Many people see reward points earned from credit card payments as an extra benefit.
Whether it’s shopping, bill payments, or online gaming, collecting points has become a habit.
But now SBI Card has announced major changes to its reward program. These new rules will be effective from September 1, 2025.
Who Will Be Affected?
As per SBI’s official website, customers of the following cards will be affected:
Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card
Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card Select
Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card Prime
For these cardholders, no reward points will be given on payments made for digital gaming and government portals. These spending categories are now excluded from earning points.
Earlier Updates
SBI Card keeps updating its reward program regularly. In December 2024, the bank had already stopped giving points on digital gaming.
The aim was to ensure that credit cards are used responsibly, not just for extra benefits.
It’s not only SBI—HDFC Bank also made a similar change in June 2025. Since July 1, 2025, no reward points are being given on skill-based online gaming transactions.
How Can Reward Points Be Used?
A redemption fee of ₹99 plus tax is charged when using reward points.
Products bought with points are delivered only to the registered address of the cardholder.
To use points for paying the outstanding bill, at least 2,000 points are required.
Reward points from different SBI cards cannot be merged or transferred.
Final Note
Taking advantage of reward points is no longer as simple as before. Since banks are frequently changing their policies, customers should carefully read the rules of their cards.
This way, they can maximize benefits while avoiding unnecessary losses.
