ICICI Bank has quietly introduced a new gemstone-themed lineup of travel forex cards aimed at international travellers who spend in foreign currencies. The collection includes two variants — Sapphiro and Coral — mirroring the bank’s existing credit and debit card naming convention.
The cards offer clear, attractive benefits with fewer fine-print clauses than typical product launches. Below is a detailed overview of each card and its features.
Table of Contents
- 1. Sapphiro Travel Card
- Joining Fee
- Benefits
- 2. Coral Travel Card
- Joining Fee
- Benefits
- Bottomline
1. Sapphiro Travel Card
Joining Fee
- Joining fee – Rs 2,999 + GST
- Annual fee – Rs 999 + GST from the second year
Benefits
- 0% mark-up on cross-currency transactions — no markup on transactions that require currency conversion across currencies
- 5% cashback on airline and hotel bookings made online, capped at Rs 3,000 per month
- International lounge access: two complimentary DragonPass lounge visits (digital access)
- Uber vouchers: Rs 1,000 value
- SRL Executive health check-up worth Rs 2,750
- OneAssist Complete Cards protection for card and wallet security
- Lost card/counter card liability coverage up to Rs 5,00,000
These features are compelling, especially the 0% markup claim and the monthly capped cashback on travel bookings. One important detail still pending is the exact conversion rate applied when loading foreign currency on the card. Without that information, it’s difficult to fully confirm the real cost advantage of the 0% markup on cross-currency spends.
Overall, the Sapphiro card’s benefits appear to outweigh the fees for frequent travellers, and the card design is notably attractive.
2. Coral Travel Card
Joining Fee
- Joining fee – Rs 499 + GST
- Annual fee – Rs 299 + GST from the second year
Benefits
- Uber vouchers: Rs 1,000 (minimum load: USD 1,000)
- BookMyShow vouchers: Rs 500
- OneAssist Complete Cards protection for card and wallet security
- Lost card/counter card liability coverage up to Rs 5,00,000
The Coral card is positioned as a basic travel forex product. The card literature does not mention any reduced markup on foreign exchange transactions, which implies the standard forex markup (typically around 3.5% + GST) may apply. For travellers primarily focused on minimizing forex costs, premium credit cards or established forex cards with lower markup or promotional loading offers may be preferable.
Bottomline
ICICI Bank’s gemstone travel card collection shows the bank is actively refreshing its card lineup with thoughtful features. In a short period, ICICI has introduced meaningful improvements across its card offerings, which benefits customers and increases competition in the market.
For customers who prefer a dedicated forex card over credit cards, the Sapphiro travel card appears to meet the needs of premium travellers, provided the currency conversion rates for loading funds are competitive and transparent. The Coral card serves budget-minded users but lacks forex markup advantages that would make it stand out for international spending.
Have you tried either of these new ICICI travel cards, or are you considering one? Share your experience or thoughts in the comments below.