RBL Bank Icon Credit Card Review – Good for International Spends

By | January 4, 2017

RBL Bank recently added a new card to their system called Icon Credit card which stands above RBL Bank Platinum Maxima Credit Card and RBL Bank Platinum Delight Credit Card and is positioned as a premium credit card according to the bank. It comes with a high joining fee but the welcome bonus is bit less in value compared to the fee paid. Moreover, redemption options aren’t so great either.

Joining Fee: Rs.5,000+Tax
Welcome Bonus: 20,000 Points

RBL Bank Icon Credit Card Reward Points:

Regular Reward points:

  • 2 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent – 0.5% in value (huh? Seriously?)
  • 20 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on international and dining spends on weekends* – 5% in value
  • Max Cap: 2,000 Reward Points/month each for international spends & weekend dining spends
  • 1 Reward Point = ~0.23 Ps

Milestone Reward Points:

  • 10,000 Reward Points on spends of Rs. 3 lacs in a year
  • Another 15,000 Reward Points on spends of Rs. 5 lacs in a year
  • Another 20,000 Reward Points on spends of Rs. 8 lacs in a year

So, lets see how much reward rate it has to offer on 8L spend in a year

Total Points on 8L Spend = 45,000 Milestone Points + 16,000 Regular Points
= 61,000 Points = ~Rs.14,000 in value (1.8% value back)

So it maybe worthwhile to take this card if you can spend 8L in a year. Or, you can make the most out of this card, if you have international spends of ~Rs.10,000 a month. Funny thing is, this so called premium card has the same reward rate as that of their semi premium “RBL Bank Platinum Maxima” credit Card which comes at a lower joining fee.

Other benefits:

Bookmyshow Offer: 1+1 Movie ticket (Up to Rs 200) twice in a month at BookMyShow

Hotel benefits: Complimentary room upgrades, complimentary meals and other offers at our hotel partners, which include Oberoi, Four Seasons & Mandarin Oriental.

Features of RBL Bank Icon Card:

  • CardExpert Rating: 3.5/5 [yasr_overall_rating]
  • Reward rate: Upto 1.8%
  • Complementary Airport lounge access: 2 Visits/quarter via Mastercard lounge Access programme & Priority pass membership (no free visits)
  • Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Nil
  • Foreign Exchange Markup fee: 3.5% + Service Tax
  • Renewal Fee Waiver: Nil
  • Special Features: Reward points based on spend, Free Movie Tickets, Hotel benefits, Entertainment perks, discount on green fees, dedicated Concierge service.

I really wonder how RBL runs its card business with paid cards while the biggest card issuer (HDFC) of the country issues most of its premium cards for free. RBL needs to learn the spend based fee waiver with which HDFC masters the game. If you’re able to grab this card for free, its worth it. Else, we always have HDFC Regalia, HDFC AllMiles, Yes First Prefferred Card with much better benefits and no joining fee.

Whats your take on the new Icon credit card by RBL? Share your views in comments below.

48 thoughts on “RBL Bank Icon Credit Card Review – Good for International Spends

  1. Rahul P

    Hi Sid

    IMO, among the RBL range the RBL fun cc was the best in the range for those who spend a significant amount on movies and fast food chains pizza Hut and kfc. I have had it since the last three months and have been very happy. Got Joining bonus of 1250 voucher of BookMyShow and monthly vouchers worth 800 (BMS-500, KFC or Pizza Hut-300) on a spend of just 5000/month. which totals out to 3600 worth vouchers on a joining fee of 500 bucks. I would say it’s a very good card. Not calling it great cause they have stopped the pizza Hut / kfc vouchers from jan and introduced some points instead but I continue with it cause the BookMyShow vouchers continue.

    What do you think?

    Reply
      1. Manu

        The movie vouchers are buy 1 and Get 1 or just two tickets free every month

        Reply
        1. Siddharth Post author

          On Icon card? its Buy1Get1 offer which can be availed twice.

