SBI PRIME Credit Card

Joining Fee: 2999 Annual Fee: 2999

The SBI PRIME Credit Card delivers accelerated rewards of up to 2.5% on everyday spending categories like dining, groceries, department stores, and movies, along with milestone benefits worth up to ₹8,000 annually and complimentary domestic and international lounge access, making it perfect for lifestyle-focused spenders.

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FeatureDetails
Bank / IssuerSBI
Card TypeAmex, Mastercard, Visa
Joining Fee 2999 Plus GST
Annual Fee 2999 Plus GST
Welcome BenefitsE-gift voucher worth ₹3,000 from Bata/Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, or Yatra.com
Fee Waiver ConditionAnnual fee of ₹2,999 is waived if you spend ₹3,00,000 or more in the card membership year.
Reward RatesEarn 10 reward points per ₹100 (2.5% value) on dining, groceries, department stores, and movies; 20 points per ₹100 on birthday spends (capped at 2,000 points annually); 2 points per ₹100 (0.5% value) on other retail spends.
Best ForDinning
Lounge Access Domestic: 2 per quarter | International: 4 per year
(max 2 per quarter)

Key Features & Benefits

The SBI PRIME Credit Card is designed for individuals who spend regularly on dining, groceries, and entertainment. You earn 10 reward points for every ₹100 spent at restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, and movie theaters, which translates to a solid 2.5% return on these everyday expenses. The card also offers special birthday rewards with double points (20 per ₹100) on purchases made one day before, on, and one day after your birthday, though capped at 2,000 points per year.

Beyond rewards, the card provides tangible milestone benefits that add real value. Spend ₹50,000 in any calendar quarter and receive a ₹1,000 Pizza Hut e-voucher. Hit ₹5 lakhs in annual spending and you’ll get a ₹7,000 gift voucher from Yatra.com or Pantaloons. The welcome benefit itself—a ₹3,000 e-gift voucher—essentially covers your joining fee, making it a cost-neutral start.

Travel perks include 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits and 4 international Priority Pass lounge visits annually, helping you relax before flights without extra cost. The 1% fuel surcharge waiver (up to ₹250 monthly on transactions between ₹500-₹4,000) adds further savings for regular drivers. With network-specific privileges on Mastercard, Visa, or American Express variants, you get additional hotel and dining discounts tailored to your chosen network.

All You Need to Know About: SBI PRIME Credit Card

The SBI PRIME Credit Card is a lifestyle-focused rewards credit card offered by State Bank of India Card in partnership with three major card networks: Mastercard, Visa, and American Express. This card is specifically designed to reward customers who spend regularly on everyday lifestyle categories including dining at restaurants, grocery shopping, department store purchases, and movie theater visits. The core value proposition centers around accelerated reward earning in these specific spending categories while also providing milestone-based benefits and complimentary airport lounge access.

When it comes to fees, the card charges ₹2,999 plus applicable taxes as both joining fee and annual renewal fee. However, SBI Card provides a welcome benefit in the form of an e-gift voucher worth ₹3,000 that can be redeemed at popular brands like Bata, Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, or Yatra.com, which effectively covers the initial joining fee. The annual fee is waived completely if you spend ₹3,00,000 or more during your card membership year, making it cost-free for regular users who meet this spending threshold.

The reward structure is where the SBI PRIME Credit Card truly shines for lifestyle spenders. You earn 10 reward points for every ₹100 spent on dining, groceries, department stores, and movie tickets. Since 4 reward points equal ₹1 in value, this translates to an effective return of 2.5% on these accelerated categories. The card also offers special birthday rewards where you earn double points—20 reward points per ₹100 spent—on purchases made one day before your birthday, on your birthday, and one day after your birthday, though this bonus is capped at a maximum of 2,000 reward points per calendar year. For all other retail spending that doesn’t fall into the accelerated categories, you earn a base rate of 2 reward points per ₹100 spent, which equals a 0.5% return. Reward points remain valid for 2 years from the date of earning, and a redemption fee applies when you convert points to vouchers or other benefits.

