In-depth review
SBI Card ELITE
The ELITE was always a membership portfolio more than a rewards card — and in 2026 the Vistara-Air India merger pulled the Trident and Club Vistara status memberships out. What remains is quietly decent: a low ~1.99% forex, 6 international Priority Pass visits, 5X on everyday categories, and milestones worth up to ₹12,500. It's now a travel-leaning card for the internationally-mobile SBI customer.
Read the full review →Key features
What this card is built to do — the highlights that actually matter.
Welcome Benefit
~₹5,000 in vouchers, points or cashback in year one — usually conditional on a first spend within 30–90 days
2.5% on Dining
5X (~2.5% at ₹0.25/point) on dining, grocery and departmental stores. SBI caps accelerated points at 10,000 a calendar month ACROSS all of them together, then drops to 2 RP per ₹100 — we apply the cap per category, so a spender who maxes two categories is credited a little high
10 points/₹100 on Groceries (~2.5% value)
5X (~2.5%) on grocery and departmental stores, sharing the 10,000-point monthly accelerated cap with dining
Airport Lounge Access
8 domestic visits a year (2 a quarter) + 6 international Priority Pass visits a year (2 a quarter), with a complimentary Priority Pass membership
Annual Fee Waiver
Fee of ₹4,999 + 18% GST (₹5,899 all-in)/yr fully waived when you spend ₹10,00,000/year
24x7 Concierge
Concierge service for flower and gift delivery and online doctor consultation
Movie Ticket Benefit
₹500 off per BookMyShow booking, up to ₹6,000 a year — primary cardholder only
Hotel Membership
Complimentary 1-year Club ITC Silver Tier membership, granted after your first transaction within 60 days of card issuance
👑 PREMIUM LIFESTYLE BENEFITS
Concierge, golf, hotel membership and high-value perks for premium cardholders.
₹3,750
Milestone bonus value
- 24x7 lifestyle and travel concierge
- Complimentary 1-year Club ITC Silver Tier membership, granted after your first transaction within 60 days of card issuance
- Travel insurance and accident cover
- A further 15,000 bonus reward points at ₹8 lakh of annual spend — 50,000 points (~₹12,500) across all four rungs
✈️ TRAVEL BENEFITS
Lounge access, miles, forex rates and travel perks at a glance.
AIRPORT LOUNGE ACCESS
✓
Domestic lounges
Priority Pass
International lounges
₹10,000
Estimated annual value
1.99%
Forex markup
- Domestic + international airport lounge access (worth ~₹10,000/yr)
- Low forex markup: 2.0%
- Travel insurance cover included
🎬 ENTERTAINMENT BENEFITS
Movies, OTT subscriptions and entertainment perks.
- ₹500 off per BookMyShow booking, up to ₹6,000 a year — primary cardholder only
For internationally-mobile SBI customers who value a low ~1.99% forex and international lounge access and will climb the milestone ladder. The Vistara/Trident memberships are gone, replaced by a Club ITC Silver Tier membership.
Full reward structure
What you earn on every rupee, per spend category — as of 11 Oct 2026. Rates assume 1 pt = ₹0.25. How we value points →
| Category | Type | Rate | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining | reward points | 2.5%10 pts/₹100 × ₹0.25 | ₹2,500one cap shared with Groceries |
| Groceriesonly at All grocery and departmental stores except Metro Cash & Carry, Reliance Market and Walmart, which SBI names as ineligible for the accelerated rate | reward points | 2.5%10 pts/₹100 × ₹0.25 | ₹2,500one cap shared with Dining |
| Other | reward points | 0.5%2 pts/₹100 × ₹0.25 | — |
Dining: 5X (~2.5% at ₹0.25/point) on dining, grocery and departmental stores. SBI caps accelerated points at 10,000 a calendar month ACROSS all of them together, then drops to 2 RP per ₹100 — we apply the cap per category, so a spender who maxes two categories is credited a little high
Groceries: 5X (~2.5%) on grocery and departmental stores, sharing the 10,000-point monthly accelerated cap with dining · All grocery and departmental stores except Metro Cash & Carry, Reliance Market and Walmart, which SBI names as ineligible for the accelerated rate
Other: 2 RP per ₹100 (~0.5%) base; milestones total 50,000 RP (~₹12,500) across ₹3L/₹4L/₹5L/₹8L
Earns nothing on: Fuel · Rent · Government & Tax · Wallet Loads · Online Gaming · EMI Conversions · Cash Advances
These spends earn no rewards at all — not a reduced rate, and not the base rate. They are also normally left out of any milestone or fee-waiver calculation.
