The Ultimate List of the Best Co-Branded Credit Cards in India 2024
Collaborative credit cards, also known as co-branded credit cards, are cards that are launched in partnership with popular brands. They offer additional perks when users purchase products or services from the associated brands. In India, co-branded credit cards are often launched in collaboration with airlines, lifestyle brands, and fuel companies. This type of credit card is a relatively new concept, having first appeared in the 1980s. Since then, various global airlines, hotel chains, and retailers have teamed up with banks to offer co-branded credit cards. Consumers who are loyal to specific brands are drawn to these cards because they provide exclusive rewards, discounts, and benefits with their favourite brand.
If you're looking for a credit card that can provide you with exceptional rewards and benefits in India, co-branded credit cards can be an excellent choice. These cards are the result of a partnership between a credit card issuer and a particular brand or organization, and they offer unique advantages and privileges. These perks include various discounts, incentives, and offers, as well as partnerships with retail merchants. Recently, banks have collaborated with e-commerce websites to introduce co-branded credit cards. Fuel and airline credit cards are some of the most popular co-branded credit cards, where rewards points can be redeemed for air miles, flight awards, products, and class upgrades.
In this ultimate list, Fintra will explore the top co-branded credit cards in India 2024, assisting you to find the perfect card that suits your needs.
The topics we'll explore in this blog are as follows:
- The Advantages of Having a Co-Branded Credit Card in India
- Features of the Top Co-Branded Credit Cards in India 2024
The Advantages of Having a Co-Branded Credit Card in India
- Co-branded credit cards, which are issued in partnership with major payment processors like MasterCard or Visa, are widely accepted around the world. This means that you can use them to make purchases at any merchant's outlet, no matter where you are located.
- Co-branded credit cards are specifically designed to offer exclusive discounts and exceptional deals that are not available with basic credit cards.
- Certain credit cards that are co-branded do not charge any finance fees for Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) transactions.
- Certain credit cards with co-branded partnerships offer their users the ability to use their accumulated reward points for booking flights or hotels. This feature can result in significant savings for those who love to travel.
- Numerous credit cards that are co-branded provide amazing discounts for dining and entertainment expenses, allowing you to save money while you spend.
Features of the Top Co-Branded Credit Cards in India 2024
1. HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card
The HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card is one of the top co-branded credit cards in India. This card offers a range of exclusive benefits and rewards for cardholders. With this card, you can enjoy complimentary airport lounge access, travel insurance coverage, and discounts on dining and entertainment. Additionally, you can earn reward points on your card spends, which can be redeemed for a variety of options including air miles, hotel stays, and merchandise. If you're looking for a premium co-branded credit card in India, the HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card is worth considering.
2. SBI Card ELITE
The SBI Card ELITE is another top co-branded credit card in India. This card offers a host of benefits and rewards for cardholders. With this card, you can enjoy complimentary airport lounge access, travel insurance coverage, and discounts on dining, shopping, and entertainment. Additionally, you can earn reward points on your card spends, which can be redeemed for a variety of options including air miles, hotel stays, and merchandise. The SBI Card ELITE is a great choice for those looking for a premium co-branded credit card in India.
3. ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card
The ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card is one of the best co-branded credit cards in India. This card offers a range of benefits and rewards for cardholders. With this card, you can enjoy complimentary airport lounge access, fuel surcharge waivers, and discounts on dining, shopping, and entertainment. Additionally, you can earn reward points on your card spends, which can be redeemed for a variety of options including air miles, hotel stays, and merchandise. The ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card is a great choice for those looking for a versatile co-branded credit card in India.
4. Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card
The Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card is a top co-branded credit card in India, and it is fit for those who are frequent travellers, especially via Vistara Airlines. With this card, you can enjoy complimentary lounge access at airports, priority check-in, and additional baggage allowance when flying with Vistara Airlines. It also offers a complimentary Club Vistara Silver membership, a complimentary premium economy ticket on fee payment, travel insurance protection, discounted golf access, and more. Customers can earn Club Vistara points on eligible spends and stand a chance to win up to four premium economy tickets on achieving milestone spends. The Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card is perfect for frequent travellers who want to make the most out of their credit card rewards and primarily choose to travel on Vistara Airlines.
