SBI Card Rule: If you’re one of the millions of customers of SBI Card, the country’s largest card issuer, 2026 brings many new changes. At the beginning of this year, the bank made extensive revisions to its rules, rewards structure, and airport lounge access features, which will directly impact your wallet and travel experience. While new protocols have been implemented to enhance the security of digital transactions, benefits for certain categories have been reduced to maintain portfolio stability.
Airport Lounge Access and Rewards Structure
In accordance with new guidelines effective January 2026, SBI Card has revised the eligibility criteria for domestic airport lounge access for several of its popular mid-range cards. While previously available for up to eight free lounge access points annually on select cards, this limit has now been reduced to one per quarter, potentially incurring additional costs for frequent travellers.
Additionally, the rules for reward points have been tightened, with no points being awarded on transactions such as rent payments, government service fees, and online gaming. This move by the bank is aimed at preventing unauthorized transactions that were being made solely for the purpose of earning rewards.
Interest Rates and Late Payment Charges
Failing to pay your credit card bill on time in 2026 could prove to be very detrimental to your financial health, as finance charges have now increased to 3.75 percent per month, amounting to approximately 45 percent annually. Transparency has also been introduced in the calculation of the Minimum Amount Due (MAD), which now prioritizes GST, EMI installments, and all late fees included in the bill.
Under the Income Tax Department’s new rules, if an individual’s annual credit card spending exceeds the ₹10 lakh limit, the bank must report it to the department, making it even more important to monitor large expenditures.
What to do with changing rules
These recent changes to SBI card rules indicate that customers need to be more vigilant to take advantage of rewards and benefits. Experts advise using only cards that match your spending patterns, such as SimplyClick, which remains a great option for online shoppers.
Cash advances, or ATM withdrawals, should be avoided altogether, as they attract high interest rates from the first day of the transaction. Choosing the right card for your needs and making timely payments can help you maximize the benefits of credit cards.
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