Fees & charges
The numbers that matter beyond rewards — verify on the issuer site before applying. Fees below are shown inclusive of 18% GST, as of 11 Oct 2026.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹5,899 |
| Joining fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹5,899 |
| Finance charge (APR) | 3.75% p.m. |
| Forex markup | 1.99% |
Perks & benefits
Estimated annual value beyond rewards — ~₹35,000/yr in total.
8 domestic visits a year (2 a quarter) + 6 international Priority Pass visits a year (2 a quarter), with a complimentary Priority Pass membership
₹500 off per BookMyShow booking, up to ₹6,000 a year — primary cardholder only
Complimentary 1-year Club ITC Silver Tier membership, granted after your first transaction within 60 days of card issuance
Concierge service for flower and gift delivery and online doctor consultation
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions of ₹500–₹4,000, capped at ₹250 per statement cycle
Credit card fraud liability cover of ₹1 lakh
10,000 bonus reward points at ₹3 lakh of annual spend
A further 10,000 bonus reward points at ₹4 lakh of annual spend
A further 15,000 bonus reward points at ₹5 lakh of annual spend
A further 15,000 bonus reward points at ₹8 lakh of annual spend — 50,000 points (~₹12,500) across all four rungs
Milestone ladder
- ₹3,00,000 a year₹2,500 of value
- ₹4,00,000 a year₹2,500 of value
- ₹5,00,000 a year₹3,750 of value
- ₹8,00,000 a year₹3,750 of value
Should you get it?
- Best for: Frequent travellers, Higher spenders
- Premium tier — a solid all-rounder for steady monthly spend.
- Strongest value if you spend heavily on Dining (2.5% back).
- Frequent travellers benefit from the included airport lounge access.
Pros & cons
✓ Pros
- Strong rewards that can offset the annual fee for the right spender
- Premium lifestyle perks (domestic and Priority Pass lounge access, movie tickets, milestone benefits)
- Complimentary 1-year Club ITC Silver Tier membership after your first transaction
- Milestones worth 50,000 points (~₹12,500) a year across ₹3L, ₹4L, ₹5L and ₹8L of spend
- Lower forex markup, friendlier for international spend
✕ Cons
- Annual fee applies unless the spend-based waiver is met
- Aimed at higher earners (SBI's card finder files it under ₹1 lakh–₹2 lakh a month)
Eligibility & documents
Documents required
- 📄PAN card
- 📄Aadhaar / valid address proof
- 📄Latest 3 months bank statement
- 📄Income proof — salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed)
- 📄Recent passport-size photograph
How to redeem rewards
Ways to convert what you earn into real value.
- 🎁Statement credit / cashback adjustment
- 🎁Online rewards catalogue (vouchers, merchandise)
- 🎁Flight & hotel bookings via the issuer rewards portal
What your SBI Reward Points are worth
Realistic value per point by redemption route — the difference is what most people leave on the table.
Capped at 60,000 pts/month from Apr 2026
Vouchers & merchandise
The Trident Privilege and Club Vistara memberships that justified the fee are gone, and Club ITC Silver is a thinner replacement — the card now stands on its forex, lounges and milestones, so light/occasional users get less than the brochure once promised.
Frequently asked questions
Does it charge extra for dynamic currency conversion?
What is the annual fee for the SBI Card ELITE?
What is the foreign currency markup?
What is the minimum age and income to apply?
How has the SBI Card ELITE changed over time?
Has the SBI Card ELITE been devalued recently?
When did the SBI Card ELITE's fees last change?
How did the SBI Card ELITE change in 2025?
