In-depth review
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
The SC Ultimate still makes one of the cleanest offers in Indian premium cards — 5 points per ₹150 at a published ₹1 each, a 3.33% return that matches the Infinia's base rate without an invitation. But the offer has edges now: since April 2023, utilities, supermarkets, insurance, schools and government payments earn 2%, and fuel earns nothing at all. Price the carve-outs against your own spend before the flat-rate pitch sells you.
Read the full review →Key features
What this card is built to do — the highlights that actually matter.
Welcome Benefit
~₹6,000 in vouchers, points or cashback in year one — usually conditional on a first spend within 30–90 days
3.33% on Other
5 RP per ₹150 (3.33% at ₹1/point) on general spend incl. travel & international. Utilities, supermarkets, insurance, property management, schools and government earn 3 RP per ₹150 (2%) since 2 Apr 2023; fuel earns none. Duty-free earns 5% cashback (₹1,000/cycle cap) instead of points.
2% on Education
3 reward points per ₹150 (2%) on school and education payments since 2 Apr 2023; category decided by the merchant's MCC.
Airport Lounge Access
4 domestic visits per quarter (network lounge programme) + 1 international Priority Pass visit per month, gated on ₹20,000 spend in the previous month (primary and supplementary each). Extra PP visits chargeable — SC's FAQ says USD 27, its T&C up to USD 35; domestic PP use chargeable.
Golf Privileges
1 complimentary golf game + 1 coaching session per month (12 games + 12 lessons a year) at listed domestic courses via Golflan/Thriwe; 4-day advance booking, no walk-ins or direct club payment, convenience charges payable.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
1% waiver on fuel transactions, capped at ₹1,000/month
Milestone Bonus
~₹5,000 in bonus rewards on hitting annual spend milestones
Insurance Cover
₹1 crore air-accident cover (overseas air travel, primary cardholder, fare paid on the card) + USD 25,000 emergency medical, USD 750 baggage loss, USD 200 flight delay, USD 100 baggage delay and USD 100 hijacking cover; underwritten by HDFC ERGO.
👑 PREMIUM LIFESTYLE BENEFITS
Concierge, golf, hotel membership and high-value perks for premium cardholders.
12 rounds
Golf rounds/year
₹8,000
Golf perk value
₹5,000
Milestone bonus value
- 12 complimentary golf rounds/year at partner courses
- Travel insurance and accident cover
- 5,000 reward points credited (within 60 days) on payment of the ₹5,000 renewal fee from the second year — not credited if the fee is converted to EMI.
✈️ TRAVEL BENEFITS
Lounge access, miles, forex rates and travel perks at a glance.
AIRPORT LOUNGE ACCESS
16 visits/yr
Domestic lounges
Priority Pass
International lounges
₹20,000
Estimated annual value
2%
Forex markup
- Domestic + international airport lounge access (16 domestic visits/yr, worth ~₹20,000)
- Low forex markup: 2.0%
- Travel insurance cover included
For high spenders (₹1.5L+/month) whose money goes mainly on general categories — shopping, dining, travel, international — where 3.33% remains one of the best flat returns in India. Heavy utility, insurance, grocery or fuel spenders should price in the 2% and 0% carve-outs first.
Full reward structure
What you earn on every rupee, per spend category — as of 11 Oct 2026. Rates assume 1 pt = ₹1.00. How we value points →
| Category | Type | Rate | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | reward points | 3.33%3.33 pts/₹100 × ₹1.00 | — |
| Education | reward points | 2%2 pts/₹100 × ₹1.00 | — |
| Government & Tax | reward points | 2%2 pts/₹100 × ₹1.00 | — |
| Groceries | reward points | 2%2 pts/₹100 × ₹1.00 | — |
| Insurance | reward points | 2%2 pts/₹100 × ₹1.00 | — |
| Rent | reward points | 2%2 pts/₹100 × ₹1.00 | — |
| Utility Bills | reward points | 2%2 pts/₹100 × ₹1.00 | — |
Other: 5 RP per ₹150 (3.33% at ₹1/point) on general spend incl. travel & international. Utilities, supermarkets, insurance, property management, schools and government earn 3 RP per ₹150 (2%) since 2 Apr 2023; fuel earns none. Duty-free earns 5% cashback (₹1,000/cycle cap) instead of points.
Education: 3 reward points per ₹150 (2%) on school and education payments since 2 Apr 2023; category decided by the merchant's MCC.
Government & Tax: 3 reward points per ₹150 (2%) on government payments since 2 Apr 2023 — reduced, not excluded, unlike fuel which earns nothing.
Groceries: 3 reward points per ₹150 (2%) at supermarkets since 2 Apr 2023, which sit on SC's reduced-rate MCC list alongside utilities, insurance and government payments.
Insurance: 3 reward points per ₹150 (2%) on insurance premiums since 2 Apr 2023 — the flat-3.33%-on-insurance era ended with SC's April 2023 restructure.