          Reply
      2. Kiran Thakkar

        What about rbl icon card. ? Is it good or not ? This card is international?

        Reply
  2. Shrey

    Hi Sid,

    Is there a good card for travel being offered from RBL? I was planning to get the Citi Premiermiles card but the joining fee and the annual fee are too high. Is there a way to get this fee waived off based on spends on the card?

    Reply
    1. Siddharth Post author

      Nothing better with RBL. You can get renewal fee waived on Citi on good card spend.

      Reply
        1. Siddharth Post author

          I think possible for “renewal” but not sure about “joining” fee.

          Reply
    2. Vinay Visen

      Hi shrey

      As my opinion citi card is best. You can spend 30000 /per month you will get annual fee waiver.

      Reply
      1. Prashant Agrawal

        For the waiver, do you need to call before the renewal date or after?

        Reply
  3. Amandeep singh

    I recently got platinum maxima though I wanted platinum delight (after reading your review)but they gave maxima for free so I agreed. Inside the welcome kit there was card holder and key chain with name embossed on it.It is a good looking card but offers are not that great.

    Can be used as a backup card.

    Reply
    1. Siddharth Post author

      If issued for free, that’s better then.

      Could you share more details on how it was issued for free?
      Would be highly helpful for many readers ЁЯЩВ

      Reply
      1. Amandeep singh

        Honestly,I was pushing for “delight” but the rep was trying to sell maxima then I said it has high fee and will not pay the fee so she agreed.

        I have a 2 year old relationship with rbl may be that is the reason.

        Reply
  4. Sunny

    Even HDFC money back card offers you better points compared to this… That too its life time free.

    Reply
  5. Ankush

    If you are willing to get a free Platinum Maxima or platinum delight free for the first year ? Simply call on there customer care number and ask them to make it free, they will do it but the for the 1st year only.

    Reply
    1. Siddharth Post author

      Interesting. Does it mean they’ll reverse the 1st year fee that should have got charged in the first month of the bill?

      Reply
  6. MOHAMMED ABDUL WAHED

    Plz tell me the Best card for movies,pizza hut,etc…

    Reply
  7. Brajesh Kunwar

    рдирдорд╕реНрдХрд╛рд░

    рдмрд╣реБрдд рджреБрдГрдЦ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдореБрдЭреЗ рдмрддрд╛рдирд╛ рдкрд░ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ рдХреА – рдореБрдЭреЗ RBL рдХреНрд░реЗрдбрд┐рдЯ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдб рд╡рд╛рдкрд╕ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдкреЬреЗрдЧрд╛ ( рдмрдВрдж рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдкреЬреЗрдЧрд╛ ) рдореИрдВ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рд╕реЗ RBL рдХрд╛рд░реНрдб рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд░ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛
    рдлрд┐рд░ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдХреЙрд▓ рдЖрдпрд╛ рдХреА – рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдлреНрд░реА рдореЗрдВ Icon RBL рдХрд╛рд░реНрдб рдСрдлрд░ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ
    рдЬрд┐рд╕рдореЗ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рд╛рд░рд╛ рдмреЗрдирд┐рдлрд┐рдЯ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдмрддрд╛рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ – рдФрд░ рд╕рд╛рде рдореЗрдВ рдпрд╣ рднреА рдмреЛрд▓рд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рдХреА – рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдЗрд╕ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдб рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХреБрдЫ рдПрдХреНрд╕реНрдЯреНрд░рд╛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рджреЗрдирд╛ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛ – рдпрд╛рдирд┐ рдмрд┐рд▓ рдХреБрд▓ рдлреНрд░реА

    рдлрд┐рд░ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рдордЭрдиреЗ рдкрд░ рдореИрдВ рдЬрдм рдорди рдЧрдпрд╛ рдХреА рдареАрдХ рд╣реИ , рддрдм рд╡реЛ рдФрд░рдд ( рдЬреЛ реЮреЛрди рдкрд░ рдереА ) рдмреЛрд▓реА рдХреА – рдореЗрд░реЗ рд╕реАрдирд┐рдпрд░ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рдмрд╛рдд рдХрд░ рд▓реАрдЬрд┐рдпреЗ

