YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card Review (2026): Rewards, ₹999 Fee & Apply

Why Consider This Card?

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

Editorial Verdict

4.3/5 Editorial Score

The YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card is one of the most underrated mid-premium lifestyle and travel credit cards in the Indian market. Priced at an accessible ₹999 plus GST joining fee, it immediately rewards new cardholders with welcome YES Reward Points that offset the initial fee. The annual fee is waivable upon spending ₹2,50,000 or more in a card anniversary year, a sensible threshold for urban professionals. The card's rewards structure is purposefully designed for discretionary living: cardholders earn 8 YES Reward Points per ₹200 on travel bookings and dining (a 1% reward return), and 4 YES Reward Points per ₹200 on general retail purchases. For frequent airport visitors, it provides 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (8 per year), accompanied by a complimentary Priority Pass membership delivering 4 international airport lounge visits per year. A major standout advantage is its discounted 1.75% foreign currency markup, which ranks among the lowest in the sub-₹1,000 annual fee card segment. With 25% movie discounts on BookMyShow (up to ₹250 per month) and complimentary golf privileges, the YES FIRST Preferred card punches well above its weight class.

Ideal For:Corporate executives and frequent domestic travelers looking for balanced travel rewards, low forex markups, and accessible annual spend waivers.

Shopping Airport Lounge

Card Strengths

Low 1.75% foreign currency markup fee, beating most mid-tier competitor cards
Comprehensive lounge coverage: 8 domestic visits plus 4 international Priority Pass visits annually
Accelerated 8 points per ₹200 on travel bookings and restaurant dining
25% discount on movie tickets via BookMyShow up to ₹250 per month
Accessible annual fee waiver hurdle of ₹2,50,000 in yearly spending

Things to Keep in Mind

Base general retail reward rate is modest at approximately 0.50% value back
Domestic lounge visits require meeting minimum quarterly spending criteria
Points redemption for air miles carries a higher conversion threshold than super-premium cards
Fuel, utility, wallet, and rental payments excluded from accelerated points

Additional Cardholder Privileges

Rewards

4 reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Select categories utilities, groceries, tax payments, insurance sales, etc.8 reward points per Rs. 200 you spent on every other retail purchase16 reward points per Rs. 200 spent on travel and dining spends

Welcome

Welcome Benefit 1

N/A

Rewards & Cashback Structure

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

Reward Program Name: Reward Points
Reward Currency: Reward Points
Base Earn Rate: 4 reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Select categories utilities, groceries, tax payments, insurance sales, etc.8 reward points per Rs. 200 you spent on every other retail purch...
Point Value (INR): ₹0.2500 per point
Redemption Channels: Refer to bank rewards portal
Reward Point Expiry: Refer to bank rewards program terms

Category Accelerated Earn RatesPublished Terms

Spend Category	Earn Rate	Reward Cap	Conditions
Online Spends	16 Reward Points per ₹200 spent online (2.00% valueback; 1 RP = ₹0.25)	No Cap	Standard terms apply
Offline Retail Spends	8 Reward Points per ₹200 spent offline	No Cap	Standard terms apply

Explore top credit cards and rewards across top verified merchant brands.Browse Merchant Hubs

Estimate Your Custom Monthly Rewards

Calculate estimated net cashback and points across your actual spending pattern.

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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.

Reward Calculator

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

Online Spends2.00%

No published cap

₹

Offline Retail Spends1.00%

No published cap

₹

Excluded / Non-Reward Spends0%

Fuel, rent, wallet, govt, cash

₹

Category / Reward Bucket	Monthly Spend	Rate	Effective Rate	Cap Period	Eligible Reward	Cap Status
Online Spends	₹12,000	16 Reward Points per ₹200 spent online (2.00% valueback; 1 RP = ₹0.25)	—	None	Calculating...	Under cap
Offline Retail Spends	₹18,000	8 Reward Points per ₹200 spent offline	—	None	Calculating...	Under cap
Total Monthly Cashback	₹30,000	-	—	-	₹0 / mo	Zero cap loss

Annual Spends

₹3.6 lakh

12 billing cycles

Annual Capped Rewards

₹0

0% blended return

Effective Fee

-₹999

Standard renewal

Net Annual Value

+₹0 / yr

Rewards - Fee

*Calculation based on verified card reward rates, applicable monthly caps, and fee-waiver thresholds - ₹999 annual fee.

Multi-card comparator

Airport Lounge Access

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

Domestic Lounge Access

Airports within India

Included

Complimentary Visits: 2 complimentary visits per quarter
Spend Requirement: ₹75,000 per Previous Calendar Quarter

2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter

International Lounge Access

Global airports outside India

Included

Complimentary Visits: 4 complimentary visits per year
Spend Requirement: Verification in progress
Access Type: Priority Pass

4 complimentary international airport lounge visits per calendar year via Priority Pass

Planning an upcoming departure?

Verify this card against live departure gates and specific terminal lounges across India.

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Where can I use this card for airport lounge access?

This card includes complimentary admission across verified Indian airport terminals. Check individual terminal lounges and spend criteria before you travel.

