AU Bank Xcite Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility
Is the AU Bank Xcite Credit Card Right for You?
The AU Bank Xcite Credit Card is best suited for users who prioritize Shopping, Dining, Movies. With a joining fee of ₹249 + GST and a renewal fee of ₹249 + GST, this card is positioned for cardholders who can maximize its benefits to justify the cost. It offers Reward Points as its primary reward mechanism, with a rewards rate of Earn up to 15 RP on Rs. 100 on select categories; 3 RP on retail; 2x RP on retail (1st-5th monthly)..
Key Card Details
₹249 + GST
₹249 + GST
Reward Points
3.49% of the total transaction amount.
Earn up to 15 RP on Rs. 100 on select categories; 3 RP on retail; 2x RP on retail (1st-5th monthly).
3.75% per month (45% annually).
Notable Perks
Domestic Lounge Access
2 complimentary railway lounge accesses per quarter (8 annually) in select Indian cities.
Insurance Coverage
Complimentary mobile device protection plan and 1-year extended warranty on select electronics.
Spend-Based Waiver
Annual fee waiver on spends of ₹1 Lakh or more.
Movie Benefits
Earn 15 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent on movies.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
1% waiver on fuel spends (₹400-₹5,000), capped at ₹250 per month.
Things to Consider
Reward points are not applicable on fuel and wallet transactions, limiting earning potential.
A foreign currency markup of 3.49% makes international spending less attractive.
Railway lounge access is restricted to a few selected cities in India.
Benefits & Features
Rewards Rate
Earn up to 15 RP on Rs. 100 on select categories; 3 RP on retail; 2x RP on retail (1st-5th monthly).
Reward Type
Reward Points
Reward Redemption
Redeem points on AU Rewardz portal for products, gift vouchers, and travel bookings (1 RP = Re. 0.25).
Domestic Lounge Access
2 complimentary railway lounge accesses per quarter (8 annually) in select Indian cities.
Insurance Coverage
Complimentary mobile device protection plan and 1-year extended warranty on select electronics.
Movie Benefits
Earn 15 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent on movies.
Dining Benefits
Earn 15 Reward Points on dining and up to 30% discount at 300+ partnered restaurants.
Travel Benefits
Complimentary railway lounge access (2 per quarter, 8 annually) in select Indian cities.
Fees & Charges
Joining Fee
₹249 + GST
Renewal Fee
₹249 + GST
Spend-Based Waiver
Annual fee waiver on spends of ₹1 Lakh or more.
Foreign Currency Markup
3.49% of the total transaction amount.
Interest Rates
3.75% per month (45% annually).
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
1% waiver on fuel spends (₹400-₹5,000), capped at ₹250 per month.
Cash Advance Charges
2.5% of withdrawn amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
Rewards Redemption Fee
₹99 + GST per redemption.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Key benefits and features of this card.
Earn up to 15 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent on groceries, dining, and movies.
Enjoy complimentary railway lounge access, providing convenience for domestic travel.
Benefit from a free device protection plan and extended warranty on electronics.
Get up to 30% discount on dining at a wide network of partnered restaurants.
Annual fee is easily waived by spending ₹1 Lakh or more in a card anniversary year.
Cons
Key drawbacks and limitations of this card.
Reward points are not applicable on fuel and wallet transactions, limiting earning potential.
A foreign currency markup of 3.49% makes international spending less attractive.
Railway lounge access is restricted to a few selected cities in India.
The reward redemption value of 1 Reward Point = Re. 0.25 is relatively modest.
The card has a joining and annual fee, despite a contradictory "lifetime free" mention.
Product Details
Earn up to 15 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent on select categories.
Get 2x Reward Points on retail spends made between the 1st and 5th of each month.
Enjoy 8 complimentary railway lounge accesses annually (2 per quarter).
Includes a free mobile device protection plan and extended warranty on electronics.
Avail up to 30% discount on dining at over 300 partnered restaurants.
Annual fee waiver on spending ₹1 Lakh or more in a year.
Offered via AU Bank's SwipeUp platform for easy credit card upgrades.
Benefits & Features
Rewards Rate
Earn up to 15 RP on Rs. 100 on select categories; 3 RP on retail; 2x RP on retail (1st-5th monthly).
Reward Type
Reward Points
Reward Redemption
Redeem points on AU Rewardz portal for products, gift vouchers, and travel bookings (1 RP = Re. 0.25).
