A detailed description of the credit card companies in India and their key benefits, market share and recent changes is given below, which is explained in detail. Through this, you can know well about the credit card companies.
🏦 Major Credit Card Issuers
1. HDFC Bank
- It is India’s largest private sector credit card company, having distributed over 20 million active cards as of March 2025.
- Head of HDFC BankPopular cards are Regalia, Diners Club Black, Millennia, MoneyBack, Paytm HDFC Digital.
- Key Benefits: Reward points, lounge access, fuel surcharge waiver, online cashback – all are beneficial for everyone.
- Latest changes:From July 1, 2025, new transaction charges will be applicable on rent payments, online gaming, wallet loading, and reward points may be limited or discontinued on certain investment and insurance transactions.
- 2. SBI Card
- India’s second largest issuer; SBI Card, a subsidiary of SBI Bank, has issued over 2 crore active cards.
- SBI BankPopular cards are – SimplyCLICK, Prime, ELITE, Club Vistara, Air India Platinum/Signature.
- SBI BankThe key benefits are as follows – special offers on online shopping, fuel surcharge waiver, travel and entertainment.
- In SBI Banklatest updates Free air accident insurance is being discontinued on some SBI cards from July 2025 (paisabazaar.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com)।
- 3. ICICI Bank
- Third largest private card issuer; approximately 18.2 million cards ativos (cardinsider.com)।
- Popular cards: Coral, Sapphiro, Signature (MMT), Rubix.
- Key Benefits: Travel discounts, dining offers, faster reward points.
- 4. Axis Bank
- Fourth largest issuer; around 14.9 million cards (inventiva.co.in, navbharattimes.indiatimes.com, cardinsider.com)।
- Popular cards: Magnus, Flipkart Axis, Ace, ATLAS (Travel).
- Main Benefits: Cashback (Flipkart, GooglePay), Airport Lounge, Travel Benefits (inventiva.co.in, indiancompanies.in)।
- 5. Kotak Mahindra Bank
- About 48.5 lakh cards (bajajfinservmarkets.in)।
- Popular cards: PVR Gold, Royale Signature, Myntra Kotak (which will be changed to League Card) (inventiva.co.in)।
- Key Benefits: Entertainment, Travel, Fuel Surcharge Waiver.
- 6. American Express (AmEx)
- Leader in premium segment; ~14.5 Lakh cards.
- Major cards: Platinum, Gold, SmartEarn, Platinum Travel.
- Key Benefits: Global Concierge, Travel Insurance, Reward Points.
- 7. RBL Bank
- ~48 lakh cards (creditkaro.com, en.wikipedia.org)।
- Popular cards: Shoprite, Icon.
- Key Benefits: Shopping rewards, easy EMI options.
- 8. IDFC FIRST Bank
- ~35.5 lakh cards (cardinsider.com, inventiva.co.in)।
- Key Benefits: Rewards on domestic and international spends.
- 9. IndusInd Bank
~31.6 lakh cards (visitbest.in, cardinsider.com)।
Top cards: Legend, Iconia—designed with premium customers in mind.
10. Yes Bank
~2.4 million cards (inventiva.co.in)।
Popular cards: Prosperity Edge, First Preferred.
Main Benefits: Travel, Movies, Milestone Rewards.
🗂 Other Issuers - Bajaj Finserv/Bajaj Finance– NBFCs offering credit cards via Airtel Insta EMI Card (inventiva.co.in, en.wikipedia.org)।
HSBC, Standard Chartered– Foreign banks offer limited but excellent credit card range (up to ~8.6 lakh cards).
Public Sector:BOBCARD, PNB, Canara Bank, Union Bank– Major PSU card issuers (cardinsider.com)।
🔍 Key Comparison
Bank/Company
Active Cards (Approx.)
key benefits
Recent changes
HDFC Bank
2 Crore+
Reward Points, Lounge, Cashback
Transaction fee update (1 Jul 2025)
SBI Card
2 Crore+
Online Shopping, Travel Plus Insurance
Air Insurance Discontinued (Jul 2025)
ICICI Bank
1.82 crores
Travel, Dining
–
Axis Bank
1.49 crores
Cashback, Flipkart and Travel Specials
–
Kotak Mahindra
48.5 lakhs
Movie, Travel
Myntra → League Card (Jul 2025)
AmEx
14.5 lakhs
Premium Benefits
– - ✅ Tip: How to choose your card?
- Look at your spending habits– Travel, shopping, restaurants?
- Benefits and fees– Annual Fee, Lounge, Insurance, Rewards Eligibility, Surcharges.
- Latest Rules– Keep in mind the updates mentioned above, like changes by HDFC/ICICI/SBI.
- Customer Support– View revenge, complaints and facility availability.