In India’s rapidly evolving payments landscape, the CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card offers an intriguing twist. It aims to combine the convenience of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) with the benefits of a credit card. For many users, it promises to solve the problem of handling multiple apps, while still earning rewards when doing everyday spends (especially via UPI). This review explores CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay credit card benefits and fees. You will also discover whether it truly offers value for money or not.
CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Card issuer | IndusInd Bank, in partnership (or tied) with CRED & RuPay |
| Annual fee / joining fee | Users who make many UPI payments want a free card with rewards, digital-first spenders |
| Welcome bonus | None or minimal / not explicitly advertised |
| Best for | Users who make many UPI payments, want a free card with rewards, digital-first spenders |
Comparison with a typical RuPay credit card
- Earns 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on UPI transactions
- Earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on non-UPI transactions
- Offers 1% fuel surcharge waiver on petrol pump purchases
- Comes with travel insurance/protection benefits
CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card Benefits and Charges
Cashback/Rewards
- On UPI transactions: 2 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent.
- On non-UPI transactions: 1 Reward Point per ₹100 spent.
- Some selected merchant categories may offer 0.70 points per ₹100 (for both UPI and non-UPI) for select spends.
- Points redemption: You can redeem via the Indus “Moments” platform, or as statement credit, airmiles, etc.
- From December 2024, the non-cash redemption value is 1 RP = ₹0.60 (for non-airmiles redemption)
- There is a cap: from September 2024, the maximum reward points for cash redemption is 2,500 per calendar month.
These returns are modest. It’s not “super rewarding,” but the fact that it gives anything while being free is attractive.
Travel Benefits
- Travel insurance/cover: The card includes coverage for lost baggage, delayed baggage, passport loss, missed connections, etc.
- Personal accident insurance: Up to ₹25 lakh for air accidents.
- Lost card protection / unauthorized transaction protection: Up to 48 hours before reporting.
The card does not seem to offer lounge access or premium travel perks.
Shopping / Partner Offers
- Because this is a RuPay credit card, it may participate in occasional partner offers (discounts, tie-ups) run via RuPay or IndusInd. But nothing highly marketed as of now.
- The key “shopping” strength lies in enabling UPI payments via credit card — so you might use it wherever QR / UPI works.
EMI / Big Spend Perks
- The public information doesn’t emphasise EMI conversion or large spend bonuses.
- Because it is a base / “entry to mid” card, one should not expect premium perks like “5% cashback on big spends” or “bonus points for X lakh spend”.
CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card Fees and Charges
- Annual fee / Joining fee: ₹0. The card is lifetime free.
- Interest / APR: 3.95% per month (~47.4% annually) on revolving balance.
- Foreign currency/forex markup: 3.5% (plus applicable GST, etc).
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% waiver on fuel surcharge (for petrol purchases).
- Over-limit charges / late fee/cash advance charges:
• Over limit: 2.5% of over-limit amount (min ₹500)
• Cash advance: 2.5% of advance amount (min ₹300)
• Returned payments/defaults: ₹250, etc.
• Other service fees (duplicate statements, non-IndusInd ATM etc) as per schedule.
In short: no annual cost, but interest and penalty charges are steep (as is common with credit cards).
CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lifetime free — no annual or joining fee.
- Rewards even on UPI transactions, which many cards do not allow.
- Fuel surcharge waiver (1%) helps save small amounts for petrol users.
- Decent travel/protection benefits (insurance, lost card cover).
- Easy digital integration (UPI + credit card).
- Good for those who prefer a “no-fee, always-on” card.
Cons
- Low rewards — modest return on non-UPI spends.
- Caps on cashback redemption.
- No lounge access or high-end travel/luxury perks.
- High interest rate if you carry a balance.
- Limited upside if you’re a “big spender” seeking premium rewards.
- RuPay network acceptance internationally may be more limited compared to Visa/MasterCard in some regions.
Who Should Apply for the CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card?
Best for:
- Digital-first users who make many UPI payments (on apps, QR codes etc).
- People who want a free card that gives some reward, without worrying about annual fees.
- Wallet users who prefer minimal maintenance / low fuss.
- New credit card users who want to try a card without paying fees.
Not ideal for:
- Heavy travellers seeking lounge access, airport status, or premium travel benefits.
- Big spenders looking to get maximum reward multipliers.
- Those who carry high balances — the interest on revolving amounts is high.
- Users who want fuel/gas rewards beyond a small waiver.
How to Apply for CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card
Eligibility criteria (typical/known):
- Indian resident or eligible under IndusInd’s credit card norms.
- Satisfactory credit history (CIBIL / credit score).
- Income/employment proof as per the bank’s requirement.
Documents required:
- Identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, etc.)
- Address proof
- Income proof (salary slips, bank statements, etc.)
- Recent photograph, KYC documents
How to apply:
- Visit the IndusInd Bank website (the Platinum RuPay page) and click “Apply Now”.
- Fill in the required personal and financial details.
- Link or choose to link with UPI if prompted.
- Submit documentation as needed.
- Wait for approval & card dispatch.
- Once card arrives, link it to your preferred UPI app (BHIM, PhonePe, Google Pay, etc.) to start enjoying UPI + credit card benefits.
CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card Benefits FAQs
Q1: Can I use this card for international transactions?
A1: Yes — it is accepted wherever RuPay is accepted globally. But be aware of the 3.5% forex markup.
Q2: Does fuel spending earn rewards?
A2: Fuel transactions do not earn reward points. But CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay credit card benefits offer a 1% fuel surcharge waiver (i.e., less extra fee).
Q3: How are reward points redeemed?
A3: Via Indus “Moments” platform, or cash credit/statement credit options, or airmiles (where available).
Q4: Is there a limit on redeeming reward points?
A4: Yes, CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay credit card benefits have a cash redemption capped at 2,500 points per calendar month (from Sept 2024).
Q5: What if I don’t pay my bill on time?
A5: Late payments will attract high interest (as per 3.95% monthly) and penalty charges. Best practice: always pay full or at least the minimum due.
CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card Benefits and Charges: Verdict
For 2025, the CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay credit card benefits prioritise simplicity, zero fees, and utility rather than luxury perks. It won’t outperform the best travel cards in India for heavy travellers or frequent flyers. But if you use UPI often, want a credit card that doesn’t cost, and earns some rewards on daily spends, this card holds its appeal.
If you shop a lot using UPI, this card can easily save ₹500–₹1,500+ annually (depending on spend) compared to cards that offer nothing on UPI. For someone who makes, say, ₹20,000 of UPI payments monthly, the 2x rewards plus the fuel waiver could cumulatively make a difference.
