Key Benefits
2.5% on dining/grocery, 12 lounges, Rs. 11K vouchers, golf
Lounge Access
8 domestic + 4 international Priority Pass per year
Eligibility
Min income Rs. 6 lakh/year, age 21-65, CIBIL 750+
SBI Card Prime is a decent mid-range rewards card that offers strong value on dining, grocery, and entertainment spending with a 2.5% effective reward rate in those categories. The 8+4 lounge access and multiple milestone benefits add solid value. However, continuous devaluations and a high forex markup have reduced its competitiveness against newer alternatives in this price segment.
Best For
Individuals who spend frequently on dining, groceries, and departmental stores, and want domestic and international airport lounge access at a reasonable annual fee.
Not Ideal For
International travelers (high 3.5% forex markup), budget cardholders who cannot meet Rs. 3 lakh spend for fee waiver, and those seeking high base reward rates on general spending.
visits per year
8 complimentary visits per calendar year to domestic airport lounges in India (max 2 per quarter). Via Visa/Mastercard/RuPay network. Primary cardholder only.
visits per year
4 complimentary international Priority Pass lounge visits per calendar year outside India (max 2 per quarter). Primary cardholder only.
All Spends
Dining
Grocery
Movies
Shopping
Birthday Spends
Online
International
Travel
Redeem your points for cashback, travel, and more
Statement Credit
4 Reward Points = Rs. 1 statement credit. Call customer care or use SBI Card app.
Gift Vouchers
Redeem for e-vouchers from Amazon, Myntra, MakeMyTrip, Taj Hotels, and 100+ brands. Rs. 99 redemption fee.
Travel Bookings
Book flights and hotels via SBI Card rewards portal.
Club Vistara
100:100 transfer ratio
Earn 9 Club Vistara Points per Rs. 100 spent on Vistara flight base fare. Points auto-credited to linked CV account.
Rewards Catalogue
Redeem for products from SBI Card rewards catalogue. Rs. 99 redemption fee for physical products.
Welcome e-gift voucher worth Rs. 3,000 from Bata/Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, or Yatra.com on annual fee payment
value
Pizza Hut e-Voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on achieving spends of Rs. 50,000 in a calendar quarter
Spend ₹50,000 within 90 days
value
E-Gift Voucher worth Rs. 7,000 from Yatra.com or Pantaloons on achieving annual spends of Rs. 5 Lakhs
Spend ₹5,00,000 within 365 days
value
Renewal fee of Rs. 2,999 waived on annual spends of Rs. 3 Lakhs
Spend ₹3,00,000 within 365 days
value
Golf
4 /year
100.00% off
4 complimentary green fees + up to 50% off golf games + 1 free lesson/month (Mastercard variant)
Dining
20.00% off
Up to 20% discount at 700+ restaurants via American Express network offers
Travel Desk
1 /year
Complimentary Club Vistara Silver membership for 1 year. Earn 9 CV pts per Rs. 100 on Vistara flights.
Custom
1 /year
Complimentary Trident Privilege Red Tier membership. 10 pts per Rs. 100 at participating hotels.
Custom
1 /year
Complimentary 1-year Club ITC Silver Tier Membership. Discounts at ITC Hotels and on dining.
Custom
15.00% off
Up to 15% discount on Lalit Hotels, up to 10% on Hertz car rental, 35% on Avis (network privileges)
See how this card performs in different spending categories compared to other cards.
The SBI Card Prime is a premium rewards credit card from SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (SBICPSL), one of the largest credit card issuers in India. With an annual fee of Rs. 2,999, it positions itself as a mid-range option offering strong rewards on everyday spending categories like dining, groceries, and entertainment.
Available on Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and RuPay networks, the card provides a comprehensive package of benefits including airport lounge access, milestone vouchers, golf privileges, and complimentary hotel memberships. It is particularly appealing for individuals who spend regularly in bonus categories and value travel perks at a moderate price point.
SBI Card Prime is a rewards-focused credit card that earns 10 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and movies (effective 2.5% return), and 2 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on all other retail spending (effective 0.5% return). Each Reward Point is worth Rs. 0.25.
Earn 10 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and movies, giving an effective return of 2.5%. All other retail spends earn 2 Reward Points per Rs. 100 (0.5% return). Birthday spends earn 20 Reward Points per Rs. 100 (5% return, capped at 2,000 RP/year). The accelerated 5X rewards are capped at 7,500 RP per month across all bonus categories combined.
