In India, the name SBI is closely associated with trust in banking. Its long history and status as a government-owned bank have helped it build a wide customer base. When SBI expanded into credit cards, these strengths helped attract many account holders to its card offerings.
Like any large issuer, SBI Cards receives mixed feedback on customer service. Despite that, given its scale, SBI is positioned to become one of the country’s largest credit card issuers. I previously had the SimplyCLICK card but recently switched to the SimplySAVE card for personal reasons and a better fit with my spending habits.
SBI’s embossed cards are often among the most attractive in the market, and the SimplySAVE is no exception. The card is available on both Visa and Mastercard platforms. Previously, Visa variants carried “VISA Platinum” and Mastercard versions bore “Mastercard Titanium.” When I swapped my SimplyCLICK Mastercard, I received the Mastercard variant of SimplySAVE.
The card features a deep blue design with a prominent “₹” motif. It also displays the updated Mastercard logo and no longer uses the “Titanium” label.
Benefits of SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card:
- Welcome benefit: Earn 2,000 Reward Points (RPs) if you spend more than ₹2,000 within 60 days of card issuance. This effectively covers the ₹500 joining fee (₹500 + GST), since the points translate to a cashback amount.
- 10X RPs on Dining, Movies, Grocery and Departmental Stores. This is the standout feature—spending at supermarkets and departmental stores can translate to an effective 2.5% cashback, which is notable for a card with low joining and annual fees.
- Base reward rate: 1 RP per ₹100 spent (equivalent to 0.25% cashback). This base rate is modest, so the card is best for those whose spending aligns with the higher-earning categories. For heavy online shoppers, the SimplyCLICK card may offer better value.
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% waiver across all petrol pumps for transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000, capped at ₹100 per month.
- Annual fee waiver: The ₹500 + GST membership fee is waived if annual spends exceed ₹90,000—an attainable threshold for many cardholders.
- Add-on cards: You can apply for up to two add-on cards free of charge.
- Statement credit redemption: Reward points can be redeemed as statement credit, with a minimum redemption threshold of 2,000 RPs. This makes it easy to convert points into a direct reduction on the card statement. Confirm if any redemption fee applies before redeeming.
- Retail offers: SBI Cards frequently runs discount campaigns (10–15% off) on major e-commerce sites during sale events. These partner discounts are a practical reason to keep an SBI credit card in your wallet.
- Card Expert Rating: 3.5/5
UPDATE: Several users have reported a redemption fee of ₹99 + GST when converting points to statement credit. Please confirm the fee with SBI Cards before redeeming.
What do you think of this card? Is it a good option for low spenders or for adding to a parent’s wallet? Have you used it before or plan to apply? Share your experience in the comments.