SBI Card AURUM Review: Is ₹9,999 Worth It at ₹1 Lakh a Month?
AURUM is SBI Card's top card: ₹9,999 a year plus GST, 4 Reward Points per ₹100 worth 1% at ₹0.25 a point, and a ₹1,500 voucher in every month you spend ₹1 lakh. It adds unlimited international lounge visits through DreamFolks and a 1.99% forex markup. The fee pays for itself only if you put about ₹1 lakh a month on it, and the renewal fee is waived at ₹12 lakh of yearly spend.
Key facts
- Joining fee
- ₹9,999 + GST
- Annual fee
- ₹9,999 + GST. Renewal fee waived off on annual spends of Rs. 12 lakh or more in the preceding year (MITC)
- Base reward
- 4 ARP on every non-fuel spend of Rs. 100 (about 1% value)
- Best category
- No higher-reward category published
- Lounge
- Domestic: 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter; also for add-on cardholders International: Complimentary DreamFolks membership with unlimited complimentary access to 1,000+ international airport lounges, plus one complimentary guest visit a quarter
- Forex markup
- 1.99% of the amount
- Network
- Visa, Mastercard
Opens the bank's own page for this card. Approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
In short
AURUM pays off for people who put ₹1 lakh or more on one card every month, and it is poor value at ₹50,000 a month, where points and vouchers fall short of the ₹11,798.82 fee.
Best for
- Households and business owners who spend ₹1 lakh or more a month on a card
- Frequent international travellers who want unlimited lounges abroad and a 1.99% markup
- People who will use Club Marriott, golf rounds and the concierge
Skip it if
- Your card spending is usually under ₹50,000 a month
- You want high rates on specific categories, since AURUM earns a flat 1%
- Fuel, rent or wallet loads make up a large share of your spending
Highlights
- Joining and renewal fee ₹9,999 plus GST; renewal waived at ₹12 lakh of yearly spend
- 4 Reward Points per ₹100, each worth ₹0.25, and they never expire
- 40,000 welcome points worth ₹10,000 after the first fee is paid
- ₹1,500 voucher for every month with ₹1 lakh of spend
- 1.99% forex markup and unlimited international lounge visits via DreamFolks
What SBI Card AURUM is and who it is built for
AURUM sits at the top of SBI Card's range and is priced like it: ₹9,999 to join and ₹9,999 every year after, with GST on top. It comes on Visa or Mastercard, with its own website and a dedicated phone line, 1860 500 2000. The card are meant for people who spend heavily and travel abroad, not for someone chasing a high rate on one category. Cheaper cards of the same family are on our SBI Card hub.
The earn rate is plain: 4 AURUM Reward Points (ARP) per ₹100 of non-fuel spend, at ₹0.25 a point, so 1%. The value sits in what is stacked on top.
The three things that decide its worth
- Monthly vouchers. Every month with ₹1 lakh of spend brings a ₹1,500 voucher. Twelve such months add ₹18,000 (₹1,500 times 12), which is more then the fee.
- Yearly milestones. ₹5,000 at ₹5 lakh, ₹10,000 at ₹10 lakh, ₹9,999 at ₹12 lakh and ₹20,000 at ₹20 lakh of annual spend, with the renewal fee waived at ₹12 lakh.
- Travel. Unlimited visits to 1,000+ international lounges through a free DreamFolks membership, 4 domestic visits a quarter and a 1.99% forex markup.
Memberships come too: Club Marriott, the digital Wall Street Journal and Mint, and Inflection Point Ventures, which SBI Card values at ₹29,382, plus 16 golf rounds and 12 lessons a year. Their worth is depending on your habits, so we leave them out of our sums.
What changed from 2024 to 2026
The physical DreamFolks card ended on 1 March 2024; the membership now runs through the AURUM website or SBI Card app. Rent stopped earning points from 1 April 2024, government payments from 1 June 2024 and digital gaming from 1 December 2024. Two SBI-wide fees on large transport and fuel bills starts on 1 December 2026. AURUM is active and open to new applicants.
AURUM fees and charges
₹9,999 and the ₹12 lakh waiver
Joining and renewal fees are both ₹9,999, and 18% GST of ₹1,799.82 is extra, so each bill is ₹11,798.82. Add-on cards are free. SBI Card's MITC waives the renewal fee once the previous year's spend reaches ₹12 lakh; the AURUM website does not give that figure, so the MITC is our source.