Rent: 3 reward points per ₹150 (2%) on property-management spend since 2 Apr 2023; rental payments also carry a 1% processing fee.
Utility Bills: 3 reward points per ₹150 (2%) on utility payments since 2 Apr 2023 — SC's reduced-rate list; category decided by the merchant's MCC, not by intent.
Earns nothing on: Fuel
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) | ₹5,900 |
| Joining fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹5,900 |
| Finance charge (APR) | 3.75% p.m. |
| Forex markup | 2% |
| Cash advance fee | 3% (min ₹300) |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1%, cap ₹1,000 |
| Rent payment fee | 1% |
| Reward redemption fee | ₹99 |
Perks & benefits
Estimated annual value beyond rewards — ~₹36,000/yr in total.
1 complimentary golf game + 1 coaching session per month (12 games + 12 lessons a year) at listed domestic courses via Golflan/Thriwe; 4-day advance booking, no walk-ins or direct club payment, convenience charges payable.
4 domestic visits per quarter (network lounge programme) + 1 international Priority Pass visit per month, gated on ₹20,000 spend in the previous month (primary and supplementary each). Extra PP visits chargeable — SC's FAQ says USD 27, its T&C up to USD 35; domestic PP use chargeable.
5,000 reward points credited (within 60 days) on payment of the ₹5,000 renewal fee from the second year — not credited if the fee is converted to EMI.
₹1 crore air-accident cover (overseas air travel, primary cardholder, fare paid on the card) + USD 25,000 emergency medical, USD 750 baggage loss, USD 200 flight delay, USD 100 baggage delay and USD 100 hijacking cover; underwritten by HDFC ERGO.
Should you get it?
- Best for: High-spending professional ₹1.5L+/month whose spend sits mostly outside the reduced-rate categories, Diverse general spend that does not fit neatly into one category card, Travel and international spend, which earn the full 3.33% at a 2% forex markup, Wants maximum simplicity at premium spend levels
- Premium tier — a solid all-rounder for steady monthly spend.
- Strongest value if you spend heavily on everyday spends (3.33% back).
- Frequent travellers benefit from the included airport lounge access.
Pros & cons
✓ Pros
- 3.33% on general spend — 5 reward points per ₹150 at a published ₹1/point, matching the base rate of invitation-only flagships
- 5% cashback at duty-free stores, capped at ₹1,000 per statement cycle
- 1 golf game + 1 coaching session every month (12 + 12 a year) via Golflan/Thriwe
- 4 domestic lounge visits a quarter plus 1 spend-gated Priority Pass visit a month
- 2% forex markup — viable for international travel despite not being zero-forex
- 5,000 renewal points refund the ₹5,000 fee, though not its GST, every year it is paid
✕ Cons
- ₹5,000 annual fee with no spend waiver — the 5,000-point renewal credit covers the fee but not its GST
- Since April 2023, utilities, supermarkets, insurance, property management, schools and government payments earn 2%, not the headline 3.33%
- Fuel earns no reward points at all — only a 1% surcharge waiver capped at ₹1,000 per statement cycle
- SC network smaller than HDFC/ICICI — fewer co-brand benefits and tie-ups
Eligibility & documents
This is the figure for salaried applicants. Where Standard Chartered sets a separate one for the self-employed, its own eligibility page gives it.
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
- 🎁₹99 handling and courier charge applies per reward redemption
What your Standard Chartered Reward Points are worth
Realistic value per point by redemption route — the difference is what most people leave on the table.
Standard redemption
Brand & e-gift vouchers
SC has already revised this card once against the holder — since April 2023 utilities, insurance, supermarkets, schools and government spend earn 2%, with fuel at zero.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Ultimate still earn 3.33% on every category?
How does the lounge access work?
What is 1 reward point worth?
Does the annual fee effectively pay for itself?
What is the duty-free benefit?
What insurance cover does the Ultimate carry?
Which network is the Ultimate issued on?
Is there a fee waiver option?
How has the Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card changed over time?
Has the Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card been devalued recently?
When did the Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card's fees last change?
How did the Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card change in 2023?
The bottom line
Ultimate remains the high-spender's simplification — 3.33% on general spend with a published ₹1 point and a 2% forex markup — but it is no longer the pays-on-everything card. Since 2 April 2023 six everyday categories earn 2% and fuel earns nothing, so its edge depends on how much of your spend stays in the general bucket.
How this page was built
Counted from this card’s own record: 7 earn rules, the spends listed as earning nothing and 4 recorded perks.
Last updated 11 Oct 2026.
Sources & verification
Fees, reward rates, and benefits for the Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card are taken from Standard Chartered'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 Standard Chartered. 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.
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Guides and reviews related to this card.
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
The SC Ultimate still makes one of the cleanest offers in Indian premium cards — 5 points per ₹150 at a published ₹1 each, a 3.33% return that matches the Infinia's base rate without an invitation. But the offer has edges now: since April 2023, utilities, supermarkets, insurance, schools and government payments earn 2%, and fuel earns nothing at all. Price the carve-outs against your own spend before the flat-rate pitch sells you.
