2016 was a rewarding year for me: I gained access to several premium credit cards and enjoyed substantial rewards, cashbacks and promotional benefits, even though there were a few devaluations along the way. Below I highlight the cards that delivered the best returns in 2016 — many of the patterns continued into 2017.
Looking for the latest list for 2017? Here it is: 25+ Best credit cards in India (2017)
Best Credit Cards in India that Helped Save the Most in 2016
#1 HDFC Diners Black
My HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card (India)
HDFC Diners Club Black topped my list thanks to its 10X reward points offer with partner brands, which translated to effective savings of up to a third on qualifying spends. I joined a bit late but still accumulated a significant number of points. One disappointment: a planned transfer to the Hyatt loyalty program was removed before I could redeem for it.
- Example: How I bought an iPhone 7 for Rs.21,700 using rewards
- Full review: HDFC Diners Black Review
#2 Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card in my Wallet
The Amex Platinum Travel card delivers a strong baseline reward rate (around 8% effective in certain categories) and consistently ran attractive promotions in 2016. Fuel cashback promotions and offers like 10% value back as Tanishq gold vouchers made this card one of the best travel-oriented options alongside Diners Black.
- Examples: Amex fuel cashback and Tanishq gold voucher promotions
- Full review: Amex Platinum Travel Card Review
#3 HDFC Regalia
HDFC Regalia Credit Card
Regalia offered a respectable rewards rate and was widely used for lounge access via its Priority Pass benefits. The card saw meaningful changes in 2016 — including devaluations and adjustments to lounge access — but targeted promotions such as a 5X rewards offer still made it lucrative for periods of the year.
- Example: Earned 27,500 reward points in a month during a promotional period
- Full review: HDFC Regalia Review
#4 SBI Signature Credit Card (Now Elite)
The SBI Signature card offered strong milestone rewards when I had it, and later evolved into the SBI Elite card with slightly reduced benefits after devaluation. I was able to capture milestone rewards and take advantage of unique perks such as BookMyShow offers that made the card valuable for entertainment spends.
- Example: Earned the equivalent of Rs.18,000 via milestone and promotional rewards
- Full review: SBI Elite Card Review
#5 HDFC Infinia
HDFC Infinia is often regarded as the flagship “BAAP” card: a strong default reward rate (around 3.3%), virtually unlimited Priority Pass lounge access and premium privileges. Targeted 5X rewards on select partners added extra upside during promotional windows.
- Full review: HDFC Infinia Review
#6 Yes First Exclusive Credit Card
Yes Bank entered the premium card space in 2016 with aggressive customer acquisition. The Yes First Exclusive card competes closely with Infinia on benefits and is relatively easier to obtain. The Yes First Preferred (Preferred credit card) also proved popular thanks to early promotional enrollment opportunities like card-on-card offers.
- Full review: Yes First Exclusive Card Review
#7 Citi Prestige
Citi Prestige is relatively rare in India because of a high joining fee, but for cardholders it provided flexibility for points-to-miles and hotel program redemptions. Benefits such as multiple free add-on cards and unlimited Priority Pass access for the primary and add-on members made it attractive for frequent travelers.
- Full review: Citi Prestige Review
Alongside these premium cards, several semi-premium and entry-level cards also delivered solid value in 2016. Notable mentions include:
- SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card — strong for online spends
- Citibank PremierMiles Credit Card — travel-focused miles
- Standard Chartered Manhattan Credit Card — straightforward cashback
- SBI Air India Signature Credit Card — useful for frequent Air India flyers
- Amex Gold Charge Card — premium Amex benefits
- IndusInd Iconia Credit Card (Amex) — niche Amex offering
- RBL Bank Platinum Delight Credit Card — value-oriented rewards
- RBL Fun+ (Movies and More) Credit Card — entertainment-focused benefits
Overall, 2016 was an excellent year for extracting value from credit card rewards and promotions. The arrival of new issuers like Yes Bank increased competition and led to more attractive offers for consumers.
How about you? Which card gave you the most rewards or cashback in 2016? Share your experience in the comments below.