Milestone benefits add substantial value for consistent spenders. On a quarterly basis, if you spend ₹50,000 or more in any calendar quarter, you receive a Pizza Hut e-voucher worth ₹1,000. This means you can earn up to ₹4,000 in Pizza Hut vouchers annually if you maintain this spending level each quarter. Additionally, there’s an annual milestone benefit where spending ₹5,00,000 in a card membership year earns you an e-gift voucher worth ₹7,000 from either Yatra.com or Pantaloons, depending on your preference. Combined, these milestone benefits can add up to ₹8,000 in tangible value annually beyond your regular reward points.

Airport lounge access is another key feature that appeals to frequent travelers. The card provides 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year, with a restriction of maximum 2 visits per quarter. For international travel, you get 4 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits annually, also limited to 2 per quarter. This gives you a total of 12 lounge visits per year across domestic and international airports, allowing you to relax in comfort before your flights without additional charges. Additional features include a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel station transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000, capped at ₹250 per month. This helps you save on fuel purchases when filling up at petrol pumps. The card also offers network-specific privileges depending on whether you choose the Mastercard, Visa, or American Express variant, providing access to exclusive hotel and dining discounts through each network’s partner programs. EMI conversion facility is available for purchases above ₹2,500, allowing you to convert large transactions into easy monthly installments.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • High 2.5% reward rate on dining, groceries, department stores, and movies
  • Generous milestone benefits totaling ₹8,000 annually (₹4,000 quarterly + ₹7,000 annual)
  • Welcome voucher worth ₹3,000 effectively offsets the joining fee
  • 12 total complimentary lounge visits per year (8 domestic + 4 international)
  • Annual fee waived on ₹3 lakh annual spend, which is achievable for regular users

Cons

  • Base reward rate of only 0.5% on non-accelerated categories is below average
  • Birthday bonus capped at just 2,000 points per year limits its value
  • Reward points expire after 2 years and redemption fees apply
  • Fuel surcharge waiver capped at ₹250 per month is relatively modest
  • Quarterly lounge visits are restricted to maximum 2 per quarter

How to Apply

Applying for the SBI PRIME Credit Card is straightforward. Visit the official SBI Card website and navigate to the credit cards section, where you’ll find the SBI PRIME Credit Card product page. Click on the “Apply Now” button and complete the online application form with your personal, employment, and financial details. You’ll need to submit full KYC documents including identity proof, address proof, income documents (salary slips or IT returns), and PAN card. Alternatively, you can visit your nearest SBI branch and apply in person with the required documents. The bank will verify your details and assess your creditworthiness before approving your application, typically within 7-10 working days.

Detailed Fee Structure

The SBI PRIME Credit Card comes with a joining fee of ₹2,999 plus applicable GST, which you pay when you first receive the card. The annual or renewal fee is also ₹2,999 plus taxes, charged every year on your card anniversary. However, this renewal fee is completely waived if you spend ₹3,00,000 or more during your card membership year, making it essentially free for regular users who meet this threshold.

Beyond the basic fees, there’s a 1% fuel surcharge waiver available on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000, capped at ₹250 per month. Reward points redemption may attract a small fee depending on the redemption method. EMI conversion is available for purchases above ₹2,500, though standard EMI processing charges and interest will apply. Foreign currency transactions will incur forex markup charges as per the card network’s standard rates. Late payment fees, overlimit charges, and cash advance fees apply as per the standard SBI Card terms and conditions, so it’s important to pay your bills on time and stay within your credit limit.

Who Should Get This Card?

The SBI PRIME Credit Card is ideal for lifestyle-focused individuals who spend significantly on dining out, grocery shopping, department store purchases, and movie outings. If you’re someone who regularly eats at restaurants, shops at major retail chains, or enjoys cinema experiences, the accelerated 2.5% reward rate on these categories will deliver substantial value.

This card also suits travelers who appreciate complimentary lounge access, offering both domestic and international airport lounge visits to make your journeys more comfortable. The milestone benefits make it particularly attractive for those who can organically spend ₹50,000 per quarter or ₹5 lakhs annually, as the quarterly Pizza Hut vouchers and annual Yatra/Pantaloons vouchers add significant tangible value. However, if your spending is primarily in categories outside of dining, groceries, and entertainment, or if you spend less than ₹3 lakhs annually, you might find better value with other cards that offer higher base reward rates or lower fee waiver thresholds.

