Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card
About Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card
The HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card is designed as a virtual-first add-on specifically for UPI scan-and-pay transactions. At just ₹99 + GST per year—waivable on modest ₹25,000 annual spends—it offers a friction-free way to monetize everyday QR payments on PhonePe, GPay, and PayZapp.
Rewards and Benefits
Verified privileges, welcome benefits, movie discounts, and airport lounge schedules.
| Category | Details & Conditions |
|---|---|
| 🍽️Movie & Dining | 3% CashPoints on Dining & Restaurant spends via UPI merchant QR scan (part of Tier 1 sub-cap) |
| ⚡Rewards Rate | 3% on Groceries/Supermarket/Dining/PayZapp (500 CP cap), 2% on Utilities (500 CP cap), 1% on Other Spends (500 CP cap). Min transaction ₹100 |
| 💰Reward Redemption | 1 CashPoint = ₹0.25 Statement Credit (Minimum 2,000 CashPoints / ₹500 required for redemption) |
| ✈️Travel | N/A (Zero complimentary travel vouchers or privileges) |
| 🛋️Domestic Lounge Access | N/A (No airport lounge access) |
| 🌐International Lounge Access | N/A |
| ⛳Golf | N/A |
| 🛡️Insurance Benefits | N/A |
Fees & Charges
Transparent schedule of annual charges, spend-based reversals, finance APR, and cash advance rates.
| Fee / Charge | Amount & Conditions |
|---|---|
| Spend-Based Waiver | ₹99 + GSTSpend target in anniversary year to reverse renewal fee. |
| Interest Rates / Finance Charges | 3.75% Per Month (45.00% Annually)Standard finance charge applicable on revolving retail balances and ATM cash advances until complete settlement (revised w.e.f. August 2024). |
| Late Payment Charges | Nil (Up to ₹100), ₹100 (₹101–₹500), ₹500 (₹501–₹1,000), ₹600 (₹1,001–₹5,000), ₹750 (₹5,001–₹10,000), ₹900 (₹10,001–₹25,000), ₹1,100 (₹25,001–₹50,000), ₹1,300 (Above ₹50,000)Tiered late payment charge based on total outstanding balance if Minimum Amount Due is not paid by payment due date. |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 3.50% + GSTStandard cross-currency conversion fee applicable on overseas transactions and foreign currency billing. |
| Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) | 1.00% + GST Markup FeeApplicable on transactions carried out in Indian Currency (INR) at an international location or overseas-registered merchants. |
| Rewards / Cashback Redemption Fee | ₹99 + GST per redemption request (₹50 for statement cashback)Applicable on catalogue, gift voucher, or statement cashback redemptions via HDFC NetBanking or SmartBuy. |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | Not Applicable (No Fuel Surcharge Waiver)Fuel surcharge waiver is not offered on this specific card variant as per official HDFC MITC. |
| High-Value Fuel Spend Surcharge | 1% fee on fuel spends exceeding ₹15,000/month (Capped at ₹4,999/txn)Applicable on cumulative fuel spends above the monthly threshold in a calendar month. Surcharge is capped at ₹4,999 per transaction. |
| Cash Advance Charges | 2.5% of transaction amount or ₹500 (whichever is higher)Domestic & International ATMs. Finance charge of 3.75% p.m. applies from the date of withdrawal until full payment. |
| Overlimit Charges | 2.5% of Overlimit Amount (Min ₹550)Applicable if retail or merchant transactions exceed the sanctioned credit limit (subject to explicit cardholder consent). |
| Rental Transaction Surcharge | 1% fee capped at ₹4,999 per transactionProcessing fee levied on rental payments via platforms like CRED, Paytm, NoBroker, etc. (w.e.f. 1st July 2025). |
| Online Skill-based Gaming Surcharge | 1% fee on spends exceeding ₹10,000/month (Capped at ₹4,999/month)Applicable on online skill-based gaming transactions exceeding ₹10,000 cumulative in a calendar month (w.e.f. 1st July 2025). |
| Wallet Loading Surcharge (excl. PayZapp) | 1% fee on loads exceeding ₹10,000/month (Capped at ₹4,999/month)Applicable on wallet loading transactions exceeding ₹10,000 cumulative in a calendar month (PayZapp wallet loading is exempt, w.e.f. 1st July 2025). |
| Utility Payments Surcharge | 1% fee on utility spends exceeding ₹50,000/month (Capped at ₹4,999/month)Levied on cumulative utility bill payments (electricity, gas, water) exceeding the threshold in a calendar month. Capped at ₹4,999/month. |
| Third-Party Education Fee Surcharge | 1% fee capped at ₹4,999 per transaction via third-party appsLevied on school/college fee payments made via third-party apps (CRED, Cheq, NoBroker). Zero fee on direct school/college website or POS transactions. |
| Payment Dishonour / Bounce Charges | 2% of payment amount (Min ₹450)Charged if cheque, ECS, NACH, or auto-debit instruction towards credit card payment is returned or dishonoured. |
| Card Replacement Fee | ₹100 + GSTStandard physical card re-issuance fee for lost, stolen, or damaged card. |
| Cash Payment at HDFC Branch / ATM | ₹100 + GST per transactionService fee charged for paying credit card bill via physical cash deposit at HDFC Bank branches or ATMs. |
| Railway Ticket Booking Surcharge | 1% of transaction amount + GSTStandard IRCTC transaction fee charged on railway ticket purchases. |
Product Details
Pros & Cons
Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card Features and Benefits
Comprehensive overview of welcome benefits, quarterly spend bonuses, dining privileges, and renewal fee waiver milestones.
