The verdict
One of the best zero-annual-fee cards in India. Because it is completely Lifetime Free with 0% zero forex markup, continuous international rewards, and no renewal conditions, holding it costs nothing. Spenders crossing ₹25,000 a month earn an uncapped 2.5% valueback with points that never expire and can be redeemed for statement credit with zero redemption fee.
Spending ₹40,000/month (₹4.8L/yr) earns 6X on the first ₹25k and 10X on the remaining ₹15k — generating ₹8,700 in annual statement cashback. Spending ₹1 Lakh internationally at 0% forex saves ₹3,500 in markup fees and earns 3,000 to 10,000 reward points (₹750 to ₹2,500). Adding BOGO movie tickets (₹250/mo = ₹3,000/yr) + free roadside assistance (₹1,399) returns over ₹17,300 in net value against ₹0 fee.
For spenders who charge less than ₹20,000 a month, domestic airport lounge access is gated, and offline spends below ₹25k earn a modest 0.75% return.
✓What works
- +100% Lifetime Free (LTF) with zero joining and zero annual renewal fees.
- +0% Zero Foreign Exchange (Forex) Markup fee PLUS continuous reward points on all international POS and online transactions.
- +10X Reward Points (2.5% return) on all monthly incremental spends crossing ₹25,000.
- +Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Paytm/District Movies up to ₹125 discount twice a month (₹3,000/yr savings).
- +Reward points never expire and have zero catalog redemption fees.
- +Complimentary 24/7 roadside assistance (RSA) worth ₹1,399.
✕What doesn't
- −Domestic airport lounge access requires spending ₹20,000 in the preceding calendar month.
- −Base offline reward rate below ₹25,000 is 0.75% (3X points).
- −No complimentary international airport lounge access.
What it earns
1 IDFC Reward Point = ₹0.25 cash value. Points never expire.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Spends Crossing ₹25,000 | 2.5% (10 RP / ₹150) | Uncapped | 10,000 RP (₹2,500 value) |
| Online Spends (Up to ₹25,000 / month) | 1.5% (6 RP / ₹150) | ₹25,000 spend pool | 6,000 RP (₹1,500 value) |
| International Spends (0% Forex Markup + Rewards) | 0% Forex + 3X–10X RP (Up to 2.5% return) | Uncapped | ₹3,500 Forex Savings + up to ₹2,500 Rewards |
| Offline Retail (Up to ₹25,000 / month) | 0.75% (3 RP / ₹150) | ₹25,000 spend pool | 3,000 RP (₹750 value) |
| Fuel & Rent | 0% | Excluded | 0 RP |
Accelerated earn
10X Rewards Above ₹25k Monthly Spends + 0% Forex Markup
Spend acceleration triggers automatically once monthly spends exceed ₹25,000, with 0% forex markup on all overseas spends.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spends Above ₹25,000 / month10 Reward Points per ₹150 on all incremental spends. | 10× · 2.5% | Uncapped | — |
| Birthday Spends10 Reward Points per ₹150 on birthday transactions. | 10× · 2.5% | Uncapped | — |
Redemption options
Redeem points directly for statement credit or brand vouchers with zero fees.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement Credit (Direct Cashback)BEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / pt | ₹0 (No minimum) | None | Nil (Free redemption) |
| Brand Vouchers & Gift CardsBEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / pt | 500 pts | None | Nil |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +2 complimentary domestic airport lounges per quarter (spend gate applies).
- +2 complimentary railway executive lounges per quarter across India.
- +International POS and online merchants at 0% forex markup.
- +24/7 Roadside Assistance (flat tyre, towing, battery jumpstart).
- +Paytm Movies BOGO discount twice a month.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Rent payments.
- −Fuel transactions (1% surcharge waiver on ₹200–₹5,000).
- −Wallet load transactions.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹0 (Lifetime Free Forever) |
| Forex Markup | 0% (Zero Forex Markup) |
| Finance Charges | 0.75% to 3.65% / month (Dynamic low APR) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 21–65 years |
| Salaried Income | ₹65,000+ monthly net salary |
| Self-Employed Income | ITR above ₹7.5 Lakhs per annum |
Policy Changes & Devaluation History
2 RecordsIndian Credit Card Devaluation Tracker 2026 — Full Timeline with Official Sources
Every reward cut, fee hike, and lounge access change across HDFC, SBI, Axis, ICICI, IDFC, and more — January to June 2026. Sourced to official bank notices.
IDFC FIRST Bank Cancels October 26 Rewards Sunset: Confirms Permanent 0% Forex Markup AND Continuous Reward Points Across All Cards
In a dramatic policy reversal, IDFC FIRST Bank has officially cancelled the October 26 international rewards sunset. Cardholders across all variants—including lifetime-free Classic, Millennia, Select, and Wealth—now enjoy permanent 0% Zero Forex Markup PLUS full ongoing reward points.
