It should be a simple thing to pick a credit card, but somehow it’s not. Every card comes with rewards, travel perks, discount coupons, and all the stuff you want to get out of it, and so it is hard for people.
And when you are considering SBI credit cards, you’ll quickly learn you don’t need a premium card loaded with fancy features you’ll never use.
In this guide, we will examine four widely used SBI credit cards in India available through Demandeals: what are their rewards and fees, who are they for, and how to apply for them?
SBI Credit Cards in India: Quick Comparison
| Card Name | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Reward Rate | Best For |
| SBI Flipkart Credit Card | ₹500 + GST | ₹500 + GST (waived on ₹3.5L annual spend) | 5% on Flipkart, 7.5% on Myntra, 4% on select partners, 1% on other spends | Frequent online shoppers |
| SBI Indigo Credit Card | ₹1,499 + GST | ₹1,499 + GST | 3 BluChips per ₹100 on IndiGo, 2 per ₹100 on travel & hotels, 1 per ₹100 on other spends | Frequent IndiGo flyers |
| SBI BPCL Credit Card | ₹499 + GST | ₹499 + GST (waived on ₹1 lakh annual spend) | 13 reward points per ₹100 on BPCL fuel (≈3.25%) + 1% fuel surcharge waiver = up to 4.25% value back | Regular fuel spenders |
| SBI IRCTC Platinum Credit Card | ₹500 + GST | ₹300 + GST (from the 2nd year) | Up to 10% value back as reward points on AC1, AC2, AC3, and Chair Car bookings via IRCTC | Frequent train travellers |
Fees and reward rates are published by the respective sources at the time of writing and can change by SBI Card. Always verify current terms on the official SBI Card page before applying.
Why SBI Credit Cards in India Are Popular
There are dozens of card issuers in the market today, but SBI credit cards continue to attract millions of users every year. One reason is variety; SBI doesn’t try to force everyone into one rewards system. Instead, it gives different cards for different lifestyles: shopping, travel, fuel, and rail.
One advantage is accessibility. Most SBI cards are easy to understand, and their benefits are tied to categories of expenditure that people actually spend money on.
Why Demandeals is a Smart Place to Explore SBI Credit Cards
Before talking about the cards themselves, we have to mention Demandeals. It is one of the fastest-growing cashback/coupon and discounting sites in India. Discounting, promotional deals, cashback offers, and financial products are all available to users.
When applying for SBI credit cards in India via Demandeals, not only do you get the usual welcome bonus from the bank, but you also get cashback offers on the platform. If your first card is under consideration, then you should check those offers on Demandeals to get a better idea.
Apply for your SBI credit card via Demandeals and check current rewards points before you apply.
SBI Flipkart Credit Card: Best for Online Shopping
A huge portion of spending now happens online: groceries, smartphones, fashion, and home essentials. The SBI Flipkart Credit Card is built around that reality, rewarding digital spending in categories regular online shoppers already use.
Reward Rates and Structure
Based on terms published by SBI Card and reviewed by Paisabazaar and CardNitty:
- 5% rewards on Flipkart purchases
- 7.5% rewards on Myntra
- 4% rewards on select partner merchants (Netmeds and Zomato)
- 1% unlimited rewards on all other eligible spends.
The 5%, 7.5%, and 4% categories typically have a combined quarterly cap (usually around ₹4,000), after which the money is paid out at the base 1% rate. Rewards are usually automatically credited to the statement; there is no process of redemption.
Rewards usually exclude fuel, rent, government payments, insurance, gaming, wallet loads, and EMI transactions; see the current list before selecting a category.
Annual Fee, Joining Fee and Waiver Condition
- Joining fee: ₹500 + GST
- Annual/renewal fee: ₹500 + GST, reversed if you spend ₹3.5 lakh or more in the previous year.
That is about ₹29,000 of spending a month to hit the waiver, a high bar for an entry-level card, so many users may simply keep paying the modest annual fee.
Who Should Apply and Who Should Skip
Apply if:
- You’re a frequent Flipkart or Myntra shopper
- You spend roughly ₹5,000+ a month on Flipkart purchases
- You prefer simple rewards over a points system
- You want a low, easily justified annual fee.
Skip if:
You shop mostly on other platforms (Amazon, etc.); a platform-matched card will earn more
You travel internationally often; the foreign currency markup is on the higher side
You want airport lounge access, which this card doesn't offer
Note: Apply for the SBI Flipkart Credit Card via Demandeals and check current rewards points.
