FIRST Select Credit Card Review: A Free Card With a Quarterly Lounge
IDFC FIRST Bank's FIRST Select Credit Card costs nothing to join or keep and gives 1 domestic airport lounge visit plus 4 railway lounge visits a quarter, each unlocked by spending ₹20,000 in the month before. It earns the same as the FIRST Millennia, 1.25% on dining and travel and 0.375% elsewhere, but asks for ₹12 lakh a year in income. The forex markup is zero, though foreign spends earn no points from 26 October 2026.
Key facts
- Joining fee
- Nil
- Annual fee
- Nil
- Base reward
- 3X Reward Points on eligible spends (about 0.375% value)
- Best category
- Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: about 5% value
- Lounge
- Domestic: 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit every quarter; 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter International: None (domestic airports in India only)
- Forex markup
- 0% (no markup)
- Network
- Not stated by the bank
Opens the bank's own page for this card. Approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
In short
Worth holding if you earn ₹12 lakh a year and put ₹20,000 a month on it, because the lounge, movie offer and insurance come free; the everyday earn rate is ordinary.
Best for
- People earning ₹12 lakh a year or more who want a no-fee card
- Domestic flyers who spend at least ₹20,000 a month on the card
- Travellers who value air accident and trip cancellation cover
Skip it if
- You fly abroad often and want points on foreign spends
- You need more than 1 airport lounge visit a quarter
- Your monthly card spend is usually under ₹20,000
Highlights
- Nil joining and annual fee
- 1 domestic airport and 4 railway lounge visits a quarter after a ₹20,000 month
- 10X (1.25%) on dining, travel and birthday spends
- Zero forex markup from 9 September 2026
- ₹1 crore air accident cover
Where FIRST Select fits
FIRST Select sits one step above the FIRST Millennia in IDFC FIRST Bank's free range. The rewards engine is identical; what changes is a income bar of ₹12 lakh a year and the extras that comes with it. In monthly terms that bar is ₹1,00,000, which is ₹12,00,000 split over 12 months.
The decision usually come down to three points. First, you get one domestic airport lounge visit every quarter, something the Millennia doesn't offer. Second, the earn rate is 10 points per ₹200 on dining, food delivery, travel and birthday spends, but only 3 points per ₹200 on the rest. Third, almost every perk here, the airport lounge, the railway lounge and the movie offer, depends on you spending ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month.
The card is active. Its card page doesn't name a network, while the MITC mentions a FIRST Select Mastercard variant, so more than one version may be in circulation. See where it sits against the bank's other cards on our IDFC FIRST Bank cards page.
What changed recently
- Statements from 1 September 2024: Minimum Amount Due is 2% of principal plus EMI, interest, fees and taxes.
- 20 February 2025: railway lounge use needs ₹20,000 spent in the month before.
- 18 June 2026: 10X starts from the first transaction instead of after ₹20,000 in a billing cycle, points became valid for 24 months, and the Buy 1 Get 1 movie offer now need ₹20,000 in the previous month.
- 9 September 2026: forex markup dropped from 1.99%, the figure in the May 2026 notice, to zero.
- 26 October 2026: international spends earn no points. The card page still list 10X on them; we go with the bank's notice.
Fees on the FIRST Select
You pay no joining fee and no annual fee, as per both the card page and the MITC, and keeping it free has no spend rule. The only spend target that matter on this card is the ₹20,000 a month that switch on the perks. All charges below attract 18% GST.
- Add-on card: ₹499 + GST, charged on joining and every year after, which is ₹588.82 with tax (₹499 plus 18%, or ₹89.82).
- FIRST Digital RuPay companion for UPI: ₹199 + GST to join and the same yearly.
- Points redemption: ₹99 + GST each time. Card replacement: ₹199.
Interest and penalties
Your rate is set by the bank from a band of 0.71% to 3.85% a month, or 8.5% to 46.2% on an annual basis. Fail to pay the Minimum Amount Due and overdue interest of 3.99% monthly (47.88% yearly) takes over. The interest-free window goes up to 45 days when the previous bill is cleared in full.
Late payment charge is 15% of the previous statement's total due minus what you paid before the due date, never below ₹100 or above ₹1,300. In the MITC's example an ₹8,000 due draw ₹1,200, because 15% of ₹8,000 is ₹1,200. Cash withdrawals cost ₹199 + GST each and carry no interest for up to 45 days. Over-limit spending needs your consent and costs 2.5%, at least ₹550.