IDFC FIRST Bank Confirms 0% Forex Markup AND Continuous Reward Points on All Cards (13 Sep Reversal)
IDFC FIRST Bank has confirmed 0% zero forex markup across its entire credit card portfolio (Classic, Millennia, Select, Wealth, SWYP, WOW). Following customer feedback on its initial 9 September announcement, the bank issued an official communication on 13 September 2026 reversing the proposed rewards sunset: reward points will CONTINUE to be earned on international transactions across all card variants.
Lounge Threshold 5× Hike + Base Earn Rate Cut 33%
Lounge access spend threshold raised from ₹4,000 → ₹20,000/month. Base earn rate cut from 1 RP/₹150 → 1 RP/₹200.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does IDFC FIRST Bank Select Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for IDFC FIRST Bank Select Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on IDFC FIRST Bank Select Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on IDFC FIRST Bank Select Credit Card?
Who is IDFC FIRST Bank Select Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: IDFC FIRST Bank Select Credit Card
The IDFC FIRST Bank Select Credit Card is a premium lifetime-free credit card issued by IDFC FIRST Bank on the Visa and Mastercard networks. Geared towards mid-to-senior professionals and lifestyle spenders, it requires no joining or annual recurring fees. The card distinguishes itself by offering complimentary domestic airport lounge access, 0% foreign exchange markup, milestone-accelerated rewards, and entertainment savings.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- Lifetime-Free Holding: Issued with zero joining fee and zero annual renewal charges, enabling cardholders to access premium card privileges without maintaining annual spend thresholds to waive fees.
- Tiered Reward System:
- Online Retail Spends (6X): Cardholders earn 6 reward points per ₹150 spent (approximately 1.5% nominal value) on domestic e-commerce purchases up to ₹25,000 per monthly statement cycle.
- Monthly Milestone Acceleration (10X): Cumulative monthly spends crossing ₹25,000 earn 10 reward points per ₹150 (approximately 2.5% value) on incremental spends, as well as on all transactions executed on the cardholder’s birthday.
- General Offline Spends (3X): Point-of-sale retail transactions earn 3 reward points per ₹150 (0.75% value).
- Reward Points Terms: Accumulated reward points carry no redemption charges on the IDFC FIRST mobile banking platform.
- 0% Foreign Exchange Markup: Eliminates the conventional 3.5% + GST cross-border transaction charge on overseas retail terminals and international website checkouts.
- Airport and Railway Lounge Access:
- Domestic Airport Lounges: 2 complimentary visits per calendar quarter across major Indian domestic terminals on meeting the prior-month eligible spend requirement.
- Domestic Railway Lounges: 4 complimentary visits per calendar quarter across participating executive railway stations.
- Entertainment and Vehicle Protection:
- Movie Ticket Offer: Buy-One-Get-One-Free (BOGO) discount up to ₹125 twice per calendar month on movie ticket bookings via District by Zomato or Paytm.
- Roadside Assistance (RSA): Up to 4 complimentary emergency roadside assistance calls annually covering vehicle towing, tire repair, and jumpstarts.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
Cardholders should evaluate the following conditions and qualifying spend criteria:
- Spend-Gated Domestic Airport Lounges: Access to complimentary airport lounges requires a minimum eligible spend of ₹20,000 in the preceding calendar month.
- No Complimentary International Airport Lounges: The Select card does not offer complimentary international airport lounge access outside India; travelers needing international lounge visits should consider the Wealth or Mayura variants.
- Base Rate on Excluded and Utility Categories: Spends on insurance premiums, utility bills, and government payments earn at the base rate of 1 reward point per ₹150 (0.25% value), while fuel purchases are excluded from points and receive a 1% surcharge waiver instead (for transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹200 monthly).
- Financing Terms: Revolving balances incur dynamic interest charges between 8.5% and 46.2% per annum depending on user credit rating and repayment history.
Who Benefits Most
- Mid-Tier Urban Spenders: Individuals spending ₹25,000 or more per month who can consistently trigger the 10X reward tier and utilize the BOGO movie discounts.
- Domestic Business & Leisure Travelers: Flyers who regularly meet the monthly spend threshold and want domestic airport lounge access without paying an annual membership fee.
- Cross-Border Online Shoppers: Consumers paying for foreign SaaS tools, cloud hosting, or international retail goods who want to save standard foreign currency conversion markups.
- Value-Focused Professionals: Cardholders looking for an elevated credit card experience with complimentary roadside assistance and transparent reward structures at zero annual cost.
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).