200 spent on retail and international transactions

Welcome Benefits

30,000 EDGE Reward points, or a luxury welcome gift, on activation

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Points transfer at 5:4 to 20+ airline and hotel partners (5:2 for Lotusmiles, Finnair Plus & British Airways Club)
  • Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders, plus guests
  • Zero forex markup on international spends

Limitations

  • Massive upfront annual card fee barrier of ₹50,000 for standard applications
  • Requires strict adherence to multi-crore private banking wealth benchmarks with Axis Bank
  • Reward points collection excludes baseline routine categories like fuel and rent
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹12,499 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹12,499 + Taxes
Best Suited For Luxury Travelers & High Spenders
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

6 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (3% base rate) on all standard categories

Welcome Benefits

12,500 Reward Points + complimentary Taj Epicure Plus and EazyDiner Prime memberships on joining

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Unlimited complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, including a generous guest allowance
  • 6 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (3% base rate) on all standard categories
  • 2% forex markup on international spends, lower than most premium cards
  • 1.99% monthly interest rate if you carry a balance, competitive for this card tier
  • Dedicated concierge service for travel and lifestyle bookings

Limitations

  • Premium standalone annual entry fee of ₹12,499 processed upfront
  • No programmatic direct point-to-mile transfer options to airline systems
  • Highly restrictive invitation-only or select wealth relationship requirement
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Nil (1st Year Free)
Annual Fee ₹4,999 + Taxes
Best Suited For Online Shopping and High-Yield Value Back on Overseas Transactions
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

36 reward points per ₹200 spent on online shopping; 18 reward points per ₹200 spent on offline shopping

Welcome Benefits

40,000 Reward Points welcome benefit

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 36 reward points per ₹200 on online spends, one of the higher online earn rates available
  • 1% forex markup, among the lowest available
  • Points redeemable across airlines and a range of luxury vouchers
  • Allows a generous allocation of up to 3 separate complimentary add-on cards

Limitations

  • Lounge access benefits are restricted by a spend threshold of ₹1 Lakh in the preceding quarter
  • Core essential categories (fuel, cash advances, EMIs) are completely excluded from point accruals
  • ₹1 or 1% processing fee on wallet loads and rent payments
  • Reward points are capped at 1 lakh per statement cycle
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For LIC Insurance Premium Payments, Travel Airport Lounge Access & High Accident Insurance Cover
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

2 Reward Points per ₹100 on LIC premium payments & international spends; 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on other spends

Welcome Benefits

Zero joining fee + complimentary insurance shields worth up to ₹1 Crore

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 100% Lifetime Free credit card with zero joining and annual fees
  • 2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on LIC insurance premium payments and international transactions
  • 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (8 visits per year)
  • Extensive complimentary insurance package: ₹1 Crore air accident cover, ₹5 Lakh personal accident cover & ₹1 Lakh purchase protection
  • Zero liability protection against lost/stolen cards up to ₹5 Lakh

Limitations

  • High net income eligibility threshold (₹15 Lakh per annum)
  • No welcome bonus or milestone reward points structure included
  • Fuel purchases, wallet reloads, and EMI transactions are excluded from reward points accrual
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹499 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹499 + Taxes
Best Suited For Flipkart Marketplace Buyers & General E-commerce Spend Reversals
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

5% cashback on Flipkart; 1.5% cashback on all online and offline everyday card outlays

Welcome Benefits

₹500 Flipkart activation gift card voucher + instant merchant discount codes upon onboarding validation

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 5% cashback on Flipkart orders
  • Cashback applied automatically to your statement, no manual redemption
  • Low ₹499 fee with an easily reachable waiver threshold

Limitations

  • No lounge access, domestic or international
  • No cashback on wallet reloads or utility bill payments
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Domestic Travelers who Prefer Railway Travel over Air Travel
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10 reward points per ₹200 spent on all online transactions; accelerated reward points specifically on railway ticket bookings