Virtual-First RuPay UPI Linking
Engineered for seamless linking with PayZapp, GPay, PhonePe, and Paytm. Execute secure tap-and-pay or QR scan payments across millions of merchant outlets in India directly from your credit line.
Tier 1: 3% CashPoints on Daily Essentials
Earn 3% CashPoints on groceries, supermarket shopping, dining out, and transactions on PayZapp, capped at 500 CashPoints per calendar month.
Tier 2: 2% CashPoints on Utility Bills
Earn 2% CashPoints on electricity, water, gas, and telecom utility bills paid via credit card or UPI, capped at 500 CashPoints per calendar month.
Tier 3: 1% CashPoints on Other Retail Spends
Earn 1% CashPoints on all other eligible retail purchases and merchant UPI transactions above ₹100, capped at 500 CashPoints per calendar month.
Welcome Gift Voucher
Receive a complimentary ₹250 gift voucher upon executing your first transaction within 37 days of card issuance.
Spend-Based Renewal Fee Reversal
The modest annual maintenance charge of ₹99 + GST is completely waived when you spend ₹25,000 or more in the anniversary year.
HDFC UPI RuPay CashPoints Structure (Three-Tier Category Architecture)
CashPoints are calculated on eligible retail and UPI merchant transactions with a minimum spend of ₹100 per transaction. CashPoints remain valid for 2 years from accrual.
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 Balance Credit | 1 CashPoint = ₹0.25 (Minimum 2,000 CashPoints = ₹500 credit) | Direct adjustment against outstanding credit card bill via NetBanking / MyCards. |
| SmartBuy Flight / Hotel Bookings | 1 CashPoint = ₹0.25 (Up to 50% points payment) | Redeemable through HDFC SmartBuy travel portal. |
| Product Catalogue & Gift Vouchers | 1 CashPoint = up to ₹0.25 | Subject to catalogue redemption charges of ₹99 + GST. |
Eligibility Criteria for Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay 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 | Existing HDFC Bank Cardholders or Net Monthly Income > ₹25,000 | ITR > ₹6,00,000 Per Annum |
| Credit Score (CIBIL) | 720+ recommended | |
How to Apply for Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card
Simple 4-step digital application process directly on the official issuer portal:
Check Eligibility
Click "Apply Now" to open the official bank application portal.
Enter Details
Provide your mobile number, PAN, and employment information.
Complete Video KYC
Verify your identity via paperless Aadhaar OTP or a quick 2-minute Video KYC.
Receive Card
Get instant virtual card access and physical card delivery within 5-7 working days.
CardIntel Score v1.1
Objective Card Quality Breakdown
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.
0.19% effective benchmark return
Zero ownership cost with positive 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?
Unrestricted reward cap headroom, broad consumer accessibility and straightforward reward conditions. The score is reduced by the lounge access terms, forex markup and restricted redemption options.
Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card is immediately cost-positive from ₹0 spend (Lifetime Free or welcome benefits exceed initial fee).
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.
Calculate Your Real Returns
What You'll Actually Earn
Calculated using CardIntel's deterministic reward rules, fee waivers, and merchant accelerated caps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Official guidance on applications, reward redemptions, credit limit assignments, and customer support.
The joining and annual renewal fee is ₹99 + GST. The renewal fee is completely waived if you spend ₹25,000 or more in retail transactions within the 12-month card anniversary year. It is also frequently offered Lifetime Free (LTF) to existing HDFC cardholders.
Verified Bank MITC Provenance
All reward percentages, exclusions, and annual fee waiver rules for Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card are verified directly against official bank regulatory filings and Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC).
CardIntel may earn referral fees from eligible application links. These fees never influence CardIntel Scores, rankings, or recommendations.
Similar Credit Cards
Top alternative cards comparable to Kotak Mahindra Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card by rewards, tier, and fees:
