InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card, issued by HDFC Bank, was a co-branded travel and lifestyle credit card offered in partnership with intermiles.com. It was available on both VISA and MasterCard networks, with renewals transitioning to VISA. Positioned as a premium travel card, it offered exclusive InterMiles earning opportunities, complimentary airport lounge access, and significant dining benefits. However, this card has been discontinued, and existing cardholders have been migrated to other HDFC Bank credit cards.

Welcome Benefits

• Earn up to 8,000 bonus InterMiles based on spending as a welcome gift.
• Receive 3,000 bonus InterMiles upon spending ₹6,000 within the first 30 days of card receipt.
• Receive an additional 5,000 InterMiles on total retail spends of ₹90,000 and above within 90 days of card receipt.
• Get InterMiles Silver Membership for the first year.
• Receive flight discount vouchers worth ₹750 for the first year.
• Receive hotel discount vouchers worth ₹2,000 for the first year.

Fees & Charges Breakdown

• Joining Fee: ₹2,500 plus applicable taxes.
• Renewal Fee: ₹2,500 plus applicable taxes.
• Spend-Based Waiver: The renewal fee can be waived off if you spend ₹3 lacs or more in the previous year.
• Reward Redemption Fee: ₹99 plus applicable taxes on every redemption request.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 2% on all foreign currency spends.
• Interest Rates: 3.6% per month (equivalent to 43.8% annually) on revolving credit.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver:
  • A 2.5% fuel surcharge will be replaced by a convenience fee of 1% plus GST.
  • Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India on a minimum transaction of ₹400.
  • The maximum waiver is capped at ₹500 every billing cycle.
  • GST charges on fuel surcharge are non-refundable.
  • InterMiles will not be accrued on fuel transactions (effective April 15th, 2016).
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the transacted amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
• Add-on Card Fee: Up to 3 add-on cards can be availed for immediate family members (over 18 years) at no additional cost. Card features apply only to the Primary Card Holder.
• Rental Transactions Fee: A 1% fee will be applicable on rental transactions from the second rental transaction of the calendar month (effective January 01, 2023).
• DCC Transactions Markup: A 1% mark-up will be applicable on Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) transactions (effective January 01, 2023).

Rewards & Cashback Structure

• Earning Rate:
  • Earn 6 InterMiles for every ₹150 spent on retail purchases.
  • Earn 12 InterMiles (2x InterMiles) for every ₹150 spent on flight bookings through www.intermiles.com/flights.
  • Earn 12 InterMiles (2x InterMiles) for every ₹150 spent on hotel bookings through www.intermiles.com/hotels.
  • Purchases worth below ₹150 will not earn any InterMiles.
  • Transactions such as fuel purchases, e-wallet reloadings, and EasyEMI are not eligible for InterMiles.
  • InterMiles accrued will be reversed if a retail transaction is converted into SmartEMI.
  • The maximum InterMiles that can be earned on insurance categories is capped at 2,000 miles per day.
• Reward Redemption:
  • The InterMiles earned can be redeemed easily against flight and hotel bookings through www.intermiles.com.
  • InterMiles, once credited, cannot be converted to Reward Points.
• Renewal Benefits:
  • Receive 6,000 InterMiles on spending over ₹6,000 within 30 days after card renewal.
  • Receive flight discount vouchers worth ₹750 and hotel discount vouchers worth ₹1,000 upon renewal.

Travel, Lounge & Lifestyle Perks

• Domestic Lounge Access:
  • Enjoy 16 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (capped at 4 per quarter) through the VISA Lounge Program / MasterCard Lounge Program.
  • Lounges may levy a nominal fee for card validation, depending on the network program.
• International Lounge Access:
  • Receive complimentary Priority Pass membership (valued at $99).
  • The primary cardholder can enjoy up to 5 free annual visits to International Lounges through Priority Pass.
  • Lounge visits within India using a Priority Pass are charged at US $27 + GST per person per visit.
  • Lounge visits outside India exceeding the 5 complimentary visits are charged at US $27 + GST per person per visit.
  • Guest visits using a Priority Pass are charged at US $27 + GST per visit per guest.
  • Charges are directly billed to your Credit Card statement within 90 days of the month of visit.
  • The dollar conversion rate will apply as per the prevailing billing rate.
• Dining Benefits:
  • Get exclusive Dineout Passport membership, offering:
    • An assured discount of 25% at over 2000 premium restaurants.
    • An additional discount of 10% when using your InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card.
    • 1+1 on the buffet at more than 200 restaurants.
    • Early access to several events and festivals.
  • Enjoy up to a 35% discount on dining (inclusive of Dineout Passport benefits).
  • Up to 20% discount on dining bills paid through Dineout Pay (15% Dineout Discount plus an additional 5% HDFC Bank Discount).
  • Maximum discount per transaction capped at ₹1,000.
  • Maximum discount per customer per month capped at ₹1,000.
• Airline Discounts:
  • On booking through flights.intermiles.com, get 15 InterMiles for Etihad Airways tickets.
  • Receive a 5% discount on Etihad Airways Economy Class tickets.
  • Receive a 10% discount on Etihad Airways Business Class tickets.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • HDFC Bank provides Zero Liability Protection against a lost or stolen card. Cardholders will not be liable for fraudulent transactions if the loss/theft is reported to the bank in a timely manner.
• Free Credit Period: Up to 50 days of free credit period from the date of purchase, subject to the submission of the charge by the merchant.

