IDFC First Bank, created by the amalgamation of IDFC Bank and Capital First in 2018, got into issuing credit cards in 2021. So by most standards, it is a recent entrant in the space. However, I signed up for an IDFC First Bank Credit Card only now.

IDFC First Bank Credit Cards

Since IDFC First Bank entered the credit card issuance business, it has been offering a variety of credit cards to garner mind space in the industry. There are two USPs for IDFC First Bank Credit Cards. First, there is no annual or joining fee (signup via this link), and points earned do not expire.

Additionally, you get a welcome voucher worth INR 500 on spending INR 15,000 or more within 90 days of card issuance (select variants) and 10X Rewards on spending above 20K in a month (differs by card variant). You get 3X and 6X rewards for regular in-store and online purchases. Besides, lounge access and Golf Course Tee fees are covered on premium variants.

The variants on offer are:

• IDFC First Millenia
• IDFC First Classic
• IDFC First Select
• IDFC First Wealth

On top of that, as mentioned above, if you spend over INR 20,000 a month (higher for the slightly premium cards), you get ten reward points/INR 100 spent for all your spending in the month. Each point is worth INR 0.25. On the day of your birthday, you also get ten reward points/INR 100 spent, regardless of category. The rewards are the same across the card categories.

When you apply for an IDFC First Bank Credit Card, basis your credit history and employment details, the bank selects the card that it deems appropriate for you from among its offerings.

Why I Applied for the IDFC First Bank Credit Card?

I had three key reasons to apply for and keep an IDFC First Bank Credit Card in my pocket. The first is the fact that it is a lifetime-free credit card. So it does not hurt to have one even if I sparingly used it.

Second is the lounge access feature. Now, a tonne of credit cards offer airport lounge access. However, only a few banks have lounge access to the Railway Stations. IRCTC, Indian Railways’ Catering and Ticketing arm, has for a few years now offered lounge access at select railway stations, which works perfectly for me. Over the past year or so, I’ve taken to doing some train rides apart from the usual flying, and on some short routes operated by the Vande Bharat trains, I prefer it over airlines at times.

The IDFC First Bank Credit Cards offer access to the railway lounges four times per calendar quarter. That should be more than enough for me for the time being, and the promise of clean washrooms and hot beverages before the train ride is a definite plus for me.

The third reason is that I usually want to keep a card from major issuers. IDFC First Bank has started to take part in some big-boy games by offering discounts on significant websites, so it helps to have one of their cards, especially since I shop so much out of pocket for travel and other expenses online.

What did I get?

I went through the application process, and as is true, perhaps for many of our readers, I was told I would be given the IDFC Bank Select Credit Card. The card arrived, and I now have to make a cumulative spend of INR 15,000 on the card within 90 days to receive an INR 500 voucher. I will perhaps be making the spend on the day of my birthday next month since, on that day, all spending will garner me 10X points.

After using it for a bit, I will write a full review of the product, but you can apply for the LTF IDFC First Bank Credit Cards here.

Bottomline

IDFC First Bank credit cards are being offered lifetime free, and I finally jumped on the bandwagon for the reason of using the card for discounts on big purchases; if IDFC First is a participating bank and the fact that the lounge access programme of the card had four complimentary lounge access for the railway as well as airline lounges per quarter (separate from each other).

What has been your experience with IDFC First Bank Credit Cards?

 Apply Here if you’d like one

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