Every IDFC FIRST Bank card we review, ranked on what they actually return rather than on the accelerated rate printed at the top of the brochure.
IDFC FIRST Bank cards compared
| Card | Annual fee | Effective return | Forex markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card | Nil | 1.8% | 2.0% |
Effective return is a realistic blended reward rate, not the accelerated headline rate that applies only to selected categories. Cards are ranked by that figure, using a formula we publish.
How to read this one
With no annual fee, the usual test — does the reward clear the fee and the 18% GST charged on top of it — does not arise. A 1.8% blended return is money you keep rather than money you win back, which makes this a card you can hold indefinitely without doing the arithmetic every year.
The 2.0% forex markup is the figure worth noting if you spend abroad. It is charged on the converted amount, and GST applies to the markup as well, so the real cost of a foreign transaction is above the headline percentage. The forex markup calculator shows what that comes to on a real trip.
Because the return is a blended estimate rather than a category rate, compare it against cards from other issuers before deciding — the best cashback credit cards table runs the same test across the market.
IDFC FIRST Bank also lends, and the same microsite carries its personal loan rates; the rest of what we hold on the bank is on IDFC FIRST Bank rates.
Terms change without notice. Confirm the current figures with IDFC FIRST Bank before you act.