The Reserve Bank of India’s June 9, 2022 decision to permit credit card transactions on UPI marked a significant shift for digital payments in India. Initially restricted to RuPay credit cards, the move aimed to broaden UPI’s reach. While some banks like HDFC are already live with RuPay credit cards on UPI, not all issuers have launched support yet.
There is a possibility that Visa and Mastercard credit cards will become UPI-compatible in the future, but no timeline has been announced. Until then, holding a good RuPay credit card is important—HDFC’s offerings are particularly notable. With this rollout, HDFC also relaxed its earlier practice of issuing only one card per customer in certain segments, making it easier to hold multiple HDFC credit cards.
Fee Structure
HDFC Bank launched two co-branded TATA Neu credit cards on August 24, 2022: the entry-level TATA Neu Plus and the premium TATA Neu Infinity. Both cards are available on RuPay and Visa networks depending on customer preference.
Distribution currently follows an invite model, with wider availability expected later. Invites are being sent with different fee structures. The common fee tiers observed are:
| Joining Fee | Joining Benefit | Renewal Fee | Renewal Benefit |
| 1499 + GST | 1499 Neucoins | 1499 + GST; waived on annual spend of ₹3,00,000 | NIL |
| First Year Free (FYF) | NIL | 1499 + GST; waived on annual spend of ₹3,00,000 | NIL |
| Life Time Free (LTF) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
TATA Neu Infinity is currently offered across these three joining/renewal fee tiers. Neucoins are the rewards currency used on the TATA Neu platform; 1 Neucoin equals INR 1 and can be redeemed on the TATA Neu app for purchases.
My Experience
I received a paid offer in September 2022 but did not accept it. Later, after using the TATA Neu app for purchases like BigBasket and Croma, I received a first-year-free offer in November 2022, which I also declined.
On January 15, 2023 I received an LTF invite but was initially shown the Neu Plus card with a modest limit of ₹1.09 lakh, so I did not proceed. A subsequent LTF invite arrived on my HDFC-registered mobile number; I applied and chose the RuPay Select variant to ensure UPI compatibility in the future and because it would be my first RuPay credit card.
Note: For existing HDFC credit card holders, limits are shared across cards. New cards may be issued with a temporary limit (example: ₹5,000) and the shared limit typically adjusts within a few days.
To be eligible for the TATA Neu Infinity card, your total HDFC credit limit generally needs to exceed ₹1.5 lakh; otherwise applicants are more likely to receive the TATA Neu Plus card.
Pro tip: If you want the card on a life-time-free basis, use your existing HDFC credit card to make regular purchases on the TATA Neu app and wait for an invite. Many customers may eventually receive LTF offers as issuers respond to market competition and product launches.
Application Process & Images
- 03.02.2023 – Opened TATA Neu app and found an LTF invite
- 03.02.2023 – Applied and selected the RuPay Select variant; credit enquiry was initiated
- 03.02.2023 – Verification completed via debit card (netbanking is also an option)
- 09.02.2023 – Received SMS confirming card approval; card appeared in the Neu app
- 10.02.2023 – Card dispatched via courier
- 11.02.2023 – Card delivered
- 14.02.2023 – Card activated for UPI
Bottomline
These are promising times for Indian credit card users. HDFC’s integration with NPCI and TATA Neu to enable credit card UPI transactions arrived at an opportune moment. UPI linking is now live on the TATA Neu app and other platforms such as Freecharge, expanding the ways customers can use credit cards for everyday payments.
According to HDFC TATA Neu credit card support, Neucoins will be awarded according to the card’s category-level earning rules regardless of whether a transaction uses UPI, POS, or online channels. UPI transaction limits will follow standard UPI caps (for example, up to ₹1 lakh per transaction/day) rather than very low limits some had feared.
Disclaimer: As a recent product, some terms and conditions are still evolving and may change. Responses from TATA Neu customer support have been adequate but not always consistent, so resolution for complex issues may take time.
This article will be updated based on user feedback and further personal experience. I plan to publish a separate piece soon detailing UPI transactions and rewards for credit card users.