Welcome Benefits

Ixigo money vouchers upon card issuance/activation parameters

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Lifetime free, with zero joining or renewal fees
  • Direct discounts on flight, hotel and bus bookings made through Ixigo
  • Highly competitive base reward rate covering generalized online transactions
  • 8 domestic airport lounge visits and 8 railway lounge visits a year

Limitations

  • Reward earnings on Ixigo bookings are capped
  • Only 1 international lounge visit a year
  • No premium lifestyle or global milestone benefits
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For IndiGo Loyalists New to Credit or looking to Strengthen Their Credit Profile
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 22 BluChips rewards per ₹100 spent on flight bookings through the IndiGo app/website; 3 BluChips per ₹100 spent on general category retail purchases; 0.5 BluChips per ₹100 spent on UPI payments, fuel, insurance, rent, utilities, and wallet top-ups

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • No joining fee
  • Same IndiGo flight reward rates as the unsecured version of this card
  • A useful option for building or repairing credit history while still earning travel rewards
  • Low foreign currency exchange markup fees applied across cross-currency international spends
  • Domestic trip cancellation insurance included

Limitations

  • Requires a high minimum commitment threshold of ₹1 Lakh locked up in an IDFC FIRST Fixed Deposit
  • Highly restricted reward yields (0.5 BluChips per ₹100) on daily lifestyle essentials like fuel, insurance, utilities, and rent
  • Rewards can only be redeemed for IndiGo flights
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹50,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹50,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), Elite Global Lifestyle, and High-Parity Travel Miles Conversion
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 spent, transferable at 1:5 to 20+ airline & hotel partners including Marriott, Qatar Airways & Singapore Airlines

Welcome Benefits

Choose any 1 option from: 25,000 EDGE Miles OR an ITC Hotels e-gift card worth ₹40,000 for participating properties

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Choice of a substantial welcome bonus: EDGE Miles or an ITC Hotels e-gift card
  • Airport meet-and-assist and luxury vehicle transfer services included
  • Generous guest allowance for lounge visits
  • Zero forex markup on international spends
  • Companion airfare offers on select bookings

Limitations

  • Requires high up-front membership fee parameters if not optimized via private banking program balances
  • Strictly restricted via specialized invitation parameters from the issuer
  • Optimized features are predominantly weighted into global premium travel and luxury hotel categories over domestic day-to-day shopping categories
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹1,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹1,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Fuel Spends at IndianOil and Moderate Point-to-Mile Redemptions
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

6 EDGE Miles per ₹150 spent on fuel transactions at authorized IndianOil outlets; 1 EDGE Mile per ₹150 spent on regular purchase streams

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 1:1 redemption ratio when used for IndianOil fuel purchases
  • Points transfer to 15+ airline and hotel partners at a 2:1 ratio
  • Up to 30% discount on Zomato
  • Fee waived on ₹1 lakh in annual spend

Limitations

  • Core daily utilities, insurance payments, rental charges, and digital wallet top-ups are entirely excluded from reward point generation
  • Requires at least 500-510 accumulated EDGE Miles before you can redeem
  • No renewal or annual welcome gift milestones
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹1,499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹1,499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For High-Volume Commuters and Fuel Spends at BPCL Outlets
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

25X reward points (25 points per ₹100 spent) on BPCL fuel purchases (equivalent to up to 7.25% value back); 10X reward points on groceries, departmental stores, movie tickets, and dining spends

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Up to 7.25% value back on BPCL fuel purchases
  • 10X points on groceries, department stores, dining and movies
  • Domestic airport lounge access included
  • Points redeem directly for BPCL fuel

Limitations

  • Fuel surcharge waiver protections are constrained by a strict monthly ceiling cap of ₹100
  • Low absolute baseline reward cash conversion valuation parity floor (4 points = ₹1)
  • Slightly lower fuel value-back than some competing fuel cards, like IndianOil RBL XTRA
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Joining/Annual Fee: ₹500 + Taxes
Annual Fee Joining/Annual Fee: ₹500 + Taxes
Best Suited For Fuel Spends at HPCL Outlets via HP Pay and Daily Household Utility/Grocery Bills
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