SBI Indigo Credit Card, Best for Frequent Flyers
Travel cards are exciting but only work for people who actually use the airline regularly. The SBI Indigo Credit Card specifically targets IndiGo passengers for benefits to use it for travel (the benefits of traveling on IndiGo include travel for work, family visits, and business trips).
Travel Reward Rates and Airline Benefits
Per SBI Card's published terms (reviewed by Paisabazaar):
- 3 IndiGo BluChips per ₹100 spent on IndiGo bookings (App/web)
- 2 BluChips per ₹100 on hotels, lodging, and select travel categories
- 1 BluChip per ₹100 on other retail spends
- BluChips redeem 1:1 for IndiGo flights and related services through the IndiGo app or website
Lounge access: 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits a year (1 per quarter), available if you've spent ₹50,000 in the previous quarter.
Welcome benefit: 2,500 bonus BluChips after fee payment and a transaction within 60 days. A 1% fuel surcharge waiver for transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000, capped at roughly ₹200/month.
Note: SBI also has a higher-tier "Indigo SBI Card Elite" with a steeper annual fee (₹4,999), higher BluChip rates, and international lounge access, worth comparing if you fly IndiGo very frequently.
Annual Fee and Charges
- Joining/annual fee: ₹1,499 + GST (no spend-based waiver on the base variant)
- Renewal brings 2,500 bonus BluChips, which partly offsets the fee
- Fuel surcharge waiver as above; standard finance charges apply to revolving balances.
Who Should Apply
This card is suitable for business travelers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and professionals who fly IndiGo frequently and can put meaningful spend through the card to make use of lounge access and BluChip redemptions. If airport visits seem not to be a part of your day-to-day life, the simpler cashback card will probably deliver more value for the same fee.
Note: Apply for the SBI Indigo Credit Card via Demandeals and check current reward points.
SBI BPCL Credit Card: Best for Fuel Savings
Fuel is one of the biggest recurring expenses for commuters, delivery workers, and multi-vehicle households, and the SBI BPCL Credit Card is built specifically around that spend.
Fuel Reward Rate and Surcharge Waiver
Per SBI Card and Paisabazaar:
- 13 reward points per ₹100 spent at BPCL pumps (1 point = ₹0.25), translating to about 3.25% value back.
- Plus a 1% fuel surcharge waiver for a total of up to 4.25% on BPCL fuel spending.
- Fuel rewards are capped at around 1,300 points per billing cycle, and the surcharge waiver is capped at about ₹100/month (≈₹1,200/year).
- 5 points per ₹100 on groceries, departmental stores, dining, and movies (capped at 5,000 points/month).
- 1 point per ₹100 on other retail purchases.
Points can be redeemed directly at BPCL outlets for fuel with no minimum redemption threshold.
Annual Fee and Charges
- Joining/annual fee: ₹499 + GST.
- Fee waiver: With some recent SBI Card revisions in 2026, the spend threshold to waive the renewal fee was raised from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 in the previous year; worth checking current terms since this has changed recently.
- Welcome benefit: roughly 2,000 bonus points on fee payment.
Note: SBI also offers an upgraded "BPCL SBI Card Octane" (₹1,499 annual fee) with a higher 25 points/₹100 on BPCL fuel, better suited for heavier fuel spenders.
Who Should Apply
Car owners, daily commuters, and families with multiple vehicles filling up regularly at BPCL pumps get the most value. If you don’t generally fuel at BPCL specifically, the accelerated rate doesn’t apply, and a general cashback card may serve you better.
Note: Apply for the SBI BPCL Credit Card via Demandeals and check current reward points.
SBI IRCTC Credit Card: Best for Train Travelers
Even though most travel cards are based on flights, millions of Indians travel by train regularly. The SBI IRCTC Platinum Credit Card is designed for railway passengers booking through IRCTC.
Railway Booking Benefits and Reward Rates
Per SBI Card and Paisabazaar/BankBazaar:
- Up to 10% value back as reward points on AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair Car, and Chair Car ticket bookings made via the IRCTC website or app (1 reward point = ₹1).
- A transaction charge waiver on IRCTC bookings made through the card.
- 1 reward point per ₹125 spent on other retail purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 350 reward points after a single transaction of ₹500+ within 60 days of card issuance.
