Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card Review
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | Nil (lifetime free offer for customers onboarded from 3 April 2023) |
| Annual Fee | Nil |
| Best Suited For | Federal Bank customers whose card spends go mostly on groceries, medical bills and utility bills |
| Reward Type | Federal Rewards points on a 3x, 2x, 1x structure |
The Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card is the family-spends member of Federal Bank’s lifetime free Visa trio, sitting beside Celesta (travel) and Signet (gadgets and apparel).
It costs nothing to join or keep. In return it pays triple rewards on groceries and health care, double rewards on utility bills, a ₹400 Amazon Pay welcome voucher and 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter once you cross a spend target.
Its interest rate can also fall to 1.99% a month if you keep large balances with Federal Bank. Here is what each benefit is actually worth, and where the gaps are.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate and earn structure
| Spend category | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Health care | 3x |
| Grocery | 3x |
| Utility bills (electricity, gas, mobile) | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x |
Federal Bank describes Imperio’s rewards only as multiples of a base rate. Its product page does not state how many points you earn per ₹100, whether the 3x and 2x categories carry a monthly cap, or what a point is worth in rupees.
Those sit in the Federal Rewards programme terms, so check them on the Federal Rewards portal before you count on a return. What the structure does tell you is how to use the card: supermarket runs, pharmacy and hospital bills first, utility bills second.
Utility bills earning double is unusual. Many cards now pay nothing on them or add a fee, so households with large electricity and phone bills get more from Imperio here than from most free cards.
Redemption
You redeem points on the Federal Rewards portal. Each redemption carries a convenience fee of at least ₹99, and the exact amount appears at checkout. Build up a decent balance before you redeem so the fee does not swallow a small claim.
Welcome and quarterly benefits
| Benefit | Condition |
|---|---|
| Amazon Pay e-voucher worth ₹400 | Spend ₹5,000 within the first 30 days |
| Buy one get one on INOX movie tickets | Once a quarter |
| Complimentary BigBasket vouchers | Spend ₹50,000 in a quarter |
| Up to 15% off dining at partner hotels | Through the FedDelights programme |
The welcome voucher is an 8% return on that first ₹5,000. Federal Bank does not publish the value of the BigBasket vouchers on the product page.
Lounge, fuel and add-ons
| Benefit | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Domestic airport lounge | 2 visits in the next quarter when you spend ₹40,000 or more in a quarter |
| International lounge | Not offered |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% at fuel stations across India |
| Visa offers | Travel, dining, shopping and lifestyle deals through Visa |
Fees & Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining and annual fee | Nil |
| Interest, average monthly balance with the bank up to ₹3 lakh | 3.75% a month (45% a year) |
| Interest, average monthly balance above ₹3 lakh | 1.99% a month (23.88% a year) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| Cash withdrawal | 2.5% or ₹500, whichever is higher |
| Late payment | Nil up to ₹250 due, rising in slabs to ₹1,250 above ₹25,000 due |
| Payment return | 2% of the payment, ₹450 minimum |
| Rent and wallet loads | 1% of the amount |
| Card replacement | ₹200 |
| Add-on card | ₹100 + GST each |
GST at 18% applies to all fees and interest. There is no spend target to keep the card free, which is the strongest reason to hold it as a second card.
The charge that catches people out is the interest rate. The 1.99% headline applies only if your average monthly balance in your Federal Bank account over the last quarter is above ₹3 lakh. Below that you pay 3.75% a month, the same as most cards.
Eligibility & Documents Required
You must be at least 21 for an unsecured Federal Bank credit card and have a good credit history. Federal Bank does not publish a minimum income for Imperio, and the final card variant is decided during the application.
Online applicants need their PAN, Aadhaar and the last 3 months of bank statements as a PDF. Self-employed applicants may also be asked for income tax details.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No joining or annual fee | Points per ₹100 and point value not on the product page |
| 3x on groceries and health care | 3.5% forex markup |
| 2x on utility bills | Lounge visits need ₹40,000 a quarter |
| 1.99% a month interest for big depositors | Minimum ₹99 fee on every redemption |
Imperio vs Competitors
| Card | Annual fee | 3x categories | 2x categories | Welcome voucher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Imperio | Nil | Health care, grocery | Utility | ₹400 on ₹5,000 |
| Federal Celesta | Nil | Travel, international | Dining | ₹600 on ₹10,000 |
| Federal Signet | Nil | Electronics, apparel | Entertainment | ₹500 on ₹3,000 |
All three are free for life and share the same interest slabs, so the choice is about where your money goes.
Imperio is the only one that rewards groceries, medicines and bills. If you travel or spend abroad, Celesta’s 2% forex markup makes it the better pick.
How to Apply
Click Apply Now on the Imperio page to open Federal Bank’s credit card onboarding platform. Fill in your details, upload your documents and submit.
Updates arrive by email and SMS, and approved customers get a virtual card in the FedMobile app before the physical card arrives. Set your PIN in FedMobile, then spend ₹5,000 in 30 days to earn the ₹400 voucher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Federal Bank Imperio card lifetime free?
Yes. There is no joining or annual fee for customers onboarded from 3 April 2023, which Federal Bank calls a limited period offer. Add-on cards cost ₹100 + GST each.
How many lounge visits does Federal Imperio give?
2 domestic visits a quarter, unlocked by spending ₹40,000 or more in the previous quarter. There is no international lounge access.
Does Federal Imperio give rewards on electricity bills?
Yes, utility bills such as electricity, gas and mobile earn 2x rewards. Groceries and health care earn 3x.
What is the forex markup on Federal Imperio?
3.5% of the transaction value, plus GST. Celesta is the Federal Bank card with the lower 2% markup.
What interest rate does Federal Imperio charge?
Between 1.99% and 3.75% a month. You get 1.99% only if your average monthly balance with Federal Bank in the last quarter was above ₹3 lakh.
Bottom Line
Get the Federal Bank Imperio if you already bank with Federal Bank and want a free card for groceries, medical bills and utility payments, with a few lounge visits if you spend ₹40,000 a quarter.
Keep more than ₹3 lakh with the bank and the 1.99% interest rate is a rare safety net. Skip it if you want a card whose return you can calculate before applying, since the point value is not on the product page. Skip it too if you travel abroad, where the 3.5% markup hurts.