4% savings (via 24 reward points per ₹100 spent) on fuel purchases at HPCL pumps when paid via the HP Pay App; 2.5% savings (via 15 reward points per ₹100 spent) on groceries, departmental stores, and utility bill payments; 2 reward points per ₹100 spent on all other retail transactions

Welcome Benefits

2,000 ICICI Bank Reward Points + ₹100 cashback in the HP Pay wallet upon card activation and meeting onboarding payment terms

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Up to 5% combined value back on HPCL fuel purchases (rewards plus surcharge waiver)
  • 2.5% back on groceries, utilities and department stores
  • Welcome bonus offsets the joining fee
  • Fee waived on ₹1.5 lakh in annual spend
  • Includes complimentary domestic airport lounge access

Limitations

  • The top 4% fuel rate only applies to payments made through the HP Pay app
  • Monthly statement cycle capping limits are tightly enforced across both fuel and lifestyle reward categories
  • Excludes traditional premium lifestyle rewards like international lounge access or movie milestone gift codes
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Fuel Spends at HPCL Pumps via HP Pay, Groceries, and Household Utility Bills
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Save up to 6.5% on HPCL fuel spends when utilizing reward multipliers and the HP Pay App; includes savings on grocery, utility categories, and IDFC FIRST FASTag recharges

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Up to 6.5% combined savings on HPCL fuel spends
  • Bonus rewards on groceries and utility bills
  • Rewards on FASTag toll recharges too
  • Domestic airport lounge access included
  • Low cash conversion reward redemption parity threshold

Limitations

  • Top fuel savings require paying through the HP Pay app
  • Monthly spend caps: ₹12,000 on HPCL fuel, ₹10,000 via HP Pay app, ₹2,000 on groceries/utilities, ₹1,000 on FASTag recharges
  • Lounge access privileges are conditional upon hitting quarterly spending thresholds
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For High-income Travelers, Unlimited Lounge Access, and Zero Forex Spends
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

4 reward points per ₹100 spent on regular transactions; accelerated 3X reward points (12 points per ₹100 spent) on dining and travel spends; 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 0% forex markup on international spends
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access worldwide
  • 3X reward points on dining and travel
  • Issued as a metal card

Limitations

  • High minimum income requirement
  • Reward cash conversion ratio settles at a modest baseline floor of 4 points = ₹1 value
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹5,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹5,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Etihad Airways Bookings & Miles Accumulation
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

6 Etihad Guest Miles per ₹100 on direct etihad.com spends; 2 Miles per ₹100 on other domestic & international spends

Welcome Benefits

10,000 Etihad Guest Miles welcome bonus (+5,000 booster Miles during promotional periods)

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 6 Etihad Guest Miles per ₹100 on direct etihad.com bookings
  • 12 domestic + 8 international lounge visits per year
  • Milestone bonuses: 1,000 Miles at ₹50K/month, 2,000 at ₹1.5L/quarter, 12,000 at ₹6L/year

Limitations

  • ₹5,000 annual fee needs ₹5 Lakh spend in eligible categories to waive
  • Rewards are most valuable if you specifically fly Etihad, limited use otherwise
  • Base rate outside Etihad bookings is a modest 2 Miles per ₹100
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Nil (1st Year Free)
Annual Fee ₹25,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Frequent Travelers looking for Zero Forex Fees and Unlimited Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10 Air Miles per ₹100 spent on flight and hotel bookings via the Kotak Unbox platform; 3 Air Miles per ₹100 spent on all other purchase categories

Welcome Benefits

No disclosed joining bonus; value comes primarily from ongoing travel benefits

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 10 Air Miles per ₹100 on flights and hotels booked via Kotak Unbox, roughly 10% back in miles
  • Zero forex markup on international transactions
  • Unlimited domestic lounge access via DreamFolks and unlimited international access via Priority Pass, for primary and add-on cardholders
  • Discounted stays and free nights at ITC Hotels, Elivaas Villas and Alaya Stays

