The verdict
A solid mid-tier credit card for urban professionals who spend regularly on restaurants, flights, and lifestyle shopping. The 8,000 welcome points fully offset the first-year fee, while 8 airport lounges and accelerated 5X rewards provide recurring value.
Paying ₹2,000 joining fee yields 8,000 points (₹2,000 direct value). Spending ₹25,000/month (₹10,000 dining/travel + ₹15,000 retail) earns 500 5X points + 150 base points = 650 points/month (₹162.50/month or ₹1,950/year). Adding 4 airport lounge visits (~₹4,000 value), ₹1,800 partner merchant discounts, and ₹2,000 milestone bonus yields over ₹11,750 in net annual value against the ₹2,000 fee (which is waived on ₹3L spend).
Spenders looking for pure flat cashback or lower spend thresholds for lounge access will prefer cards like SBI Cashback or AU Altura Plus.
✓What works
- +8,000 bonus reward points (worth ₹2,000) on card activation and first transaction within 30 days.
- +5 reward points per ₹100 (1.25% value) on dining, travel reservations, and departmental shopping.
- +8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year across major Indian airports (2 visits/quarter on ₹20k spend).
- +Up to 15% instant discounts across leading partner merchants and dining portals.
- +Earn up to 50,000 milestone bonus reward points in a card anniversary year.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000 (up to ₹200/month).
- +100% annual renewal fee waiver upon spending ₹3,00,000 in a card anniversary year.
✕What doesn't
- −₹2,000 + GST joining and renewal fee.
- −5X accelerated rewards capped at 5,000 points per billing cycle.
- −Base reward rate on utility and general retail is 0.25% (1 point per ₹100).
What it earns
1 Reward Point = ₹0.25. Redeemable on AU Rewardz for flights, hotels, and brand vouchers.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining, Shopping & Travel Bookings (5X) | 1.25% (5 Points / ₹100) | 5,000 Points / month | 5,000 Points (₹1,250 value) |
| General Retail Spends | 0.25% (1 Point / ₹100) | Uncapped | 1,000 Points (₹250 value) |
| Utility Bills & Insurance | 0.25% (1 Point / ₹100) | Uncapped | 1,000 Points (₹250 value) |
| Fuel Purchases | 0% | Excluded | 0 Points |
Accelerated earn
5 Points per ₹100 on Shopping & Dining
Earn 5 reward points per ₹100 on departmental shopping, dining, and travel bookings.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining & Food Outlets5 points per ₹100 at all restaurants and dining portals. | 5× · 1.25% | 5,000 Points | — |
| Shopping & Travel Bookings5 points per ₹100 on departmental stores, flights, and hotel stays. | 5× · 1.25% | 5,000 Points | — |
Redemption options
Redeem accumulated points on AU Rewardz portal for flight/hotel bookings, merchandise, and gift vouchers at 1 Point = ₹0.25.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight & Hotel Bookings (AU Rewardz)BEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / Reward Point | 500 pts | None | Nil |
| Brand Gift Cards & VouchersBEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / Reward Point | 500 pts | None | Nil |
| Merchandise & Mobile Recharges | ₹0.20 / Reward Point | 500 pts | None | Nil |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +Standalone restaurant dining, departmental shopping, flights, and hotel bookings.
- +8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits across India.
- +Fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol stations across India.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −ATM cash withdrawals and digital wallet top-ups.
- −Delinquent or disputed transactions.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹2,000 + GST (Includes 8,000 Welcome Points worth ₹2,000) |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹2,000 + GST (Waived on ₹3,00,000 annual spend) |
| Finance Charges (Interest Rate) | 3.49% per month (41.88% per annum) |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 3.49% + GST |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% waiver on ₹400 to ₹5,000 transactions (Max ₹200/month) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age Requirement | Salaried (21 to 60 years), Self-Employed (25 to 65 years) |
| Minimum Monthly Income | ₹40,000+ per month (Salaried) or ₹5L+ ITR (Self-Employed) |
| Credit Score (CIBIL) | 720+ recommended for smooth approval |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AU Ananta Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for AU Ananta Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on AU Ananta Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on AU Ananta Credit Card?
