AU Small Finance Bank began as a vehicle financing company in 1996 and converted to a Scheduled Commercial Bank after receiving its RBI licence in 2017. Headquartered in Rajasthan, the bank is listed on both NSE and BSE and has steadily expanded its retail offerings.
AU ROYALE is the bank’s premium banking programme, designed to deliver lifestyle benefits and added value to affluent customers through exclusive services and privileges.
AU Bank has introduced multiple credit cards to broaden its product mix, though its current card features do not always match the market-leading propositions from some competitors. Below is an account of my experience with the AU Bank Royale Savings account and the associated Royale Visa Signature debit card.
Table of Contents
- Eligibility
- Opening Account
- Welcome Kit
- Card Features & Benefits
- Welcome Benefits
- Regular Benefits
- NRI / NRO Account
- Bottomline
Eligibility
- Eligibility criteria: Maintain an average monthly balance (AMB) of INR 100,000 or above in the Savings account.
The Royale account allows adding up to six family members without additional requirements. If the required AMB is not maintained, penalty charges will apply.
According to a bank executive, AU Royale account holders are likely to be pre-approved for certain AU Bank credit cards based on their relationship value; the timing and full details of such offers may become clearer in the coming months.
Opening Account
I visited a branch to enquire about the Royale account. The following day, a bank executive completed the opening formalities at my home using an integrated tablet device with a camera and biometric reader. The account went live within four days.
Timeline of my experience:
- 30 Nov 2021 – Home visit and account opening formalities completed
- 03 Dec 2021 – Email confirmation of account opening
- 06 Dec 2021 – Welcome kit delivered by courier
Welcome Kit
The welcome pack includes a stylish AU Royale Visa Signature debit card. The card comes with several features and benefits outlined below.
Card Features & Benefits
Welcome Benefits
- Up to 10% cashback on booking.com (unlimited)
- 15% discount at Titan, Hamleys, and Bata
- Up to 25% cashback on the Samsung online store
- 25% discount at the Crocs online store
- 20% off on gold making charges at Joy Alukkas and INR 3,000 off on diamond jewellery
- 10% off at Tanishq, AND, and House of Masaba
- Welcome benefits were applicable in the first year only for accounts opened prior to 01.04.2024
These welcome offers may be useful to some customers, but are limited in scope. Memberships for popular services (streaming, dining, or multi-service bundles) might have provided broader appeal.
Note: Welcome benefits were discontinued for accounts opened on or after 01.04.2024.
Regular Benefits
- Visa Signature privileges associated with the debit card
- Domestic airport lounge access: two visits per quarter
- 1% monthly cashback on non-fuel spends, capped at INR 200 per month (minimum monthly spend INR 2,500 required; cashback is posted to the account within 45 days after the transaction month)
- Buy 1 Get 1 offer on BookMyShow twice every month, up to INR 250 per ticket
- Cross-currency markup fee of 1.5%
- 30% discount on green fees at select golf courses globally
- Fuel surcharge waiver, no debit card annual fee, and higher ATM/POS limits (up to INR 400,000 per day)
- Complimentary insurance coverage: card liability cover up to INR 400,000; purchase protection up to INR 25,000; bag loss up to INR 200,000; air/personal accident cover INR 1 crore / INR 500,000 depending on the cover type
- 75% discount on locker charges for one locker per group
- Demat account annual charges waived if you open a demat with the bank
- Regular merchant offers at BigBasket and periodic discounts with popular travel partners (Cleartrip, Yatra)
- Annual milestone vouchers for high spends during the financial year
| Annual Spends* | Milestone Benefits | Voucher Details |
| INR 100,000 | INR 500 Voucher | INR 500 Amazon Voucher |
| INR 200,000 | INR 1,250 Voucher | INR 500 Amazon Voucher + INR 750 BookMyShow Voucher |
| INR 500,000 | INR 2,250 Voucher | INR 500 Amazon Voucher + INR 750 BookMyShow Voucher + INR 1,000 Taj Hotel Voucher |
| INR 1,000,000 | INR 4,750 Voucher | INR 500 Amazon Voucher + INR 750 BookMyShow Voucher + INR 1,000 Taj Hotel Voucher + INR 2,500 MakeMyTrip Voucher |
Milestone benefits are issued within 90 days after the end of the financial year. These do not apply to ATM withdrawals, fuel transactions, or cancelled transactions.
Note: Royale Debit Card milestone benefits were discontinued with effect from 01.04.2024.
As always, read the terms and conditions for each offer carefully before joining the programme. If you have questions, request written confirmation from customer care.
NRI / NRO Account
AU Royale includes an NRI/NRO variant called “AU Royale World” that requires a higher AMB (INR 500,000). One notable feature of this variant is zero markup fee on the debit card for cross-currency transactions.
Zero markup on foreign currency transactions is an aggressive benefit usually offered by a few larger banks; however, it is limited to the NRI product and is not extended to resident accounts.
Bottomline
AU Small Finance Bank offers competitive interest rates on savings and fixed deposits compared with many public sector and larger private banks, with savings rates varying by slab (roughly 3.5% to 7% depending on balance). Keep in mind that deposit insurance protection from the RBI applies up to INR 5 lakh per depositor per bank.
The Royale account is an attractive option in the premium banking segment, offering a well-designed debit card and a range of benefits at a relatively low AMB requirement. It can be useful for customers seeking family banking privileges and lounge access for cardholders.
If you bank with AU Small Finance Bank—either a savings account or a credit card—feel free to share your experience in the comments.