Domestic Lounge Access
2 complimentary railway lounge accesses per quarter (8 annually) in select Indian cities.
Insurance Coverage
Complimentary mobile device protection plan and 1-year extended warranty on select electronics.
Movie Benefits
Earn 15 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent on movies.
Dining Benefits
Earn 15 Reward Points on dining and up to 30% discount at 300+ partnered restaurants.
Travel Benefits
Complimentary railway lounge access (2 per quarter, 8 annually) in select Indian cities.
What matters, explained clearly
Introduction
The AU Bank Xcite Credit Card, issued by AU Small Finance Bank, is positioned as the most basic offering within the bank's SwipeUp platform, designed for individuals looking to upgrade their entry-level credit cards. It aims to provide decent reward rates and benefits, making it an affordable and rewarding option. Key differentiating benefits include earning up to 15 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent, complimentary railway lounge access, and device protection plans.
Fees
- Joining Fee: ₹249 + GST
- Annual Fee: ₹249 + GST
- Spend-Based Waiver: Annual Fee Waiver on spends of ₹1 Lakh or more.
- Rewards Redemption Fee: ₹99 + GST
- Foreign Currency Markup: 3.49% of the total transaction amount.
- Interest Rates: 3.75% Per Month, which is 45% Annually.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all fuel purchases between Rs. 400 and Rs. 5,000. The maximum waiver per month is capped at Rs. 250.
- Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the withdrawn amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
Rewards
- General Reward Rate: Up to 15 Reward Points on every spend of Rs. 100.
- Retail Spends: 3 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent on retail purchases.
- Accelerated Rewards: 15 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent on groceries, departmental stores, movies, and dining.
- Bonus Rewards: 2x Reward Points on all retail spends made between the 1st and 5th of every month.
- Exclusions: Fuel and wallet transactions are not eligible for reward points.
- Dining Benefits: Get up to 30% discount on dining across over 300 partnered restaurants.
- Travel Benefits:
- Complimentary railway lounge access.
- You get 2 complimentary railway lounge access every quarter, totaling 8 per year.
- Free lounge access can be availed in selected cities, including New Delhi, Kolkata (Sealdah), Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Agra.
- Insurance Benefits:
- Complimentary device protection plan for mobile phones.
- One-year extended warranty on selected electronic products, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and white goods purchases.
Rewards Redemption Guide
- Reward Points earned can be redeemed against a number of options available on the AU Rewardz portal.
- You can redeem your earned rewards against different products, gift vouchers, and travel-related bookings.
- The redemption rate is 1 Reward Point = Re. 0.25.
Card Eligibility Criteria
- Maximum Eligible Age: 61 years.
- You can get any credit card from any issuer upgraded to the AU Bank Xcite Credit Card via the SwipeUp platform.
- An existing credit card is required to upgrade.
Card Review
The AU Bank Xcite Credit Card is a great option for individuals holding basic or entry-level credit cards who wish to upgrade to a card with better credit limits, higher reward rates, and additional benefits with minimal charges. It offers a compelling package of rewards on everyday spending categories like dining, movies, groceries, and departmental stores, along with practical benefits such as railway lounge access, device protection, and fuel surcharge waivers. While it is positioned as a basic card, its features make it rewarding for shopping and daily expenses. For those seeking more premium benefits, AU Bank offers the Xcite Ace and Xcite Ultra Cards as alternatives.
Important Product Details
- Earn up to 15 Reward Points on every spend of Rs. 100.
- Receive 2x Reward Points on retail spends made between the 1st and 5th of every month.
- Enjoy complimentary railway lounge access every year (2 per quarter, 8 per year).
- Benefit from a free device protection plan and extended warranty on selected electronics.
- Get up to 30% discount on dining at partnered restaurants.
- Avail a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 5,000, capped at Rs. 250 per month.
Other Details
- The AU Bank Xcite Credit Card is offered through AU Small Finance Bank's SwipeUp platform, which allows individuals to upgrade credit cards from any issuer.
- It is the most basic among the three credit cards offered on SwipeUp (Xcite, Xcite Ace, and Xcite Ultra).
- The card is best suited for shopping.
- The reward type is Reward Points.
- The introductory description mentions the card as "lifetime free," which contradicts the listed joining and annual fees.