The bottom line
Post-merger the ELITE lost the Trident and Club Vistara memberships that once defined it, but what is left is a quietly decent travel card: a low ~1.99% forex, six international lounge visits, 5X everyday categories, a Club ITC Silver membership and milestones worth up to ₹12,500. Judge the 2026 ELITE on those, not the status perks it no longer carries.
How this page was built
Counted from this card’s own record: 3 earn rules, 2 of them capped, 1 paid only at named merchants, the spends listed as earning nothing and 10 recorded perks. The renewal fee is conditional — it is waived on a published spend target, so the fee you pay depends on what you spend.
Last updated 11 Oct 2026.
Sources & verification
Fees, reward rates, and benefits for the SBI Card ELITE are taken from SBI Card's official Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC) and fee schedule — see the card's official page. Last updated 11 Oct 2026. Reviewed by Devchandra Sah. Always confirm current details on the issuer's site before applying. How we research →
Independence. CardAdvisor is an independent editorial publication. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or authorised to act for SBI Card. All issuer names, product names, and payment-network marks are the property of their respective owners and appear here for identification and comparison only. Card faces shown on this site are our own original illustrations — we do not display or host issuer card artwork or logos.
Compare head-to-head
See SBI Card ELITE compared side by side with a close alternative.
Similar & related cards
Other cards worth comparing before you apply.
Reliance SBI Card PRIME
Lower annual fee, similar tier
SBI Card PRIME
Lower annual fee, similar tier
Titan SBI Card
Lower annual fee, similar tier
RBL Bank World Safari Credit Card
Comparable RBL option
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
Comparable SC option
Landmark Rewards SBI Card PRIME
Lower annual fee, similar tier
Read more
Guides and reviews related to this card.
SBI Card ELITE
The ELITE was always a membership portfolio more than a rewards card — and in 2026 the Vistara-Air India merger pulled the Trident and Club Vistara status memberships out. What remains is quietly decent: a low ~1.99% forex, 6 international Priority Pass visits, 5X on everyday categories, and milestones worth up to ₹12,500. It's now a travel-leaning card for the internationally-mobile SBI customer.
SBI Card PRIME
Still SBI's solid mid-premium all-rounder — 10X on dining, groceries, departmental stores and movies, plus 8 domestic and 4 international lounge visits, around ₹11,000 a year of real milestone vouchers for a ₹5 lakh spender and a fuel waiver, all at a ₹2,999 fee that waives at ₹3 lakh. But the Vistara-Air India merger stripped out the Club Vistara Silver and Trident Privilege Red memberships that once made it distinctive, so judge the 2026 PRIME on its rewards, not the status perks.
SBI Credit Card Ladder 2026: SimplyCLICK → Cashback → Prime → Elite → Aurum
SBI Card offers India's widest range of credit cards, from the entry SimplyCLICK to the premium Aurum. This guide maps the full SBI ladder, explains the fee waiver paths at each tier, and tells you where to stop upgrading based on your spend pattern.
SBI Card AURUM
SBI's super-premium metal flagship delivers a genuinely premium bundle — a Club Marriott membership, unlimited international lounges, 16 domestic lounge visits and an unusually generous direct free-movie benefit — wrapped around a base reward rate of about 1%. A milestone voucher ladder can lift a high-spender's effective return toward ~3.7%, but you buy this card for its specific perks, not its everyday earning, which loses cleanly to the Infinia and Magnus it's priced against.
Titan SBI Card
A lifestyle co-brand built around the Titan group — up to 7.5% cashback at World of Titan and the watch/eyewear brands, 5% at Mia/CaratLane/Zoya, 3% vouchers at Tanishq, plus 8 domestic and 4 international lounge visits. Superb if you buy jewellery, watches and eyewear from Titan; a modest 1.5% base if you don't.
Airport Lounge Access Guide 2026: Priority Pass, Airport Apps and Bank-Direct Explained
Indian credit cards offer lounge access through several routes — Priority Pass (international), domestic airport lounges, bank-direct tie-ups, and RuPay Lounge. The big 2025 change: Dreamfolks, long the domestic aggregator, exited domestic lounge access on 16 September 2025, and that layer is now served by airport-operator apps (Adani One, Encalm's HOI), EliteAssist and direct bank deals. This guide maps 25+ cards to their programmes, explains the boarding-pass requirement and the cost-per-visit math, and tells you exactly which card to carry at which airport.