Forex and category fees
Forex markup is nil since 9 September 2026. Before that the May 2026 notice had it at 1.99%, so a ₹1,00,000 trip abroad would have cost ₹1,990 plus GST in markup alone (1.99% of ₹1,00,000).
- Utilities: once your utility spends in a cycle cross ₹20,000, the 1% fee apply to the whole amount. ₹22,000 of bills means ₹220 + GST, not 1% of just the ₹2,000 above the line.
- Rent and property management: 1%, at least ₹249 a transaction. Education via third-party apps: 1%, at least ₹249.
- Fuel above ₹30,000, railway above ₹25,000 and tolls above ₹10,000 in a cycle: 1% of the total. Payment returns: 2%, minimum ₹500.
FIRST Select: fees and charges
| Joining fee | Nil |
|---|---|
| Annual or renewal fee | Nil |
| Annual fee waiver | Lifetime free: no joining or annual fee, no spend condition. |
| Add-on card fee | ₹499 + GST |
| GST | Charged on top of the fees and charges listed |
| In the bank’s words | Joining and Annual Fees NIL. Add-on card ₹499 + GST joining and annual fee (MITC). Optional FIRST Digital RuPay (UPI) companion card ₹199 + GST joining and ₹199 + GST annual fee. |
| Interest on unpaid balances | Up to 3.85% a month (46.2% a year) |
| Late payment fee | 15% of the Total Amount Due as of the previous statement minus payments received before the due date, minimum ₹100 and maximum ₹1,300 (none if the amount due is below ₹100). Charged when the Minimum Amount Due is unpaid by the due date. |
| Cash withdrawal | ₹199 per cash withdrawal (plus GST). Card pages say ATM withdrawals carry no interest for up to 45 days (until the due date); after that, interest at the card's rate applies. |
| Over-limit fee | 2.5% of the over-limit amount, minimum ₹550 (over-limit only with the cardholder's explicit consent) |
| Forex markup | 0% (no markup) |
| Other fees |
|
The earn structure
| Spend | Points per ₹200 | Value at ₹0.25 a point |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and food delivery, travel, birthday spends | 10 | ₹2.50, or 1.25% |
| Most other spends, UPI above ₹2,000 on FIRST Digital | 3 | ₹0.75, or 0.375% |
| Utilities, insurance, railway, FASTag, UPI up to ₹2,000 | 1 | ₹0.25, or 0.125% |
| Fuel, EMI, cash, international from 26 October 2026 | 0 | Nil |
The 10X list has its own exclusions on this card: rent and property management, government services, education and wallet loads never earns 10X, nor do utilities, insurance, railways or FASTag. No cap is published on the 10X categories.
Book a hotel through FIRST Rewards Gallery in the app and you get 20% bonus points over base; flights get 10%. Twenty bonus points per ₹100 at ₹0.25 is ₹5, so that's 5% extra on hotels and 2.5% on flights. The catch is a shared cap of 8,000 bonus points per calendar month, worth ₹2,000, and on hotels you hit it at ₹40,000 of bookings (8,000 divided by 20 points per ₹100).
A point is worth ₹0.25 wherever you spend it, on vouchers, the catalogue, pay with points or app travel, where points can pay up to 70% of the fare or room (capped at 1,00,000 points a month, 2,00,000 a year). One card page FAQ still say points never expire, but the reward terms and the May 2026 notice give 24 months from credit, so plan around that.
Welcome offer: a ₹500 gift voucher for spending ₹5,000 in the first 30 days, and 5% cashback up to ₹1,000 on your first EMI conversion in that window. Extras: Buy 1 Get 1 movie tickets on District twice a month after a ₹20,000 month (the bank doesn't publish the cap per ticket), and roadside assistance worth ₹1,399.
