BOB Eterna Credit Card Review: Firsthand User Experience and Benefits

Bank of Baroda recently introduced a couple of new credit cards, with Eterna positioned as the premium option available to the public. I received the card recently and this article describes my onboarding experience from application to first statements.

This write-up focuses on my personal experience with the application, delivery, and initial usage. For a full breakdown of features and benefits, refer to other product reviews.

Application Process

I began by submitting my details online. The submission routes your information to a regional team that handles online applications; this may not always be the nearest branch. About two weeks after submitting my details I received a call inviting me to proceed without opening a new bank account.

I provided the requested documents and a physical verification took place about a week later. The verifier took a photograph of the exterior of my home, which felt unusual but was part of the process.

Despite a successful verification, the application initially showed as “not approved due to internal policies.” The root cause was a policy change requiring a Bank of Baroda savings account for some new applications. After escalating the matter, the team rechecked my CIBIL score and the card was approved and delivered within a week of that recheck.

Note: Some applicants complete the process entirely digitally through Video KYC, so experiences may vary.

Credit Limit

My card carried a credit limit typical for a premium credit card. It is lower than the limits on my ultra-premium cards, but adequate for starting to use the product and test the benefits.

Unboxing

The delivery agent announced, “Sir, you’ve got a new card from Mastercard,” — the outer packaging is prominently branded with Mastercard logos.

The card arrived in a box that includes a wallet-style holder. The packaging is serviceable, though not pristine. Below are photos of the box and wallet included with the primary card:

The included wallet is more like a passport holder than a multi-card wallet. I would have preferred a black finish; the current design feels a bit large for casual carry but should be useful for keeping passport and travel documents safe.

The Card

The Eterna card features subtle blue accents. I accidentally scratched a small section while removing adhesive, which affected the glossy finish in that area. The card uses a clean layout with the card numbers printed on the back. The overall look is decent but not particularly striking — the greenish tone is a conservative choice and may not deliver a strong “wow” factor.

Add-On card

I applied for an add-on card through the netbanking portal, but the online request did not complete as expected. Ultimately I had to email the support team with the documents to get the add-on processed. After that, processing took about a week and the physical card arrived within two weeks of the request.

The add-on card is packaged in a more premium hard-cover box compared with the primary card packaging. Photos of the add-on packaging:

Net Banking

Credit card account management is available through the Bobcards online portal. It covers essential functions but is not feature-rich. Key capabilities include:

• Viewing monthly statements
• Checking unbilled transactions
• Viewing reward points
• Placing points redemption requests for cash credit (credit is not instant)

There is no dedicated mobile app for the card; the mobile web interface of the portal works reasonably well. Requests submitted through the portal can take time to be processed, which is an area that could be improved.

Service and support

Customer support needs work. My experience across different channels was:

1. Phone Support: A dedicated toll-free Eterna helpline (1800 103 1002) connects to an executive and provides better service than the general support line.
2. Email Support: A dedicated Eterna email address provides less robotic responses and is more helpful. Typical turnaround is two to three days.
3. Social Media: Responses via social channels are limited to taking details and sharing them internally, with slow follow-up. Improvements are needed here.

In many cases, issues such as reward points discrepancies auto-resolve within about a month, but resolution times can be long.

Things to note

1. Milestone Rewards: 10,000 points are awarded as a milestone benefit after spending ₹50,000 within 60 days; these posted on the first statement in my case.
2. Joining Fee Waiver: If eligible, the joining fee reversal appears on the next statement after meeting the criteria.
3. Bonus Rewards: Accelerated rewards (for example, 5X) are posted in real time and reflected on the next statement. Statement generation typically completes within three business days into the following month.
4. Add-on Card: Applying via the dedicated Eterna email support can be more reliable than the portal.
5. Points Redemption: Redemption requests placed on the portal take about a week for the team to process.

Overall, expect to wait up to a month to see all bonus rewards and redemptions reflected. Real-time sync on the portal would be a helpful improvement.

Paying the Bills

BOBCards uses a calendar-month billing cycle, and statements are generated by the 1st of each month. After the statement is issued you receive an email with payment options. Multiple payment modes are supported, including debit cards.

Debit card payments are eligible to earn reward points on bill payments in my experience; I tested this using an IndusInd debit card and the points were awarded.

How to Apply?

You can apply for the Bank of Baroda Eterna Credit Card either offline at a branch or online via the bank’s application portal. Application routes and timelines may differ depending on whether you complete Video KYC or in-person verification.

Bottomline

The Eterna card is a solid product for the value it offers. I appreciate Bank of Baroda’s effort to add tangible touches like a travel wallet for early customers. However, premium presentation should be backed by dependable customer service and clear timelines for offer fulfilment. At present, support response times and delayed portal updates reduce the overall premium experience.

I hope the dedicated email and phone support channels become faster and more responsive. If service improves, the card will better match expectations for a premium product.

If you have a BOB Eterna or another Bank of Baroda card, feel free to share your experience in the comments below.