Home›Credit Cards›ICICI Bank›ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card credit card artwork

ICICI Bank • Visa

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

▼ Downgraded

CardIntel Score: 59/100

Verified on official issuer terms

Joining Fee

₹6,500 + GST

Annual Fee

₹3,500 + GST

Spend Waiver

Waived at ₹6L/yr

Lounge Access

16 complimentary domestic ...

Forex Markup

3.50% + GST

Best Suited For

Everyday Rewards & Lifestyle

Rewards Rate

1-2% return on retail spends

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift vouchers or bonus reward points equivalent to joining fee realization.

Apply Now

CardIntel Score

Objective card quality

CardIntel Score v1.1 measures structural card quality against a fixed ₹6 lakh annual benchmark. It evaluates 9 factors including Net Ownership ROI, without affiliate commission, editorial preference, or card slug heuristics.

59.2/100

Limited

Rounded: 59/100

Reward Return0.4% Return

2.2/25

0.45% effective benchmark return

Net Ownership ROI₹0 Cost (Fee Waived)

14/15

Zero ownership cost with strong net return

Reward Cap HeadroomUncapped

12/12

No monthly or category ceilings

Redemption LiquidityRewards Catalogue

7/10

Rewards Catalogue

Lounge Utility16 Dom/yr, 2 Intl/yr

7/10

Domestic (5/5) + Intl (1/3) + Terms (1/2)

Forex Markup3.50% Forex

1/8

3.5% forex markup

Accessibility & EligibilityOpen Retail

8/8

Open retail availability

Benefit Breadth1 / 5 Pillars

1/5

1 benefit pillars qualified

Condition SimplicityFriction-Free

7/7

Zero material reward conditions (7/7 pts)

Why this score?

• Uncapped: 12/12

• Open Retail: 8/8

• Friction-Free: 7/7

Key drag: 0.4% Return: 2.2/25

Exceptional net ownership ROI, unrestricted reward cap headroom and broad consumer accessibility. The score is reduced by the forex markup, restricted redemption options and modest base reward yield.

Version: v1.1Benchmark: ₹50,000/monthAnnual benchmark: ₹6,00,000Confidence: HIGH

Break-Even Recovery Spend: ₹4,86,000 / yearWaiver Met on ₹6L Benchmark

You need to spend at least ₹4,86,000 per year (₹40,500/mo) on this card to fully recover its annual fee.

Reconciliation Note: While ₹4,86,000/yr retail spend recovers the listed ₹3,500 annual fee via baseline rewards if the waiver is not met, our ₹6,00,000 universal benchmark spend exceeds the bank's waiver threshold, reducing the effective annual fee payable to ₹0.

4-Layer Financial Intelligence

Card Economics & Net ROI

Evaluating real economic return after accounting for benchmark spending (₹6,00,000/yr), effective annual fee, and verified category caps.

1. CardIntel Score

59.2/100

Limited Quality

2. Card Net ROI

N/A — ₹0 ownership cost

₹0 Effective Fee (Waived)

3. Estimated Net Value

₹14,700

Per year on ₹6L spend

4. Effective Cost

₹0

Annual fee waived on ₹6L spend

Estimated Gross Annual Rewards₹2,700

Monetizable Perks (Lounge & Fuel)+₹12,000

Effective Annual Cost₹0 (No annual fee)

Recurring Net Annual Value (Year 2+)₹14,700/year

CardIntel strictly separates first-year introductory welcome perks from ongoing recurring ROI. Lifetime Free cards show ₹0 ownership cost rather than infinite percentages.

🎁

Rewards and Benefits

Verified privileges, dining perks, reward redemption values, and airport lounge schedules.

Category	Details & Conditions
🍽️Movie & Dining	Discounts and partner offers on leading dining apps and movie booking platforms.
⚡Rewards Rate	1-2% return on retail spends
💰Reward Redemption	Redeemable for vouchers, merchandise, and air miles via bank rewards portal
✈️Travel	Special airfare and hotel partner privileges
🛋️Domestic Lounge Access	16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year
🌐International Lounge Access	Complimentary Priority Pass / DreamFolks international lounge access
⛳Golf	N/A
🛡️Insurance Benefits	Complimentary lost card liability and fraud protection

💳

Fees & Charges

Transparent schedule of annual charges, spend-based reversals, finance APR, and cash advance rates.

Spend-Based Waiver

Annual Charges Waived on Spends of ₹6,00,000 or More

Spend ₹6,00,000 or more in the preceding anniversary year for fee reversal.

Interest Rates / Finance Charges

3.75% per month (45.00% APR)

Applicable if the Total Amount Due is not paid in full by the due date. Accrues from date of transaction.

Late Payment Charges

Up to ₹100: NIL | ₹101–₹500: ₹100 | ₹501–₹1,000: ₹500 | ₹1,001–₹5,000: ₹600 | ₹5,001–₹10,000: ₹750 | ₹10,001–₹25,000: ₹900 | ₹25,001–₹50,000: ₹1,100 | Above ₹50,000: ₹1,300

Tiered late fee based on total outstanding balance if Minimum Amount Due is not paid by due date.

Foreign Currency Markup

3.50% + GST

Cross-currency conversion fee levied on international POS and foreign online transactions.

Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)

1.00% + GST

Applicable on transactions performed at merchant establishments located outside India in INR.

Rewards / Cashback Redemption Fee

₹99 + GST per redemption request

Fee charged per catalogue redemption request of ICICI Reward Points.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000

Applicable on HPCL petrol pumps and general fuel stations across India.

Cash Advance Charges

2.50% of the advance amount (Minimum ₹500)

Levied on cash withdrawals at ATMs from withdrawal date until full repayment.

Overlimit Charges

2.50% of the overlimit amount (Minimum ₹550)

Charged when customer exceeds sanctioned credit limit.

