HDFC Bank Introduces New Credit Card Rules Effective July 2025
Significant Changes to HDFC Bank Credit Card Policies
Starting July 1, 2025, HDFC Bank will implement notable modifications to its credit card policies, impacting customers who utilize their cards for airport lounge access. These changes are crucial for cardholders to grasp in order to avoid unexpected fees and to maximize their benefits.
This initiative aligns with a broader movement among Indian banks reassessing their credit card reward structures amid rising costs and regulatory scrutiny. HDFC Bank, recognized as the largest private bank in India, previously attracted a substantial customer base with appealing perks such as complimentary airport lounge access and lucrative reward schemes. However, the bank is now shifting towards a more restricted benefits framework. Below are the upcoming changes that will affect credit card users starting July 1.
New Fees Effective July 2025
Beginning in July 2025, HDFC Bank will introduce the following fees:
- 1% charge on rent payments, limited to ₹4,999 monthly.
- 1% fee on wallet top-ups (excluding PayZapp) for amounts exceeding ₹10,000.
- 1% fee on online gaming expenditures over ₹10,000 per month, capped at ₹4,999.
These new charges may impact users who frequently use their HDFC credit cards for digital transactions such as rent or gaming.
Notably, HDFC’s own wallet, PayZapp, will not incur these new fees, indicating the bank's intention to promote its own financial ecosystem.
Additionally, starting July 2025, HDFC Bank will impose a limit on the reward points earned from insurance payments. The monthly caps will be as follows:
- Infinia and Infinia Metal Edition: up to 10,000 points
- Diners Black, H.O.G Diners Club, BizBlack Metal: up to 5,000 points
- All other eligible cards: up to 2,000 points
- Other HDFC Bank credit cards will also have a limit of 2,000 reward points per month for insurance-related purchases.
Interestingly, the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card will remain unaffected by this cap, indicating HDFC's commitment to providing full rewards to its premium, travel-oriented cardholders.
According to HDFC’s guidelines: “From December 20, 2019, a maximum of Rs 5,000 (for select cards) and Rs 2,000 (for others) in reward points were permitted daily on insurance transactions. This regulation will remain in effect until June 30, 2025.”