SBI Card ELITE Review: Is the ₹4,999 Fee Worth It in 2026?
SBI Card ELITE is a ₹4,999 (plus GST) lifestyle card that earns 10 Reward Points per ₹100 on dining, departmental stores and groceries, adds up to 50,000 milestone points a year and charges a 1.99% forex markup. Each point is worth ₹0.25 as statement credit, so the card covers its fee only for people who spend around ₹30,000 a month or more and actually use the lounges and the movie offer.
Key facts
- Joining fee
- ₹4,999 + GST
- Annual fee
- ₹4,999 + GST. Renewal fee waived off on annual spends of Rs. 10 lakh or more in the preceding year
- Base reward
- 2 Reward Points per Rs (about 0.5% value)
- Best category
- Dining, departmental stores and grocery: about 2.5% value
- Lounge
- Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter (8 a year) International: 6 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per calendar year outside India (max 2 per quarter); Priority Pass membership complimentary, valid 2 years
- Forex markup
- 1.99% of the amount
- Network
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Opens the bank's own page for this card. Approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
In short
A solid mid-premium card for regular diners, grocery spenders and occasional foreign travellers, but the ₹10 lakh waiver and 0.5% base rate make it costly for light users.
Best for
- Families spending ₹10,000 or more a month on dining and groceries
- People who fly a few times a year and want lounges without a spend condition
- Occasional foreign travellers who want a 1.99% markup instead of 3.5%
Skip it if
- You spend less than ₹25,000 a month on the card
- Most of your spending falls outside dining, groceries and departmental stores
Highlights
- Annual fee ₹4,999 plus GST, waived at ₹10 lakh of yearly spend
- 10 points per ₹100 (2.5%) on dining, departmental stores and groceries
- Up to 50,000 milestone points (₹12,500) a year
- 8 domestic and 6 international lounge visits a year
- Forex markup 1.99%
Who SBI Card ELITE is made for
ELITE sits one step below SBI Card's top-end AURUM and is meant for peoples who eat out, buy groceries in bulk and travel a few times a year. SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited offers it on Visa, Mastercard or American Express. The ₹4,999 fee is high for a card where most spends earn only 0.5%, so the value depend on using its three or four big benefits rather than the base rate. The whole SBI range is on our SBI Card page.
What you get for the fee
- 5X on three categories. Dining, departmental stores and grocery earn 10 points per ₹100, worth 2.5%, up to 10,000 points a calendar month.
- Milestone points. 10,000 at ₹3 lakh, 10,000 more at ₹4 lakh, 15,000 at ₹5 lakh and 15,000 at ₹8 lakh of yearly spend, 50,000 in all, which SBI Card values at ₹12,500.
- Travel extras. 2 domestic lounge visits every quarter, 6 Priority Pass visits a year abroad, and a 1.99% forex markup.
- Welcome and movies. A ₹5,000 e-gift voucher once the fee is paid, and up to ₹6,000 a year off BookMyShow tickets.
Changes from 2024 to 2026
Like most SBI cards, ELITE stopped giving points on rent from 1 April 2024, on government payments from 1 June 2024 and on digital gaming from 1 December 2024. The more bigger loss was insurance: the free ₹1 crore air accident cover was discontinued from 15 July 2025. Since 1 April 2026, statement credit redemptions come in 4,000-point blocks, up to 60,000 a month.
Status: active and open to new applicants. A secured ELITE Advantage version against an SBI fixed deposit also listed at the same ₹4,999 fee. Our credit cards section has other premium options.
SBI Card ELITE fees and charges
What ₹4,999 really costs
The joining fee and the renewal fee from year two are both ₹4,999, and GST of 18% is extra. That is ₹899.82 of tax, so the card costs ₹5,898.82 every year you pay it. Add-on cards don't cost a single rupee extra money.
The renewal fee is waived only if the previous year's spends reach ₹10 lakh. Spread across 12 months that is ₹83,334 a month, a level most salaried families won't hit, so plan as if you will pay the fee each year. In year one the ₹5,000 welcome voucher roughly cancel the joining fee, but only if you would have spent at one of the listed brands anyway.
The lower forex markup
ELITE is one of the few SBI cards charging 1.99% on foreign currency spends; most charge 3.5%. On ₹1 lakh spent abroad the markup is ₹1,990 instead of ₹3,500, so ₹1,510 less before GST. Rupee payments of ₹1,000 or more at merchants registered overseas are charged the same 1.99%.
Interest and late fees
Interest stays at 3.75% a month, 45% a year, for unpaid balances, the same as SBI's other unsecured cards since 1 November 2024. Interest-free days run 20 to 50 only when the previous bill has been fully clear. Late fees climbs with the amount due, from ₹100 to ₹1,300 (nil on ₹100 or less), with an extra ₹100 a cycle after two missed minimum payments in a row; the slabs date from 1 May 2026 and GST is extra.
Other charges worth knowing
- Cash advance: 2.5%, at least ₹500, with interest from the withdrawal date.
- Over-limit: 2.5% of the excess, minimum ₹600, only with your consent.
- Rent: ₹199 plus GST per payment. Since 1 November 2025 a 1% fee applies to wallet loads above ₹1,000 and to education payments made via third-party apps.
- Utilities: 1% of the total if a cycle's utility bills exceed ₹50,000, a rule from 1 December 2024.
- From 1 December 2026: 1% on all fuel in a cycle once it passes ₹50,000, and 1% on transport payments above ₹30,000.
- Priority Pass visits beyond the free six: up to USD 27 plus taxes each.
ELITE: fees and charges
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 + GST |
|---|---|
| Annual or renewal fee | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | Renewal fee waived off on annual spends of Rs. 10 lakh or more in the preceding year |
| Add-on card fee | Nil |
| GST | Charged on top of the fees and charges listed |
| In the bank’s words | Annual Fee: Rs. 4,999 + taxes; Renewal Fee (per annum): Rs. 4,999 + taxes from second year onwards; Add-on Card Fee (per annum): Nil |
| 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 |
|
ELITE rewards, what they are worth and three spenders
Earn rates and the 10,000-point cap
Dining, departmental stores and grocery earn 10 points per ₹100. Everything else except fuel earns 2 points per ₹100, and that includes international spends. At ₹0.25 a point, that is 2.5% on the three categories and 0.5% on the rest.
The 5X categories are capped at 10,000 points a calendar month, after which they drop to 2 points. 10,000 points at 10 per ₹100 is ₹1 lakh of category spend in a month, so only very big households will be feeling it. Grocery and departmental spends at Metro Cash and Carry, Flipkart Wholesale and Walmart get no accelerated points.
No points at all on fuel, rent, government payments, digital gaming, wallet loads, cash and fees. Converting a purchase to EMI forfeit its points.
Point value and expiry
The published value is 4 points for ₹1 against your bill. Statement credit works only in 4,000-point blocks since 1 April 2026, up to 60,000 points a month, and SBI Card charges ₹99 plus GST per redemption. Points expire after 24 months.
Welcome, milestones and extras
- ₹5,000 e-gift voucher from Yatra, Hush Puppies or Bata, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion or Shoppers Stop after the annual fee is paid.
- Milestones of 10,000, 10,000, 15,000 and 15,000 bonus points at ₹3 lakh, ₹4 lakh, ₹5 lakh and ₹8 lakh of yearly spend. 50,000 points at ₹0.25 is ₹12,500.
- BookMyShow: ₹500 off or the cost of 2 tickets, whichever is less, for up to 2 tickets a month, which is where the ₹6,000 a year figure come from (₹500 times 12). Primary card only, convenience fee payable.
- One year of Club ITC Silver Tier after a first transaction within 60 days of getting the card.
Three spenders, worked out
| Monthly spend split | Light | Typical | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining, grocery, departmental | ₹10,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹40,000 |
| Other domestic spends | ₹20,000 | ₹40,000 | ₹50,000 |
| International spends | Nil | Nil | ₹10,000 |
| Points a year from spends | 16,800 | 33,600 | 62,400 |
| Milestone points a year | 10,000 | 35,000 | 50,000 |
| Total value a year | ₹6,700 | ₹17,150 | ₹28,100 |
| Renewal fee | ₹5,898.82 paid | ₹5,898.82 paid | Waived |
Light, ₹30,000 a month. ₹10,000 in the 5X categories earns 1,000 points and ₹20,000 elsewhere earns 400, so 1,400 a month and 16,800 a year. Over 12 months that is ₹3,60,000 of spend, enough for the first milestone of 10,000 points. 26,800 points at ₹0.25 is ₹6,700, just above the ₹5,898.82 fee, the net being ₹801.18 before any movie or lounge use.
Typical, ₹60,000 a month. 2,000 plus 800 is 2,800 points a month, 33,600 a year. ₹60,000 times 12 is ₹7,20,000, which crosses the ₹3 lakh, ₹4 lakh and ₹5 lakh milestones for 10,000 plus 10,000 plus 15,000, or 35,000 more. 33,600 plus 35,000 is 68,600 points, worth ₹17,150, or ₹11,251.18 after paying the fee, since ₹7,20,000 is short of ₹10 lakh.
Heavy, ₹1 lakh a month. 4,000 plus 1,000 plus 200 points makes 5,200 a month, 62,400 a year, and ₹1 lakh times 12, or ₹12,00,000, of spend earn all 50,000 milestone points. 62,400 plus 50,000 is 1,12,400 points, worth ₹28,100, and the next fee is waived. ₹10,000 a month abroad is ₹1,20,000 a year, and at 1.99% that costs ₹2,388 against ₹4,200 at 3.5%, saving another ₹1,812. Because of the 60,000-point monthly limit. Redeem it over two months.