Rental Transaction Surcharge

1% fee on rental payments + GST

Applicable on rental transactions executed through payment platforms or aggregators.

Payment Dishonour / Bounce Charges

2% of total amount due (Minimum ₹500)

Charged in the event of cheque or auto-debit return.

Card Replacement Fee

₹100 + GST

Standard physical card replacement charge for lost, stolen, or damaged cards.

Cash Payment at Branch Fee

₹100 per payment

Levied for credit card bill payment deposited by physical cash at ICICI Bank branches.

Outstation Cheque Processing Fee

1% of cheque value (Min ₹100)

Applicable on collection of non-CTS outstation cheques.

Railway Ticket Booking Surcharge

1% + GST as per IRCTC guidelines

Standard railway ticket booking fee on IRCTC portal.

Product Details

✓

Welcome benefit points or vouchers upon paying the initial card fee.

✓

Accelerated reward points on preferred categories and merchant partners.

✓

1% base reward rate on other retail purchases.

✓

Fuel surcharge waiver across fuel stations in India.

✓

Annual renewal fee reversal on achieving annual spend threshold.

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Competitive return rate on primary spend categories

+Fee waiver milestone easily achievable on regular annual spends

+Accepted universally across merchant POS terminals and online portals

Cons

−Standard cross-currency forex markup fee on overseas transactions

−Accelerated rewards subject to monthly category ceilings

−Government tax, rent, and utility payments may earn reduced returns

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card Features and Benefits

Comprehensive overview of welcome benefits, quarterly spend bonuses, dining privileges, and renewal fee waiver milestones.

Welcome Gift

Welcome & Activation Benefit

Cardholders receive bonus welcome points or partner discount vouchers upon card setup and fee realization.

Reward Boost

Accelerated Rewards Framework

Earn high multiplier reward returns on target spending categories such as dining, e-commerce, and travel.

Fuel Savings

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

1% fuel surcharge reversed on eligible transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000 at all fuel pumps across India.

Fee Reversal

Milestone Spend Reversals

Annual Charges Waived on Spends of ₹6,00,000 or More

⚡

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card Rewards Structure

Transactions made using this card earn reward points redeemable via the bank rewards portal.

10 Partner Merchants (Accelerated Rate):

Preferred E-Commerce & Retail

Accelerated Multiplier

Dining & Food Delivery

Enhanced Rate

Travel & Hotels

Partner Bonus

General Online & Offline Purchases

1% Base Return

•1% return on general eligible retail transactions.

•Accelerated rewards subject to program terms and monthly limits.

Value of CashPoints / Points on Redemption

Comparative monetary conversion rates across cashback, flight tickets, product catalog, and airline miles.

Redemption Option	Monetary Value (per Point)	Notes
Statement Credit / Cash Voucher	₹0.20 to ₹0.25	Direct balance adjustment or popular shopping vouchers
Travel Bookings & AirMiles	₹0.25 to ₹0.50	Flight tickets and hotel reservations via bank portal

•Reward points are valid for 2 to 3 years from the date of accumulation.

•Redemptions can be processed through the official bank internet banking or mobile app.

Exclusions on Rewards Points / Cashback

In compliance with regulatory terms, the following spending categories are not eligible to earn CashPoints or reward points:

✕Fuel Purchases (Covered under 1% surcharge waiver)

✕Rent Payments via Third-Party Portals

✕Government Related Transactions & Property Taxes

✕Wallet Loading & Pre-paid Card Reloads

✕ATM Cash Advances & Financial Charges

Who Should Choose ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?

Ideal for users seeking dependable returns on daily lifestyle, online shopping, and dining expenses with reliable bank support.

✓ Everyday Spenders✓ Online Shoppers✓ Urban Professionals✓ Value Seekers

Eligibility Criteria for ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

The following table illustrates the income-based and age-based underwriting criteria:

Criteria	Salaried Employees	Self-Employed Individuals
Age	21 – 60 Years	21 – 65 Years
Income Proof	Minimum ₹25,000 Per Month	Minimum ₹3,60,000 Per Annum
Credit Score (CIBIL)	720+ recommended

Compare ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card With Competing Cards

Side-by-side comparison of rewards, merchant partner rates, monthly caps, and annual fees.

Feature / Card	ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card Current Card	HDFC Millennia Credit Card	Cashback SBI Card
Reward Structure	Reward Points	Cashback (CashPoints)	Direct Statement Cashback
Reward Rate at Partner Merchants	Accelerated returns on target categories; 1% base	5% on 10 partner merchants (Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, etc.)	5% universal cashback on all online shopping
Cap on Rewards	Standard monthly ceiling on accelerated points	1,000 CashPoints on 5% tier per cycle	₹5,000 max cashback per billing cycle
Additional Benefits	16 domestic lounge visits/yr	₹200 Swiggy Dineout discount twice monthly	Auto-credited to monthly bill with zero redemption fee
Annual Fee & Waiver	₹3,500 + GST	₹1,000 (Waived on ₹1 Lakh spend)	₹999 (Waived on ₹2 Lakh spend)

Latest News & Program Updates

Verified policy adjustments, convenience surcharges, and MITC revisions implemented by the issuer:

March 2025Verified Regulatory Notice

RBI MITC & Third-Party Payment Updates

Rental transactions processed via payment aggregators are subject to a 1% convenience charge in compliance with updated bank schedules.

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card Editorial Verdict

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card by ICICI Bank is engineered for consumers looking for solid rewards on day-to-day transactions with clear fee recovery milestones.

By maintaining regular monthly spending and paying bills in full before the due date, cardholders can maximize net value while building a robust credit profile.

Financial Punctuality Advisory:

Ensure timely full payments every month to avoid finance charges of up to 45% APR.