The Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card is a premium lifestyle credit card that rewards cardholders with generous points on every transaction, exclusive golf access, and premium travel benefits.

Key Highlights

• Card Network: Visa Infinite or Mastercard World
• Annual Fee: ₹5,000 + GST
• Welcome Bonus: 6,000 reward points (worth ₹6,000)
• Reward Rate: 3.33% on most spends, 2% on utilities/supermarkets/rent
• Point Value: 1 reward point = ₹1
• Forex Markup: 2% + GST (significantly lower than standard 3.5%)
• Lounge Access: 16 domestic + 12 international per year
• Golf Benefits: 12 complimentary games + 12 coaching sessions per year

The Ultimate card offers one of the most rewarding programs in India with a 3.33% return on most purchases:

• Base Rate: 5 reward points per ₹150 spent (3.33% at ₹1 per point)
• Reduced Categories: 3 points per ₹150 (2%) on utilities, supermarkets, insurance, property management, schools, government payments, and rent
• Excluded: Fuel transactions earn no points
• Expiry: Points valid for 3 years from accumulation
• No Caps: Unlike many competitors, there's no monthly or annual earning cap

Travel Benefits

Designed for frequent travelers, the card offers exceptional travel perks:

• Priority Pass Membership: Complimentary international lounge access (1 visit per month with ₹20,000 spend)
• Domestic Lounges: 4 visits per quarter via Visa Infinite or Mastercard World (16 per year)
• Low Forex Markup: Only 2% + GST (vs. standard 3.5%) on foreign currency transactions
• Duty-Free Cashback: 5% cashback on duty-free purchases at airports worldwide (max ₹1,000/month)
• Air Accident Insurance: ₹1 Crore coverage when tickets are purchased with the card

Golf Benefits

Premium golf access sets this card apart from competitors:

• Monthly Golf Games: 1 complimentary round per month at selected premium courses (12/year)
• Golf Coaching: 1 complimentary coaching session per month
• Mastercard World Extra: Additional 4 games/year + 1 lesson/month for Mastercard variant holders

Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive protection for travelers:

• ₹1 Crore accidental air death coverage
• USD 25,000 (~₹21 Lakh) emergency medical insurance overseas
• USD 750 lost baggage/documents coverage
• USD 200 flight delay compensation
• USD 100 delayed baggage and flight hijacking coverage

Lifestyle Perks

• 24x7 Concierge: Global personal concierge services
• Movie Benefits: Buy 1 Get 1 tickets via Visa Infinite (Visa variant)
• EMI Conversion: Convert purchases above ₹2,000 to EMI at 1.5% processing fee

• 6,000 Reward Points: Worth ₹6,000 when redeemed at 1:1 ratio, credited upon payment of joining fee
• This effectively makes the first year free as it covers the ₹5,000 joining fee plus GST

Annual Renewal Benefits

• 5,000 Reward Points: Credited on payment of annual fee from Year 2 onwards
• Partially offsets the ₹5,000 annual fee (short by ₹1,000 including GST)

Monthly Milestone - Duty-Free Cashback

• 5% Cashback: On all purchases from duty-free stores at airports worldwide
• Monthly Cap: Maximum ₹1,000 cashback per calendar month
• Automatically credited to your account, no redemption required

No Spend-Based Milestones: Unlike many premium cards, the Ultimate card does not offer additional milestone rewards for reaching specific spending thresholds during the year.

The Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card provides dual lounge access programs covering both domestic and international travel:

Domestic Lounge Access

• Network: Visa Infinite / Mastercard World
• Visits: 4 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (16 per year)
• Coverage: Access to over 100 domestic airport lounges across India
• Condition: No spend requirement for domestic access

International Lounge Access

• Network: Priority Pass membership (complimentary)
• Visits: 1 complimentary visit per calendar month (12 per year)
• Coverage: Access to 1,000+ lounges worldwide
• Spend Condition: Requires spending ₹20,000 or more on the card in the previous month
• Guest Visits: Additional visits and guest access will be charged as per Priority Pass fee schedule

Limitation: Compared to truly unlimited lounge access on cards like HDFC Infinia, the spend-based condition for international lounges is a notable drawback.

The Standard Chartered Ultimate card employs a tiered earning structure introduced in April 2023:

Base Reward Rate (3.33%)

Earn 5 reward points per ₹150 spent on:

• All retail purchases (online and offline)
• Dining and restaurants
• Shopping and e-commerce
• Travel bookings
• Entertainment and subscriptions
• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals

Reduced Rate Categories (2%)

Earn 3 reward points per ₹150 spent on:

• Utilities (electricity, water, gas bills)
• Supermarkets and grocery stores
• Insurance premium payments
• Property management and rent payments
• School fees and education payments
• Government payments and taxes

Excluded Categories

• Fuel transactions (no reward points, but 1% surcharge waiver available)
• Cash advances and cash equivalents

Special Benefit

Unlike HDFC Infinia or Diners Club Black which require minimum ₹150 transaction for points, the Ultimate card awards points on any transaction amount. Even a ₹30 coffee purchase earns 1 reward point.