    рдЙрдирдХрд╛ рд╕реАрдирд┐рдпрд░ рд╕рд┐рд░реНрдл рдпрд╣реА рдкреВрдЫреЗ рд╣рдорд╕реЗ рдХреА – рдЖрдк рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рд╣реИ рдЖрдЗрдХреЙрди рдХрд╛рд░реНрдб рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП – рдореИрдВ рдмреЛрд▓рд╛ рд╣рд╛рдБ

    рдлрд┐рд░ рддреАрди рдЪрд╛рд░ рджрд┐рди рдореЗрдВ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдирдпрд╛ Icon рдХреНрд░реЗрдбрд┐рдЯ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдб рдорд┐рд▓ рдЧрдпрд╛ – рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рд╕рд╛рде рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╛рдВрдЪ рд╣рдЬрд╛рд░ рд░реБрдкрдпрд╛ Joining fee рдХрд╛ рдмрд┐рд▓ рднреА рдЬреЛрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рдореЗрд░реЗ рдкреБрд░рд╛рдиреЗ рдмрд┐рд▓ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде

    рдпрд╛рдирд┐ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ joining fee рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдмрддрд╛рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рдерд╛ – рдореБрдЭреЗ рдмреЗрд╡рдХреВрдл рдмрдирд╛рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛

    рдореИрдВ рддреЛ рдЕрднреА рджреБрдмрдИ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реВрдБ – рдЗрдВрдбрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рдореИрдВ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдб рд╡рд╛рдкрд╕ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХрд╛ Procedure рдХрд░реВрдБрдЧрд╛ , рдореБрдЭреЗ 20 рд╕реЗрдкреНрдЯреЗрдореНрдмрд░ 2017 рдХреЛ рдЖрдирд╛ рд╣реИ рд╡рд╛рдкрд╕

    Reply
  8. Naresh Kumar Ayyavari

    Hi sir I applied platinum delight credit card but I got icon credit card please change my credit card it’s possible sir 5000 fee 5000 joining fee

    Reply
  9. Amann

    Hi

    Just letting all know that Rbl Insignia Credit Card is free for all insignia account holders.

    Reply
    1. AshishR

      hows rbl insignia savings account??
      I heard bad reviews abt rbl bank accounts.
      is it worth putting 30L in account for 6.5% interest + insignia credit card?

      Reply
    2. Pavan

      Can we get that card immediatly when we became insignia account relationship ?

      Reply
  10. Samir

    Hi Siddharth
    What about RBL insignia credit card reward rate

    Samir

    Reply
    1. Amann

      Reward rate is 1.25% for domestic and 2.5% for international spends. 6 priority pass visits. Best feature is BMS Rs 500 off per month from 1st ticket itself.

      Reply
    2. VIJAY VRAJALAL THAKKER

      DON’T GO WITH RBL ANY CARD GO WITH HDFC DINER CLUBMILES CREDIT CARD 4 REWARD POINTS ON RS.150/- SPEND & 1 REWARD POINT VALUE IS 50 PAISE & IF YOU BUY THROUGH SMART BUY YOU WILL GET 10 TIME REWARD POINT ANNUAL FEES IS RS.1000/- IT CAN BE WAIVED ON RS.100000 SPEND IN YEAR.

      Reply
  11. Arun

    Hi, Amaan & other insignia account holders,

    The bank rep says тАШan initial cheque of 3lacs is enough that should be maintained & no charges will be applied if the trv isnтАЩt 30lacsтАЩ
    Is it right? Will they downgrade the acc if 30 lacs trv is not maintained?

    Reply
  12. kishore nayak

    rubbish card. concierge services cannot be reached. all tall promises ..not good value. paying 5000 is absolute waste of money . getting card cancelled .