Who is AU Ananta Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: AU Ananta Credit Card
The AU Ananta Credit Card is AU Small Finance Bank’s premium dining, shopping, and travel lifestyle credit card. Available on the Visa network with an annual membership fee of ₹2,000 + GST, the card is designed for affluent urban professionals, dining enthusiasts, and domestic travelers. Its annual renewal fee is waived upon achieving ₹3,00,000 in eligible retail spends during the previous card anniversary year.
The card’s proposition centers on an accelerated 5X rewards program on lifestyle categories—granting 5 reward points per ₹100 spent on shopping, dining, and travel bookings. Cardholders receive a generous welcome package of 8,000 bonus reward points (worth ₹2,000) upon card activation, effectively neutralizing the first-year joining fee, complemented by spend-gated domestic airport lounge visits via AU Rewardz and annual milestone bonuses up to 50,000 points.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- Accelerated Lifestyle Multiplier (5 Points / ₹100): Earn 5 reward points per ₹100 spent (equivalent to 1.25% value at 1 point = ₹0.25) across departmental shopping, restaurants, and travel bookings. Accelerated category points are capped at 5,000 reward points per statement cycle.
- Substantial Welcome Bonus (8,000 Points): Receive 8,000 bonus reward points (monetary value of ₹2,000) upon paying the joining fee and completing card activation within the introductory period.
- Domestic Airport Lounge Access: Access up to 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (up to 16 visits annually) when booking flight tickets of ₹5,000 or more through the AU Rewardz platform.
- Annual Milestone Tier Rewards: Earn up to 50,000 bonus reward points in a card anniversary year based on cumulative annual retail milestones reaching ₹10,00,000.
- Dining & Merchant Discounts: Enjoy instant discounts of up to 15% across partner merchants, including dining discounts via District by Zomato and hotel reservations through AU Rewardz.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Portal Booking Requirement for Lounges: Complimentary domestic airport lounge access is explicitly linked to booking flight tickets of at least ₹5,000 through AU Rewardz; direct terminal swipes without qualifying portal bookings are not eligible.
- Category Accelerated Cap: The 5X reward acceleration on shopping, dining, and travel is subject to a ceiling of 5,000 points per billing cycle; additional spends earn at the base rate of 2 points per ₹100.
- Lower Rate on Utilities & Insurance: Spends on insurance premiums, utility bills, and telecom recharges earn at a reduced rate of 1 reward point per ₹100.
- Annual Fee Waiver Benchmark: Renewal fee waiver requires ₹3,00,000 in eligible retail spending in the previous card anniversary year.
- Standard Exclusions & Forex: Fuel purchases and cash advances do not earn points or count toward milestone calculations. Standard foreign currency markup is 3.49% + GST.
Who Benefits Most
- Urban Dining & Lifestyle Enthusiasts: Professionals who regularly dine at partner restaurants and spend consistently on departmental shopping.
- Domestic Flight Bookers: Frequent flyers who can book tickets of ₹5,000+ through AU Rewardz to unlock up to 4 domestic airport lounge passes each quarter.
- Mid-to-High Spenders: Cardholders charging between ₹3 Lakhs and ₹10 Lakhs annually who can capture both the annual fee waiver and the 50,000-point milestone ladder.
- Value-Conscious Premium Users: Consumers seeking a premium lifestyle card where the initial fee is fully offset on day one by 8,000 welcome reward points.
Independent Editorial & Statutory Disclaimers
Institutional Transparency & Nominative Fair Use Statement
CredSutra operates as an independent credit card discovery and consumer intelligence engine. CredSutra is NOT a bank, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Direct Selling Agent (DSA), or Lending Service Provider (LSP).