March 31, 2025 | EaseMoney News Desk – Starting 1, 2025, the Top leading banks of India, including HDFC Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), Axis Bank, and IDFC First Bank, are rolling out significant changes to their credit card benefits and reward programs. These updates will affect reward points, milestone benefits, travel perks, cashback, and lounge access, These modifications will impact over 70 million (7 crore indians) credit card users all over India. Here are the –
Key Credit Card Changes Effective April 2025 Bank wise –
1. SBI Credit Card Updates
- SBI SimplyCLICK Card: As per the SBI Cards official website, the SBI Simplyclick credit card Reward points on Swiggy orders are reduced from 10X to 5X, but still, the 10X remains on Apollo 24X7, BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Domino, IGP (Online Gifts Delivery), Myntra, Netmeds, and Yatra, rewards will continue.
- Air India SBI Platinum & Signature Cards: After 1 April 2025, SBI Platinum Cardholders will now earn just 5 points per ₹100 spent on Air India tickets, down from 15 points. Also, Signature Card holders will see their reward points drop from 30 to 10 per ₹100 spent.
- Club Vistara SBI Credit Card: For Club Vistara membership cardholders, no more complimentary economy or premium ticket vouchers on renewal. and The Annual fee of the card will be revised to ₹1,499 + GST taxes for the base card and ₹2,999 + GST taxes for PRIME.
2. IDFC First Bank Credit Card Updates
- After 31 March 2026, the IDFC bank will discontinue the Club Vistara IDFC First Credit Card.
- However, A one-year annual fee waiver will be offered to existing cardholders as compensation. (as per the IDFC bank announcement)
- Club Vistara Silver Membership will be discontinued.
- A few Milestone benefits, such as Premium Economy ticket vouchers, will be removed.
3. HDFC Bank Credit Card Changes
From April 2025, The HDFC Bank has announced revisions to the lounge access benefits for its premium Regalia and Infinia credit cards.
Now, these hdfc stricter spending thresholds may impact frequent domestic and international travelers.
Here are the key changes –
For HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card:
Domestic Lounge Access:
- Effective April 1, 2025, the number of complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses has been reduced from 12 to 8 per calendar year
- Cardholders must now meet a minimum spending requirement of ₹1 lakh per quarter to avail of these complimentary lounge visits.
International Lounge Access:
- The complimentary international lounge access policy remains unchanged, offering up to 6 complimentary visits per calendar year through the Priority Pass program.
HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card:
Domestic Lounge Access:
- As of April 2025, there are no announced changes to domestic lounge access benefits. Cardholders continue to enjoy unlimited complimentary access to domestic lounges.
International Lounge Access:
- The international lounge access benefits remain the same, providing unlimited complimentary access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide via a Priority Pass membership.
4. Axis Bank Credit Card Changes
- For Axis Vistara Credit Card cardholders, the change will happen after April 18, 2025.
- FMaharaja Club memberships, welcome ticket vouchers, and milestone benefits will be discontinued.
- Reward points will no longer apply to rent payments, wallet reloads, utility bill payments, or insurance premiums.
Why Are These Changes Happening?
- As per the new guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on credit card rewards, the banks are prompted to reduce high-cost perks.
- The merger of Air India and Vistara (November 12, 2024) is forcing banks to revise co-branded travel benefits for users quickly.
- Banks are adjusting to rising operational costs and changing consumer spending patterns by these new norms.
How Should Cardholders Respond?
These reward points are reducing, lounge access is tightening, and annual fees are increasing, This may impact the frequent travelers and online shoppers. On Reddit and X, people are asking for alternatives for better cashback and rethinking their card strategy to maximize benefits.
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July 12, 2025
