The HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card is a co-branded product from HDFC Bank and Equitas Small Finance Bank. It is mainly for new credit users and those who use digital services. This card offers basic yet valuable rewards, access to railway lounges, and fuel benefits, all without a joining fee. The card has an annual fee of ₹500, but this fee can be waived if you spend ₹1 lakh in a year. This makes it nearly free for regular users. It features a straightforward rewards system with up to 5X rewards on certain purchases, includes zero-cost UPI through the RuPay variant, and provides access to railway lounges. It is considered a good entry-level option for those starting with credit. The goal is clear: to make credit easy for first-time users while still offering essential lifestyle benefits.
Welcome Benefits
The Equitas Excite Credit Card does not provide a specific welcome gift like bonus CashPoints or vouchers. Users can waive the joining fee of ₹500 by spending ₹20,000 within the first 90 days of getting the card. Also, the annual fee is waived for spending ₹1 lakh each year. This can make it free for life if used regularly. Although this structure is not a typical welcome benefit, it encourages early use and offers long-term value at a low cost for active users.
Shopping & Cashback Benefits
The HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card uses a reward-based system instead of flat cashback. For regular retail purchases, you earn 2x CashPoints for every ₹150 spent. This means you get an approximate value of ₹0.66 per ₹150 or about 0.44% return when redeemed effectively. This is quite common for entry-level credit cards.
On select purchases like groceries, utility bills, and IRCTC bookings, the reward rate will be 3x, though there may be monthly limits. It’s important to remember that there is no direct cashback credited to your statement. All earnings come as CashPoints, which you can redeem through the HDFC rewards platform for flight or hotel bookings, product catalogs, or to partially pay off outstanding balances, subject to conditions.
Milestone Benefits
The HDFC Equitas Excite Credit Card provides straightforward milestone benefits to motivate monthly and yearly spending. If you spend ₹20,000 or more in a billing month, you get 500 bonus CashPoints. This monthly reward is in addition to the base 2X CashPoints on retail transactions.
Annually, if you spend ₹1.8 lakh or more during the card anniversary year, you earn an extra 2,500 CashPoints. These milestone benefits can increase your total rewards, especially if you use the card regularly. While the rewards aren’t very high in absolute terms, they offer added value with consistent use, particularly since the card is aimed at new users.
Lounge Access
The HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card provides free access to domestic airport lounges, but it uses a voucher system. To qualify, cardholders need to spend ₹50,000 or more in the previous calendar quarter. For example, spending from January to March unlocks access for April to June. Once the cardholder meets the spending requirement, they will receive an SMS and email with details on how to claim a lounge voucher. This voucher can be presented at participating lounges throughout India. Starting June 10, 2025, direct swipe access will no longer be available; only vouchers will be accepted for free entry. Vouchers have limited validity, so users must claim and use them within the given timeframe. While this process adds an extra step, it still allows for lounge access on a zero annual fee card, provided the spending criteria are met.
RewardPoints And redemption
The HDFC Equitas Excite Card offers 2× CashPoints for every ₹150 spent on regular purchases. You can earn 3× CashPoints on groceries, utility bills, and IRCTC transactions, and you get 5× points on select e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra. These extra points have monthly caps.
You can redeem CashPoints through HDFC SmartBuy or NetBanking for vouchers, travel bookings, merchandise, or statement credit. The usual value is about ₹0.20 for each point, and a redemption fee of ₹99 plus GST applies for each request. Keep in mind that there are limits on redemptions, and points cannot be converted to direct cashback at a rate of ₹1 per point like with some other premium cards.
Fees & Charges
| Charge Type | Amount / Condition |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹500 + GST (waived on spending ₹20,000 within 90 days) |
| Annual Fee (Renewal) | ₹500 + GST (waived on spending ₹1 lakh in previous card anniversary year) |
| Interest Rate (Finance Charge) | 3.75% per month (45% p.a.) |
| Late Payment Charges |
₹100: Dues ₹101–₹500 ₹500: ₹501–₹1,000 ₹600: ₹1,001–₹5,000 ₹950: ₹5,001–₹10,000 ₹1,100: ₹10,001–₹25,000 ₹1,300: Above ₹25,000 |
| Cash Withdrawal (ATM Advance) | 2.5% of amount withdrawn or ₹500 (whichever is higher) |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 3.5% of transaction amount + GST (~4.13%) |
| Overlimit Charges | 2.5% of overlimit amount (min ₹500) |
| Reward Redemption Fee | ₹99 + GST per redemption request |
| Card Replacement Fee | ₹100 + GST |
| Add-on Card Fee | NIL (no charges for add-on card issuance) |
HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card Review
The HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card is aimed at new users. It features simple benefits and basic rewards. With a joining fee of ₹500, its value is limited compared to other fee-free beginner cards on the market. Notably, it lacks a direct welcome benefit, which is a downside, especially since competing cards either waive the joining fee or offer better rewards in the first few months.
The card provides 2x or 3x points on certain purchases, but the actual returns are low, typically below 1%. Additionally, each redemption request incurs a fee of ₹99 plus GST. While the card does offer lounge access, this is only available after spending ₹50,000 each quarter, and access is based on vouchers. This creates extra steps compared to cards that automatically offer lounge access.
In short, the Equitas Excite card may be suitable for someone new to credit, but even users with moderate spending can find better options. Cards like SBI SimplyClick, Amazon Pay ICICI, or HDFC’s own MoneyBack+ provide better reward rates or have no joining fees. The design of this card indicates it is more of a basic entry-level card than one that offers strong benefits for long-term use.
People Also Ask
- What is the joining fee for HDFC Equitas Excite Credit Card?
The HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card has a joining fee of ₹500, plus applicable taxes. Unlike many other entry-level cards, there is no clear welcome benefit. - Does HDFC Equitas Excite Credit Card offer free airport lounge access?
Yes, the card provides free domestic airport lounge access, but only after spending ₹50,000 in the previous calendar quarter. You will receive a voucher that must be claimed and used within a specified time. - What are the reward points on the HDFC Equitas Excite Credit Card?
You earn 2x Reward Points on online and in-app purchases and 3x on certain merchant categories. However, the overall reward rate is low and is more suitable for small or beginner-level spending. - How can I redeem Equitas Excite Credit Card reward points?
You can redeem reward points through HDFC Bank’s SmartBuy or NetBanking portal. Each redemption request costs ₹99 plus GST. The value per point may change based on the type of redemption. - Is HDFC Equitas Excite Credit Card good for beginners?
While the card is friendly for beginners, its benefits are limited compared to no-fee alternatives. Cards like Amazon Pay ICICI or SBI SimplyClick offer better returns.
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