ELITE: higher-reward categories
| Category | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Dining (MCC 5812, 5813, 5814), departmental stores and grocery | 5X Reward Points (total 10 Reward Points per Rs.100), about 2.5% value | capping of 10,000 Reward Points per calendar month; then 2 RP per Rs.100, ₹10,000, calendar month |
ELITE: how rewards work
| Earned as | Reward Points |
|---|---|
| Base rate | 2 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on all other spends, except fuel (including international spends). About 0.5% value back |
| Minimum spend rules | Not published by the bank |
| No rewards on |
|
| Lower rewards on |
|
| Value of a point |
|
| Redemption fee | Rs. 99 + taxes on physical products, statement credit and physically sent vouchers (MITC) |
| Expiry | 24 months |
| Welcome benefits |
|
| Milestone benefits |
|
| Lounge access | Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter (8 a year) International: 6 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per calendar year outside India (max 2 per quarter); Priority Pass membership complimentary, valid 2 years Condition: No spend condition stated on card page |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps; max Rs. 250 per month, per statement cycle (transaction range not stated on card page) |
| Insurance cover | Fraud liability cover up to Rs. 1,00,000 (T&C). Complimentary air accident cover of Rs. 1 crore discontinued from 15 July 2025. |
ELITE eligibility, documents and applying
Published rules
SBI Card's general rules applies here also: at least 21 for salaried applicants, above 25 for self-employed applicants applying online, and above 40 for retired pensioners. The maximum age is printed twice, 60 years in SBI Card's checklist and 70 years in its FAQ, and we cannot tell which one is current.
There is no published income requirement for ELITE, only a "stable income" is told. SBI Card's card finder shows it under the "1 L to 2 L" monthly income filter, but that is a way of browsing cards and not a stated minimum, so do not read it as a rule either way.
Documents
For digital KYC you need your PAN plus Aadhaar (first 8 digits hidden) or other valid government address proof. Depending on your profile SBI Card may also asks for salary slips or income tax returns, in physical or digital form.
How to apply
- Online from the ELITE page on SBI Card's website, or through the ILA chatbot.
- By phone on 39 02 02 02 with your city's STD code, or at an SBI branch.
- On SBI's YONO app, since 23 September 2026, for the secured ELITE Advantage if you hold an SBI fixed deposit. SBI Card doesn't publish the FD amount or the limit it gives, and the secured card's interest rate is 2.75% a month, which is 33% annually.
Card-related questions can go to the numbers in our SBI helpline list.
What the bank checks
A score in the 750 to 900 range is preferred, along with a positive history and an address SBI Card serves. An SBI relationship is not required. RBI rules ask the issuer to look at your own income and existing limits before setting a limit, and to explain any rejection in writing. Whether you get ELITE, and on what limit, is SBI Card's call.
ELITE: 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 '1 L to 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 should get ELITE and who should not
ELITE makes the most sense for a household spending ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh a month with a big share on restaurants, food and groceries, plus a couple of flights and one foreign trip a year. At that level the milestones alone are worth ₹8,750 to ₹12,500 (35,000 to 50,000 points at ₹0.25), the lounge visits have real use, and the 1.99% markup saves money abroad.
It is a poor buy below about ₹25,000 a month. You'd pay ₹5,898.82 a year for points worth far less, and the welcome voucher only help in year one. People whose spending is mainly rent, fuel, bills or online shopping outside groceries will mostly earn the 0.5% base, which is low for this price.
The trade-off is simple: strong category rate and travel perks, weak base rate and a high waiver bar. If you won't use lounges or the BookMyShow offer, a cheaper card with a 1% base can beat it. And if a ₹10 lakh waiver sounds out of reach, assume the fee every year when you compare, because a fee paid for perks you never use are just money gone. The card comparison tool helps with that.
Pros
- 10 points per ₹100 (2.5% value) on dining, departmental stores and groceries, up to 10,000 points a month
- Up to 50,000 milestone points a year, worth ₹12,500, between ₹3 lakh and ₹8 lakh of spend
- 8 domestic and 6 international lounge visits a year, with no spend condition stated
- 1.99% forex markup, against 3.5% on most SBI cards
- ₹5,000 welcome e-gift voucher and up to ₹6,000 a year off BookMyShow tickets
Cons
- ₹4,999 plus GST (₹5,898.82) a year, waived only at ₹10 lakh of yearly spend
- Base rate of 2 points per ₹100 is worth just 0.5%
- The ₹1 crore air accident cover was withdrawn from 15 July 2025
- Statement credit only in 4,000-point blocks at ₹0.25 a point, with a ₹99 plus GST fee
- No points on fuel, rent, wallet loads, government payments or gaming
ELITE against other mid-premium cards
Three cards in the same fee band compete with ELITE, and each lean a different way.
HDFC Bank Regalia Gold
The Regalia Gold Credit Card costs ₹2,500 plus GST with a ₹4 lakh waiver, far easier than ELITE's ₹10 lakh. It earns 5 points per ₹200, worth ₹0.65 each on HDFC's gold catalogue, ₹0.50 on flights and hotels, and only ₹0.15 as cashback. Domestic lounges (3 a quarter) need ₹60,000 of spend in the previous quarter, Priority Pass gives 6 visits a year abroad, and forex is 2%.
Axis Bank Select
The Axis Bank Select card costs ₹3,000 plus GST with an ₹8 lakh waiver. Base earn is 10 EDGE points per ₹200 at ₹0.20 a point, which is 1%, and grocery, departmental and clothing spends earn double up to ₹20,000 a month. Its 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter need ₹50,000 of spend in the last 3 months, and forex is 3.5%.
AU Zenith+
The AU Zenith+ card has the same ₹4,999 fee and an ₹8 lakh waiver. It pays 1 point per ₹100 at ₹1 a point (1%), 2 points on travel, dining and international, and gives 16 domestic and 16 international lounge visits a year. Forex is 0.99%, falling to 0% from 1 December 2026, but it demands ₹2.5 lakh of monthly income as a must.
Which to choose
| If you | Consider |
|---|---|
| Spend heavily on dining and groceries | SBI Card ELITE |
| Want a lower fee and use HDFC's travel redemptions | HDFC Bank Regalia Gold |
| Want a 1% base rate and grocery deals | Axis Bank Select |
| Travel abroad often and meet the income bar | AU Zenith+ |
ELITE against similar cards
| Term | SBI Card ELITE This card | Regalia Gold Credit Card | Axis Bank Select Credit Card | AU Zenith+ Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | SBI Card | HDFC Bank | Axis Bank | AU Small Finance Bank (AU Bank) |
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹2,500 + GST | ₹3,000 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual fee and waiver | ₹4,999 + GST. Renewal fee waived off on annual spends of Rs. 10 lakh or more in the preceding year | ₹2,500 + GST. Retail spends of ₹4 lakh within 12 billing cycles of your anniversary year waive the next year's renewal fee | ₹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. | ₹4,999 + GST. For 2nd year onwards fee waiver: Rs. 8 Lakhs net retail spends done in previous card anniversary year |
| Base reward | 2 Reward Points per Rs (about 0.5% value) | 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on eligible retail spends | 10 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200 spent (about 1% value) | 1 Reward Point per Rs.100 spent across all merchant categories... (about 1% value) |
| Best category | Dining, departmental stores and grocery: about 2.5% value | Myntra, Nykaa, Reliance Digital, Marks & Spencer: 5X Reward Points | Retail shopping: department stores, grocery stores, clothing and accessory stores: about 2% value | Travel, dining and international spends: about 2% value |
| Lounges | Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter (8 a year) International: 6 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per calendar year outside India (max 2 per quarter); Priority Pass membership complimentary, valid 2 years | Domestic: 3 complimentary domestic lounge visits per calendar quarter, by swiping the card International: Up to 6 visits per calendar year outside India via Priority Pass, for primary and add-on members | 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: 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 | 3.5% of the amount | 0.99% of the amount |
| Network | Visa, Mastercard, American Express | Not stated by the bank | Not stated by the bank | Visa, RuPay |
| Published minimum income | Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not... | ₹1,50,000 a month | ₹50,000 a month | ₹2,50,000 a month |
| Status | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications |
Frequently asked questions
What is the SBI Card ELITE annual fee and can it be waived?
What are SBI Card ELITE reward points worth?
What income do I need for SBI Card ELITE?
How many airport lounge visits does SBI Card ELITE give?
Does SBI Card ELITE still include air accident insurance?
How does the ELITE BookMyShow movie offer work?
Related
- HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card Review: 5 Points per ₹200 From May 2026
- Axis Bank Select Credit Card Review: Everyday Points and Priority Pass
- AU Zenith+ Credit Card Review: Points Worth ₹1 and 0% Forex From December
- SBI Card Credit Cards 2026: Caps, Fees and the Card That Fits You
- Card finder and comparison guide
Sources
- SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd: Most Important Terms & Conditions (PDF 'MITC- Common-30OCT26', Ver FY 27, 16); SBI Card ELITE T&C booklet; SBI Card ELITE T&C booklet (BookMyShow offer); SBI Card ELITE T&C booklet (fraud liability); Shop & Smile Program Terms & Conditions (rewards program T&C for all SBI cards); SBI Card ELITE product page (page content served from SBI Card's card data file); 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)
Last verified: 5 November 2026
Written by Abhishek Kumar, 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.