New Delhi | 10:15 AM IST – If you already hold the PaisaSave credit card, or were planning to apply this year-end, December 15 quietly changed the math. The Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card, issued with YES Bank, has been upgraded — but not in a way that benefits everyone equally.
Unlike the earlier version, which rewarded online shopping broadly, the new structure is far more focused. Think lifestyle-first, not mass spending.
What exactly changed after Dec 15?
Earlier, PaisaSave was simple. Spend online, earn up to 3%. Spend offline, earn around 1.5%. It worked well for people who paid bills, ordered groceries, or shopped on marketplaces regularly.
Post Dec 15, the card has flipped priorities.
Dining and travel are now the stars. You get 6% cashback (technically via reward points) on dining and travel spends, capped at ₹3,000 per month. Everything else — shopping, utilities, insurance, even UPI spends — drops to 1% cashback.
No merchant list. No brand tie-ups. That simplicity is the upgrade.
But the trade-off is obvious: if your spending is not food or travel-heavy, your rewards may actually go down.
Important note for older transactions
If your spending happened on or before 14 December 2025, it will still be calculated under the earlier reward rules.
- Online transactions during this period earn 3% cashback, credited as 6 reward points for every ₹200 spent.
- UPI spends above ₹2,000 continue to earn 1.5% cashback, credited as 3 reward points per ₹200.
Any transaction from 15 December 2025 onwards will reflect the new cashback structure.
Old vs New: quick reality check
| Feature | Before Dec 15 | After Dec 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Core cashback | 3% online | 6% dining & travel |
| Offline/UPI | ~1.5% | 1% flat |
| Monthly cap | Higher overall | ₹3,000 (6% category) |
| Annual fee | ₹499 (waivable) | Same |
So yes, the upgrade is real — but it’s selective.
Who actually qualifies for the upgraded benefits?
Here’s the good news: eligibility rules haven’t changed.
Whether you are a new applicant or an existing cardholder, the income and age criteria remain standard YES Bank territory — salaried or self-employed, stable income, reasonable credit profile.
More importantly, existing cardholders don’t need to reapply. The upgraded reward structure applies automatically from December 15 onward. Your physical card doesn’t change. Only the backend reward logic does.
That said, some users may notice a lag in statements reflecting the new rates — a familiar issue whenever banks tweak reward engines.
Hidden catches most people will miss
First, the ₹3,000 monthly cap on 6% cashback sounds generous, but it maxes out at roughly ₹50,000 of dining + travel spends per month. Beyond that, you’re back to 1%.
Second, if your spending is skewed towards e-commerce, EMIs, or bill payments, the older PaisaSave was actually more forgiving.
Third, compared to cards like SBI Cashback or HDFC Millennia, PaisaSave still lacks ecosystem offers — no instant discounts, no sale-day stacking.
Who should actually use this card now?
This version clearly suits:
- Urban professionals who dine out often
- Frequent domestic travellers
- Users who prefer simple cashback over vouchers
It’s less attractive for:
- Heavy online shoppers
- Bill-payment-focused users
- Cashback maximisers chasing sale discounts
Finally
In today’s market, banks are moving away from broad cashback and pushing category-led rewards. PaisaSave’s upgrade fits that trend perfectly.
But unlike flashy launches, this is a repositioning, not a free upgrade for all.
If dining and travel are already your top spends, the card finally makes sense. If not, this “upgrade” may quietly reduce your returns.
Our view: good move by Paisabazaar, but only for a specific user segment. For everyone else, the search for a true all-round cashback card continues — and 2026 may bring tougher reward cuts across the board.
As always, choose cards based on how you actually spend, not how upgrades are marketed.
