Cashback SBI Card
5% Cashback on Online Spends (Max ā¹2,000/cycle). 1% on Offline Spends (Max ā¹2,000/cycle). Combined Monthly Cap: ā¹4,000
Nil (Focuses on highest ongoing monthly cashback)
CardIntel Score
Objective card quality
CardIntel Score v1.1 measures structural card quality against a fixed ā¹6 lakh annual benchmark. It evaluates 9 factors including Net Ownership ROI, without affiliate commission, editorial preference, or card slug heuristics.
2.62% effective benchmark return
Zero ownership cost with exceptional net return
No monthly or category ceilings
Rewards Catalogue
Domestic (0/5) + Intl (0/3) + Terms (0/2)
3.5% forex markup
Open retail availability
1 benefit pillars qualified
Zero material reward conditions (7/7 pts)
Why this score?
Solid reward return, exceptional net ownership ROI and unrestricted reward cap headroom. The score is reduced by the lounge access terms, forex markup and restricted redemption options.
You need to spend at least ā¹25,000 per year (ā¹2,083/mo) on this card to fully recover its annual fee.
Reconciliation Note: While ā¹25,000/yr retail spend recovers the listed ā¹999 annual fee via baseline rewards if the waiver is not met, our ā¹6,00,000 universal benchmark spend exceeds the bank's waiver threshold, reducing the effective annual fee payable to ā¹0.
4-Layer Financial Intelligence
Card Economics & Net ROI
Evaluating real economic return after accounting for benchmark spending (ā¹6,00,000/yr), effective annual fee, and verified category caps.
CardIntel strictly separates first-year introductory welcome perks from ongoing recurring ROI. Lifetime Free cards show ā¹0 ownership cost rather than infinite percentages.
Rewards and Benefits
Verified privileges, dining perks, reward redemption values, and airport lounge schedules.
| Category | Details & Conditions |
|---|---|
| š½ļøMovie & Dining | Flat 5% cashback on all online food ordering (Swiggy, Zomato, EatSure) and movie ticketing (BookMyShow), subject to monthly category cap |
| ā”Rewards Rate | 5% universal cashback on online retail transactions (max ā¹2,000/cycle). 1% on offline purchases (max ā¹2,000/cycle). Aggregate ceiling ā¹4,000/cycle |
| š°Reward Redemption | Auto-credited to monthly statement within 2 days of statement generation. ā¹0 redemption fee |
| āļøTravel | 5% cashback on flights and hotel bookings made directly on airline/hotel or travel aggregator websites (subject to online cap) |
| šļøDomestic Lounge Access | N/A (Discontinued on SBI Cashback Card from May 2023) |
| šInternational Lounge Access | N/A |
| ā³Golf | N/A |
| š”ļøInsurance Benefits | Lost Card Liability cover of ā¹1 Lakh |
Fees & Charges
Transparent schedule of annual charges, spend-based reversals, finance APR, and cash advance rates.
Product Details
Pros & Cons
Cashback SBI Card Features and Benefits
Comprehensive overview of welcome benefits, quarterly spend bonuses, dining privileges, and renewal fee waiver milestones.
Universal 5% Online Cashback
Earn flat 5% cashback on all online retail transactions across major brands and small e-commerce stores alike, up to ā¹2,000 cashback per billing cycle.
Automatic Statement Adjustment
No points expiration, no voucher conversion, and zero redemption fees. All earned cashback is adjusted automatically against next month's statement balance.
1% Surcharge Waiver
Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver for each fuel transaction between ā¹500 and ā¹3,000, capped at ā¹100 per statement cycle.
Annual Fee Reversal Milestone
Achieve ā¹2,00,000 in annual spends in the card anniversary year and get the ā¹999 annual renewal fee completely reversed.
SBI Cashback Earning Framework (Revised 1 April 2026)
One of the simplest and most rewarding cashback structures in India. Transactions made online earn 5% flat return up to ā¹2,000/cycle, while offline spends earn 1% up to ā¹2,000/cycle, with an aggregate ceiling of ā¹4,000 per statement cycle.
