Credit Card- Big news for Credit Card holders. Before this festive season, the bank has made a big change in the reward points program of its credit card. These changes will come into effect from next month i.e. 1 September 2025. In such a situation, let us know how it will directly affect the people.
What will be the effect?
According to the new rules, you will no longer get any reward points on expenses made on digital gaming platforms and government portals. That is, if you buy credit for online gaming or pay for any government service, then there will no longer be a facility of points on these transactions.
This is not the first time that SBI Card has taken such a decision. Earlier in December 2024, the company had also discontinued the facility of giving points on spending on digital gaming platforms on some cards.
HDFC also did this
Not only SBI, but HDFC Bank also made a similar change for its customers. In June 2025, HDFC announced that from July 1, 2025, reward points will not be available on skill-based gaming transactions on any of its credit cards.
Rules related to reward points
The bank has also clarified some rules related to reward points, such as
- Redemption Charges: Rs 99 + taxes will have to be paid on redeeming reward points.
- No registration required – There is no need for any new registration for online rewards redemption.
- Delivery Address – The redeemed product will be shipped to the cardholder’s address only.
- Dues Payment – You can also use points to pay off your card dues, but this will be possible only in multiples of 2,000 points.
- Points will not be transferable – Reward points from different cards cannot be combined or transferred.
What is the effect on users ?
These changes coming just before the festive season will have a greater impact on those customers who regularly use SBI cards for online gaming and government services. Now they will not be able to get the additional benefit i.e. reward points on these transactions.