Redeeming Rewards

Rewards are redeemed via the 360° Rewards Portal at a consistent 1:1 ratio (1 point = ₹1):

Gift Vouchers (Most Popular)

• Fashion: Arrow, Lifestyle, Pantaloons, FabIndia, Levi's
• Beauty: Nykaa, Lakme, The Body Shop
• Electronics: Croma
• Retail: Shoppers Stop
• Food: Starbucks
• Hotels: ITC Hotels
• Luxury: Ray Ban, Coach, Tumi, Hugo Boss

Merchandise

• Electronics: Smartphones, tablets, headphones (usually at MRP)
• Home Appliances: Mixer grinders, kitchen gadgets
• Travel Accessories: Samsonite luggage, backpacks, Marshall products

Charity Donations

Donate points to partner charitable organizations at 1:1 value.

Redemption Fee

₹99 + GST is charged for each redemption request covering handling and courier charges.

Limitations

• No Amazon or Flipkart vouchers available
• No airline/hotel transfer partners
• No statement credit option
• Voucher catalog has been shrinking over the years

Points Expiry: Reward points are valid for 3 years from accumulation, giving ample time for redemption.

Note: The ₹6,000 welcome bonus effectively makes the first year free. However, there is no spend-based waiver for annual fees in subsequent years.

• Age: Between 21 and 65 years
• CIBIL Score: 750 or above (essential for approval)
• Income: Annual ITR of ₹24 Lakh or higher
• Occupation: Salaried or self-employed with stable income
• Nationality: Indian residents

Preferred Eligibility Routes

Standard Chartered uses internal criteria for approval. Here are the easiest paths:

• Existing SC Cardholder: If you have an existing Standard Chartered credit card with a limit of ₹4 Lakh or more, you can apply online directly
• Other Bank Limit: Credit limit of ₹5 Lakh or more on cards from other banks improves approval chances
• SC Priority Banking: Opening a Standard Chartered Priority Savings Account (₹30 Lakh balance) significantly increases approval odds

Note for Self-Employed: Standard Chartered has an internal list of employers and business types against which they validate applications. Self-employed applicants may face higher rejection rates.

• PAN Card (mandatory)
• Aadhaar Card
• Passport
• Driver's License
• Voter ID Card
• Government-issued photo ID

Address Proof (Any One)

• Aadhaar Card
• Passport
• Driver's License
• Utility Bill (not older than 3 months)
• Ration Card
• Property Registration Document
• Bank Account Statement (last 3 months)

Income Proof

For Salaried Individuals:

• Latest salary slips (last 2-3 months, not older than 3 months)
• Form 16 (latest financial year)
• Bank statements for last 3 months showing salary credit

For Self-Employed:

• ITR (Income Tax Return) for last 2 years
• Business bank account statements for last 6 months
• Proof of business ownership/registration

Additional Documents

• Passport-sized photograph (recent)
• Existing credit card statements (if applying based on other bank's limit)

VKYC Option: Standard Chartered offers Video KYC, allowing you to complete verification from home without visiting a branch.

1. Visit the Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card page
2. Click on "Apply Now" and start the digital application
3. Fill in personal details (name, DOB, contact information)
4. Provide employment and income details
5. Upload required documents digitally
6. Submit the application
7. A bank executive will contact you within 7-10 days for documentation and verification
8. Card will be delivered within 2 weeks of approval

Offline Application

You can also visit any Standard Chartered Bank branch with the required documents and apply in person. This method may be faster for existing Standard Chartered customers.

Pro Tip for Higher Approval

The easiest path is to first get the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card (entry-level card with lower requirements), use it for 6-12 months to build a good relationship and credit limit, then apply for the Ultimate card upgrade online. This method has significantly higher success rates than direct applications.

The Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card occupies a unique position in India's premium card market. While it may not be the absolute best in any single category, it delivers well-rounded value across rewards, golf, travel insurance, and forex rates that few competitors can match at its ₹5,000 price point.

Who Should Get This Card?

• Golf Enthusiasts: The 12 complimentary rounds and coaching sessions are unmatched in this segment
• Frequent International Travelers: The 2% forex markup is among the lowest in India
• High Spenders Across Categories: The uncapped 3.33% rewards with no minimum transaction requirement suits diverse spending patterns
• HNIs Seeking Premium Perks: Comprehensive insurance, Priority Pass, and concierge services deliver lifestyle value
• Existing SC Customers: Easy upgrade path if you already have an SC card with ₹4L+ limit

Who Should Avoid This Card?

• Travel Hackers: Lack of airline/hotel transfer partners is a dealbreaker for those seeking award flight redemptions
• Unlimited Lounge Seekers: The spend-based international lounge access falls short compared to Infinia or DCB
• Online Shopping Heavy Users: No Amazon/Flipkart vouchers makes redemption less convenient
• Fee-Conscious Users: No annual fee waiver path means you'll pay ₹5,000 every year

The Bottom Line

After the April 2023 devaluation on utility and supermarket spends, the Ultimate card lost some of its shine. However, it remains a solid choice for affluent cardholders who value consistent rewards, exceptional golf access, and low forex costs. The ₹6,000 welcome bonus makes the first year essentially free, providing excellent value to try the card.

If you're looking for a single premium card that rewards all your spending without category restrictions, offers premium golf and travel perks, and doesn't require chasing complex milestone structures, the Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card deserves serious consideration in 2026.