IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The IDFC FIRST EA₹N Virtual RuPay Credit Card, issued by IDFC FIRST Bank, is a secured, FD-backed credit card designed for individuals looking to build or improve their credit history, including first-time credit card applicants, youngsters, homemakers, and freelancers. It offers guaranteed approval against a minimum fixed deposit of ₹5,000. Key differentiating benefits include up to 1% cashback on UPI spends, a limited-period ₹0 joining fee, and discounts on movie tickets, making it an attractive entry-level option for everyday spending.

Welcome Benefits

• Get 10% cashback up to ₹250 on your first transaction, if made within 15 days of card generation.
• The ₹0 Joining Fee is a limited-period offer (originally ₹499 + GST). This offer is applicable for new cards issued on or after 16 Dec'25.

Fees

• Joining Fee: ₹0 (Limited Period Offer, originally ₹499 + GST).
• Annual Fee: ₹499 + GST (from the 2nd year onwards).
• Spend-Based Waiver: The annual fee of ₹499 + GST is waived if annual spends of ₹1,00,000 or more are made in the previous anniversary year. This milestone includes all purchases (excluding ATM cash withdrawal, monthly EMIs, fees and charges) net of reversals/refunds.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Not applicable, as cashback is credited to the statement.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% for all international transactions.
• Interest Rates (APR): Starting from 8.5% - 46.2% per annum. Monthly rate ranges from 0.75% to 3.65%.
• Fuel Surcharge: No fuel surcharge waiver is offered. Cashback is available on fuel transactions.
• Cash Advance Charges: Monthly rate of 0.75% to 3.65%.
• Other Fees:
  • Surcharge of 1% on payment for Rent and Property Management, subject to a minimum of ₹249 (+GST) per transaction.
  • Utility spends (Electricity, Gas, Telecom etc.) above ₹20,000 in a statement cycle will attract a 1% surcharge (+GST) on the aggregate utility spends.
  • An issuance fee of ₹199 + GST is applicable if a physical card is requested.

Rewards

• Cashback Program:
  • Earn 1% cashback on UPI spends made via the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app.
  • Earn 0.5% cashback on UPI spends via other apps (like PhonePe, GPay, Paytm), all online spends, utility bill payments, insurance, and wallet loads.
  • Cashback is capped at ₹500 per statement cycle.
  • Cash withdrawal and EMI transactions are excluded from cashback offers.
  • Cashback is earned for spends up to your credit limit per billing cycle; additional spends beyond this are not eligible.
  • Cashback will be reversed for cancelled, reversed, or returned purchases.
  • Cashback is applicable on fuel transactions.
• Movies & Entertainment:
  • Get 25% off up to ₹100 on movie tickets once a month, when booked through District by Zomato.
  • To avail the movie benefit in the subsequent month, at least one transaction must be made in the current calendar month.
• Travel Benefits:
  • Earn Bonus Cashback on flights and hotel bookings via the 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' section on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App (effective from 1st July 2025):
    • 2% Bonus Cashback on Flight bookings (total 4.5% including base reward rate).
    • 5% Bonus Cashback on Hotel bookings (total 8.5% including base reward rate).
  • Cashback earned for travel bookings is capped at ₹2,000 per calendar month.
  • Bonus cashback is credited in the next month’s statement.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Includes Lost Card and Personal Accident Cover.
• Other Lifestyle Benefits:
  • Complimentary Roadside Assistance (RSA) worth ₹1,399.
  • Earn interest on your Fixed Deposit while simultaneously earning cashback on your spends.
  • Enjoy the convenience of UPI payments combined with the power of credit at over 60 million merchants.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Cashback earned is credited directly to your statement.
• Cashback will be credited 1 day after the Payment Due Date, provided that at least the Minimum Amount Due is paid on or before the Payment Due Date.
• If the Minimum Amount Due is not realized by the Payment Due Date, the cashback earned for that statement cycle will be forfeited.
• Cashback does not expire, but its realization is contingent on timely payment of the Minimum Amount Due.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Age Limit: 18 to 80 years.
• Residency: Must be an Indian citizen with a current and permanent residential address in India.
• Fixed Deposit Requirement: Must have a singly-held fixed deposit with IDFC FIRST Bank with a minimum amount of ₹5,000.
• Excluded Fixed Deposits: Fixed Deposits opened/placed by HUFs, Partnership firms/society/trust, minors, or opened jointly by applicant/s, Tax Saver, or Flexi-Deposits (Auto-sweep Fixed Deposits) are not eligible.
• Credit History/Income Proof: No credit history or income proof is required.
• Documents Required: Aadhaar card and PAN Card.
• Bank's Discretion: The final decision for card issuance lies solely with the Bank, in line with its internal policies, even if the applicant meets the stated criteria.