5. American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
The American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is one of the best co-branded credit cards in India for travellers. With this card, you can enjoy a host of travel benefits and rewards. Cardholders can earn Membership Rewards Points on their card spends, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and other travel expenses. Additionally, the card offers complimentary access to airport lounges, travel insurance coverage, and exclusive discounts on hotel bookings. If you love to travel and want to maximize your rewards, the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is the perfect choice for you.
6. SBI IRCTC Premier Credit Card
SBI Card has collaborated with IRCTC to launch a co-branded credit card called IRCTC SBI Card Premier. This card is an upgrade from the previously launched IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card and offers better benefits. The card is specifically designed to provide benefits on railway travel, making it one of the few cards in the market to do so. With this credit card, you can enjoy various benefits such as complimentary railway lounge access, higher reward points on IRCTC bookings, complimentary insurance coverage, and much more. This travel credit card provides privileges like bonus reward points, value back on your bookings, railway lounge access, fuel surcharge waiver, and many more. The card is ideal for frequent travellers who make bookings through the IRCTC app or website. Besides ticket bookings, you can also earn reward points on your retail purchases with complimentary railway lounge access every year. IRCTC SBI Card Premier is a great choice for frequent travellers as it provides good returns on air and travel bookings. However, if you are not interested in a high annual fee credit card, you can apply for the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card instead.
7. Club Vistara SBI Card
The Club Vistara SBI Credit Card is one of the two co-branded credit cards offered by SBI Card in partnership with Air Vistara. The other premium card is called Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME. This travel credit card offers many additional travel benefits, such as complimentary domestic airport lounge visits, membership in the Priority Pass lounge access program, discounted rates on hotel bookings, vacation programs, car rentals, and more. When it comes to the reward rate, you can earn reward points in the form of Club Vistara (CV) Points. For every Rs. 200 spent using the Club Vistara SBI Credit Card, you earn 3 CV Points, which can be redeemed for class upgrades on Air Vistara flights or Air Vistara ticket bookings.
8. Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME
SBI Card has partnered with Vistara Airlines to launch Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME, providing users with cheaper and more convenient travel options. The card comes with a complimentary Premium Economy class ticket from Vistara Airlines, making it an excellent choice for frequent flyers who travel exclusively with Vistara. Cardholders can enjoy various benefits such as a business class ticket as a milestone benefit, 1 Premium Economy ticket as an e-gift voucher, Club Vistara reward points, complimentary domestic airport lounge access, and much more. If you're looking for other co-branded airline credit cards with similar benefits, you can also consider applying for Axis Vistara Credit Cards.
9. Apollo SBI Card
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have come to recognize the importance of maintaining good health. While there are many credit cards available in the market, very few offer health benefits to their cardholders. To address this issue, SBI Card has collaborated with Apollo Hospitals to launch the Apollo SBI Credit Card, which provides healthcare benefits to its users. With this credit card, cardholders can not only enjoy discounts and rewards on Apollo Services and Apollo Hospitals but also earn reward points on their regular transactions. As a welcome benefit, cardholders will receive a complimentary Apollo Membership along with bonus reward points. Additionally, they will earn reward points on their regular spendings and accelerated rewards when they spend on healthcare services. The Apollo SBI Credit Card offers a range of healthcare benefits to its users.
Conclusion
Co-branded credit cards can be a great way to save money and earn rewards and perks, but only if you’re loyal to a particular brand such as a store, airline, or hotel chain. However, it is important to carefully consider any annual fees, interest rates, and other associated costs with a co-branded card before applying. If you decide to get a co-branded credit card, make sure to use it responsibly and pay off the balance in full each month to avoid fees and interest.