Worked examples
| Monthly spend | Light | Typical | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining and food delivery (10X) | ₹4,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Flights and hotels (10X) | ₹0 | ₹10,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Shopping and groceries (3X) | ₹12,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹40,000 |
| Utilities and insurance (1X) | ₹4,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹20,000 |
| Fuel (no points) | ₹0 | ₹5,000 | ₹0 |
| Total | ₹20,000 | ₹60,000 | ₹1,00,000 |
| Points a month | 400 | 1,425 | 2,700 |
| Value a year | ₹1,200 | ₹4,275 | ₹8,100 |
- Light: ₹4,000 at 10X is 20 lots of ₹200, so 200 points; ₹12,000 at 3X is 60 lots, 180 points; ₹4,000 at 1X is 20 points. That's 400 points (200 + 180 + 20), ₹100 a month at ₹0.25, ₹1,200 a year, and it just reach the ₹20,000 line for the lounge.
- Typical: ₹20,000 at 10X is 100 lots, 1,000 points; ₹25,000 at 3X is 125 lots, 375 points; ₹10,000 at 1X is 50 points. Total 1,425 (1,000 + 375 + 50), worth ₹356.25 a month at ₹0.25 and ₹4,275 a year (₹356.25 times 12). Fuel earn nothing.
- Heavy: ₹40,000 at 10X is 200 lots, 2,000 points; ₹40,000 at 3X, 600 points; ₹20,000 at 1X, 100 points. Total 2,700 (2,000 + 600 + 100), so ₹675 a month at ₹0.25 and ₹8,100 a year (₹675 times 12).
Now add one holiday month with a ₹50,000 hotel booked in the app. The bonus would be 10,000 points (500 lots of ₹100 at 20 points), but the cap hold it at 8,000, so ₹2,000. The base on that booking is 2,500 points (250 lots of ₹200 at 10), another ₹625. Against a ₹0 annual fee, every rupee here is net of the fee, less ₹99 + GST per redemption.
FIRST Select: higher-reward categories
| Category | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Dining (MCC 5812, 5813, 5814, includes food delivery) | 10X Reward Points (10 points per ₹200) from the first eligible transaction, effective 18 June 2026, about 1.25% value | No cap published |
| Travel (MCC 3000 to 3350, 3501 to 3853, 7011, 4511, 4722, 4723) | 10X Reward Points (10 points per ₹200), about 1.25% value | No cap published |
| Spends on your birthday | 10X Reward Points (10 points per ₹200), about 1.25% value | No cap published |
| International purchases | No reward points on international spends from 26 Oct 2026 (bank notice of 9 Sep 2026), about 0% value | No cap published |
| Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app | 20% Bonus Reward Points over and above base points (up to 25% reward points in total), about 5% value | 8,000 bonus Reward Points a calendar month (shared with flights), ₹8,000, calendar month |
| Flight bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app | 10% Bonus Reward Points over and above base points (up to 15% reward points in total), about 2.5% value | 8,000 bonus Reward Points a calendar month (shared with hotels), ₹8,000, calendar month |
| UPI via linked FIRST Digital RuPay card, transactions above ₹2,000 | 3X Reward Points, about 0.375% value | No cap published |
FIRST Select: how rewards work
| Earned as | Reward Points |
|---|---|
| Base rate | 3X Reward Points on eligible spends (1X = 1 Reward Point per ₹200 spent; 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25), so 3 points per ₹200.. About 0.375% value back |
| Minimum spend rules | Points are earned per ₹200 spent in a transaction (1X reward point for every ₹200 spent in a transaction). Points accrue only on spends up to the credit limit in a billing cycle. |
| No rewards on |
|
| Lower rewards on |
|
| Value of a point |
|
| Redemption fee | ₹99 + GST per redemption |
| Expiry | Reward Points are valid for 24 months from the date they are credited (from the July 2026 statement cycle; balance as of July 2026 valid until July 2028). Earlier the points did not expire. |
| Welcome benefits |
|
| Milestone benefits | None published |
| Lounge access | Domestic: 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit every quarter; 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter International: None (domestic airports in India only) Condition: Spend ₹20,000 in the current calendar month to use the airport lounge benefit in the next month; the same ₹20,000 condition applies to railway lounges. |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000, up to ₹300 per statement cycle |
| Insurance cover | Air accident cover ₹1 crore, personal accident cover ₹5,00,000, lost card liability ₹50,000 (valid if the card had a transaction in the last 30 days); travel insurance up to USD 300 (checked-in baggage loss USD 100, baggage delay USD 67, passport loss USD 67, flight delay USD 67); trip cancellation cover up to ₹10,000. |
Eligibility for FIRST Select
The bank's criteria: at least 21 years old, an Indian citizen, a healthy credit score, credit usage within an acceptable level, and annual income of ₹12 lakh or more. The bank publishes no separate figure for self-employed applicants, nor a age limit for them. Issuance stay at the bank's discretion.