Alternatives & Competitor Comparison

FeatureSBI PRIME Credit CardSBI ELITE Credit Card
Card ImageSBI PRIME Credit CardSBI ELITE Credit Card
Card NetworkAmex, Mastercard, VisaAmex, Mastercard, Visa
USPThe SBI PRIME Credit Card delivers accelerated rewards of up to 2.5% on everyday spending categories like dining, groceries, department stores, and movies, along with milestone benefits worth up to ₹8,000 annually and complimentary domestic and international lounge access, making it perfect for lifestyle-focused spenders.The SBI Card ELITE offers 5X reward points on dining, grocery, and departmental store spends, plus complimentary airport lounge access and free movie tickets, making it perfect for lifestyle enthusiasts and frequent travelers seeking premium rewards and travel perks.
Annual Fee2999 Plus GST4999 Plus GST
Joining Fee2999 Plus GST4999 Plus GST
Welcome BenefitsE-gift voucher worth ₹3,000 from Bata/Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, or Yatra.comE-gift voucher worth ₹5,000 from lifestyle and travel brands including Yatra, Hush Puppies/Bata, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, and Shoppers Stop
Lounge AccessDomestic: 2 per quarter | International: 4 per year
(max 2 per quarter)
Domestic: 2 per quarter | International: 6 per year
Maximum 2 international visits per quarter
Reward RateEarn 10 reward points per ₹100 (2.5% value) on dining, groceries, department stores, and movies; 20 points per ₹100 on birthday spends (capped at 2,000 points annually); 2 points per ₹100 (0.5% value) on other retail spends.Earn 5X reward points (10 points per ₹100, worth ₹2.5) on dining, departmental stores, and grocery spends; 2 reward points per ₹100 (worth ₹0.50) on international transactions and all other spends except fuel. 4 reward points = ₹1 redemption value.
Interest RateN/A3.5% per month (42% per annum)
Best ForDinningDinning, Lounge Access
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the joining fee for the SBI PRIME Credit Card?

The SBI PRIME Credit Card has a joining fee of ₹2,999 plus applicable taxes, but you receive a welcome e-gift voucher worth ₹3,000, which effectively offsets this cost.

How do I earn reward points on the SBI PRIME Credit Card?

On the SBI PRIME Credit Card, you earn 10 reward points per ₹100 spent on dining, groceries, department stores, and movies (2.5% value), 20 points per ₹100 on birthday spends (capped at 2,000 points per year), and 2 points per ₹100 on all other retail purchases (0.5% value).

Is the annual fee waived on the SBI PRIME Credit Card?

Yes, the SBI PRIME Credit Card's annual fee of ₹2,999 is completely waived if you spend ₹3,00,000 or more during your card membership year.

How many lounge visits do I get with the SBI PRIME Credit Card?

The SBI PRIME Credit Card offers 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year and 4 complimentary international Priority Pass lounge visits per year, with a maximum of 2 visits per quarter for each type.

What milestone benefits does the SBI PRIME Credit Card offer?

The SBI PRIME Credit Card provides a ₹1,000 Pizza Hut e-voucher for every quarter when you spend ₹50,000 in that quarter, and a ₹7,000 gift voucher from Yatra.com or Pantaloons when you spend ₹5,00,000 in a year.

Final Verdict

Is the SBI PRIME Credit Card right for you? If you're a lifestyle enthusiast who frequently dines out, shops for groceries at supermarkets, visits department stores, or enjoys movies, this card delivers excellent value through its accelerated 2.5% reward rate on these everyday categories. The milestone benefits totaling ₹8,000 annually and the ₹3,000 welcome voucher make it financially attractive, especially when you consider the annual fee waiver at ₹3 lakh spending. The combination of 12 complimentary lounge visits per year adds travel convenience that premium travelers will appreciate. However, if your spending patterns don't align with the accelerated categories or you typically spend less than ₹3 lakhs annually, you might find better value elsewhere. For regular spenders in dining, groceries, and entertainment who can meet the annual spending threshold, the SBI PRIME Credit Card is a solid rewards card that pays for itself while enhancing your lifestyle. Ready to start earning rewards on your everyday spending? Apply for the SBI PRIME Credit Card today.

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