₹12 lakh a year is ₹1 lakh a month (₹12,00,000 divided by 12), the same level that earns the monthly voucher, so the card is clearly design around one number. A family spending ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 a month won't reach it and pays the full fee every year. In year one the 40,000 welcome points (₹10,000) cover most of the bill, leaving ₹1,798.82 (₹11,798.82 less ₹10,000).
Interest, late fee and cash
Carried balances cost 3.75% a month, 45% a year, the rate since 1 November 2024, and the 20 to 50 day interest-free period needs the last bill paid in full. Late fees run from nil on dues up to ₹100 to ₹1,300 on dues above ₹50,000, under slabs revised from 1 May 2026, plus ₹100 a cycle once the minimum is missed two cycles running. Taxes extra on all. ATM cash costs 2.5%, at least ₹500, with interest from that day.
Forex and the fees big spenders meet
Foreign currency spends carry 1.99%, and so do rupee payments of ₹1,000 or more abroad or to overseas-registered merchants. A ₹1 lakh holiday bill costs ₹1,990 in markup before GST, compare to ₹3,500 on an SBI card at 3.5%.
- Rent: ₹199 plus taxes per payment, with no points.
- Utilities above ₹50,000 in a cycle: 1% of the total, since 1 December 2024.
- Wallet loads above ₹1,000 and education fees through third-party apps: 1%, since 1 November 2025. Paying the school direct is free.
- Transport above ₹30,000 a transaction, and a cycle's fuel spend above ₹50,000: 1%, from 1 December 2026. Fills of ₹500 to ₹4,000 get the 1% surcharge back, up to ₹250 a cycle.
A replacement AURUM card costs ₹1,500, against ₹100 to ₹250 on other SBI cards, so keep it careful.
AURUM: fees and charges
| Joining fee | ₹9,999 + GST |
|---|---|
| Annual or renewal fee | ₹9,999 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | Renewal fee waived off on annual spends of Rs. 12 lakh or more in the preceding year (MITC) |
| Add-on card fee | Nil |
| GST | Charged on top of the fees and charges listed |
| In the bank’s words | Annual Fee: Rs. 9999 + taxes; Renewal Fee: Rs. 9999 + taxes |
| Interest on unpaid balances | Up to 3.75% a month (45% a year) |
| Late payment fee | Nil up to Rs.100; Rs.100 (Rs.100-500); Rs.500 (Rs.500-1,000); Rs.750 (Rs.1,000-10,000); Rs.950 (Rs.10,000-25,000); Rs.1,100 (Rs.25,000-50,000); Rs.1,300 (above Rs.50,000) of outstanding amount due; plus Rs.100 additional if MAD is missed two consecutive cycles (continues each cycle until MAD is cleared). Taxes extra. |
| Cash withdrawal | 2.5% of transaction amount, minimum Rs.500, at domestic and international ATMs; finance charges from the date of withdrawal (no free credit period); max Rs.15,000 cash per day at ATMs (MCC 6011), within cash limit. |
| Over-limit fee | 2.5% of overlimit amount, minimum Rs.600, once per billing cycle; only if the cardholder has consented to over-limit use |
| Forex markup | 1.99% of the amount |
| Other fees |
|
AURUM rewards, vouchers and three spending levels
One earn rate, few frills
Every ₹100 outside fuel earns 4 ARP, worth ₹1, with no bonus categories. Points don't came on rent, government payments, digital gaming, wallet loads, EMI conversions, cash, balance transfers or fees. Two things help: AURUM points never expire, and AURUM pays no redemption fee, while other SBI cards pay ₹99 on some redemptions.
The AURUM site lists the yearly vouchers one per spend level, so we count each once it is crossed. We saw no terms on stacking, so confirm it with SBI Card before you plan your spends around of it.
Three spending levels, worked out
| Per month | ₹50,000 spender | ₹1 lakh spender | ₹2 lakh spender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel and hotels | ₹10,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Dining | ₹10,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹30,000 |
| Groceries | ₹12,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Shopping | ₹12,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Bills | ₹6,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Spends abroad | Nil | Nil | ₹25,000 |
| Points value a year | ₹6,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹24,000 |
| Vouchers a year | ₹5,000 | ₹42,999 | ₹62,999 |
| Renewal fee | ₹11,798.82 paid | Waived | Waived |
₹50,000 a month. 2,000 ARP a month (₹50,000 divided by 100, times 4) is 24,000 a year, worth ₹6,000. ₹6 lakh a year crosses only the ₹5 lakh milestone, so ₹11,000 in all, ₹798.82 short of the ₹11,798.82 fee, and no month earns the ₹1,500 voucher.
₹1 lakh a month. 4,000 ARP a month, 48,000 a year, is worth ₹12,000. Twelve monthly vouchers give ₹18,000 and ₹12 lakh a year collects the ₹5,000, ₹10,000 and ₹9,999 milestones (₹24,999), so vouchers total ₹42,999 and the year ₹54,999, against the ₹11,798.82 fee, with next year's renewal waived. One weak month and that month's ₹1,500 is gone, steady spending is the whole game.
₹2 lakh a month. 8,000 ARP a month (₹2,00,000 divided by 100, times 4), 96,000 a year, worth ₹24,000. Vouchers are ₹18,000 monthly plus all four yearly ones (₹44,999), so ₹62,999, and ₹86,999 with points. The ₹25,000 spent abroad each month carries ₹497.50 of markup (1.99% of ₹25,000), ₹5,970 a year before GST, leaving about ₹81,029 (₹86,999 less ₹5,970).
AURUM: how rewards work
| Earned as | AURUM Reward Points (ARP) |
|---|---|
| Base rate | 4 ARP on every non-fuel spend of Rs. 100. About 1% value back |
| Minimum spend rules | Not published by the bank |
| No rewards on |
|
| Lower rewards on | None published |
| Value of a point |
|
| Redemption fee | None (MITC: redemption fee applies to all cards except AURUM) |
| Expiry | AURUM Reward Points never expire |
| Welcome benefits |
|
| Milestone benefits |
|
| Lounge access | Domestic: 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter; also for add-on cardholders International: Complimentary DreamFolks membership with unlimited complimentary access to 1,000+ international airport lounges, plus one complimentary guest visit a quarter Condition: No spend condition stated |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% waiver on transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000 at all petrol pumps in India; max Rs. 250 per statement cycle |
| Insurance cover | Travel insurance Rs. 1 lakh for flight delay and loss of goods or baggage; air accidental death cover Rs. 3.50 crore; two flight cancellation refunds a year; lost card and fraud protection Rs. 10 lakh (all as stated on aurumcreditcard.com) |
AURUM eligibility and how to apply
What SBI Card publishes
SBI Card uses one set of rules across its cards and publishes no minimum income for AURUM or any other card. Salaried applicants must be 21 or older, self-employed ones above 25, and retired pensioners above 40 can apply online. For the upper age the same eligibility page says 60 years in its checklist and 70 in its FAQ.
The card finder files AURUM under a monthly income of "Above 2 L". That is a browsing filter, not a stated rule, but it gives a idea of who the card is pitched at. SBI Card also asks for stable income, a credit score preferably between 750 and 900, and a home in an area it services. An SBI account is not needed.
Documents
- PAN card for digital KYC.
- Aadhaar with the first 8 digits masked, or another valid government address proof.
- Salary slips or an ITR, if your profile needs income proof.
Where to apply
Apply online on SBI Card's website, which the button on this page opens, through the ILA chatbot, by calling 39 02 02 02 with your STD code, or at an SBI branch. Cardholders can use the AURUM line or our SBI Card customer care page for service query.
How the decision is made
RBI's November 2025 card Directions, which SBI Card follows in the NBFC version, make the issuer judge your own income and existing limits before setting yours. You get a one-page Key Fact Statement, and a rejection comes with written reasons. The approval, it is SBI Card's call alone, and nobody else can promise it.
