The verdict
Merchant-category classification, the monthly cap and redemption conditions determine realized value. The old guaranteed 2.5% return and ₹2,500 annual example were not supported.
Eligible promoted-category transactions earn 10 points per ₹150 until the 5,000-point calendar-month cap. The page also offers 2,000 bonus points after ₹2,000 spend in the first 60 days.
Spending ₹1 lakh at the promoted rate does not earn 10,000 points because the rate is per ₹150 and the monthly cap applies. Redemption and fee-waiver conditions still need individual review.
✓What works
- +Qualifying dining, movies, grocery and department-store transactions earn 10 points per ₹150 before the cap.
- +Renewal fee reverses after at least ₹1 lakh annual spend in the preceding year.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver is advertised on ₹500–₹3,000 transactions, capped at ₹100 per statement cycle.
✕What doesn't
- −The 10× category has a 5,000-point calendar-month cap; eligible later transactions earn 1 point per ₹150.
- −Merchant category codes govern accelerated earning; a familiar store name alone does not prove eligibility.
- −Welcome points require ₹2,000 spend within 60 days, and redemption details still need a current catalogue check.
What it earns
SBI's product page states 4 points = ₹1 and the card terms state 24-month point expiry. Realized redemption value and fees need a current catalogue check.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible dining, movies, grocery and department stores | 10 points / ₹150 | 5,000 points per calendar month; then 1 point / ₹150 | — |
| Other eligible spend | 1 point / ₹150 | — | — |
Accelerated earn
Eligible dining, movie and grocery points
MCC eligibility and the 5,000-point monthly cap govern accelerated earning.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible dining, movies, grocery and department storesAfter the cap, 1 point per ₹150 on eligible transactions. | 10× · 10 points / ₹150 | 5,000 points per calendar month | — |
Redemption options
Product page states 4 points = ₹1; current catalogue options, minimums and fees remain to be checked.
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +Promoted MCCs in card terms include departmental stores 5311, grocery 5411, dining 5812/5813/5814 and movie theatres 7832.
- +2,000 bonus points require ₹2,000 spend within the first 60 days under the welcome terms.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Fuel MCCs 5172, 5541, 5542 and 5983 do not earn reward points under the card terms.
- −Other reward-program exclusions require a current Shop & Smile terms review; a blanket zero-point utility or wallet claim is not established here.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| First-year fee | ₹499 + applicable taxes |
| Renewal fee | ₹499 + applicable taxes; reversed after at least ₹1 lakh annual spend in preceding year |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on ₹500–₹3,000 transactions; maximum ₹100 per statement cycle |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
Target Profile: Shoppers whose transactions qualify under the listed merchant categories
Policy Changes & Devaluation History
2 RecordsSBI Card Caps Reward-Point Statement Credit at 60,000 Points/Month + Forces 4,000-Point Redemption Multiples (All Eligible SBI Cards)
Effective 1 April 2026, SBI Card applied a 60,000 Reward Points per month cap on statement-credit redemptions and restricted redemptions to multiples of 4,000 Points. The revision applies to all eligible SBI credit cards except Air India SBI Signature Card, PhonePe SBI Card PURPLE, and PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK (per the official customer-notices page).
Domestic Lounge Visits Halved: 8 → 4 Per Year
Complimentary domestic airport lounge visits reduced from 8 to 4 per year on select SBI cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card?
Who is SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card
The SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card is SBI Card’s mass-market offline rewards credit card, available on Visa, Mastercard, and RuPay platforms to incentivize everyday physical retail purchases across Indian suburban towns, hypermarkets, and local neighborhood stores. Featuring an accessible annual fee of ₹499 + GST, the renewal fee is 100% reversed upon spending ₹1,00,000 in qualifying retail transactions during the previous card anniversary year.
While SimplyCLICK targets digital shoppers, SimplySAVE is specifically calibrated for in-person brick-and-mortar expenditures: it earns 10 reward points per ₹150 spent (1.67% return at 4 points = ₹1) across dining, cinema multiplexes, grocery supermarkets, and departmental stores, alongside 2,000 bonus welcome reward points (worth ₹500) upon spending ₹2,000 within the first 60 days of card activation. On RuPay, cardholders can link the card seamlessly to UPI apps (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) for quick merchant QR scans.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- ₹500 Welcome Bonus Points: Earn 2,000 bonus reward points (worth ₹500 in statement credit or gift vouchers) upon spending ₹2,000 or more within the first 60 days of card setup.
- 10X Reward Multipliers on Daily Essentials:
- Earn 10 reward points per ₹150 spent (1.67% valueback at 4 points = ₹1) on dining, movie tickets, grocery supermarkets, and departmental stores.
- Earn 1 reward point per ₹150 spent (0.17% return) on all other eligible retail transactions.
- RuPay UPI Merchant Integration: On the RuPay network variant, link your card directly to UPI apps (BHIM, PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm) to scan merchant QR codes at neighborhood stores and earn reward points on micro-spends.
- 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Save 1% fuel surcharge on all transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000 at petrol pumps across India (maximum waiver of ₹100 per statement cycle).
- Accessible Renewal Fee Waiver: Spend ₹1,00,000 or more in eligible retail purchases in a card anniversary year to completely waive the ₹499 renewal fee.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Reward Threshold Unit (₹150 Blocks): Reward points are calculated in discrete blocks of ₹150; spends below ₹150 do not accrue points, making fractional micro-transactions less rewarding unless aggregated.
- Redemption Fees: Redeeming accumulated reward points for statement credit or catalog vouchers incurs standard SBI Card processing fees of ₹99 + GST per redemption.
- No Airport Lounge Access: The card does not include complimentary domestic or international airport lounge access.
- Standard Forex Markup: Overseas transactions carry a standard 3.5% + GST foreign currency markup fee.
- Excluded Spend Categories: Petrol pump transactions, wallet reloads, rent payments, government utility payments, and cash advance transactions do not accrue reward points.
Who Benefits Most
- Suburban Families & Homemakers: Cardholders whose primary household expenses occur offline in local supermarkets, grocery stores, and departmental stores.
- Frequent Restaurant Diners & Movie-Goers: Urban consumers who regularly dine out and watch weekend cinema in theaters.
- RuPay UPI Spenders: Users seeking a trusted public-sector-backed credit card linked to their UPI apps for everyday offline merchant QR payments.
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).