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  1. Home
  2. Credit Cards
  3. IDFC FIRST Bank
  4. IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card
IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank logo
IDFC FIRST BankRuPay Network
Verified
Direct Bank Application via Official Issuer Portal
ShoppingSecured / FD Backed
4.2/5 Editorial Score

IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card

Affordable Rewards Credit Card with 10X Spends Acceleration and Non-Expiring Points

Best Suited For

Young professionals, online shopping enthusiasts, and milestone spenders seeking accelerated rewards with non-expiring points and an accessible fee waiver.

ShoppingSecured / FD Backed
Joining Fee

Free

One-time upfront
Annual Fee

₹499

Waived on ₹50,000 annual spend
Base Rewards

1% cashback on UPI via IDFC app; 0.5% cashback on general retail and other UPI

On eligible spends
Forex Markup

0% (Zero Forex)

Cross-currency spends
Apply NowCompare CardOfficial Terms

Last verified 14 Oct 2026

Why Consider This Card?

Objective editorial assessment, ideal spender profile, and primary trade-offs

Editorial Verdict

4.2/5 Editorial Score

The IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card is an energetic rewards-focused product engineered for urban professionals who spend actively on digital commerce. Launched with zero joining fee and an annual maintenance fee of ₹499 plus GST, it allows cardholders to test drive its rewards mechanics without upfront capital friction. The card features IDFC's signature tiered reward multiplier: cardholders earn 3X reward points on all regular domestic retail purchases and 6X reward points on online shopping checkouts. Once cumulative monthly spending crosses the ₹20,000 milestone threshold, all subsequent purchases in that statement cycle earn an accelerated 10X reward points (delivering an effective 2.50% value return). Crucially, IDFC FIRST reward points never expire and have zero redemption fees. Cardholders also benefit from low dynamic revolving interest rates starting at just 2.99% per month (9% to 36% APR), alongside a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000 across petrol pumps nationwide (up to ₹200 per statement cycle). The ₹499 annual fee is completely waived upon spending ₹50,000 or more in an anniversary year. For consumers seeking a dependable rewards card that ramps up return as spending grows, IDFC FIRST EARN provides compelling mathematical value.

Ideal For:Young professionals, online shopping enthusiasts, and milestone spenders seeking accelerated rewards with non-expiring points and an accessible fee waiver.
ShoppingSecured / FD Backed

Card Strengths

  • Accelerated 10X reward points on monthly cumulative spends exceeding ₹20,000
  • Accelerated 6X reward points on all online e-commerce shopping transactions
  • Reward points have lifetime validity, never expire, and incur zero redemption fees
  • Zero joining fee and an easily achievable ₹50,000 annual spending waiver threshold
  • Low dynamic monthly revolving interest rates starting at 2.99% per month

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Does not offer complimentary domestic or international airport lounge access
  • Base domestic retail reward yield is modest at approximately 0.75% value return
  • Standard 3.50% foreign exchange markup on international transactions
  • Utility bills and insurance spends earn rewards at a discounted 1X baseline rate

Additional Cardholder Privileges

Rewards
Rewards

1% Cashback on UPI Spends Via IDFC App and 0.5% Cashback on All Other Spends Including Utilities and Insurance

Welcome
Welcome Benefit 1

10% Cashback Up to ₹250 (On First Transaction Within 15 Days of Card Issuance)

Rewards & Cashback Structure

Base earning rates, partner merchant acceleration, redemption options, and exclusions

Reward Program Name
IDFC FIRST EARN Cashback
Reward Currency
INR Cashback
Base Earn Rate
1% cashback on UPI via IDFC app; 0.5% cashback on general retail and other UPI
Redemption Method
Automatic monthly statement credit.
Category Accelerated Earn RatesPublished Terms
Spend CategoryEarn RateReward CapConditions
Spends Above ₹20,00010X Reward Points on incremental monthly spends above ₹20,000No CapStandard terms apply
Online Spends6X Reward Points on online shoppingNo CapStandard terms apply
UPI via IDFC FIRST Bank App1% cashback on UPI transactions performed via IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app500 INR (₹)/moStandard terms apply
Offline Spends3X Reward Points on offline retailNo CapStandard terms apply
Other UPI & Retail Purchases0.5% cashback on UPI via third-party apps, utilities, and retail purchases500 INR (₹)/moStandard terms apply
Explore top credit cards and rewards across top verified merchant brands.Browse Merchant Hubs

Estimate Your Custom Monthly Rewards

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Reward Exclusions: Fuel transactions, wallet loading, cash withdrawals, rent payments, educational payments, and government services are generally excluded from base and accelerated reward point accrual across all Indian card issuers.
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Estimate Your Annual Rewards

Estimate your rewards using the card's current reward rates, monthly caps and applicable fee-waiver rules.

Verified Rates & Caps
Quick Select:
Total Monthly Spend:₹30,000 / month
₹5,000 / mo₹1 lakh / mo₹2 lakh / mo

Category Spend Allocation

Customize monthly spend in each category. Category amounts sum directly to your monthly spend.

