Important Update: Yes Bank is currently unstable as a bank, and therefore its credit cards are not recommended for primary or secondary use. Please update your credit card strategy accordingly.
The YES FIRST Exclusive Credit Card is positioned above the YES First Preferred Credit Card and represents one of Yes Bank’s most premium offerings. Many of its features appear tailored to compete directly with other top-tier products, offering privileges that rival or, in some areas, surpass competing cards.
Unlike many super-premium cards in India that operate on Visa Signature/Infinite, the YES FIRST Exclusive Card runs on the MasterCard network and still provides a strong suite of benefits.
- Joining Fee / Renewal Fee: Rs. 10,000 + GST
YES FIRST Exclusive Credit Card benefits
Rewards and Welcome Bonus
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 points (equivalent to Rs. 12,500)
- Value: 1 point = Rs. 0.25
- Earn rate: 10 reward points per Rs. 100 spent
- Spend milestone bonus: 25,000 reward points on achieving annual spend of INR 20 lakh
- Overall effective reward rate: approximately 2.5%
The welcome bonus roughly offsets the joining fee in value. Redemption options are somewhat limited on the issuer’s portal; the best value tends to be when points are used for flight redemptions.
Golf Program (MasterCard)
- Waiver of green fees at select golf courses in India
- Complimentary golf lessons at select golf courses in India
The golf privileges can be useful for enthusiasts; coverage and participating venues should be confirmed with the issuer for exact availability.
Complimentary Lounge Access
- Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access (primary and add-on cards)
- Unlimited MasterCard Lounge access to 30+ lounges across Indian airports (primary cardholder only)
Priority Pass membership provides entry to over 1,200 lounges worldwide, which is valuable for frequent international travelers. A notable advantage of this card is that add-on cardholders also receive unlimited Priority Pass access, a benefit that many premium cards do not extend to add-on members. Additionally, the card includes unlimited access to participating MasterCard airport lounges across India.
YES ASSIST – Dedicated Concierge Services
- Car rental and limousine referral and reservation assistance
- Hotel, travel, restaurant and event referral and reservation assistance
- Movie ticket assistance in select cities (New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai)
- Flower and gift delivery assistance
- Emergency towing and roadside repair assistance
The concierge service covers a wide range of lifestyle and travel needs, although global premium cardholders may find specialized concierge desks from other issuers (for example, American Express) more comprehensive in some cases.
Insurance and Travel Protection
- Air accidental death cover: Rs. 3 crore
- Overseas medical emergency cover: Rs. 50 lakh
- Credit shield: Rs. 10 lakh accidental death cover for the primary cardmember
The inclusion of a credit shield benefit is notable and provides additional protection for the primary cardholder in the event of accidental death.
Financial Charges
- Foreign currency markup: 1.75%
This card’s foreign exchange markup is among the lowest in the market, making it an attractive option for frequent international spenders. Cardholders should still compare forex-related costs with other products, including debit cards and specialized travel cards, when planning travel spend.
Is the YES FIRST Exclusive Credit Card the best choice?
The YES FIRST Exclusive card delivers strong premium benefits: lounge access, concierge services, travel insurance and a competitive forex markup. While its ongoing reward earn rate of 2.5% is slightly lower than some competitors (for example, cards with a 3.3% effective reward rate), it remains superior to many other offerings in the market. Overall value will depend on where you redeem points and which benefits you use most.
Services and reward redemptions are expected to be consistent with other loyalty programs managed by the same administrator, but actual experience may vary. If you already hold a premium card with a high credit limit, the issuer may grant a lifetime-free variant of this card—note that such a free variant might exclude welcome bonus points and other premium memberships.
CardExpert Rating: 4/5
If you own this card or are considering it, evaluate how its benefits align with your travel and lifestyle needs before applying. Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments if applicable.