Card Review

The IDFC FIRST EA₹N Virtual RuPay Credit Card is a well-positioned secured card from IDFC FIRST Bank, ideal for individuals embarking on their credit journey or those aiming to improve their credit score. Backed by a fixed deposit, it offers guaranteed approval and a straightforward path to credit access without requiring income proof or a prior credit history.

• Pros:
  • Accessibility: No credit history or income proof is needed, making it accessible to a wide demographic including students, homemakers, and freelancers.
  • Credit Building: An excellent tool for building a strong credit history through responsible usage.
  • Dual Benefit: Cardholders continue to earn interest on their fixed deposit while enjoying credit card benefits.
  • UPI Integration: Being a RuPay card, it seamlessly integrates with UPI platforms, offering cashback on everyday digital transactions.
  • Low Entry Barrier: Requires a minimum fixed deposit of just ₹5,000.
  • Value-Added Benefits: Includes movie discounts, bonus cashback on travel, and complimentary Roadside Assistance.
• Cons:
  • No Fuel Surcharge Waiver: This might deter users who frequently spend on fuel.
  • Cashback Cap: The ₹500 monthly cashback cap might be restrictive for high spenders.
  • Virtual First: Initially issued as a virtual card, a physical card requires an additional fee.
  • No Add-on Card: The facility for add-on cards is not available.

Overall, the IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card offers a compelling package for its target audience, providing a secure and rewarding way to engage with credit and digital payments.

Important Product Details

• This is a Fixed Deposit-backed virtual RuPay Credit Card.
• Get 100% credit limit of your Fixed Deposit amount, with a minimum FD of ₹5,000.
• Credit limit can be instantly increased by linking existing or booking new FDs via the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App.
• Issued as an instant-use virtual card; a physical card can be requested for ₹199 + GST.
• Earn up to 1% cashback on UPI spends via the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app.
• Earn 0.5% cashback on UPI spends via other apps, all online spends, utility, insurance, and wallet loads.
• Cashback is capped at ₹500 per statement cycle.
• Enjoy 25% off up to ₹100 on movie tickets once a month via District by Zomato.
• Receive bonus cashback on travel bookings (2% on flights, 5% on hotels) through the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App's 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' (from July 1, 2025).
• Comes with complimentary Roadside Assistance worth ₹1,399.
• Joining Fee is ₹0 (Limited Period Offer).
• Annual Fee of ₹499 + GST is waived on annual spends of ₹1,00,000 or more.
• Foreign Currency Markup is 3.5%.
• Interest rates start from 8.5% - 46.2% per annum.
• There is no fuel surcharge waiver.
• Add-on card facility is not available.

Other Details

• The card is automatically linked to the IDFC FIRST mobile banking app for UPI payments upon generation.
• It can be linked to various UPI apps including BHIM, PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, Freecharge, Slice, CRED, and Mobikwik.
• A separate UPI PIN needs to be generated for UPI payments, which can be different from the Credit Card PIN.
• Only merchant payments are permitted using the RuPay Credit Card on UPI; payments to individuals or other credit cards are not allowed.
• Post UPI PIN generation, a transaction limit of up to ₹5,000 applies for the first 24 hours.
• Restricted categories for UPI transactions via credit card include digital account openings, lending platforms, cash withdrawals at merchants or ATMs, e-RUPI, IPOs, Foreign Inward Remittances, and Mutual Funds.
• The credit card cannot be set as the default account for receiving funds.
• If multiple FDs are linked, you can delink one or more FDs to reduce your credit limit, provided at least one FD remains linked, the remaining FD value is above ₹5,000, and outstanding dues do not exceed the revised FD balance.
• Detailed Most Important Terms & Conditions, Card Member Agreement, Product Usage Guide, and Privileges document are available for reference on the bank's website.