Standard Chartered Beyond Credit Card
Standard Chartered's India flagship, and the only way to hold one is to park ₹50 lakh with the bank. Beyond earns a genuine 3.33% flat, carries a 2% forex markup and gives unlimited lounge access at home and abroad — but every benefit, including the ₹25,000 fee waiver, hangs on your Funds Under Management, not your spending. Judge the relationship first; the card is downstream of it.
Standard Chartered Emirates World Mastercard
For years this was the only Indian credit card that earned Emirates Skywards miles on everyday spend — a sharp single-purpose specialist for the India–Dubai loyalist. That chapter closed on 31 March 2022, when the SC–Emirates partnership ended: the card stopped earning miles from 1 April 2022, its lounge, golf and Priority Pass benefits were withdrawn, and holders were migrated to non-Emirates SC cards. This review stands as the archival record of what the card was.
Standard Chartered Priority Visa Infinite Credit Card
A card Standard Chartered gives to its Priority Banking clients rather than sells — no joining fee, no renewal fee, ever. The golf entitlement (2 games, a lesson and a guest game every month) is unusually generous for zero fee, and domestic lounge access is ungated. The earn rate is the problem: about 0.5% back, and a 3.5% forex markup that turns overseas spend into a loss. Take the access; earn somewhere else.
Standard Chartered Rewards Credit Card
Standard Chartered's mainstream points card, and one of the few in its India range on the Mastercard rail. It earns 4 reward points per ₹150 on retail, plus 4 bonus points per ₹150 on the retail beyond ₹20,000 a cycle — but at SC's own stated 25 paisa a point, that headline '4X' is really 0.67%, with a 1.33% marginal rate on the excess until the bonus caps out around ₹95,000 of total retail. No joining fee, a quarterly lounge visit, zero on fuel, and no way to apply online.
Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card
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Airport Lounge Access Guide 2026: Priority Pass, Airport Apps and Bank-Direct Explained
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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 2017 · last change Aug 2024
2024
- ◆ FeeEffective 25 Aug 2024
Forex charging simplified to a direct 2% at posting
3.5% transaction fee minus a separately posted 1.5% cashback (net 2%)→Direct 2% forex markup levied at transaction posting
From 25 August 2024 Standard Chartered levies a direct 2% forex markup on the Ultimate card at the time of posting, replacing the earlier 3.5%-fee-minus-1.5%-cashback arrangement. The net cost is unchanged; holders no longer wait for the separate cashback posting.
Verification: Standard Chartered ↗ · Confidence: High
2023
- ▼ FeeObserved 3 Mar 2023 · Effective 2 Apr 2023
1% processing fee added on rent payments
No processing fee on rent→1% + taxes per rental transaction
Effective 2 Apr 2023, Standard Chartered began levying a 1% processing fee (plus applicable taxes) on all rental payments made with its credit cards, billed separately on the statement — layered on top of the same-day cut of rent-category earning to 3 RP per ₹150.
Verification: Standard Chartered ↗ · Confidence: High
- ▼ RewardObserved 3 Mar 2023 · Effective 2 Apr 2023
Earn rate cut on 6 categories; fuel points removed
5 RP (~3.3%) all categories; fuel earned points→3 RP (~2%) on utilities/insurance/etc.; fuel 0 RP
From 2 Apr 2023, Utilities, Supermarkets, Insurance, Property management/Rent, Schools and Government payments dropped from 5 to 3 reward points per ₹150 (~3.3% → ~2%). Fuel stopped earning reward points entirely, replaced by a 1% fuel surcharge waiver capped at ₹1,000/month. Existing earned points were unaffected.
Verification: Standard Chartered (Ultimate reward-points revision FAQ) ↗ · Confidence: High
- ▼ RedemptionEffective 2023
360° Rewards voucher catalogue contracted
Wide voucher range (MakeMyTrip, Croma, Tanishq, gold, etc.)→Sharply reduced options
Through 2021–2023 (concentrated around early 2023) Standard Chartered progressively pulled high-value vouchers from its 360° Rewards catalogue — MakeMyTrip, Croma (gone by late Mar 2023), BigBasket, Tanishq/gold and other jewellery brands — cutting the real-world utility of the fixed 1:1 (₹1/point) redemption even though the nominal point value was unchanged.
Verification: CardAdvisor Research · Confidence: Reconstructed
2017
- ◆ LaunchEffective 15 Sept 2017
Standard Chartered Ultimate launched
SC India debuted its flagship Ultimate card on 15 Sep 2017 at a ₹5,000 + GST joining/renewal fee, earning a flat 5 reward points per ₹150 (~3.3%, 1 RP = ₹1) across categories, with 4 domestic lounge visits/quarter via Visa Infinite and 1 international Priority Pass visit/month (gated on ₹20,000 prior-month spend).
Verification: Standard Chartered (launch press release) ↗ · 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.
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