- Reward points are generally valid for around 2–3 years and must be linked to your IRCTC loyalty account to redeem.
Some sources also list complimentary railway lounge access at select stations and a 1% fuel surcharge waiver (on transactions roughly ₹500–₹3,000); confirm current availability on SBI Card's site, as railway lounge benefits were among those revised in early 2026.
Annual Fee and Charges
- Joining fee: ₹500 + GST (first year).
- Renewal fee: ₹300 + GST from the second year onward.
Note: A higher "IRCTC SBI Card Premier" variant (₹1,499 annual fee) offers the same 10% train-booking value back plus stronger rewards on dining and other categories — better suited to those spending ₹1 lakh+ a year on travel.
Who Should Apply
Students moving between cities, working professionals, and families who book train tickets regularly and spend roughly ₹20,000+ a year on railway travel are the best fit. Budget-conscious travelers who fly rarely will find this more useful than a flight-focused travel card.
Note: Apply for the SBI IRCTC Credit Card via Demandeals and check current reward points.
How to Choose: A 30-Second Decision Guide
- If most of your spending is online (Flipkart/Myntra): Go for the SBI Flipkart Credit Card.
- If you fly IndiGo four or more times a year: Go for the SBI Indigo Credit Card.
- If your monthly fuel bill is high and you fuel up at BPCL: Go for the SBI BPCL Credit Card.
- If you book train tickets regularly through IRCTC: Go for the SBI IRCTC Credit Card.
- If you're unsure how much you'll actually use any one category: Go for the Flipkart card; it has the lowest annual fee and the broadest everyday usefulness.
How to Apply for an SBI Credit Card Online
- Browse and compare cards through Demandeals to see current reward points.
- Click Apply Now and complete the application on the secure partner/SBI Card site.
- Fill in personal details: name, date of birth, PAN, contact information, and employment details.
- Upload documents, typically Aadhaar/PAN for identity and address proof and income proof (recent salary slips, bank statements, Form 16, or ITR for self-employed applicants).
- Complete verification, which may include a CIBIL score check and video KYC.
- Track your application using the reference number provided; approved cards are usually dispatched within about a week or two.
General eligibility across these cards: age 21–70, salaried or self-employed with a regular income, and a reasonable credit score (most issuers look for a CIBIL score in the 700+ range, though exact cut-offs vary by card and applicant profile).
Conclusion
The card industry will keep evolving, but SBI credit cards are a largely practical option because they’re structured by lifestyle: shopping, travel, fuel, and railway. Instead of one card that is mediocre at everything, SBI has developed focused products that reward the spending you’re already doing.
And if you’re a student, a working professional, or someone who travels a lot, there will be an SBI card built around how you actually spend. Check Demandeals before applying; it is a good way to compare these cards side by side and see current offers before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Which SBI credit card gives the most reward points?
A. It depends on your spending pattern. Of these four, the SBI Flipkart Credit Card gives the highest published rate (7.5% on Myntra, 5% on Flipkart). But the SBI BPCL Credit Card can give a greater absolute value if fuel is your biggest monthly expense because its 4.25% combined value back applies to a recurring, often-large spend category.
Q. What is the annual fee for the SBI Flipkart credit card?
A. ₹500 + GST, which is reversed if you spend ₹3.5 lakh or more in the previous year.
Q. Can I apply for an SBI credit card without a salary slip?
A. Salaried applicants typically need recent salary slips, but self-employed applicants can usually substitute bank statements, Form 16, or ITR as income proof. Card type and applicant profile requirements will determine which document is required.
Q. How long does SBI credit card approval take?
A. Most applications get an initial eligibility decision within a few days after document and KYC verification, with the physical card typically arriving within roughly 7–10 working days of approval. Timelines can vary based on document verification and credit checks.
Q. What is the value of 1 SBI reward point in rupees?
A. It is different from card to card. On the IRCTC Platinum card, 1 reward point is worth ₹1. On the BPCL card, 1 reward point is worth ₹0.25. On co-branded cards such as Indigo, points (BluChips) are redeemed 1:1 at the airline services as opposed to for cash. Always check the specific card's redemption terms.
Q. Can you have two SBI credit cards at the same time?
A. Yes, SBI allows customers to hold multiple credit cards, subject to overall eligibility and credit limit assessment by the bank. Many users pair a category-specific card (like a BPCL or IRCTC) with a broader cashback card (like a Flipkart card) to cover more spending categories.
