Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card vs HSBC RuPay Platinum Credit Card

• The Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card is issued entirely in digital form. No physical card is provided
• Card details are automatically registered under the Credit Card section of Kotak Mobile Banking after issuance
• The card can be connected with supported UPI applications and used for eligible merchant payments after setting a UPI PIN
• It is designed primarily for merchant UPI transactions. Credit cards linked to UPI generally cannot be used for person-to-person transfers, cash withdrawals or other transactions restricted under RuPay and NPCI rules
• Cardholders earn 3 Kotak Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent on eligible transactions
• Reward points can be earned on both qualifying UPI purchases and regular card transactions completed virtually
• Regular virtual-card spending includes eligible online, e-commerce and international transactions
• Under standard non-cash redemption options, every 1,000 reward points are worth Rs. 100. This means one reward point ordinarily provides a value of Rs. 0.10
• A minimum of 1,000 reward points is required for redemption against regular options such as products, vouchers, recharge, movies or travel
• With effect from June 1, 2025, cash redemption provides a lower value of Rs. 0.07 per reward point
• Cash redemption requires at least 2,000 reward points
• Reward points may be redeemed through Kotak Rewards for mobile recharges, products, brand vouchers, movies, travel and other options available in the rewards catalogue
• Utility payments earn points only on spending of up to Rs. 35,000 in a statement cycle. Utility spending above this limit does not earn reward points
• Reward points are not earned on rent, fuel, railway, wallet-loading, EMI, education or balance-transfer transactions
• Insurance, government payments and online skill-based gaming transactions are also excluded from earning reward points
• Spending in excluded categories does not count towards any applicable milestone benefit
• The card has no joining fee and no annual renewal fee, making it lifetime free without any minimum-spending requirement
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must already hold an eligible Kotak Bank credit card

• Welcome Benefits include getting the following:

A. Avail Rs. 500 cashback when downloading and logging on to the HSBC India Mobile Banking app and spending Rs. 5,000 within 30 days of getting the card

B. Avail an RS. 250 Amazon eGift Voucher when applying online, verifying yourself by video and receiving your card

C. Get 2-months EazyDiner membership when activating your RuPay credit card

D. Also get Rs. 250 cashback when linking your card to UPI and making 2 transactions of Rs. 250 or more within 30 days of getting your card

• Link the credit card to UPI apps and enjoy easy direct payments with your card
• Make annual savings of up to Rs. 3,000 on fuel surcharges with our credit card waiver
• Use ATMs and make payments in over 160 countries and regions around the world, powered by the JCB network
• Earn 2 Reward points for every Rs. 150 you spend with your card
• Earn up to 6X reward points on hotels, flights and car rentals on Travel with Points
• Instantly convert reward points to air miles and hotel loyalty points in the HSBC India Mobile Banking app
• The HSBC SimplyPay app lets you pay bills and send money to family and friends, quickly and securely, wherever and whenever you want. All you need to do is link your bank account or RuPay credit card. Get Rs. 100 reward
• Enjoy exclusive discounts and offers with RuPay: Save on shopping, dinning and more with a range of offers and discounts exclusively for RuPay cardholders
• Savings on dining and movies with District by Zomato: Save 10% on dining, activities and shopping, and enjoy movies on the big screen for less with buy-one-get-one cinema tickets
• Save on grocery deliveries with Swiggy Instamart: Get 10% off on orders of Rs. 500 and above (max discount Rs. 200)
• Enjoy discounts and ofers around the world with the JCB network: Access global discounts, offers and experiences with the JCB network-enabled RuPay credit card
• Enjoy discounts up to Rs. 6,000 on flights and hotels via Cleartrip
• Enjoy money off your bills with Paytm: Use promo code to get 5% off transactions of Rs. 299 or more on mobile (prepaid and postpaid), broadband, DTH, water bills, gas cylinders, piped gas bills, FASTag and electricity bills (max discount Rs. 150)

Pros

• Lifetime free with no joining or renewal fee
• Supports merchant UPI payments through compatible UPI apps
• Earns rewards on eligible UPI and regular card transactions
• Instantly accessible as a virtual card through Kotak Mobile Banking
• Reward points can be redeemed for vouchers, shopping, travel, movies and recharges

Cons

• Available only to existing Kotak credit-card holders
• No physical credit card is issued
• Low effective reward rate of approximately 0.30% on regular redemptions
• No rewards on fuel, rent, EMI, education, wallet loading and several other categories
• No complimentary lounge access or fuel-surcharge waiver

Pros

• Lifetime free credit card with zero joining and annual charges
• Rewards on UPI spends
• Multiple redemption options, including miles conversion
• Multiple benefits on card activation

Cons

• No airport lounge access
• No Golf benefits
• No Insurance benefits
• Co-branded benefits are valid for a limited period and Limited lifestyle benefits