Hands-On Review: YES First Exclusive Credit Card from Yes Bank

Important Update: Yes Bank is currently unstable as a bank, so Yes Bank credit cards are no longer recommended for primary or secondary use. Please update your credit card strategy accordingly. Below are alternatives you can consider.

I was recently upgraded from the YES First Preferred credit card to the YES First Exclusive card. This article describes my upgrade experience and the card details. For a full feature-and-benefit review of the YES First Exclusive card, refer to the dedicated review.

YES First Exclusive Credit Card Upgrade Process

I prepared the ground for upgrade by increasing my spends, maintaining a healthy relationship value (NRV) with the bank and accepting temporary limit enhancements when requested. After completing about six months on the YES First Preferred card, I emailed the YES First team requesting an upgrade and a limit enhancement.

Within a week they acknowledged the request and advised it was subject to approval. A few days later the upgrade was processed and I received the new card the following week. My credit limit was later increased to a level comparable to another premium card I hold, which I appreciated.

Side note: On one occasion I exceeded my credit limit on the Preferred card and the transaction still went through. Fortunately, no over-limit fee was charged, possibly because I cleared the difference the same day.

The Card: YES First Exclusive Credit Card

The delivery box for the Exclusive card is of noticeably higher quality than the Preferred card box. The box has a satin-like finish and looks good on display. While I’m not fully sold on the card’s design, the updated MasterCard logo looks clean.

The welcome package highlights the card’s key benefit: unlimited lounge access. The card provides unlimited lounge access via both MasterCard and Priority Pass for the primary and all add-on cards. Currently Priority Pass access includes domestic lounges without charges, though that policy may change in the future.

Unlimited Priority Pass access is a significant benefit because Priority Pass covers a wide variety of lounges, including secondary lounges in arrivals or landside areas. Treat Priority Pass visits as valuable and plan them carefully.

When I received the card, there was no mention of a joining fee. No fee was charged immediately, so it appears my upgrade remained lifetime-free (LTF). However, some cardholders have reported paying a joining fee on upgrade, so fees may vary by profile.

Below are images showing the unboxing and contents of the package:

Reward Points Transfer

A major concern during upgrade is ensuring existing reward points transfer correctly. I requested the upgrade after my bonus points were credited so nothing would get stuck in the old account. I also avoided participating in recent spend-based promotions to keep the process straightforward.

Points typically take a few weeks to transfer to the new card. You must wait for the first statement on the upgraded card before you can use the transferred points.

Note: After upgrade, the old card is often marked as “TRANSFER” and remains visible in your account history. In theory, any further bonus points should accrue on the old card, but practical behavior can vary depending on timing and promotions.

Tips to Increase Upgrade Chances

1. Increase NRV: Maintain a Yes First account with a positive balance and strong overall relationship with the bank. A higher NRV helps secure a better credit limit and improves upgrade prospects.
2. Spend More: Higher transaction volumes demonstrate active usage and raise your upgrade probability.
3. Hold Other Super-Premium Cards: Having premium cards from other banks can strengthen your upgrade case.
4. Age of Card: Wait at least six months before requesting an upgrade so the bank can evaluate your account behavior.

All these factors contribute to upgrade consideration, with NRV usually being the most influential. In some cases, having an existing high-limit card from another bank (for example, an ₹8 lakh limit), a strong income tax return (ITR), and a good banking relationship can help secure the YES First Exclusive card more quickly.

Bottom Line

Overall, my upgrade experience was smooth even though YES Bank doesn’t publish a formal public upgrade process. I appreciate the YES First Exclusive card for its competitive base rewards rate and the unlimited Priority Pass lounge access.

I received the card in time for a trip to Singapore and Malaysia, where it proved useful because some online booking portals accept only Visa/MC credit cards. The card’s relatively low foreign markup and any international-spend benefits made it convenient to use while traveling.

So far, I’m pleased with the YES First Exclusive credit card experience. If you were upgraded to the YES First Exclusive card or obtained it directly, feel free to share your experience in the comments.