If you travel a lot, then you often face hefty foreign-transaction fees, limited lounge access at airports, and reward points that don’t map to real travel savings. Enter the Scapia Credit Card (in partnership with Federal Bank). It aims to solve these pain points with travel-friendly features. In this Scapia Federal Bank credit card review, you will learn how the card works, its benefits, limitations, who it suits (and who it doesn’t), how to apply, and whether it’s worth having in your wallet.
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card Review: Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Card issuer | No specific welcome bonus is widely advertised (but coins-system rewards apply) |
| Annual fee | Nil — lifetime free (no joining/renewal fee) |
| Welcome bonus | No specific welcome bonus widely advertised (but coins-system rewards apply) |
| Best for | Frequent domestic & international travellers using flights, hotels, travel bookings, wanting lounge access and no forex fees |
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card Review: Benefits
Cashback / Rewards
- The card uses a “Scapia Coins” system: every 5 Scapia coins = ₹1.
- On general everyday eligible spends (online/offline), you earn 10% Scapia Coins (via VISA variant), i.e., roughly a 2% value back (since 10% coins = 2% value) for spends of ₹20 or more.
- On travel bookings made through the Scapia app, you earn up to 20% Scapia Coins (i.e., approx 4% value) for the VISA variant.
- On the RuPay variant (UPI/other network), you earn 5% rewards for spends ₹500+ using the RuPay card.
- Rewards can be redeemed 100% to cover travel bookings via the Scapia app — flights, hotels, buses, trains, visas.
Travel benefits
- Unlimited free domestic airport lounge access (in India) if you meet the monthly spend threshold: for the VISA version, you need ₹10,000 spend in the prior month; for the RuPay version, ₹15,000.
- Zero forex markup on international spends (VISA variant) — this means when you spend abroad, you don’t pay the usual 2-3% conversion surcharge.
- “Airport privileges” program: at select airports, you can choose between lounge access, dining, shopping or spa benefit per departure (after meeting the spend requirement) — up to ₹1,000 value (or ~₹500 at smaller airports) credited as Scapia Coins.
- No cost EMIs for travel bookings via the Scapia app — booking travel and converting to EMIs without extra cost.
Shopping / Partner offers
- The card integrates with the Scapia travel app, which bundles flights, stays, trains, buses, and visas — so your rewards ecosystem is tightly aligned with travel.
- Use both networks: the dual-network benefit (VISA + RuPay) makes it easier for UPI spends and for international/online spends.
EMI / Big spend perks
- As above: eligible travel spends via the app can be converted into no-cost EMIs.
- The monthly spend threshold is relatively moderate (₹10,000) for lounge/unlock benefits, making benefits accessible rather than ultra-premium.
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card Charges
Annual fee (and waiver conditions)
- No joining fee, no annual fee — lifetime free card.
- Note: Must keep the card active and use it; if left unused for long, benefits may be forfeited.
Interest rate (APR)
- Interest on unpaid balances: according to BankBazaar, around 3.49% per month (~41.88% per annum) if you carry forward a credit card balance.
- EMI processing and pre-closure charges may apply for EMIs via travel bookings.
Late fee, forex markup, etc.
- Late payment charges depend on outstanding amounts (for example: Rs 100-500 due outstanding → Rs 100 penalty, etc) per BankBazaar details.
- Zero forex markup fee on international spends for the VISA variant. But note: while you save on markup, most international spends do not earn rewards.
- Cash advance fee: as per BankBazaar, 2.5% of the amount or Rs 500, whichever is higher (for cash withdrawal), for example.
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lifetime free card (no annual fee) for travel-focused benefits.
- Zero forex markup — rare among free or low-fee cards.
- Unlimited domestic lounge access (after modest monthly spend).
- High reward rates for travel bookings via their app (20% coins) and decent everyday reward (10% coins).
- Travel ecosystem integrated (flights/hotels/trains/buses/visa) via the Scapia app — ideal for travelers.
- A dual network (Visa + RuPay) provides flexibility for both domestic UPI/RuPay and overseas/online Visa transactions.
Cons
- Rewards (Scapia Coins) are only redeemable via the Scapia app for travel bookings — limited flexibility (no statement credit, or non-travel redemption).
- International spends earn no rewards (while you still get benefits like zero forex) — so if you mostly spend overseas, you might feel missing reward accrual.
- Monthly spend threshold to unlock lounge/airport privileges (₹10,000 or ₹15,000) — if you spend less, you won’t enjoy full benefits.
- RuPay variant may face limited international acceptance compared to Visa.
- The add-on card facility is currently not clearly available (some reviews mention no add-ons) — this may limit family usage.
Who Should Apply for the Scapia Credit Card?
Best for:
- Frequent domestic travellers in India who fly often and visit airports regularly.
- Indian residents or NRIs who also do international transactions (online or abroad) and want to avoid forex markup.
- Digital-first users are happy to book travel via app and keen to use rewards for travel.
- Young professionals or seasoned travellers looking for a lifetime-free premium travel card without heavy fees.
Not ideal for:
- Casual spenders who don’t travel much — the benefits may not justify even the spend threshold.
- Users who want flexible redemption (e.g., statement credit, cash back, gift cards) beyond travel bookings.
- People who make very high international travel and expect international lounge access (this card offers domestic lounge access only).
- Those who prefer fuel/utility-oriented cards rather than travel-oriented cards.
How to Apply for Scapia Credit Card
Eligibility criteria
- Resident Indians (and NRIs in some cases) aged approximately 21-65 years.
- Must fulfil Federal Bank’s credit card eligibility norms (income, credit history, etc).
- Note: Federal Bank has a “one card” policy for some co-branded cards — existing Federal Bank credit card holders may face limitations.
Documents required
- PAN card, Aadhaar card (for ID/KYC).
- Recent bank statements/income proof (if required).
- Digital photograph, mobile number, and email.
- Full digital onboarding via the Scapia app (video KYC) in most cases — no branch visits required.
Link to apply
- You can download the “Scapia” app (Android/iOS) and apply directly. The virtual card activates instantly; the physical card arrives within 2-5 business days.
- Click on this hyperlink to apply for the Scapia credit card.
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card Review: FAQs
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card Review: Verdict
If you travel reasonably often and want a feature-rich travel credit card without the baggage of high fees, the Scapia Credit Card stands out. It delivers very good value: unlimited domestic lounge access (after a modest spend), truly zero forex markup, decent reward rates for travel bookings, and digital-first onboarding. All this for no annual fee.
This card can save you thousands of rupees yearly (via lounge savings + no forex markup + redemption via travel). On the flip side, if you’re an occasional traveller, don’t hit the spend thresholds, or you want more flexible reward options beyond travel, you might be better off with a more general-purpose card.