Limitations

  • High standard annual maintenance fee barrier of ₹25,000 if not a Solitaire Program account holder
  • Extremely weak value across non-travel lifestyle verticals like shopping, dining, and movies
  • Accelerated rewards optimization and prime 1:1 reward redemptions are exclusively locked inside the Kotak Unbox platform
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹2,499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹2,499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Mid-range All-round Spends covering Lifestyle, Dining, and Domestic Travel
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

15 reward points for every ₹100 spent on dining, travel, and international transactions; 3 reward points for every ₹100 spent on other standard retail categories

Welcome Benefits

Complimentary annual memberships to Amazon Prime or Jio Hotstar, and Gaana Plus, plus a 3-month Swiggy One membership

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Unlimited complimentary domestic airport lounge access
  • 15 reward points per ₹100 on dining, travel and international spends
  • 2% forex markup on overseas transactions, better than most cards at this fee
  • Free annual subscription to Amazon Prime or Jio Hotstar plus 3 months of Swiggy One
  • Preventive health checkup package for women cardholders

Limitations

  • Low cash conversion reward redemption parity threshold set at 4 points = ₹1
  • Strict monthly capping limits enforced on accelerated 5X reward accumulations
  • Complete exclusion of automotive fuel purchases from generating any baseline reward points
  • Total absence of international lounge terminal access benefits
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹12,500* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹12,500* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For High Spenders & Frequent Travelers Seeking Strong Travel Redemption Value
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

33.33% value-back on travel spends (50 reward points per ₹150 spent on hotel bookings and 25 reward points per ₹150 spent on flight bookings via Travel & Shop); 3.33% value-back on regular spends (5 reward points per ₹150); 3 reward points per ₹150 spent internationally; 1 reward point per ₹150 spent on UPI, insurance, utilities, rent, government, wallet load, railways, Fastag, and education

Welcome Benefits

12,500 reward points (worth ₹12,500) upon payment of the joining or renewal fee; 25% off up to ₹5,000 on select 5-star hotel bookings via the IDFC FIRST mobile app on spending ₹1 Lakh within the first 60 days

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Unmatched 33.33% value-back yield on travel bookings via Travel & Shop
  • True 1:1 reward currency parity redemption ratio against flights and hotels
  • Includes typically excluded routine categories (rent, utilities, insurance, UPI) for reward generation
  • Absolute 0% cross-currency foreign exchange transaction markup penalty applied on international spends
  • Trip cancellation insurance included at no extra cost

Limitations

  • High upfront annual entry card fee barrier of ₹12,500
  • Ongoing lounge benefits are limited to 16 complimentary domestic and international visits per year
  • Reward redemptions against merchandise or vouchers carry a degraded parity ratio (4 points = ₹1)
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹3,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹3,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Frequent IndiGo Flyers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 21 BluChips per ₹100 spent strictly across authorized IndiGo ticket/service purchase streams

Welcome Benefits

BluChip vouchers worth up to ₹16,000 every year (subject to specific onboarding/annual spend behaviors)

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Up to 21 BluChips per ₹100 spent on IndiGo bookings
  • Up to ₹16,000 in BluChip vouchers annually, tied to spend milestones
  • Up to 8 domestic lounge visits a year with achievable quarterly targets

Limitations

  • High baseline joining/annual renewal fee overhead of ₹3,000
  • Lacks substantial lifestyle milestone optimization outside of the core airline point system
  • Rewards can only be redeemed for IndiGo flights, with no other redemption options
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹1,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹1,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Online Shopping Spends and Travel Bookings via the IDFC FIRST Mobile Ecosystem
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

Up to 5% cashback on online shopping spends; Up to 6% cashback back on travel bookings executed via the IDFC FIRST mobile app

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Up to 5% cashback on online shopping
  • Up to 6% back on travel bookings made through the IDFC FIRST app
  • Fee waived on ₹2 lakh in annual spend, an achievable bar

Limitations

  • Carries an upfront first-year joining fee barrier of ₹1,000, unlike select entry-level zero-fee options
  • Top travel cashback only applies to bookings made through IDFC FIRST's own app
  • Cashback yields on offline purchases and core utility exclusions follow a lower baseline structure
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For High-earning individuals seeking a Lifetime Free Card with Premium Travel Perks & Golf Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10X reward points on Dining, Travel and International spends; 3X reward points on other online & offline spends; 1X reward points on insurance, utilities, railways and FASTag recharges; 1X = 1 reward point per ₹200 spent

Welcome Benefits

Gift vouchers worth ₹500 on spending ₹15,000 within 90 days of card set-up; 5% cashback (up to ₹1,000) on your first EMI transaction within 90 days of card set-up

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Lifetime free, with no onboarding or annual fee
  • 10X reward points on dining, travel and international spends
  • 1.5% forex markup
  • Earns points on categories many cards exclude, like rent, education, utilities and insurance
  • Lounge access, spa visits and golf rounds included

Limitations

  • Low base reward redemption conversion metric locked at 1 point = ₹0.25
  • Base reward rate yield (3X on other spends) underperforms for a premium-tier card segment
  • Lounge, spa and movie privileges depend on hitting monthly spend milestones
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹1,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹1,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Online Shoppers seeking milestone tier-based cashback yields over multiple digital brands
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

Tier-based monthly cashback structure: 2% cashback on monthly online spends up to ₹5,000; 5% cashback on monthly online spends between ₹5,001 to ₹40,000; 7% cashback on monthly online spends above ₹40,000 (Online cashback capped at ₹4,000 per month). 0.75% unlimited cashback on offline & travel spends; 0.5% cashback on utility spends (capped at ₹100 per month).

Welcome Benefits

5,000 EDGE reward points worth ₹1,000 on the first spend within 30 days of card issuance

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Up to 7% cashback on monthly online spends above ₹40,000
  • Welcome bonus offsets the first-year fee
  • 25% discount on dining bills via EazyDiner
  • Unlimited 0.75% cashback on offline and travel spends

Limitations

  • Overall monthly online cashback collection pool is strictly capped at a maximum of ₹4,000
  • Utility bill payments carry a heavily restricted monthly cashback limit of just ₹100
  • Requires high online expenditure volume tracking to optimally hit and unlock the upper 7% multiplier target
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Weekend Shopping Spends, Low Forex Fees, and No Reward Expiry
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

2 reward points per ₹100 spent on weekends (Sat-Sun); 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on weekdays (Mon-Fri); 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on medical, automobiles, and telecom; 0.70 reward points per ₹100 spent on utility bill payments, insurance premiums, government services, educational fees, and rental payments

Welcome Benefits

Activation benefits in the form of a Luxe gift card or vouchers from premium brands like Montblanc, Postcard, and Vouchagram (Note: This specific feature is available at certain fee points only and not with standard lifetime-free variants)

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 2X reward points on weekend spending
  • Lifetime free, with no joining or annual fee
  • Competitive low foreign currency markup handling fee of 1.8%
  • 1:1 points transfer to airline miles, and points never expire
  • Earns rewards on typically excluded baseline bills like rent, utility, and insurance premium payments

Limitations

  • Low base reward rate for weekday spending in comparison to rival options
  • Complimentary airport lounge access was discontinued as of March 2025
  • Automotive fuel purchases are entirely excluded from the rewards program
  • Fewer partner airline mileage transfer options compared to other premium cards
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹5,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹5,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For High-Income Individuals, Frequent International Travel, and Airport Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 10X reward points on monthly spends above ₹20,000; 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25

Welcome Benefits

12,000 Reward Points (4,000 on joining + 4,000 each on ₹20,000 spend in statement cycles 2 & 3) + up to ₹4,000 cashback on first 4 transactions within 60 days

