ICICI and HDFC Bank: If you use a credit card from ICICI or HDFC Bank, this update is important for you.
Both banks have announced new changes to their credit card rules that will take effect on July 1, 2025.
These updates include new fees related to airport lounge access, online gaming, wallet loading, and payments for utilities and insurance.
ICICI Bank: Lounge access now requires spending ₹75,000
ICICI Bank has stated on its website that customers will now need to spend ₹75,000 in the previous quarter to be eligible for free domestic airport lounge access in the next quarter.
For example, to get lounge access between July 1 and September 30, 2025, you must spend ₹75,000 from March 26 to June 25, 2025.
This rule applies only to select ICICI credit cards. Premium cards like Emeralde, Diamant, Adani One, MakeMyTrip, and Times Black are excluded from this condition.
The bank has also clarified that spending on rent, education, government services, EMIs, fees, and refunds will not count toward the ₹75,000 requirement.
HDFC Bank: 1% fee on gaming, wallets, and more
HDFC Bank is also updating several credit card rules from July 1, 2025. If you use your card for online gaming or third-party wallets, these changes will affect you.
1. Charges on online gaming
If you spend more than ₹10,000 in a month on skill-based gaming (like Dream11, MPL, or RummyCulture), a 1% fee will be charged. This charge will be capped at ₹4,999. No reward points will be given on this spending.
2. Charges on wallet loading
If you load more than ₹10,000 in a month into third-party wallets such as Paytm or Mobikwik, a 1% fee will apply. This too will be limited to ₹4,999.
3. Utility and insurance payments
If you pay utility bills above ₹50,000 (for consumer cards) or ₹75,000 (for business cards), a 1% fee will apply on the full amount, with a maximum charge of ₹4,999.
Insurance payments won’t be counted as utility, but there will be limits on the reward points earned on them.
Reward point limits on insurance payments:
Infinia/Infinia Metal: Up to 10,000 points per month
Diners Black/Biz Black Metal: Up to 5,000 points
Other cards: Up to 2,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy cards: No limit
4. Rent, fuel, and education charges
Payments for rent, fuel, and education will continue to carry a 1% fee as before, but now the maximum fee will be ₹4,999 per transaction.
For fuel, this fee will apply only when the transaction exceeds ₹15,000 or ₹30,000.
For education, the fee will apply only when payments are made via third-party apps.
If payment is made directly to the school or college, no fee will be charged.
These new rules by ICICI and HDFC Bank are designed to control certain types of spending and improve financial tracking.
If you use credit cards for these purposes, plan your spending wisely to avoid extra charges.