    Reply
  13. Lalit

    I think Hdfc dinners miles card is best card if you are traveling frequently I am using RBL from last two years and spend more than 15 lac however the big draw back this year they people upgrade my card to icon card now I have spend 09 lac on this card but I have to pay annual fee this is bad experience but not with SBI elite they people waived me annual fee on yearly transaction of 10 lac

    I am still confused with RBL cards bec there is no Benifit to continue on second year

    Reply
    1. Siddharth Post author

      I was pretty close to get one. But then after the recent changes I decided to stay away. There are lot many better cards. Why get stuck with RBL?

      Reply
      1. AMIT AGARWAL

        I agree but when it’s coming as LTF, I believe no harm but couldn’t find a review on your site.

        Reply
        1. Siddharth Post author

          Any corporate offer?
          If not, in my opinion its not safe to have high value banking with RBL at this time.

          Reply
          1. Sharathkumar Anbu

            Insignia credit card is offered as LTF for Insignia account holders which needs high TRV requirement.

  14. AMIT AGARWAL

    It’s starts with zero value. Any reason for the warning though?

    Reply
  15. amitabh maheshwari

    I have the following cards in my kitty
    1. Amex Platinum Charge Card and some other AMEX cards
    2. HDFC Diners Black Card
    3. Yes First Exclusive Card
    It feels great having them.

    Reply
  16. AAKASH

    Sir,
    I have HDFC bank regalia card, Axis flipkart card, Icici amazon card, citi indian oil card, sbi click card please suggest me the best to use for shopping online, & for foreign travels. please suggest me some other card if better than these mentioned above. I am a imperia account holder in HDFC bank.

    Reply
  17. PRAMTESH

    I had Titanium Delight.
    I received call for Upgrade to ICON .
    I denied. After 2 days they call me and offered me FYF.
    I accepted.
    A beautiful Pen and Metallic Card case also was along with the card.

    Reply
    1. Siddharth Post author

      Sounds good. Any idea what triggered this upgrade?

      Reply
    2. Srikkanth

      They offered me icon credit card with 30% discount on annual fee which comes for 3500+gst , upon paying annual fees in 30 days 20000 reward points worth тВ╣ 5000 will be credited to card account , did they offer those 20k points for fyf on ur card too ?

      Reply
      1. Srikkanth

        IтАЩm holding platinum maxima due for renewal in July

        Reply
  18. PRAMTESH

    Similar to you even I have multiple Super Premium Credit Cards
    I was using Titanium Delight only for BMS offer.
    That too may be only few times.
    I never paid Annual fee. Whenever it was charged. I just called support team. And the charge was reversed, even GST gets reverse.

    Also may due to my card limit, it’s around 5lk this may be reason.

    Just noticed yesterday. BANK BAZAAR is offering RBL Platinum Maxima and Shoprite
    both LTF. No Joining Fees and No Annual Fees.

    Never heard RBL giving LTF credit card
    Unless it’s Insignia holder

    Reply
    1. Srikkanth

      Interesting, what is your annual spending on this card ? WhatтАЩs the response from them when you ask for fee reversal ? Do they accept straight away or need to negotiate long ? Even I have limit of 6 lakhs

      Reply
  19. PRAMTESH

    I don’t spend much on RBL.
    I wasn’t offer of 20k Rp. I had asked for LTF Icon when I received the 1st call for Upgradtion.
    But later they offered me FYF so I have accepted. Next year I mighy downgrade if I am not able to spend much on this card.

    No negotiation is required. They would ask to download the RBL CARD application. And Add a utility bill. (Not required to pay) after 10 days the reversal is done. But I never added the utility bill and still Annual Fees got reverse

    Reply
  20. PRAMTESH

    This is supposed to be one of the top most card of RBL but I just noticed. This card is not Wi-Fi enabled.
    No Tap & Pay option.

    Reply

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