RBL Bank has about 35+ Credit card variants in their portfolio most of which are co-brand cards with not so amazing brands and hardly any of them make sense to hold for a premium credit card holder.
Even though they do have cards with a decent ~2% reward rate, that’s ain’t enough as their merchant offers aren’t in par with the top players and most importantly they don’t have a compelling USP.
But with this new card it’s finally changing the way we look at RBL cards. Here’s the detailed review of the same.
Table of Contents
Overview
| Type | Travel Credit Card |
| Reward Rate | 0.5% – 1.1% |
| Annual Fee | 3,000 INR+GST |
| Best for | Travel spends |
| USP | 0% forex markup fee |
RBL has launched a new travel credit card named World Safari Credit Card and they say its the India’s first travel card with 0% markup fees.
That’s not really 100% right as Axis Burgundy Private credit card is the first one with that benefit, but its an invite only card.
So for mass offering, it is indeed the 1st credit card with 0% markup fee.
Fees
| Joining Fee | 3,000 INR + GST |
| Welcome Benefit | Rs.3000 worth MMT Voucher |
| Renewal Fee | 3,000 INR + GST |
| Renewal Benefit | Nil |
| Renewal Fee waiver | Nil |
- MMT Voucher that can be used on Flights/Hotels (online) & Holidays (Offline)
The joining fee is Offset by the MMT voucher but will have to check if we get the same for renewal too (no one confirmed it so far).
0% Markup Fee
- 0% Forex Markup Charges (but No Reward Points on International txns)
The USP of this card is its 0% markup fee on international transactions and that is great esp. because they’re using Mastercard platform which usually has better conversion rates.
But note that you will not get reward points on international spends, though you may continue to get the milestone benefits just like most other credit cards.
Rewards
Regular Rewards
- Travel Spends: 5 RP’s for every Rs. 100 spent (~1.15% return on spend)
- Non-Travel Spends: 2 RP’s for every Rs. 100 spent (~0.46% return on spend)
- 1 RP = ~0.23Ps
Milestone Rewards
- Spend 2.5L a year: Get 10,000 bonus Travel Points
- Spend 5L a year: Get additional 15,000 Travel Points
- Spend 7.5L a year: Get additional Rs. 10,000 gift voucher (Taj experiences, Amazon, Croma, Myntra & Makemytrip)
So on 7.5L spend, you get a nice 2% reward rate via milestone spends alone, which is decent for a card with 0% markup fee and affordable joining fee.
Overall reward rate could be as good as 3.15% if you use the card only for Travel but of-course that’s rare so you get close to 2.5% even on non-travel spends.
Airport Lounge Access
| ACCESS TYPE | ACCESS VIA | ACCESS LIMIT |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic (Primary) | Visa / Mastercard | 2/Qtr |
| International (Primary) | Priority Pass | 2/Yr (shared) |
| International (guests) | Priority Pass | 2/Yr (shared) |
- Get additional complimentary lounge visit via Priority Pass on spends of Rs. 50,000/- or more in a calendar quarter
Its interesting to note that the new cards are all coming with guest access limits as well that can be charged on the primary priority pass card itself, so you no longer need to deal with Add-on cards for the same, just like the Axis Magnus.
However, 2 visits is way too low, maybe they could have added something like 4 more visits on 2L annual spend or so.
Golf benefit
- Complimentary Golf Games: 4/Year
- Complimentary Golf Lessons: 12/Year (1/month)
This is a Mastercard World privilege and not the feature of the product per se. Still good enough.
Travel insurance
The Travel Insurance covers:
- Personal Liability coverage
- Trip Delay
- Baggage Loss
- Loss of Passport
- Dental Treatment
But before, I just want to know if by any chance you’ve availed this benefit on any other card? I never did!
Bottomline
- CardExpert Rating: 4/5
It takes lot of guts to come up with a credit card at 0% markup fee because markup fees are one of the major revenue stream for the issuers. But given that RBL doesn’t usually have that type of customers, this may-not affect them much, at-least initially.
That aside, it’s an amazing card for those who don’t have super premium credit cards like HDFC Infinia or Citi Prestige and do a lot of international travel.
Its also good to see the Taj voucher as a part of the offering. I hope they come up with more new cards with good USP’s like this.
What’s your take on the RBL Bank World Safari Credit Card? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
For spending existing money from my account, I would choose NiYO Global Card for international transactions (instead of forex cards) as it offers no markup fees & conversion rates are that of Visa international exchange rate. Lowest.
It is free for first 5 years & works in over 150 countries. Basically, in any country where Visa is accepted. Doesn’t charge for ATM withdrawals (any charges maybe of the ATM’s bank, which they say doesn’t exist for global banks). Beats forex cards hands-down. They are even giving 500₹ on referral.
For credit card transactions, as you rightly said, HDFC super premium cards (with GVP) would work best.
Can’t find it on RBL website. Do you have the link?
Its there on the website
does this make sense for someone that has infinia? Although Infinia has 1.99% forex mark up it also has 3.3% rewards on all spends so essentially you yet get 1.3% after deducting the forex fee.
Nope, as you get 3.3% + 1% with global value program.