Below ₹12 lakh, the FIRST Millennia gives the same earn rates from ₹3 lakh a year, without the airport lounge.
Documents and the application
Identity proof, income proof and KYC are what the bank asks; online, KYC happen over video. The exact list of accepted papers isn't published. You can apply on the website, through the mobile app or at a branch, and the online journey is fully digital.
Your rights while applying
- The bank must hand you a one-page Key Fact Statement with the interest rate and charges along with the application.
- A card can be issued only with your explicit written or digital consent, and the account can't be reported to credit bureaus before you activate it.
- If you don't activate within 30 days, the bank has to ask for OTP consent and, without it, close the account free within seven working days.
- The bank must assess you on your own financial means, counting limits you have with other lenders, and if it says no it must tell you why in writing.
An Experian score above 750, on a 300 to 900 scale, is generally considered good, but no score assure a yes. Questions on a pending application can go to 1800 10 888; more numbers are on our IDFC FIRST customer care page.
FIRST Select: eligibility and documents
| Age (salaried) | At least 21 years |
|---|---|
| Age (self-employed) | Not published by the bank |
| Income (salaried) | Annual income of ₹12 lakhs or more |
| Income (self-employed) | Annual income of ₹12 lakhs or more (no separate self-employed figure published) |
| Other conditions | Indian citizen, healthy credit score, credit usage within an acceptable level; issuance at the bank's discretion. Monthly figure derived as ₹12 lakh a year ÷ 12. |
| Documents |
|
| How to apply | Online on the IDFC FIRST Bank website or mobile app (fully digital with Video KYC; FD-backed cards need an FD opened online), or at a branch. |
| Card customer care | 1800 10 888 |
These are the bank's published conditions. Meeting them does not guarantee a card: approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
Is FIRST Select right for you?
It suits someone who already earns ₹12 lakh, flies domestic a few times a year and naturally spends ₹20,000 or more a month on one card. For that person the lounge visit, the movie offer and the insurance package (₹1 crore air accident, ₹5,00,000 personal accident, travel cover up to USD 300 and up to ₹10,000 for non-refundable cancellations) costs nothing extra.
Skip it if you mostly travel abroad. Zero markup is great but points on foreign spends are gone, and there is no international lounge at all. One airport visit a quarter is only 4 in a year, so a frequent flyer will run out quick. And if your card spend often dips below ₹20,000, most perks simply won't switch on that next month.
Trade-offs to weigh
The base rate is the weak spot: ₹30,000 of ordinary shopping earn 450 points (150 lots of ₹200 at 3), which is ₹112.50 at ₹0.25, under 0.4%. The 10X bucket and the app hotel bonus carry the card, so the value depend on how much of your life is food and travel. The 24-month expiry and the ₹99 + GST per redemption also mean small, scattered balances lose value.
Pros
- Nil joining and annual fee with no spend condition
- 1 domestic airport lounge visit and 4 railway lounge visits every quarter
- Zero forex markup since 9 September 2026, down from 1.99% in the May 2026 notice
- ₹1 crore air accident cover and up to ₹10,000 trip cancellation cover
- Fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹300 a statement cycle
Cons
- Needs an annual income of ₹12 lakh or more
- Lounges and the movie offer need ₹20,000 spent in the previous calendar month
- Only 3 points per ₹200 (0.375%) outside the 10X categories
- No reward points on international spends from 26 October 2026
- ₹99 + GST on every redemption, and points expire after 24 months
FIRST Select against its rivals
For someone earning well who wants lounge access without a big fee, three cards are worth a look. The comparison table below has the full numbers.
FIRST Select or FIRST Millennia
Same nil fee, same 10X and 3X. The Millennia opens at ₹3 lakh income but gives no airport lounge, a ₹200 fuel waiver cap against Select's ₹300, and smaller cover. If you qualify for Select, there's little reason to take the Millennia.