Card Eligibility Criteria & Income Requirements

• For Salaried Indian Nationals:
  • Age: Minimum 21 years and maximum 60 years.
  • Net Monthly Income: Minimum ₹90,000 per month.
• For Self-Employed Indian Nationals:
  • Age: Minimum 21 years and maximum 65 years.
  • Income: Minimum ₹12,00,000 per annum (as per ITR).
• Credit Score: Applicants are generally required to have a good credit score.
• Required Documents:
  • Identity Proof: Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voters’ Id, Passport, etc.
  • Address Proof: Utility bills, Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Driving Licence, Ration Card, Passport, etc.
  • Income Proof: Latest salary slips, latest bank statements, or the latest copy of ITR.

Credit Card Review

The InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card was well-suited for individuals who frequently traveled, particularly those who could leverage InterMiles for flight and hotel bookings. Its key advantages included InterMiles as welcome benefits and reward points, comprehensive domestic and international lounge access with Priority Pass, and a relatively low forex markup fee of 2%. The card also offered exclusive dining benefits through Dineout Passport membership.

However, a notable limitation was that InterMiles could only be redeemed for travel bookings on the InterMiles website, offering fewer redemption options compared to some other travel credit cards. Despite its discontinuation, for its target audience, it provided significant value through its travel and lifestyle perks.

Important Product Details

• Card Status: The InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card has been discontinued, and its sourcing has stopped. Existing cardholders have been migrated to other HDFC Bank credit cards in a phased manner. All product features on this card were discontinued effective December 15, 2024.
• Key Highlights:
  • Welcome benefit of up to 8,000 InterMiles.
  • 6 InterMiles on every spend of ₹150 on retail purchases.
  • 2x InterMiles on flight and hotel bookings on intermiles.com.
  • Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 5 free international lounge visits annually.
  • 16 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year.
  • Exclusive Dineout Passport membership.
  • Renewal fee waiver on spending ₹3 lacs or more in the previous year.
  • Low foreign currency markup fee of 2%.
  • Zero Liability Protection against lost/stolen cards.
• Card Network Transition: Upon renewal of an existing MasterCard variant, a VISA franchisee plastic card will be provided.
• Credit Limit: The credit limit is determined based on factors such as income, credit history, and bank policies, typically expected to be more than ₹2 lakhs, but it varies for each cardholder. Limit upgrades are possible with responsible card usage.
• Card Management: Card controls (Online, Contactless, International usage, transaction limits) can be managed via Netbanking, Mobile Banking App, MyCards portal, PayZapp, WhatsApp Banking, and IVR.

Other Details

• Card Inactivity: For cards sourced from November 1, 2020, the bank retains the authority to cancel the card if it remains inactive and is not used for any transactions for a continuous period of 6 months, after prior written notice.
• Reward Capping (Effective January 01, 2023):
  • A 1% fee will be applicable on rental transactions from the second rental transaction of the calendar month.
  • A 1% mark-up will be applicable on DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) transactions.
  • Grocery transactions will have a capping of 1,000 Reward Points in a month.
• Customer Care:
  • 24x7 helpline number for emergency assistance: 1800 266 4332.
  • Email for customer services: customerservices.cards@hdfcbank.com.
  • Toll-free numbers for card controls/transaction limits (8 am to 8 pm): 1800 1600 or 1800 2600.
  • For overseas travel assistance: 022-61606160.
• Application Process: While new applications are no longer accepted, the previous process involved applying online via the HDFC Bank website or offline at a branch.
• Application Status Check: Status could be tracked via the HDFC Bank application tracking page, customer care, or by visiting a branch.
• Card Activation & PIN Generation: PIN could be generated via internet banking, ATM, or by contacting customer care.
• Bill Payment: Various methods available including HDFC Bank billdesk, internet banking, NEFT from other banks, digital payment apps (Paytm, PhonePe), or offline via cheque drop/cash at a branch.
• Internet Banking Registration: Card could be registered for internet banking via the HDFC Bank's official website under the 'Ways to Bank' section.