Value timeline
Every real-world change to this card's rewards, fees and benefits we've tracked — newest first, each linked to its source.
Tracking since 2016 · last change Nov 2025
2025
- ▼ FeeEffective 1 Nov 2025
1% fee on third-party education payments & wallet loads
No surcharge on education/wallet-load spends→1% fee on 3rd-party education fees & wallet loads over ₹1,000
In its system-wide fee revision effective 1 November 2025, SBI Card added a 1% fee on education-fee payments made via third-party apps/aggregators (Paytm, PhonePe, Razorpay, etc.; direct school/college website or campus POS payments stay free) and a 1% fee on digital-wallet loads exceeding ₹1,000. Applies to SBI Card ELITE.
Verification: SBI Card ↗ · Confidence: High
- ▼ BenefitEffective 2025
Club Vistara Silver & Trident Privilege memberships discontinued
Complimentary Club Vistara Silver + Trident Privilege Red memberships→Both memberships withdrawn
Following the Vistara-Air India merger (Vistara ceased operations 12 Nov 2024; Club Vistara folded into Air India's Maharaja Club through 2025), the complimentary Club Vistara Silver and Trident Privilege Red status memberships bundled with the ELITE were discontinued, stripping the card of the status perks that had defined its value case and leaving lounge access, forex and milestones.
Verification: SBI Card ↗ · Confidence: Reconstructed
2024
- ▼ RewardEffective 1 Dec 2024
Digital gaming spends stop earning
Reward Points earned→No Reward Points on MCC 5816, 7993, 7994
From 1 December 2024 the card stopped accruing Reward Points on spends at Digital Gaming Platforms and Merchants (MCC 5816, 7993, 7994). SBI publishes a card-by-card list naming SBI Card ELITE among roughly 45 affected cards. Recorded 2026-08-27 from that list during the SBI portfolio sweep; it now binds in card-data via an ONLINE_GAMING exclusion.
Verification: SBI Card ↗ · Confidence: High
- ▼ RewardObserved 1 Mar 2024 · Effective 1 Apr 2024
Reward points removed on rent payments (MCC 6513)
Base RP earned on rent payments→No RP on rent payments (MCC 6513)
SBI Card stopped awarding Reward Points on rent payments coded under MCC 6513, effective 1 April 2024 for standard cards (15 April 2024 for co-branded cards). SBI Card ELITE was explicitly on the affected list; combined with the ₹199 processing fee, rent became a fully unrewarded, fee-bearing spend.
Verification: SBI Card ↗ · Confidence: High
2022
- ▼ FeeEffective 15 Nov 2022
Rent-payment processing fee introduced (₹99, later ₹199)
No rent-payment processing fee→₹99 + GST (raised to ₹199 + GST from 17 Mar 2023)
SBI Card began levying a ₹99 + GST processing fee on every rent-payment transaction from mid-November 2022, then doubled it to ₹199 + GST effective 17 March 2023. Applies system-wide including SBI Card ELITE.
Verification: SBI Card ↗ · Confidence: High
Each change links to the issuer's own document — bank T&C, MITC, notice, press release or product page — where one is public. Where the bank published nothing, it's marked CardAdvisor Research and verified against the card's current terms. Independent of the live terms shown above. This timeline is one card's slice of our market-wide change record across every tracked card.
</> Embed this timeline on your site
Free to use. Facts only — dates, changes and before/after values. Please keep the credit line below the frame: it's the only part search engines can see, and it's what we ask for in return.
“ Cite this timeline
Quoting a date or a before/after figure? Copy the HTML version — it credits the record with a working link.
Source: <a href="https://cardadvisor.in/cards/sbi-elite#value-timeline">SBI Card ELITE value timeline</a>, CardAdvisor (CC BY 4.0).
Want to know if this beats your current card for your spending?
Applications are submitted to and decided by SBI Card. CardAdvisor does not issue cards or process applications.