AURUM: eligibility and documents
| Age (salaried) | 21 years or above (minimum). Maximum age stated as 60 years in one place and 70 years in another on SBI Card's listing page |
|---|---|
| Age (self-employed) | Above 25 years (minimum, for online application) |
| Income (salaried) | Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not publish it for this card |
| Income (self-employed) | Stable income; minimum not published for this card |
| Other conditions | Positive credit history preferred; good credit score, preferably between 750 and 900; SBI banking relationship not mandatory; residence must be in a location serviced by SBI Card; retired pensioners above 40 can apply online. SBI Card's card finder files this card under monthly income 'Above 2 L' - a browsing filter, not a stated eligibility minimum. |
| Documents |
|
| How to apply | Online at sbicard.com (eApply; card pages carry an "Apply Now" link for cards sold online), through the chatbot ILA, by calling the SBI Card helpline 39 02 02 02 (prefix city STD code) or at the nearest SBI branch. Since 23 Sep 2026, SBI fixed-deposit holders can also apply for the secured "Advantage" variants (ELITE, PRIME, SimplyCLICK, SimplySAVE) on SBI's YONO app. Some co-brand cards (PhonePe, Google Pay Flex, Eternal) have no Apply button on sbicard.com. |
| Card customer care | 1860 180 1290 / 1860 500 1290 / 39 02 02 02 (prefix local STD code) / 1800 180 1290 (toll free); AURUM: 1860 500 2000 |
These are the bank's published conditions. Meeting them does not guarantee a card: approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
Who gains from AURUM and who should skip it
AURUM works for one kind of person: someone who runs ₹1 lakh or more through a single card every month and flies abroad a few times a year. For them the vouchers alone is worth more than three times the fee, points never expire and lounges abroad are unlimited.
It is the wrong card if your spending is lumpy. The ₹1,500 voucher is all or nothing at ₹1 lakh, so a short month simply earns 1%. At ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 a month a ₹4,999 card with category bonuses, such as SBI Card's own ELITE, can return more on dining and groceries for less fee.
It also earns nothing on fuel, rent and wallet loads, and from 1 December 2026 large fuel and transport bills attract a 1% fee. The insurance figures, including ₹3.50 crore air accident cover, are stated only on SBI Card's AURUM website, so read the policy wording before relying on them.
In short, a high fixed cost for rewards that grow fast with spend. Below ₹12 lakh a year the fee stays with you, above it the card turns generous. Our credit cards guide has cheaper routes to lounge access.
Pros
- ₹1,500 voucher in every month with ₹1 lakh of spend, up to ₹18,000 a year
- Yearly vouchers of ₹5,000, ₹10,000, ₹9,999 and ₹20,000 at ₹5 lakh to ₹20 lakh of spend
- Points never expire and AURUM pays no redemption fee
- Unlimited international lounge visits via DreamFolks, plus 4 domestic visits a quarter
- 1.99% forex markup, against 3.5% on most SBI cards
Cons
- ₹11,798.82 a year with GST unless you spent ₹12 lakh the year before
- Flat 1% base rate with no bonus categories
- No points on fuel, rent, wallet loads, government payments or digital gaming
- The monthly voucher is lost in any month below ₹1 lakh
- A replacement card costs ₹1,500
AURUM against other super-premium cards
Three cards in our data chase the same big spender, and their waivers and lounge rules differ more than the price tags show.
HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal
The Diners Club Black Metal costs ₹10,000 plus GST, close to AURUM, but its waiver comes at ₹8 lakh of yearly spend, not ₹12 lakh. It earns 5 Reward Points per ₹150, redeemable on SmartBuy at up to ₹1 each, plus 10,000 bonus points in any quarter with ₹4 lakh of spend. Lounges are unlimited in India and abroad for primary and add-on members, forex is 2%.
Axis Bank Magnus
The Axis Bank Magnus costs ₹12,500 plus GST and needs ₹25 lakh a year for its waiver. It pays 12 EDGE REWARD Points per ₹200 on the first ₹1.5 lakh a month and 35 above that, and 5 points become 2 partner miles. Domestic lounges need ₹50,000 of spend in the previous 3 months. It suits people well above ₹2 lakh a month who move points in airlines.
AU Zenith+
The AU Zenith+ costs ₹4,999 plus GST, waived at ₹8 lakh. Points are worth ₹1: 1 per ₹100 everywhere and 2 per ₹100 on travel, dining and international spends. It gives 16 domestic and 16 international lounge visits a year and a 0.99% markup, falling to 0% from 1 December 2026 in AU's MITC.
| If you | Pick |
|---|---|
| Spend about ₹1 lakh every month and want unlimited lounges abroad | SBI Card AURUM |
| Spend ₹8 lakh to ₹12 lakh a year and want an easier waiver | HDFC Diners Club Black Metal |
| Spend well above ₹2 lakh a month and move points to airlines | Axis Bank Magnus |
| Spend less but travel abroad and want the lowest forex | AU Zenith+ |
For a lower fee, Standard Chartered's Ultimate card charges ₹5,000 for 5 points per ₹150 at ₹1 a point. Our airport lounge cards list compare more cards by visits.