Receive a welcome e-gift voucher worth Rs. 3,000 from partner brands including Bata/Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, and Yatra.com upon payment of annual fee.
Pizza Hut e-Voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on quarterly spends of Rs. 50,000. E-Gift Voucher worth Rs. 7,000 from Yatra.com or Pantaloons on annual spends of Rs. 5 lakhs. With all quarterly milestones met, total milestone value can reach Rs. 11,000 per year.
8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar year (max 2 per quarter) and 4 complimentary international Priority Pass lounge visits (max 2 per quarter). Primary cardholder only.
4 rounds of complimentary green fees access, up to 50% discount on golf games, and 1 complimentary golf lesson per month at selected golf courses across India.
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000 at all petrol pumps. Maximum waiver of Rs. 250 per statement cycle.
Air Accident Liability Cover of Rs. 50 lakhs (note: being discontinued from July 15, 2025). Fraud Liability Cover of Rs. 1 lakh from 48 hours before to 7 days after reporting card loss.
If you spend Rs. 5 lakhs annually and meet all quarterly targets: Rs. 3,000 (welcome) + Rs. 4,000 (4 quarterly) + Rs. 7,000 (annual) = Rs. 14,000 in vouchers.
SBI Card Prime offers a total of 12 complimentary airport lounge visits per year for the primary cardholder.
Important: Lounge access is available for primary cardholders only. Add-on cardholders are not eligible for complimentary lounge visits.
SBI Card Prime operates on the SBI Card Shop and Smile Rewards Program. Points are earned on eligible retail purchases as follows:
| Category | Points per Rs. 100 | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Dining, Groceries, Departmental Stores, Movies | 10 RP | 2.5% |
| All other retail (except fuel) | 2 RP | 0.5% |
| Birthday spends | 20 RP | 5.0% (capped 2,000 RP/year) |
| Vistara flights | 9 CV Points | N/A |
The accelerated 5X rewards (bonus of 8 extra RP on top of base 2 RP) on dining, movies, departmental stores, and groceries are capped at 7,500 Reward Points per month across all categories combined. After this cap, the base rate of 2 RP per Rs. 100 continues.
No reward points on: fuel purchases, cash advances, e-wallet loading (MCC 6540/6541), rent payments (MCC 6513), government transactions (MCC 9399/9311), digital gaming (MCC 5816/7993/7994), Flexipay, Merchant EMI, and balance transfers.
Reward Points are valid for 24 months and expire on the last day of the 24th month. Redemption fee of Rs. 99 applies on physical products and vouchers.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | Rs. 2,999 + GST |
| Renewal Fee | Rs. 2,999 + GST (waived on Rs. 3 lakh annual spend) |
| Add-on Card Fee | Nil |
| Late Payment | Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,300 (based on outstanding amount) |
| Cash Advance | 2.5% or Rs. 500 (whichever is higher) |
| Over Limit | 2.5% or Rs. 600 (whichever is higher) |
| Foreign Currency Transaction | 3.5% of INR amount |
| Finance Charges | 3.75% per month (45% per annum) |
| Card Replacement | Rs. 100 to Rs. 250 |
| Reward Redemption | Rs. 99 (physical products/vouchers) |
| Rent Payment Processing | Rs. 199 per transaction |
| Cash Payment at SBI Branch | Rs. 250 + taxes |
| Cheque Payment Fee | Rs. 200 |
| Payment Dishonor | 2% of payment amount, min Rs. 500 |
| Utility Payments Fee | 1% if total exceeds Rs. 50,000 per billing cycle |
Processing typically takes 7-21 working days. You will receive SMS/email updates on your application status.
The SBI Card Prime delivers solid value for cardholders who concentrate their spending on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and entertainment. With an effective 2.5% reward rate in these categories, combined with 12 annual lounge visits and milestone vouchers worth up to Rs. 14,000 per year, it offers a competitive package at its Rs. 2,999 price point.
However, the card has seen multiple devaluations over the years. The 0.5% base reward rate on general spending is below average, the 3.5% forex markup makes it unsuitable for international transactions, and the 7,500 RP monthly cap limits earning potential for high spenders in bonus categories. The Rs. 3 lakh annual spend requirement for fee waiver is also relatively steep.
SBI Card Prime is best suited for individuals who regularly dine out, shop for groceries, and watch movies, while also wanting domestic and international airport lounge access. If international travel and general spending rewards are priorities, consider the SBI Card Elite (lower forex at 1.99%) or HDFC Regalia (consistent rewards across categories) as alternatives.
Last updated: 1 February 2026
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