The verdict
A formidable luxury card for frequent travelers and gourmands. Achieving the ₹5 Lakh annual spend threshold waives the ₹7,999 fee, unlocks 40,000 quarterly milestone points (worth ₹10,000), and provides 24 complimentary global lounge entries with low 1.99% forex fees.
Hitting the ₹5 Lakh spend milestone waives the ₹7,999 fee, earns ₹10,000 in quarterly bonus milestone points, and ~₹8,000 in dining rewards — returning ₹18,000+ in tangible value plus 16 domestic and 8 international lounge visits.
For cardholders spending below ₹5 Lakhs, the ₹7,999 fee and 0.5% base retail rate make it uneconomical compared to mid-tier travel cards.
✓What works
- +16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (4 per quarter).
- +8 complimentary international lounge visits per year via Priority Pass (2 per quarter).
- +Low 1.99% + GST forex markup on foreign currency spends.
- +20 Reward Points per ₹100 (5.0% return) on overseas dining.
- +Up to 40,000 bonus milestone reward points per year (10,000 RP on ₹2 Lakh quarterly spend).
✕What doesn't
- −High annual fee of ₹7,999 + GST.
- −Fee waiver requires ₹5 Lakh annual spend.
- −Base reward rate on general domestic retail is 0.5% (2 RP per ₹100).
What it earns
1 AU Reward Point = ₹0.25 on flight/hotel bookings and brand vouchers. Points valid for 36 months.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Dining & Restaurants | 5.0% (20 RP / ₹100) | Uncapped | 20,000 RP (₹5,000 value) |
| Domestic Dining & Standalone Restaurants | 2.5% (10 RP / ₹100) | Uncapped | 10,000 RP (₹2,500 value) |
| Groceries & Supermarkets | 1.25% (5 RP / ₹100) | Uncapped | 5,000 RP (₹1,250 value) |
| General Domestic Retail | 0.5% (2 RP / ₹100) | Uncapped | 2,000 RP (₹500 value) |
| Fuel & Rent | 0% | Excluded | 0 RP |
Accelerated earn
20X on Overseas Dining · 40,000 Bonus Milestone Points
Accelerated earning across fine dining and quarterly milestone spend thresholds.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Dining20 RP per ₹100 overseas. | 10× · 5.0% | Uncapped | — |
| Quarterly Milestones (₹2L spend)Worth ₹10,000 annually. | Bonus · 10,000 Bonus RP | 40,000 RP / year | — |
Redemption options
Redeem for flights, hotels, brand gift cards, or statement credit on AU Rewardz.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight & Hotel Bookings on AU RewardzBEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / pt | 1,000 pts | None | Nil |
| Brand Vouchers & Gift CardsBEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / pt | 1,000 pts | None | Nil |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +16 domestic airport lounge visits per year.
- +8 international lounge visits per year via Priority Pass.
- +8 railway executive lounge visits per year (2 per quarter).
- +Complimentary golf games and lessons (1 round per month).
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Rent payments.
- −Fuel transactions (1% surcharge waiver applies on ₹400–₹5,000).
- −Wallet loads.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹7,999 + GST (10,000 points welcome bonus) |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹7,999 + GST (Waived at ₹5 Lakh spend) |
| Forex Markup | 1.99% + GST |
| Finance Charges | 2.99% / month (35.88% / year) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 21–60 years |
| Salaried Income | ₹1.5 Lakhs+ monthly net salary |
| Self-Employed Income | ITR above ₹18 Lakhs per annum |
Policy Changes & Devaluation History
2 RecordsAU Zenith Transport 5× Rewards Capped at ₹1,000/month
AU Small Finance Bank introduced a monthly cap of ₹1,000 on transport-category 5× accelerated rewards on Zenith, effective 1 May 2026.