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Premium metal card design offering high status value
  • Zero foreign exchange markup fee applied on international spends
  • Generous international airport lounge policy providing 16 complimentary visits per year
  • Accelerated 10X reward point multiplier easily unlocked via a ₹20,000 monthly spend threshold

Limitations

  • Low cash conversion reward redemption parity threshold set at 1 point = ₹0.25
  • Low net effective value-back yield of just 1.66% even at the maximum 10X reward point accumulation rate
  • High upfront annual maintenance card fee barrier of ₹5,999 with an absolute absence of a spend-based fee waiver
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For UPI Payments, Dining Spends, and Everyday Household Groceries via Direct Cashback
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

10% cashback on dining, grocery, and food delivery spends; 1% cashback on other eligible spends, including UPI transactions; Cashback is capped at ₹400 per month

Welcome Benefits

₹500 cashback upon downloading and logging into the HSBC India mobile banking app and spending ₹10,000 within 30 days of card issuance (applicable till 31 Mar 2026); Complimentary 2-month EazyDiner Prime membership on card activation (if activated between 15 July 2025 and 31 Mar 2026)

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 10% cashback on dining, groceries and food delivery
  • 1% cashback on UPI payments via the RuPay network
  • Zero foreign exchange transaction markup fees until 30 June 2026
  • Cashback credited directly to your statement, no point conversion needed
  • Fee waived on ₹2 lakh in annual spend

Limitations

  • Tight monthly billing cycle cashback earning cap strictly limited to a maximum of ₹400
  • Completely excludes all international and foreign currency spends from earning any cashback value back
  • Extensive list of day-to-day transaction exclusions (fuel, utilities, insurance, rent, wallet top-ups, education, and govt fees) that yield zero cashback returns
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Spend-Based Milestone Rewards, Low Forex International Spends, and Air Mileage Redemptions
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Tier-based annual spending reward structure: 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on annual spends up to ₹1 Lakh; 2 reward points per ₹100 spent on annual spends between ₹1 Lakh and ₹2.5 Lakh; 4 reward points per ₹100 spent on annual spends between ₹2.5 Lakh and ₹5 Lakh; 6 reward points per ₹100 spent on annual spends above ₹5 Lakh

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Lifetime free, with no ongoing annual fee
  • 1.5% forex markup
  • Reward rate climbs to a 7.2% equivalent return once you cross ₹5 lakh in annual spend
  • Domestic and international lounge access, plus seasonal golf access
  • Points convert to airline miles at up to a 1:1 ratio

Limitations

  • Requires ₹5 lakh in annual spend to reach the top 6X reward point multiplier
  • Core daily household categories such as regular monthly utility bill payments and insurance premium outlays are entirely excluded from generating points
  • Low cash conversion reward redemption value if points are settled straight back as a standard statement balance credit
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹4,999 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹4,999 + Taxes
Best Suited For Taj Hotel Guests & IHCL Loyalists
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Accelerated rewards on Taj Group hotel bookings; standard rate on other retail spends

Welcome Benefits

Complimentary Taj Epicure membership upgrade and Taj stay vouchers on activation

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Deep integration with Taj, SeleQtions and Vivanta properties, including room upgrades and stay discounts
  • Domestic and international airport lounge access included
  • Accelerated point earning on Taj Group hotel bookings

Limitations

  • Most of the card's value is concentrated in IHCL properties (Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta), so it offers little outside that hotel group
  • Premium upfront recurring maintenance fee barrier
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹750* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹750* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Travel Spends, Zero Forex Markups, and New-to-Credit Builders
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 16.7% bonus rewards or value-back on travel booking allocations; features tiered multiplier reward rates across multiple spending categories

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Up to 16.7% value back on travel bookings
  • 0% forex markup on international spends
  • 25% discount on movie tickets
  • A useful option for building or repairing credit history, since it's FD-backed

Limitations

  • Requires upfront collateral commitment in an IDFC FIRST Fixed Deposit to back card limits
  • Standard joining fee applies, unlike the basic zero-fee unsecured variant cards
  • Top travel rewards only apply when booking through IDFC FIRST's own app or channels
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Everyday Spending, Food Delivery Apps, Multi-category Shopping, and Lifestyle Cashback
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

10% cashback on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping & utility spends (capped ₹1,200/month); 1.5% uncapped on other eligible retail spends

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping & utility spends
  • Unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other eligible retail spends
  • Upgraded to Visa Infinite (from July 2026): airport Meet & Assist, complimentary ITC Hotels stays, Avis car rental privileges
  • Annual fee waived on ₹2 Lakh yearly spend, effectively free for regular users

Limitations

  • Accelerated cashback is capped at ₹1,200 per month
  • Lounge access reduced to 2 domestic visits/year (from 4) as of July 2026
  • Wallet loads and cash advances are excluded from cashback
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹2,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹2,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Premium Multi-category Rewards, Low Foreign Exchange Markups, and Domestic Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 10X rewards on every spend

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • High-frequency reward potential offering up to 10X reward multipliers on everyday spends
  • Highly competitive, low foreign exchange markup fee optimized at just 1%
  • Generous domestic travel integration providing up to 16 complimentary lounge visits per year

Limitations

  • Upfront joining and annual fee barrier of ₹2,999
  • Value yield is mostly optimized around domestic lounge networks over international variants
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹500 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹500 + Taxes
Best Suited For Heavy Swiggy Food, Grocery, Instamart Users & E-Commerce Shoppers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10% cashback on Swiggy app; 5% on online shopping across 1000+ top apps; 1% on other retail

Welcome Benefits

Complimentary 3-month Swiggy One membership worth ₹1,199 on activation

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • 10% cashback on Swiggy Food, Instamart, Dineout and Genie
  • 5% cashback across 1,000+ other online platforms including Amazon, Myntra and Nykaa
  • Cashback credited directly to your Swiggy Money wallet

Limitations

  • Cashback is capped monthly per category, not unlimited
  • No airport lounge access
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹4,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹4,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For High-Volume Everyday Spends on Groceries, Dining & Movies
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

5X Reward Points (10 points per ₹100 spent) on Dining, Groceries, and Departmental Store spends (equivalent to a 2.5% value back); 2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on all other regular retail purchases (equivalent to a 0.5% value back); 4 Reward Points = ₹1

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift vouchers worth ₹5,000 upon card activation from choice of brand partners (Bata/Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Yatra, Shoppers Stop, or Aditya Birla Fashion); Complimentary 1-year Club ITC membership unlocking a 50% discount on the 2nd-night stay at participating ITC Hotels

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Welcome brand vouchers fully offset the upfront first-year joining fee barrier
  • Excellent complimentary movie ticket benefit worth ₹6,000 every year via BookMyShow
  • Airport lounge access covering both domestic and international terminals
  • Competitive low foreign currency exchange transaction markup fee of 1.99%

Limitations

  • Accelerated reward categories cap out at a 2.5% value back, which underperforms compared to select lower-fee cards
  • Extremely weak base reward rate of 0.5% for general transactions outside accelerated tiers
  • High ongoing annual retail spend threshold of ₹10 Lakh required to trigger the renewal fee waiver
  • Previously included travel memberships like Club Vistara Silver and Trident Red Tier have since been discontinued
Full Card Review →
Joining Fee ₹2,999 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹2,999 + Taxes
Best Suited For Everyday Premium Rewards, Dining & Milestone Vouchers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

20 reward points per ₹100 spent on your birthday; 10 reward points per ₹100 spent on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and movie tickets; 2 reward points per ₹100 spent on all other retail transactions

Welcome Benefits

₹3,000 worth of e-gift vouchers from choice of brand partners (Bata, Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, Yatra) on joining fee settlement

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • Welcome gift voucher entirely offsets the upfront first-year joining fee barrier
  • Strong 10X reward points multiplier across major daily spending verticals (dining, groceries, movies, and departmental stores)
  • Domestic and international airport lounge access, including companion entry
  • Highly valuable milestone achievement rewards up to ₹14,500 per year
  • Low cash conversion reward redemption parity threshold

