Major credit card issuers in India
A quick snapshot of the leading issuers, their popular cards and what they are known for. Fees, benefits and eligibility change by card variant, campaign and issuer terms — always check the issuer's latest terms before applying.
| Issuer | Popular cards | Fee / lifetime-free snapshot | Key benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Card | CASHBACK, SimplyCLICK, PRIME, ELITE | Card-specific; SimplyCLICK has an annual fee with spend-based waiver | Cashback, shopping, travel & rewards |
| HDFC Bank | Millennia, Regalia Gold, Diners Club, Swiggy | Card-specific; spend-based waivers on selected cards | Cashback, rewards, shopping & travel |
| ICICI Bank | Amazon Pay, Coral, Rubyx, Sapphiro | Amazon Pay: no joining / annual fee | Amazon cashback, rewards & lifestyle |
| Axis Bank | ACE, Cashback, My Zone, SELECT | Card-specific; selected cards have fee waivers | Cashback, dining, shopping & travel |
| IDFC FIRST Bank | Millennia, Select, Wealth | Several cards are lifetime-free | Rewards, lounge, dining & lifestyle |
| IndusInd Bank | Legend, EazyDiner & others | Card-specific | Dining, travel & rewards |
| RBL Bank | ShopRite, World Safari, IndianOil | Card-specific; some variants lifetime-free | Shopping, fuel, travel & rewards |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | League Platinum & others | Card-specific; spend waiver on selected cards | Rewards, movies & lifestyle |
| YES BANK | RESERV, MARQUEE, SELECT & others | Card-specific | Rewards, travel & lifestyle |
| AU Small Finance Bank | LIT, Altura, Zenith, ixigo & others | Several variants lifetime-free; others card-specific | Customisable rewards, travel & lifestyle |
| HSBC India | Live+, TravelOne & others | Card-specific; selected spend-based waiver | Cashback, dining, groceries & travel |
| Federal Bank | Scapia, Celesta, Imperio & others | Scapia: joining & annual fee NIL | Travel, rewards & lifestyle |
| Bank of Baroda (BOBCARD) | Eterna, Select & others | Card-specific | Rewards, travel & lifestyle |
| DBS Bank | SuperX / SuperX Plus | Card-specific | Rewards & lifestyle |
| Standard Chartered | Smart (Cashback), Ultimate & others | Card-specific | Cashback & rewards |
Selected card highlights
| Card | Fees | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| SBI SimplyCLICK | ₹499 annual fee; reversal on reaching the applicable annual spend | Shopping reward points and partner offers |
| HDFC Millennia | ₹1,000 + GST joining / renewal; renewal waiver linked to annual spend | Cashback / rewards on eligible transactions |
| ICICI Amazon Pay | No joining or annual fee | Amazon cashback varies by Prime status and eligible category |
| Axis ACE | Card-specific with spend-based waiver | Higher cashback on selected bill-payment and food / commute categories, subject to terms & exclusions |
| IDFC FIRST Millennia | Lifetime free | Rewards and lifestyle benefits as per card terms |
| Federal Scapia | Joining & annual fee NIL | Travel-focused benefits, subject to eligibility and current terms |
| HSBC Live+ | Spend-based annual fee waiver | Cashback on eligible dining, food delivery & grocery spends |
Which credit card suits you?
| Your profile | Cards / issuers to explore |
|---|---|
| Salaried with a good credit profile | HDFC Bank, SBI Card, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank |
| Prefer lifetime-free cards | ICICI Amazon Pay, IDFC FIRST, Federal Scapia, selected AU cards |
| Shopping-focused | SBI SimplyCLICK, HDFC Millennia, ICICI Amazon Pay |
| Travel-focused | Federal Scapia, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC FIRST |
| Premium lifestyle | HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, YES BANK |
| Self-employed / business owners | Eligible cards from HDFC Bank, SBI Card, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and other issuers |
| New to credit / low score | FD-backed secured cards (Kotak 811, IDFC FIRST WOW), AU LIT |
How do credit cards work?
A credit card gives you a revolving credit limit. Pay the full statement balance by the due date and you pay no interest — typically an interest-free period of 20–50 days. Carry a balance and interest of 3–3.75% per month applies.
Types of credit cards
- Cashback cards: flat % back on spends
- Rewards cards: points redeemable for vouchers or miles
- Travel cards: lounge access, low forex mark-up, air miles
- Lifetime free cards: no joining or annual fee
- Secured cards: issued against an FD, ideal for new-to-credit
Eligibility criteria
- Age 21–60 years
- Salaried or self-employed with regular income
- Credit score of 700+ for most unsecured cards
- No credit history needed for FD-backed cards
Credit card fees & charges
| Charge | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Joining / annual fee | Nil – ₹12,500 + GST |
| Finance charge | 3% – 3.75% per month |
| Late payment fee | ₹100 – ₹1,300 by outstanding |
| Forex mark-up | 0% – 3.5% |
| Cash withdrawal fee | 2.5% (min ₹500) |
Important to know before you apply
- LoanLender helps you compare cards and connects you with issuers — approval is never guaranteed.
- Final approval, credit limit, fees, rewards and eligibility are decided solely by the card issuer.
- Fees shown are indicative and exclusive of GST. Offers, fees and benefits can change at any time.
- Please check the issuer's latest official terms and conditions before applying — they will prevail.