AU Zenith Annual Fee Doubled (₹7.5K → ₹10K); Waiver Spend Threshold Doubled (₹2.5L → ₹5L)
AU Small Finance Bank hiked the Zenith credit card's annual fee from ₹7,500 to ₹10,000 (+33%) and simultaneously doubled the fee-waiver spend threshold from ₹2,50,000 to ₹5,00,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AU Zenith Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for AU Zenith Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on AU Zenith Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on AU Zenith Credit Card?
Who is AU Zenith Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: AU Zenith Credit Card
The AU Zenith Credit Card is AU Small Finance Bank’s heritage super-premium luxury credit card. While discontinued for new applicant onboarding (superseded by the AU Zenith Plus metal card), active accounts remain fully serviced and supported with ongoing benefits. Issued on the Visa Infinite network with an annual membership fee of ₹7,999 + GST, the renewal fee is waived on achieving ₹5,00,000 in eligible annual retail spends during the previous card anniversary year.
Engineered for luxury gourmands and frequent global travelers, the card features an exceptional dining rewards structure—delivering 20 reward points per ₹100 (5.0% return) on international dining and 10 reward points per ₹100 (2.5% return) on domestic dining. Backed by 24 global airport lounge visits annually (16 domestic and 8 international via Priority Pass), 8 railway lounges, a competitive 1.99% forex markup, and up to 40,000 annual milestone bonus points, Zenith represents high-yield lifestyle luxury.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- Unrivaled Dining Reward Multipliers:
- International Dining: Earn 20 reward points per ₹100 spent (5.0% return at 1 point = ₹0.25) across restaurants and dining establishments abroad.
- Domestic Dining: Earn 10 reward points per ₹100 spent (2.5% return) at all domestic restaurants and food establishments.
- Comprehensive Global Lounge Access (24 Visits):
- Domestic Airport Lounges: 4 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (up to 16 visits annually) across domestic airport terminals.
- International Airport Lounges: 2 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (up to 8 visits annually) via complimentary Priority Pass membership.
- Railway Executive Lounges: 2 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (up to 8 visits annually) across Indian Railways junctions.
- Competitive 1.99% Foreign Exchange Markup: Reduced foreign currency markup fee of 1.99% + GST on international retail transactions and foreign online checkout.
- Substantial Milestone Reward Ladder: Earn up to 40,000 bonus reward points annually (worth ₹10,000) by completing ₹2,00,000 in retail spending within each calendar quarter (10,000 points per quarter).
- Comprehensive Luxury Protection: Complimentary air accident insurance cover up to ₹2 Crores alongside dedicated 24/7 global luxury concierge assistance.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Grandfathered Product Status: Discontinued for fresh customer applications; existing cardholders continue to enjoy uninterrupted benefits, rewards accrual, and renewal waiver structures.
- High Annual Fee & Spend Target: The ₹7,999 + GST fee requires ₹5,00,000 in eligible retail spending in the previous anniversary year to waive.
- Milestone Spend Boundaries: The 10,000 quarterly milestone bonus points require clearing the ₹2,00,000 spend threshold within each distinct calendar quarter; spend cannot be averaged across quarters.
- Excluded Spend Categories: Fuel purchases, wallet funding, rent payments, and cash advances do not earn reward points or contribute toward fee waiver targets.
- Financing Charges: Unpaid revolving statement balances attract standard finance charges of 3.49% per month (41.88% per annum).
Who Benefits Most
- Existing Grandfathered Cardholders: Active Zenith cardholders who regularly dine out and travel abroad, maximizing the 5% dining return and 1.99% forex fee.
- High-Net-Worth Gourmands: Food enthusiasts who spend heavily at premium fine-dining establishments in India and overseas.
- Frequent Global Flyers: Travelers who fully utilize the 24 annual domestic and international airport lounges.
- Spenders Hitting ₹5L to ₹8L Annually: Cardholders who easily waive the ₹7,999 fee and capture up to 40,000 milestone bonus points (worth ₹10,000).
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).