Cashback Settlement Schedule
Direct monthly statement adjustment and value realization rates.
| Settlement Channel | Cashback Realization | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Statement Credit | ā¹1.00 | Auto-credited directly to card account within 2 days of bill generation |
Exclusions on Rewards Points / Cashback
In compliance with regulatory terms, the following spending categories are not eligible to earn CashPoints or reward points:
Who Should Choose the SBI Cashback Card?
The ultimate card for savvy online shoppers who want maximum simplicity and maximum return. With the revised ā¹2,000 online monthly cap (matching ā¹40,000 in monthly online spend) and aggregate ā¹4,000 cap, it remains one of the highest returning cards in the sub-ā¹1,000 fee segment.
Eligibility Criteria for Cashback SBI Card
The following table illustrates the income-based and age-based underwriting criteria:
| Criteria | Salaried Employees | Self-Employed Individuals |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 21 ā 65 Years | 21 ā 65 Years |
| Income Proof | Minimum ā¹25,000 Per Month | Minimum ā¹3,60,000 Per Annum (ITR) |
| Credit Score (CIBIL) | 730+ recommended | |
Compare Cashback SBI Card With Other Popular Cards
Side-by-side comparison of rewards, merchant partner rates, monthly caps, and annual fees.
| Feature / Card | Cashback SBI Card Current Card | HDFC Millennia Credit Card | Amazon Pay ICICI Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reward Structure | Direct Statement Cashback | CashPoints (1 CP = ā¹1) | Amazon Pay Balance |
| Reward Rate at Partner Merchants | 5% online (cap ā¹2k), 1% offline (cap ā¹2k) | 5% on 10 partner merchants (Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, etc.). 1% other | 5% on Amazon for Prime, 3% for non-Prime, 2% on bill pay, 1% other |
| Cap on Rewards | ā¹2,000 online / ā¹4,000 aggregate cap per billing cycle | 1,000 CashPoints on 5% tier + 1,000 on 1% tier | No upper cap on cashback |
| Additional Benefits | Automatic statement offset with zero redemption fee | ā¹200 Swiggy Dineout discount twice monthly | Lifetime Free unconditionally |
| Annual Fee & Waiver | ā¹999 (Waived on ā¹2 Lakh annual spend) | ā¹1,000 (Waived on ā¹1 Lakh spend) | ā¹0 Lifetime Free |
Latest News & Program Updates
Verified policy adjustments, convenience surcharges, and MITC revisions implemented by the issuer:
Revision in Cashback Structure and Monthly Ceilings
Effective 1 April 2026, SBI Card officially revised Cashback SBI Card terms: Online 5% cashback is capped at ā¹2,000 per billing cycle, offline 1% is capped at ā¹2,000, and the combined aggregate ceiling is ā¹4,000 per statement cycle. Excluded categories now include digital gaming, road tolls, and government-related transactions.
Utility Bill Category Exclusion
Payments made under utility and electricity merchant category codes (MCC 4900) no longer qualify for 5% cashback and are classified under excluded spends.
Discontinuation of Domestic Lounge Access
SBI Card removed the 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year from the Cashback card to sustain the industry-leading 5% return rate.
Cashback SBI Card: Universal 5% Online Return with Structured Ceilings
Even following the 1 April 2026 revision capping monthly 5% online earnings at ā¹2,000 (equivalent to ā¹40,000 in monthly online spend) and aggregate cashback at ā¹4,000, the Cashback SBI Card remains one of the simplest and most dependable cards for Indian consumers.
Unlike co-branded cards that restrict maximum returns to a single corporate ecosystem (like Amazon or Flipkart), Cashback SBI delivers its 5% across almost every online platform in India, depositing cash directly into your statement balance.
Always maintain financial discipline and never roll over balances; finance charges of 45% APR will wipe out any cashback benefits rapidly.
Similar Top-Rated Alternative Cards:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Official guidance on applications, reward redemptions, credit limit assignments, and customer support.
You can apply online via the SBI Card Sprint digital onboarding portal or through SBI YONO. The application requires basic Aadhaar and PAN details with digital video KYC.
Calculate Your Real Returns
What You'll Actually Earn
Calculated using CardIntel's deterministic reward rules, fee waivers, and merchant accelerated caps.
Card Summary
CardIntel may earn referral fees from eligible application links. These fees never influence CardIntel Scores, rankings, or recommendations.
All reward percentages, exclusions, and annual fee waiver rules verified directly against bank regulatory filings.
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