Equitas Small Finance Bank has introduced the Selfe Credit Card as a mid-range option positioned between its entry-level Tiga card and the premium PowerMiles card. The Selfe stands out for its customization options, letting cardholders select reward categories and choose the card’s appearance. Below is a detailed look at the card’s features, rewards, and who benefits most from it.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Fees & Benefits
- Choose Your Design
- Rewards
- 5X Rewards
- Privilege Program
- Redemptions
- Airport Lounge Access
- Should you get it?
- Bottomline
Overview
| Type | Semi-Premium Credit Card |
| Reward Rate | 0.7% to 10% |
| Joining Fee | |
| Best for | Shopping Spends |
| USP | 5X Rewards on Select Categories |
The Selfe card provides customization uncommon at this price point, but its full potential appears for cardholders who spend enough to reach higher tiers in the bank’s Privilege Program. Low spenders will find the base returns modest.
Fees & Benefits
| Joining Fee | |
| Welcome Benefit | 2 Complimentary Memberships |
| Renewal Fee | 1,000+GST |
| Renewal Benefit | – |
| Renewal Fee waiver | 2.4L INR spend in a Year |
On joining, you can claim any two complimentary short-term memberships from this list:
- Amazon Prime
- Jio Hotstar
- Discovery+
- Sony LIV
- Zee5
These complimentary services can be activated one day after card activation and remain valid for 90 days. Amazon Prime and Hotstar typically offer the most immediate value.
*** Limited Period Offer: First Year FREE ***
Choose Your Design
The Selfe card comes in three design options—one complimentary and two paid:
| CARD STYLE | ADDITIONAL CHARGE |
|---|---|
| Classic Blue (Plastic) | Nil |
| Green (Recycled Plastic) | ₹250 + GST |
| Metal Card | ₹3,500 + GST |
Most users will find the free blue plastic option attractive. You also choose between Visa and RuPay networks; RuPay is preferable if you want direct UPI linking. Billing cycle dates can be set to the 12th, 16th, or 20th of each month to better align with salary dates.
Rewards
| SPEND TYPE | REWARDS | REWARD RATE (Blue Tier) |
REWARD RATE (Diamond Tier) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Chosen Categories (5X) | 10 RP / ₹100 | 3.5% | 10% |
| All Other Spends (Base) | 2 RP / ₹100 | 0.7% | 2% |
- Point Value (Base): 1 RP = 0.35 INR (vouchers/travel), 0.15 INR (cashback)
- Point Value (Diamond): 1 RP = 1 INR (vouchers/travel), 0.50 INR (cashback)
The real value comes from selecting the right 5X categories and reaching Diamond tier in the Privilege Program. Note exclusions: rent, wallet, fuel, and government spends do not earn rewards. Grocery and utility rewards are capped at 2,000 reward points per month per category; insurance is capped at 2,000 points per day.
5X Rewards
Cardholders choose any two of these five categories to earn 5X reward points:
- Utility
- Apparel
- Dining
- Taxi
- Grocery (capped at 2000 points/month)
Avoid selecting Grocery as a 5X category unless your grocery spend is low; the 2,000 points/month cap limits gains after about ₹20,000 in monthly grocery spending. Categories such as Apparel currently do not show a published monthly cap, making them more attractive for accelerated rewards.
Privilege Program
All Equitas credit cards participate in a tiered Privilege Program with five levels. Progression requires meeting spend thresholds for three consecutive months within a calendar quarter (Jan–Mar, Apr–Jun, Jul–Sep, Oct–Dec). Status is reviewed quarterly and can change based on recent spend patterns.
Diamond tier significantly increases rewards: at that level 1 RP is worth 1 INR, so the 5X categories effectively yield a 10% return. Diamond also offers other premium benefits like 0% forex markup, limited golf access, and annual flight and hotel vouchers worth ₹6,500. The program rewards heavy spenders most; casual users will typically remain in the Blue tier with average returns.
Redemptions
- Flights & Hotels
- Bus
- Vouchers
- Merchandise
- Billpay
Equitas supports redemptions through its Xchange Rewards portal where points can be used for travel bookings, vouchers (including Amazon Pay), merchandise, and bill payments. The portal has had stability issues, so experience may vary. Cash credit redemptions are available but return roughly half the value compared to voucher or travel redemptions, even in Diamond tier—vouchers usually offer better value.
Airport Lounge Access
| ACCESS TYPE | LIMIT |
|---|---|
| Domestic | 1 / quarter |
The card offers one complimentary domestic airport lounge access per quarter. Limits are modest but don’t require additional spend to qualify.
Should you get it?
If you have significant monthly spending in the 5X categories—Apparel, Dining, Utility, or Taxi—the Selfe card can be highly rewarding. Reaching Diamond tier effectively converts selected category spends into a 10% return when redeemed for vouchers or travel, which is excellent value for non-travel-focused redeemers.
*** Limited Period Offer: First Year FREE ***
Bottomline
- CardExpert Rating: 4.5/5
The Equitas Selfe Credit Card is a compelling mid-range product that can function like a premium card for disciplined, high spenders who choose the right reward categories and pursue higher tiers. Its customization options and the potential for very high returns in top tiers are definite strengths.
However, the low base reward rate and the requirement to meet sustained spend thresholds to reach Diamond tier mean the card is best suited to those who can maintain substantial spending. Casual users may find simpler cards with steady cashback better suited to their needs.
If you already hold the Equitas Selfe Credit Card, feel free to share your experience in the comments section.