FIRST Select or Axis Bank Select
The Axis Bank Select charges ₹3,000 + GST, waived on ₹8 lakh of spends, and needs ₹6 lakh income. It pays 10 EDGE points per ₹200 at ₹0.20 a point, so 1% base, doubled on retail shopping up to ₹20,000 a month. It give 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter after ₹50,000 spent in 3 months, plus Priority Pass with 6 international visits a year. Forex is 3.5%. Pick Axis if you fly abroad and spend big; pick FIRST Select if you'd rather pay nothing.
FIRST Select or ICICI Coral
The ICICI Bank Coral costs ₹500 + GST, reversed for that year on ₹1.5 lakh of spends (its card page words it as next year's waiver), and asks only ₹20,000 a month in income. Its lounge rule is tougher: 1 domestic visit a quarter after ₹75,000 spent in the previous quarter. Coral is a RuPay card that works on UPI directly; FIRST Select needs the paid companion card for that.
More picks are on our best credit cards list and the credit cards hub.
FIRST Select against similar cards
| Term | FIRST Select Credit Card This card | FIRST Millennia Credit Card | Axis Bank Select Credit Card | ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | IDFC FIRST Bank | IDFC FIRST Bank | Axis Bank | ICICI Bank |
| Joining fee | Nil | Nil | ₹3,000 + GST | ₹500 + GST |
| Annual fee and waiver | Nil | Nil | ₹3,000 + GST. Annual fee waived on spends of INR 8 lakh in the preceding card anniversary year; insurance, rent, fuel, education, utilities and telecom, government, wallet, gold and gift card spends (and EMI conversions, cash, reversals, fees) do not count. Nil fees for Burgundy account holders. | ₹500 + GST. Spend over ₹1.5 lakh and get annual fee waived off for the next year (card page); MITC footnote *** says the fee for the year is reversed on anniversary-year completion |
| Base reward | 3X Reward Points on eligible spends (about 0.375% value) | 3X Reward Points on eligible spends (about 0.375% value) | 10 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200 spent (about 1% value) | 2 reward points per ₹100 on retail spend |
| Best category | Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: about 5% value | Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: about 5% value | Retail shopping: department stores, grocery stores, clothing and accessory stores: about 2% value | No higher-reward category published |
| Lounges | Domestic: 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit every quarter; 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter International: None (domestic airports in India only) | Domestic: No airport lounge. 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter. International: None | Domestic: 2 complimentary visits per quarter at select domestic airport lounges (card must be swiped; Priority Pass not valid at Indian domestic lounges from 28 Aug 2026) International: Priority Pass membership with 6 complimentary international lounge visits per anniversary year, plus 6 more on INR 3 lakh spends in that year (up to 12) | Domestic: 1 domestic airport lounge access per quarter (primary cardholder) on ₹75,000 spend in the preceding quarter; 4 railway lounge accesses a year (1 per quarter) International: None |
| Forex markup | 0% (no markup) | 0% (no markup) | 3.5% of the amount | 3.5% of the amount |
| Network | Not stated by the bank | Not stated by the bank | Not stated by the bank | RuPay |
| Published minimum income | ₹1,00,000 a month | ₹25,000 a month | ₹50,000 a month | ₹20,000 a month |
| Status | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications |
Frequently asked questions
Does the FIRST Select Credit Card have an annual fee?
How much are FIRST Select reward points worth?
What income do I need for the FIRST Select?
How does lounge access work on the FIRST Select?
What happened to the FIRST Select forex markup and international points?
What travel insurance comes with the FIRST Select?
Related
- IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards 2026: Free Cards, Zero Forex and the Catch
- FIRST Millennia Credit Card Review: Free for Life, 10X on Food and Travel
- Axis Bank Select Credit Card Review: Everyday Points and Priority Pass
- ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Review: A ₹500 First Card That Works on UPI
- Best credit cards by use case
Sources
- IDFC FIRST Bank: Most Important Terms & Conditions - Credit Cards (MITC and Schedule of Charges); FIRST Select Credit Card bonus reward points on travel bookings (T&C); FIRST Select Credit Card; FIRST Select Credit Card Privileges; Important update regarding your FIRST Select Credit Card; Important update regarding your IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card (Zero Forex Markup notice); FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card; Credit Card - Apply for Credit Card Online (listing page FAQ); Contact Us
Last verified: 5 November 2026
Written by Anjali Bhargawa, reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts
BankCreds does not sell cards or take applications. Fees and rewards change; the bank's own terms on the day you apply are what count, and approval is the bank's decision.