IDFC First Bank Tightens Credit Card Rewards, Premium and Lifetime-Free Cards See Major Cuts

IDFC First Bank has revised the reward structure across several of its credit cards, including premium variants like Mayura and Ashva, as well as lifetime-free cards such as Classic, Select and Wealth. According to a Moneycontrol report published on December 9, the changes reduce reward value, tighten eligibility conditions and introduce new caps and fees. 

The revisions directly impact international spends, lounge access and everyday categories like FASTag and railway bookings, making it essential for IDFC First Bank credit card users to reassess how they earn and redeem points.

How IDFC First Bank Reshaped Rewards and Benefits

From January 18, Ashva and Mayura cardholders now earn up to 5X reward points on international transactions, down from the earlier 10X rewards. To continue earning 10X points on eligible spends, customers must meet a minimum monthly spend of ₹20,000.

The bank has also made reward eligibility stricter. If a cardholder misses the minimum amount due by the payment deadline, no reward points will be credited for that billing cycle on Ashva and Mayura cards. The same rule now applies to the Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card, where missing the minimum payment results in zero Maharaja Points for that cycle, as reported by Upstox.

For lifetime-free cards, including Classic, Select and Wealth, the reward redemption value has been revised to ₹200 per point from ₹150, effectively reducing reward value by 25%, according to Moneycontrol. While users can still earn 10X reward points on monthly spends above ₹20,000 and on birthday spends, transactions below this threshold now attract only 3X reward points.

Lounge Access, Fees and Category-specific Restrictions

Lounge access has also been tightened. From April 2026, the IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card will offer only one complimentary domestic lounge visit per quarter, down from two earlier. Additionally, customers must spend ₹20,000 in a month to unlock lounge access in the following month.

Similarly, IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card holders will now receive one domestic and one free international lounge visit per quarter, reduced from two each earlier.

On spending categories, IDFC First Bank now offers only 1X reward points on FASTag recharges and railway ticket bookings. A 1% surcharge applies on FASTag recharges above ₹10,000 per billing cycle, and a 1% fee is levied on railway spends exceeding ₹25,000 per cycle.

On the positive side, the bank has enhanced travel incentives. Customers booking travel via the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App will earn 33% bonus reward points on hotel bookings and 20% bonus points on flight bookings. For travel redemptions, one reward point equals ₹0.40 on Ashva cards and ₹0.50 on Mayura cards, as per Upstox.

According to LoansJagat, credit card interest rates and charges in India typically vary based on card category and issuer policies, making reward optimisation and timely repayments critical for users. 

IDFC First Bank Credit Card Reward Revisions

While IDFC First Bank has not released a separate press statement, reports from Moneycontrol and Upstox indicate the changes are aimed at aligning rewards with sustainable spending behaviour. 

Industry experts quoted in Indian financial media suggest that spend-linked benefits and stricter caps help banks control reward costs while nudging customers toward higher monthly usage.

Earlier Changes and Broader Industry Trend

This is not the first time IDFC First Bank has adjusted its credit card benefits. Earlier updates in 2024 and early 2025 focused on interest rates, fair usage policies and spend-linked benefits, as reported by Mint. 

This move aligns with a wider industry trend. Recently, ICICI Bank announced revised credit card charges effective 2026, including a 2% fee on online gaming transactions, a 1% charge on third-party wallet loading above ₹5,000, and a 1% fee on transportation transactions above ₹50,000, as reported by Business Today. 

Conclusion

The revised structure makes the IDFC First Bank credit card less rewarding for low spenders while favouring users with higher monthly spends. Cardholders should closely track spend thresholds, fees and redemption values to avoid losing out.
 

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