See where this card gets lounge access

Airport Lounge Checker

Domestic Allowance2 Domestic visits/quarter + 4 International visits/year · ₹75k quarterly spend required (Domestic)

Airport Coverage40+ Major Indian Airports

Lounge DirectoryView All Lounge Coverage

Representative Major Airport Lounges:

Delhi (DEL)Mumbai (BOM)Bengaluru (BLR)Hyderabad (HYD)Chennai (MAA)Kolkata (CCU)All 40+ Airports →

Fees & Charges

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

1. Card Membership Fees

Joining Fee (1st Year): ₹999
Annual / Renewal Fee (2nd Year Onwards): ₹999
Annual Spend Fee Waiver: Waived on ₹2.5 lakh annual spend
Fee Terms Notes: Premium credit card; 1.75% forex markup; fee waived on ₹2,50,000 spend; 8 domestic + 4 intl lounges

2. International Spends

Foreign Currency Markup (Forex): 1.75% + GST
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC): Standard 1% mark-up on cross-currency INR transactions where applicable

3. Borrowing & Financing

Monthly Interest Rate (Finance Charges): 3.50% per month
Annualized Interest Rate (APR): 42.00% p.a.
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 & Annual Fee: ₹999 + GST; waived on annual retail spends of ₹2,50,000 or more in the preceding anniversary year. • Rewards Accrual: 8 YES Reward Points per ₹200 on travel and dining; 4 YES Reward Points per ₹200 on all other retail spending. • Airport Lounge Access: 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (8 per year) at participating lounges in India. • International Lounges: Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 4 complimentary international lounge visits per calendar year. • Low Forex Markup: Preferential foreign currency transaction markup of just 1.75% + GST. • Entertainment Benefit: 25% discount on BookMyShow movie tickets, capped at ₹250 per calendar month. • Golf Privileges: 1 complimentary golf round or golf lesson per calendar quarter at select golf clubs across India. • Fuel Surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000 at all fuel stations across India.

Is the Annual Fee Worth It?

Evaluate whether this card's perks and waiver threshold justify its ₹999 renewal fee.

Calculate Fee ROI

Eligibility & Application Requirements

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

Eligibility criteria not specified

Verified eligibility criteria are not currently available for this card. Check the issuer's latest terms before applying.

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 YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card application, fees, reward redemption, and eligibility

What is the annual fee and spend waiver for YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card?

The joining and annual fee is ₹999 plus GST. The fee for subsequent years is completely waived if you spend ₹2,50,000 or more in the previous card anniversary year.

How many airport lounge visits are included on this card?

Cardholders receive 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (8 per year) and 4 complimentary international lounge visits annually via Priority Pass.

What is the foreign currency transaction fee?

The card features a discounted foreign currency markup fee of 1.75% plus GST, significantly lower than the standard 3.50% markup charged by most banks.

What entertainment benefits are offered on the card?

Cardholders receive a 25% discount on movie ticket bookings on BookMyShow, up to a maximum discount of ₹250 per calendar month.

What is the joining and annual renewal fee for YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card?

The joining fee for YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card is ₹999 (one-time), and the annual renewal fee is ₹999 from the second year onwards. GST of 18% is applicable on all fee charges.

Can the annual fee on YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card be waived?

Yes, the annual renewal fee of ₹999 is waived upon achieving annual spends of ₹2.5 lakh in the preceding card anniversary year.

What are the primary rewards and cashback earn rates on YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card?

YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card offers 4 reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Select categories utilities, groceries, tax payments, insurance sales, etc.8 reward points per Rs. 200 you spent on every other retail purch.... Cardholders also enjoy accelerated reward rates on partner merchants and selected digital spend categories.

Does YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card offer complimentary airport lounge access?

Yes, YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card provides 2 Domestic visits/quarter + 4 International visits/year · ₹75k quarterly spend required (Domestic).

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Why Consider This Card?

Editorial Verdict

Card Strengths

Things to Keep in Mind

Additional Cardholder Privileges

Rewards

Welcome Benefit 1

Rewards & Cashback Structure

Estimate Your Custom Monthly Rewards

Estimate Your Annual Rewards

Category Spend Allocation

Airport Lounge Access

Domestic Lounge Access

International Lounge Access

Planning an upcoming departure?

Where can I use this card for airport lounge access?

Fees & Charges

1. Card Membership Fees

2. International Spends

3. Borrowing & Financing

4. Other Charges & Taxes

Verified Terms & Exclusions Summary

Is the Annual Fee Worth It?

Eligibility & Application Requirements

Mandatory Verification Documents

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Cards to Compare

Ready to Apply for YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card?

Why Consider This Card?

Editorial Verdict

Card Strengths

Things to Keep in Mind

Additional Cardholder Privileges

Rewards

Welcome Benefit 1

Rewards & Cashback Structure

Estimate Your Custom Monthly Rewards

Estimate Your Annual Rewards

Category Spend Allocation

Airport Lounge Access

Domestic Lounge Access

International Lounge Access

Planning an upcoming departure?

Where can I use this card for airport lounge access?

Fees & Charges

1. Card Membership Fees

2. International Spends

3. Borrowing & Financing

4. Other Charges & Taxes

Verified Terms & Exclusions Summary

Is the Annual Fee Worth It?

Eligibility & Application Requirements

Mandatory Verification Documents

Frequently Asked Questions

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Ready to Apply for YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card?

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