Kotak White Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The Kotak White Credit Card, issued by Kotak Mahindra Bank, is positioned as a mid-to-premium offering, serving as a refined version of the bank's super-premium Kotak White Reserve Credit Card. Its primary differentiating features include a unique milestone-based rewards program, known as White Pass value, which can be redeemed for shopping vouchers from premium brands, and comprehensive complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access.

Welcome Benefits

• Receive a gift voucher worth ₹1,500 upon spending ₹30,000 within the first 60 days of card setup. This is also referred to as earning White Pass value of ₹1,500.

Fees

• Joining Fee: ₹3,000 + GST
• Annual Fee: ₹3,000 + GST
• Spend-Based Waiver: The annual fee is waived on an annual retail expenditure of ₹500,000 in the preceding year.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Nil
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% + GST
• Interest Rates: 3.1% per month (37.2% annually)
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver:
  • 1% fuel surcharge is waived at all fuel stations across India.
  • Applicable for transactions between ₹500 and ₹7,500.
  • Maximum waiver capped at ₹3,500 per calendar year.
• Cash Advance Charges: ₹300 per ₹10,000 (or part thereof) withdrawn.
• Railway Surcharge Waiver:
  • 1.8% to 2.5% railway surcharge is waived on rail ticket bookings made via the IRCTC website or at railway counters.
  • Maximum waiver capped at ₹500 per year.
• Rent Payments Fee: A fee of 2% of the transaction amount + GST will be levied for all rent payment transactions (MCC 6513).
• Balance Transfer Processing Fee: ₹349 + Service Tax per ₹10,000 transferred.
• International Lounge Access Guest/Post-Complimentary Visits Charge: USD 35 per person per visit for guests or after exhausting complimentary visits for the primary cardholder. (Note: w.e.f. 01st October, these charges will be revised to $35 per guest, per visit).

Rewards

The card features a unique White Pass value rewards program, which is milestone-based, along with travel and insurance benefits.

• White Pass Value Earning Structure:
  • Earn White Pass value upon achieving specific expenditure milestones.
  • No White Pass value is earned for spends below ₹2 lakhs.
  • For spends of ₹2 lakh, earn ₹2,000 White Pass value (cumulative ₹2,000).
  • For incremental spends reaching ₹4 lakh, earn an additional ₹4,000 White Pass value (cumulative ₹6,000).
  • For incremental spends reaching ₹6 lakh, earn an additional ₹6,000 White Pass value (cumulative ₹12,000).
  • For incremental spends reaching ₹9 lakh, earn an additional ₹7,000 White Pass value (cumulative ₹19,000).
  • For incremental spends reaching ₹12 lakh and above, earn an additional ₹8,000 White Pass value (cumulative ₹27,000).
  • A maximum White Pass value of ₹27,000 can be accumulated in a year.
  • White Pass value accumulates on all categories of spending.
• Travel Benefits:
  • Domestic Lounge Access: 8 complimentary airport lounge accesses within India annually (maximum 2 per quarter). Benefits include comfortable seating, gourmet meals, widescreen TVs, newspapers, magazines, and free Wi-Fi.
  • International Lounge Access: Complimentary Priority Pass membership (worth $99 annually) providing VIP access to over 1,300 airport lounges across 148 countries.
  • Receive 4 complimentary international airport lounge accesses every year with Priority Pass membership.
  • Complimentary lounge visits are applicable only for the primary cardholder.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Lost card liability cover worth ₹2.5 lakh against unauthorized transactions.
  • This cover is applicable from 7 days prior to the time of reporting the loss of the card to the bank.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• White Pass as a Virtual Wallet: The White Pass value accumulated acts as a virtual wallet.
• Redemption Options: White Pass value can be redeemed against shopping vouchers from a curated collection of premium brands, including Amazon, Taj Hotels, Hugo Boss, Nature’s Basket, and Lakme, via the Kotak White portal.
• Value Conversion:
  • 1 White Pass = ₹1 when redeemed for vouchers from the White Pass catalog.
  • 1 White Pass = ₹0.70 for cashback.
• Redemption Process:
  • Login to the Kotak Mobile app.
  • Click on the Card Overview icon and enter your MPIN.
  • Scroll to the reward points section and click 'Claim now' to be redirected to the White Pass redemption portal.
  • Select the desired redemption option.
  • A confirmation will be sent via email and SMS with redemption details.
  • All redemptions can be viewed in the Redemption History tab on the White Pass portal.
• White Pass Validity: White Pass value is valid until 3 months after the card’s anniversary year. For example, if the card is booked on June 1, 2025, the balance earned for the anniversary year June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, can be claimed until August 29, 2026.
• Annual Reset: White Pass value will be reset to zero every year on the anniversary date of the card.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Primary Cardholder Age: Between 28 and 60 years.
• Add-on Cardholder Age: 18 years or above.
• Annual Income: ₹25 lakh and above per annum.
• Location: The card can be issued only at select locations in India, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi (including Gurgaon and Noida), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune.