Limitations

  • Imposes strict monthly cycle capping limits on the 10X accelerated point tiers
  • Fuel purchases, wallet reloads, rental outlays, and cash advances are entirely excluded from generating reward points
  • A standard processing fee of ₹99 is actively charged on every points redemption instance
Full Card Review →

Standard Chartered Bank Credit Cards at a Glance

Best Standard Chartered Bank Credit Cards Comparison Table
Card Fee Rating
1. Standard Chartered DigiSmart Credit Card ₹49 / month ★ 4.5 View →
2. Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card ₹499 + Taxes ★ 4.4 View →
3. Standard Chartered Manhattan Credit Card ₹999 + Taxes ★ 4.4 View →
4. Standard Chartered Rewards Credit Card ₹1,000 + Taxes ★ 4.3 View →
5. Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card ₹750 + Taxes ★ 4.3 View →
6. Standard Chartered Platinum Rewards Card ₹250 + Taxes ★ 4.1 View →
7. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card ₹350 + Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
8. Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card Rs. 5,000 + Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
9. IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card ₹50,000 + Taxes ★ 4.9 View →
10. Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card ₹50,000 + Taxes ★ 4.8 View →
11. ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card ₹12,499 + Taxes ★ 4.6 View →
12. YES Bank Marquee Credit Card ₹4,999 + Taxes ★ 4.5 View →
13. LIC Signature Credit Card Free ★ 4.5 View →
14. Flipkart SBI Credit Card ₹499 + Taxes ★ 4.3 View →
15. Ixigo AU Credit Card Free ★ 4.0 View →
16. IndiGo IDFC First Dual FD Credit Card Free ★ 4.0 View →
17. Axis Bank Primus Credit Card ₹50,000* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
18. IndianOil Axis Bank Premium Credit Card ₹1,000 + Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
19. BPCL SBI Card Octane ₹1,499* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
20. ICICI Bank HPCL Super Saver Credit Card Joining/Annual Fee: ₹500 + Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
21. IDFC FIRST Power+ Credit Card Free ★ 4.0 View →
22. PNB LUXURA Visa Credit Card Free ★ 4.0 View →
23. BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card ₹5,000 + Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
24. Kotak Solitaire Credit Card ₹25,000 + Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
25. BOBCARD Tiara Credit Card ₹2,499* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
26. IDFC FIRST Gaj Metal Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹12,500* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
27. IndiGo Kotak XL Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹3,000* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
28. IDFC FIRST Hello Cashback Credit Card ₹1,000* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
29. IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card Free ★ 3.5 View →
30. Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹1,000* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
31. IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card Free ★ 3.0 View →
32. IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card ₹5,999* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.0 View →
33. HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹499* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.0 View →
34. IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card Free ★ 3.0 View →
35. HSBC Taj Credit Card ₹4,999 + Taxes ★ 4.4 View →
36. IDFC FIRST WOW! Black Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹750* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
37. HSBC Live+ Credit Card Free ★ 4.0 View →
38. IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹2,999* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
39. Swiggy HDFC Credit Card ₹500 + Taxes ★ 4.4 View →
40. SBI Card ELITE ₹4,999* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
41. SBI Card PRIME ₹2,999 + Taxes ★ 4.2 View →

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Standard Chartered's most popular credit cards in India?

The Rewards Credit Card, EaseMyTrip Credit Card, Smart Credit Card, and the premium Ultimate Credit Card are among Standard Chartered's most popular offerings.

What is Standard Chartered's forex markup on international spends?

It's typically 3.5%, reduced to 2% for Ultimate cardholders, among the more competitive rates for a non-zero-forex card.

Does Standard Chartered offer airport lounge access?

Yes, several cards include lounge access, with the Ultimate Credit Card offering access to 1,000+ airport lounges globally.

What is the eligibility age for a Standard Chartered credit card?

Salaried applicants must be 18–65 years old, while self-employed applicants can apply between 18–67, subject to income and credit checks.

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