Credit card users, take note! From January 2026, IDFC First Bank and ICICI Bank are changing the rules for credit cards.
These updates will affect rewards, benefits, and charges, especially for premium cardholders and international spenders.
Cardholders will need to pay closer attention to spending patterns, reward points, and offers to make the most of their cards.
IDFC First Bank Updates
IDFC First Bank has revised several key benefits:
Reduced international rewards: Ashva and Mayura Premium cards now offer 5X reward points on international spending instead of 10X.
However, spending ₹20,000 per month still gives 10X points.
Minimum payment rule: Failing to pay the minimum amount by the due date will stop you from earning reward points for that month, including on Club Vistara cards.
Lifetime free card rewards: Classic, Select, and Wealth cards now give 1 reward point for every ₹200 spent, up from ₹150 earlier.
Lounge access cuts: Select cards now allow only one free domestic lounge visit per quarter, and Wealth cards also see a reduction.
FASTag and railway changes: FASTag recharges and railway spending earn only 1X reward point, and recharges above ₹10,000 in a billing cycle will attract a 1% surcharge.
ICICI Bank Updates
ICICI Bank is also updating its rules, especially for premium cardholders:
Online gaming charges: Platforms like Dream11, MPL, and Rummy Culture will now attract a 2% fee on credit card payments.
Premium card impact: Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees rise to 2% for Emerald, Emerald Private, and Emerald (PVC) cards.
No rewards on certain spends: Reward points will not apply for government services, fuel, tax payments, and some third-party wallet transactions on the Emerald Metal card.
Wallet charges: Loading ₹5,000 or more to Amazon Pay, Paytm, MobiKwik, and OlaMoney now has a 1% fee.
Entertainment offers changes: BookMyShow’s ‘Buy One Get One’ offer now requires ₹25,000 spending in the previous quarter to qualify.
These changes will be implemented phased from January and February 2026.
Experts say international spenders and premium card users are likely to feel the biggest impact, as rewards and benefits are being reduced across the board.