Assumed spend distribution
Spends Above ₹20,0002.50%
No published cap
₹
Online Spends1.50%
No published cap
₹
UPI via IDFC FIRST Bank App1.00%
Cap: ₹500/monthly
₹
Offline Spends0.75%
No published cap
₹
Other UPI & Retail Purchases0.50%
Cap: ₹500/monthly
₹
Excluded / Non-Reward Spends0%
Fuel, rent, wallet, govt, cash
₹
Category / Reward BucketMonthly SpendRateEffective RateCap PeriodEligible RewardCap Status
Spends Above ₹20,000₹3,00010X Reward Points on incremental monthly spends above ₹20,000—NoneCalculating... Under cap
Online Spends₹3,0006X Reward Points on online shopping—NoneCalculating... Under cap
UPI via IDFC FIRST Bank App₹3,0001% cashback on UPI transactions performed via IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app—₹500/monthlyCalculating... Under cap
Offline Spends₹18,0003X Reward Points on offline retail—NoneCalculating... Under cap
Other UPI & Retail Purchases₹3,0000.5% cashback on UPI via third-party apps, utilities, and retail purchases—₹500/monthlyCalculating... Under cap
Total Monthly Cashback₹30,000-—-₹0 / moZero cap loss
Annual Spends

₹3.6 lakh

12 billing cycles
Annual Capped Rewards

₹0

0% blended return
Effective Fee

-₹499

Standard renewal
Net Annual Value

+₹0 / yr

Rewards - Fee
*Calculation based on verified card reward rates, applicable monthly caps, and fee-waiver thresholds - ₹499 annual fee.
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Airport Lounge Access

Domestic and international lounge privileges, spend hurdles, and participating terminals

No Airport Lounge Access Included

This card is tailored primarily for shopping rewards, cashback, or specific co-branded spend and does not include complimentary airport lounge visits.

Fees & Charges

Complete breakdown of joining, renewal, forex, financing APR, and transaction charges

1. Card Membership Fees

Joining Fee (1st Year)
Free
Annual / Renewal Fee (2nd Year Onwards)
₹499
Annual Spend Fee Waiver
Waived on ₹50,000 annual spend
Fee Terms Notes
Joining fee NIL (promotional); annual fee ₹499 + GST waived on spending ₹1,00,000 annually.

2. International Spends

Foreign Currency Markup (Forex)
0% (Zero Forex Markup)
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
Standard 1% mark-up on cross-currency INR transactions where applicable

3. Borrowing & Financing

Monthly Interest Rate (Finance Charges)
2.99% per month
Annualized Interest Rate (APR)
Refer to official schedule of charges
Cash Advance / ATM Withdrawal Fee
Refer to official schedule of charges
Interest-Free Period
Up to 50 Days

4. Other Charges & Taxes

Late Payment Charges
Refer to official schedule of charges
Regulatory Tax Notice: Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 18% is applicable on all card fees, interest charges, and milestone fees as mandated by the Government of India.

Verified Terms & Exclusions Summary

• Joining Fee: ₹0; Annual Renewal Fee: ₹499 + GST. • Annual Fee Waiver: Spend ₹50,000 or more in an anniversary year to waive the ₹499 annual renewal fee. • Rewards Structure: 3X points on domestic offline retail; 6X points on online shopping; 10X points on monthly spends above ₹20,000. • Non-Expiring Points: Reward points have lifetime validity and never expire; 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25. • Zero Redemption Fee: No processing charges when redeeming points for vouchers, gifts, or statement credit. • Fuel Surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000 across all petrol pumps (up to ₹200 per month). • Low Interest Charges: Dynamic monthly interest rates starting from 2.99% based on cardholder credit behavior.

Is the Annual Fee Worth It?

Evaluate whether this card's perks and waiver threshold justify its ₹499 renewal fee.

Calculate Fee ROI

Eligibility & Application Requirements

Income criteria, minimum age, CIBIL score benchmark, and verification checklist

Age Requirement
18+ years
Employment Status
Not specified
Recommended Credit Score (CIBIL)
Not specified
Residency
Resident Indian
Special Eligibility Notes
Requires an IDFC FIRST Bank fixed deposit of ₹5,000+. No income proof or credit score required.

Mandatory Verification Documents

1. Identity ProofPAN Card (Mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID.
2. Address ProofAadhaar (DigiLocker), Utility Bill (Electricity/Piped Gas), or Rental Agreement.
3. Income ProofLatest 3 months salary slips, Form 16, or latest 2 years ITR computation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions regarding IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card application, fees, reward redemption, and eligibility

What is the annual fee of IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card?
The joining fee is ₹0 and the annual renewal fee is ₹499 plus GST. The renewal fee is completely waived if you spend ₹50,000 or more in an anniversary year.
How does the 10X rewards multiplier work?
You earn 3X points on offline spends and 6X points on online spends up to ₹20,000 in a billing cycle. Once your monthly spends exceed ₹20,000, all incremental spends earn 10X points.
Do reward points expire on IDFC FIRST EARN?
No, reward points earned on this card have lifetime validity and never expire. You can accumulate and redeem them at any time.
Are there any redemption charges when using points?
No, IDFC FIRST Bank does not levy any reward redemption handling fee, allowing you to use 100% of your earned value.
Does this card provide airport lounge access?
No, the IDFC FIRST EARN card does not include complimentary airport lounge access. If you need lounge visits, consider upgrading to the IDFC FIRST Select or Wealth card.
What is the joining and annual renewal fee for IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card?
The joining fee for IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card is Free (one-time), and the annual renewal fee is ₹499 from the second year onwards. GST of 18% is applicable on all fee charges.
Can the annual fee on IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card be waived?
Yes, the annual renewal fee of ₹499 is waived upon achieving annual spends of ₹50,000 in the preceding card anniversary year.
What are the primary rewards and cashback earn rates on IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card?
IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card offers 1% cashback on UPI via IDFC app; 0.5% cashback on general retail and other UPI. Cardholders also enjoy accelerated reward rates on partner merchants and selected digital spend categories.

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