Yes Bank Marquee Credit Card Review: Features, Benefits & Perks

Yes Bank has made a notable return to the premium credit card market, refreshing some legacy products and introducing new ones. The Marquee card is their new super-premium offering, and this article examines its features, costs and benefits to help you decide if it fits your needs.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the Yes Bank Marquee Credit Card, covering fees, rewards, benefits and the application experience.

Table of Contents

  • Overview
  • Joining Fees
  • Design
  • Rewards
  • Forex Markup Fee
  • Redemption
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Golf Benefit
  • Other Benefits
  • Reserv vs Marquee
  • Should you get Marquee?
  • Eligibility
  • How to apply?
  • Onboarding Experience
  • Bottomline

Overview

Type Super Premium Credit Card
Reward Rate 2.25% – 4.5%
Best for Online Spends

Marquee targets users who prioritise high online rewards. If most of your spending is digital, this card is positioned as a top contender in the super-premium segment.

Joining Fees

Joining Fee 9,999 INR + GST
Joining Fee Reversal
Welcome Benefit 40,000 Reward Points (10K INR value)
Renewal / Annual Fee 4,999 INR + GST
Renewal Fee waiver On spending >10 Lakhs
Renewal Benefit 20,000 Reward Points (if fee is paid)

Unlike some Yes Bank cards, Marquee does not offer a joining fee waiver. The welcome points and the renewal-waiver threshold are important to factor into your cost-benefit calculation.

Design

The card presents a premium look. The Visa branding is subtle and the card is currently issued on the Visa Infinite platform.

Rewards

SPEND TYPE REWARD POINTS REWARD RATE Max. Cap
Online Spends 36 / 200 INR ~4.5% 1,00,000
Offline Spends 18 / 200 INR ~2.25%
Select Categories 10 / 200 INR ~1.25%
  • Select Categories: Recharge & utility bill payments, Insurance, Education (refer MCC for details)
  • Exclusions: Rental, Wallet, Fuel, Government and Marketing/Advertising transactions do not earn rewards
  • Online spend cap: 1,00,000 points per statement cycle (roughly equivalent to ~5.5 lakh INR spend). After this cap, online transactions earn the offline reward rate
  • 1% processing fee applies to utility and education payments

If more than 80% of your spending is online, Marquee’s accelerated online reward rate makes it highly attractive. The subscription-based accelerated reward plans available on other cards are not offered on Marquee.

Update: Yes Bank now restricts reward redemptions to cover up to 70% of a transaction value, with the remaining amount payable by the cardholder.

Forex Markup Fee

  • Forex Markup Fee: 1% + GST = 1.2%
  • Net gain (online spends): ≈ 3.3% (4.5% – 1.2%)
  • Net gain (offline spends): ≈ 1% (2.25% – 1.2%)

For international online transactions, Marquee’s forex markup is competitive, leaving a strong effective reward. For international offline spends it compares favourably with other leading super-premium cards.

Redemption

  • Flights/Hotels: 0.25 INR per point (Redemption Limit: 3,00,000 points per calendar month)
  • Vouchers: 0.15 INR per point (recent reduction from 0.25 INR)

A significant advantage is the ability to redeem points directly against flights and hotels at a straightforward revenue rate. This is useful if you prefer simple, predictable redemptions instead of managing complex transfer conversions.

Airport Lounge Access

ACCESS TYPE VIA LIMIT Guest Access
Domestic (Primary & Add-on) Visa / Mastercard 6/Qtr 2/Qtr (shared)
International (Primary & Add-on) Visa / Mastercard Unlimited 2/Qtr (shared)
  • Domestic lounge spend requirement: 1,00,000 INR in the previous calendar quarter

Both primary and add-on cards get domestic and international lounge access. International lounges can be accessed via the card directly (no additional Priority Pass needed). Guest access is shared between domestic and international lounge allowances.

Yes Bank cards also include access to certain arrival lounges at BLR airport, which is a notable convenience for some travellers.

Golf Benefit

  • 4 complimentary games per year (maximum 1 per month)
  • 1 lesson per month

Golf benefits are provided through Visa and Mastercard programs tied to the card, allowing limited complimentary rounds and lessons each year.

Other Benefits

  • Purchase protection: Insurance cover up to INR 50,000 against accidental damage for six months on mobile and electronics purchased online
  • BookMyShow offer: Buy 1 Get 1 free, up to three tickets per month (discount cap applies)

Purchase protection is a relatively new addition to the Indian credit card market and enhances the card’s value for online electronics buyers. The ticket offer is useful for frequent moviegoers.

Reserv vs Marquee

The Yes Bank Reserv card can match Marquee’s online returns if you opt for its paid subscription plan, but managing that subscription has become cumbersome for many users. Marquee provides similar or better benefits without a subscription and has a higher monthly redemption cap, making it preferable for many customers.

Should you get Marquee?

Marquee is a strong choice if you prioritise online rewards, low forex markup, and lounge access for add-on cards. It offers a competitive reward rate and a reasonable renewal fee for the super-premium category.

If your online spending is limited, compare alternatives such as cashback-focused cards that may provide better direct value for smaller online spend patterns.

Eligibility

  • Salaried or self-employed applicants
  • Net salary > 3 lakhs per month or ITR > 24 lakhs (for offline physical applications)

Approval chances improve if you already have other credit cards with larger limits reported to your credit file. Eligibility criteria can vary by application channel.

How to apply?

  • Online: Apply via Yes Bank’s website
  • Branch – Digital: Bank staff can initiate the application remotely with your OTP and PAN
  • Branch – Physical: Submit signed physical documents at a branch

Online self-application is smooth for most applicants. If online approval isn’t available, branch-assisted digital or physical applications are alternatives.

Onboarding Experience

A recent branch-digital application completed smoothly: OTP and PAN were shared, address details auto-fetched from credit reports, and the chosen card was applied for within minutes. Video KYC was arranged separately and also completed quickly. Approval typically came within a few days and card delivery followed promptly.

One limitation of the digital branch route is limited visibility of alternative card options during the process — applicants may not be presented with multiple eligible cards to choose from.

Bottomline

  • Cardexpert Rating: 4.5/5

The Yes Bank Marquee Credit Card is one of the strongest super-premium options for users with high online spending. It combines a high online reward rate, useful lifestyle benefits and competitive forex pricing. The main limitations are changes in redemption policies and the lack of transferable points to international airline or hotel programs, which may matter to frequent travellers who value transferable miles.

Caution: Yes Bank’s credit card features are subject to frequent change, so benefits and terms may be updated.

If you own Yes Bank’s Marquee Credit Card, feel welcome to share your experience in the comments.