AURUM against similar cards
| Term | AURUM This card | Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card | Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card | AU Zenith+ Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | SBI Card | HDFC Bank | Axis Bank | AU Small Finance Bank (AU Bank) |
| Joining fee | ₹9,999 + GST | ₹10,000 + GST | ₹12,500 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual fee and waiver | ₹9,999 + GST. Renewal fee waived off on annual spends of Rs. 12 lakh or more in the preceding year (MITC) | ₹10,000 + GST. Spend ₹8 lakh or more in a year before the renewal date to get the renewal fee waived. | ₹12,500 + GST. Annual fee waived on eligible spends of INR 25 lakh in the preceding card anniversary year (rent, wallet, utilities, government, EMI conversions, cash, reversals, fees, insurance, gold/jewellery, fuel and gift cards excluded). Lifetime free (Nil fees) for customers with a Burgundy Salary Account opened on or after 1 July 2026 with net monthly salary of INR 2 lakh or more. | ₹4,999 + GST. For 2nd year onwards fee waiver: Rs. 8 Lakhs net retail spends done in previous card anniversary year |
| Base reward | 4 ARP on every non-fuel spend of Rs. 100 (about 1% value) | 5 Reward Points per ₹150 (implied by the T&C: 2X = 10 Reward Points per ₹150) | 12 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200 on eligible spends up to INR 1.5 lakh in a... | 1 Reward Point per Rs.100 spent across all merchant categories... (about 1% value) |
| Best category | No higher-reward category published | Weekend dining at standalone restaurants, Saturday and Sunday, non-EMI, minimum ₹150: 2X Reward Points i.e. 10 Reward points per Rs. 150 | Monthly eligible spends above INR 1.5 lakh: 35 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200 | Travel, dining and international spends: about 2% value |
| Lounges | Domestic: 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter; also for add-on cardholders International: Complimentary DreamFolks membership with unlimited complimentary access to 1,000+ international airport lounges, plus one complimentary guest visit a quarter | Domestic: Unlimited lounge access (1,300+ lounges in India and abroad) for primary and add-on card members International: Unlimited, via the Diners Club card (lounge list in the Diners Travel Tool app) | Domestic: Unlimited complimentary visits at select domestic airport lounges (card, not Priority Pass, from 28 Aug 2026); 4 guest visits a calendar year International: Unlimited complimentary visits with Priority Pass, plus 4 guest visits per year | Domestic: 16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits a year (4 per quarter) International: 16 complimentary international lounge visits a year (4 per quarter) with Priority Pass |
| Forex markup | 1.99% of the amount | 2% of the amount | 2% of the amount | 0.99% of the amount |
| Network | Visa, Mastercard | Diners Club | Mastercard | Visa, RuPay |
| Published minimum income | Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not... | ₹2,50,000 a month | ₹2,00,000 a month | ₹2,50,000 a month |
| Status | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications |
Frequently asked questions
What is the SBI Card AURUM annual fee and how is it waived?
How much is an AURUM Reward Point worth?
Who is eligible for SBI Card AURUM?
Does SBI Card AURUM give airport lounge access abroad?
What has changed on SBI Card AURUM recently?
Are the AURUM vouchers worth more than the fee?
Related
- SBI Card Credit Cards 2026: Caps, Fees and the Card That Fits You
- HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Review: Unlimited Lounges, ₹10,000 Fee
- Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card Review: Big Points Only Above ₹1.5 Lakh
- AU Zenith+ Credit Card Review: Points Worth ₹1 and 0% Forex From December
- Best Airport Lounge Credit Cards in India 2026: Who Still Gets In Free
Sources
- SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd: Most Important Terms & Conditions (PDF 'MITC- Common-30OCT26', Ver FY 27, 16); AURUM Credit Card - Fees (SBI Card's AURUM site); AURUM Credit Card - Benefits & Features (home page); AURUM Credit Card - home page; AURUM Credit Card - Benefits; SBI Card credit card listing (data feed behind the 'Credit Cards' listing page and card finder); SBI Card credit cards listing page, 'Get ready to apply' checklist (content file /templatedata/common/content-tab); SBI Card credit cards listing page, 'Get ready to apply' checklist; SBI Card credit cards listing page FAQ (content file /templatedata/common/faq); SBI Card credit cards listing page FAQ
Last verified: 5 November 2026
Written by Ramesh Kulkarni, 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.