RBL Safari Credit card , though they said no forex charges on international transactions but they are making hidden charges like 1% on over all swiped amount. Since the forex conversion rate is extra 20piase they charged on my recent transactions. Customer don’t have answers to it and they are disconnected the call during the conversation more than twice. I am not sure why RBL banking system is like that
Hi Abdul,
I am apply for World Safari Card.. But you are confirming that u have been charged extra 1% .. Plz confirm if u got refund of 1% charged from the RBl bank.
Hi,
Did you get clarity if we get charged some fee as opposed to what is being claimed by RBL on world safari?
Hi Abdul,
Are you sure they charge some fee on international transaction contrary to 0% that they claim?
Nah. You get more than 2 percent after Global Value Program and reward points adjustment on Infinia (if you add Yatra voucher and welcome RPs) and exactly 1.97 percent without these two (with GVP though).
There is GST on fx markup which u forgot to consider.
I think, Niyo – in collaboration with DCB Bank was FIRST to offer FREE travel card with 0% markup. It’s already in production and takes 1 day to get the card.
I have SBI Elite which has 1.99% markup. Is it still worth taking this one with zero markup?
Depends entirely on your international transaction volume.
Same here. On my second year and will cancel as all benefits expire (Priority Pass as well) and they never waive annual fee unless you hit exactly 10L.
This card looks helluva lot better
Siddharth, you need to consider the spread on the rupee that these guys charge. It varies from payment network to network. So 0% markup doesn’t mean it is same as swiping a card in local currency
Its pretty close though. Check Visa vs MasterCard vs Amex vs Diners Club – Which has the Best Foreign Exchange Rate?
Siddharth I really appreciate the work you do. I got hooked onto credit cards thanks to you. Started with regalia first and progressed to Diners Black in less than 26 months. I would really love if you could kindly explain forex card and compare them.
Get additional complimentary lounge visit via Priority Pass on spends of Rs. 50,000/- or more in a calendar quarter – please add this to the main review, this increases the quota for most users
Updated, but wish they had given something like 2 more visits on every 2L spend a year or so.
I spoke to the RBL Customer Care today and the executive who I spoke to confirmed that the card offered up to 12 lounge visits in a year. 8 Domestic Lounge Visits (2 per quarter) and 4 International Lounge Visits (1 per quarter. There will be no renewal bonus or renewal fee waivers. The best way to derive max value on this card is to utilise is for the full 7.5 lakh milestone spend. For those who shop from international websites and travel a lot, this card could make sense. I see the potential of utilising this card to buy flights and hotels in foreign currency especially on merchant websites that don’t offer support for Diners Club payments. Also, if you are an existing RBL Credit Card holder then you can apply for this card and your existing credit limit will be split between both cards.
With ~1.2% reward rate isn’t DCB/infinia still same if not better better choice having 3.3%reward-2%forex charge with 1.3% effective return?
Hi…
I had icici, sbi, hdfc cards and good credit score, Can i get this card on card to card basis.?
Just the card have been looking for something similar to 28 Degrees in AU. Even that is on the Mastercard network
Hi Sid
Started my credit card journey with the HDFC Moneyback card with a credit limit of 75 k in 2017 upgraded it Diners club miles after 9 months with the same limit in 2018 . Recently before 2 months my credit limit was increased to 1.5 lcs . Quick question I received my first credit card without any income proof till date since i hold a savings account from the past 6 years. What are my options to upgrade to higher variant card if possible ? I do not have a source income in India because I’m based abroad would that prevent me to upgrade to a higher variant card like DCB ?
PS : I hardly use my credit card & even when i do it’s usually 5 – 10 % of credit limit & have a CIBIL score of 830 + consistently since 2 years .
Thanks
They have the worst customer service, I got the card and had taken specifically for the purpose of travel insurance and have been running behind them since 6 months, escalated till their principal nodal officer but still nothing, they tend to not care about the customers complaint or experience, its shocking to see such kind of behaviour from an organization, you can never see this type of things with AMEX or even SBI.
I wasn’t able to figure out if the priority pass is just valid for 1 year or not, I know for SBI it’s just 2 years with prime and elite however not sure about this one, I got the card and the expiry of the priority pass is almost after an year, what would happen after that would they renew or just like sbi nothing?
has anyone got this card issued as LTF?
I have been using this card for past 1 year and paid annual fee of 3000 + gst to receive 3000 MMT voucher. Once I am back to India, I kept on receiving sms and calls related to pre approved upgrade to Icon credit card. Just now I called the customer care, both World Safari and Icon credit cards get joining bonus or voucher only on first year upon payment of annual fee and no chances of fee waiver from the second year onwards. I am still thinking on what to do as I have 2 options i front of me.
1) Cancel World Safari before this month bill generation.
2) Pay 5000 + gst and get 20000 rps (1 rp 20 paise) (1900 rs I will need to pay after reducing rp value)
I think, I will choose the first option.
You’re thinking right 😀
I got world safari fee waived off. I requested cancellation and they waived off.
Hi Siddhartha,
You got which fee waived off? Also can you confirm exactly how much are you being charged on international transaction (including forex conversion rate etc)
This card has got one of the most inefficient customer service. I would highly recommend that you let go of this card unless you are in dire need and they are the only one offering you a credit card