HDFC Bank remains a popular choice for credit card users thanks to frequent accelerated rewards programs like 5X and 10X points. Historically, many of these promotions were restricted to specific merchants, but a recent offer made it easier to earn extra reward points. Between 15 January 2018 and 31 January 2018, cardholders who spent a minimum of ₹15,000 qualified for 10X reward points on eligible spends during the promotional window.
Key details of the 10X promotion
- Minimum spend to qualify: ₹15,000. Spends below this threshold earn the regular 1X points. Once your cumulative spends meet or exceed ₹15,000 during the promotional period, the additional 9X points (for a total of 10X) apply to eligible transactions.
- Eligible spends: The initial email referenced “online” spending, but the SmartBuy detailed terms refer to “retail spends” without explicitly limiting to online transactions. While it appears the offer can apply to all retail purchases, it is advisable to ensure at least ₹15,000 of your qualifying spend is completed online if you want to be certain of eligibility.
- Posting timeline: The 9X bonus reward points are expected to be credited by 30 June 2018.
- Maximum bonus: 10,000 reward points.
- If you hold more than one HDFC credit card, contact HDFC customer service to confirm which of your cards is eligible to receive this offer.
This promotion stacked on top of other ongoing HDFC reward offers makes it an attractive period for earning accelerated rewards. Current programs include:
- 5X points on select merchants such as Caratlane and BigBasket for many HDFC credit cards.
- 10X points on SmartBuy purchases using eligible HDFC cards.
- 10X points for partner merchants on HDFC Diners cards.
- 10X points on all international transactions for HDFC Diners cards.
- And, for the promotional window above, 10X points on qualifying spends across HDFC cards until 31 January 2018, provided the ₹15,000 threshold is met.
The ₹15,000 threshold is relatively modest and allows many cardholders to earn the full 10,000 reward-point bonus. For premium cardholders—such as those with HDFC Diners Black or HDFC Infinia—this effectively represents a high-value reward of roughly ₹10,000 worth of points. Newer Diners ClubMiles cardholders can similarly benefit by earning up to 10,000 miles through this offer. Some HDFC cards normally cap 10X earnings with partner merchants at lower limits (for example, 2,000 or 5,000 reward points), but this promotion raised the possible bonus across all eligible cards to up to 10,000 points during the specified period.
Update: The offer appears to be targeted for some customers. HDFC updated terms indicating that the qualifying spend (online or offline) depends on the specific communication you received, so check your email or message from the bank for the exact eligibility details.
How do you view this promotion? Has HDFC become more aggressive with rewards following competitive programs from other issuers like Yes Bank? Share your thoughts in the comments.