Documents Required

• Identity/Address Proof: Documents such as Aadhar card, Voter ID card, or driving license for KYC.
• Proof of Income: Salary slips for salaried applicants or Income Tax Returns (ITR) for self-employed applicants.

Card Review

The Kotak White Credit Card offers a unique milestone-based rewards system and premium travel benefits. However, the annual membership fee of ₹3,000 + GST is considered slightly high given the benefits. The White Pass system is beneficial as it accumulates value across all spending categories, but it requires a minimum annual expenditure of ₹2 lakh to activate. Therefore, this card is best suited for individuals who are confident their annual spending will consistently exceed the ₹2 lakh threshold to fully leverage the White Pass rewards.

Important Product Details

• Rewards are earned as White Pass value, based on achieving spends-based milestones.
• A welcome voucher worth ₹1,500 is provided on spending ₹30,000 within 60 days of card issuance.
• Includes 4 complimentary international lounge accesses annually with Priority Pass membership.
• Offers 8 complimentary domestic lounge accesses every year (2 per quarter).
• Provides waivers for fuel and railway surcharges.
• Features protection against unauthorized transactions up to ₹2.5 lakh.
• The card comes with Visa payWave for fast, safe, and secure contactless payments up to ₹5,000 without a PIN.

Other Details

• Customer Care:
  • For assistance, SMS ‘KPRIVY’ to 5676788; bank officials will respond within 30 minutes (service available 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday to Saturday, excluding 2nd and 4th Saturdays and bank holidays).
  • To report a lost card, dial 1800 209 0000 (24x7 operational toll-free number).
• How to Apply:
  • Online: Visit the card’s page on the bank’s website or fill out a form for bank officials to contact you.
  • Offline: Visit the nearest Kotak Bank branch with all necessary documents and fill out a physical application form.
• Add-On Card: A complimentary add-on card is available for loved ones, with the option to set spending limits.
• Attractive EMI Options: Convert any purchase above ₹2,500 into easy EMI payments.
• Balance Transfer: Enjoy a 3-month, interest-free period on transferring outstanding credit card amounts from other banks to the Kotak White Credit Card. A processing fee of ₹349 + Service Tax per ₹10,000 applies.
• Total Value Delivered Per Year: Assuming monthly spends of ₹1 lakh, the total value delivered is estimated at ₹64,390, which includes the joining gift, Priority Pass with international lounge visits, White Pass value, and domestic lounge visits.
• Card Holding Restriction: A customer can hold only one active Kotak White or Kotak White Reserve Credit Card. White Pass will not be credited if a customer holds multiple active White and/or White Reserve cards.
• Program Linked Fee Waiver Disclaimer: Waiver of fees for Credit Cards linked to specific Kotak Bank programs (e.g., Privy League, Private Banking, Corporate Salary) is subject to maintaining eligibility for the respective program. If program eligibility is not met or if the customer is downgraded, program-linked fee waivers will not apply, and joining/annual fees will be charged.
• Taxation: GST and other applicable taxes will be charged as per the prevailing rates on all interest, fees, and other charges levied on the Credit Card.
• Future Changes: Please note that changes in the calculation of milestones for White Pass benefits and the lounge program are effective from April 1, 2026.
• International Transaction Activation: To enable international lounge visit validation, activate international transactions (online & in-store/POS) using the Kotak Bank Mobile App or Net Banking. A $1.00 visit validation charge will be debited as a one-time charge and auto-reversed within 7 working days.