BOBCARD Cashback Credit Card Review
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹499 + GST a year (₹588.82 all-in), or ₹49 + GST a month (₹57.82 all-in) |
| Annual Fee | Same plan as above, with no spend-based waiver |
| Best Suited For | Online shoppers who spend up to about ₹37,500 a month on eligible websites and apps |
| Reward Type | Cashback, credited automatically to your card statement |
The BOBCARD Cashback Credit Card is BOBCARD’s plain cashback card on the Mastercard network. It pays 5% back on eligible domestic online spends, up to ₹1,500 of extra cashback per statement, and 1% on almost everything else.
There are no points to track or redeem. The cashback is posted to your statement automatically every month. You choose between a ₹499 yearly fee and a ₹49 monthly fee, and neither can be waived by spending.
This review covers the earn rules, the long list of excluded categories and the fees, so you can see what the card really returns.
Rewards & Benefits
Cashback rate and earn structure
| Spend type | Base | Accelerated | Total | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic online | 1% | 4% | 5% | Accelerated part capped at ₹1,500 per statement |
| Domestic in-store | 1% | None | 1% | No cap published |
| International | 1% | None | 1% | No cap published |
The extra 4% on online spends unlocks only if you make at least 4 transactions in that statement cycle. Miss that count and online spends earn the base 1% only.
The ₹1,500 cap on the accelerated part is reached at ₹37,500 of eligible online spending in a statement cycle. At that level you earn ₹1,875 in total. Online spends above ₹37,500 keep earning the base 1%.
What does not earn cashback
No cashback is paid on transactions below ₹100, fuel, ATM cash withdrawals or quasi-cash transactions. BOBCARD also excludes a list of merchant categories, and several of them are everyday spends.
| Excluded category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Grocery and retail | Supermarkets, convenience stores, variety stores |
| Food | Fast food restaurants |
| Transport | Railways, bus services, tolls, local passenger transport |
| Bills and payments | Rent, insurance, government, education, hospitals, wallet loads |
| Others | Agriculture, contractors, personal services, charity |
Because these exclusions are set by merchant category code, an online grocery order may not earn 5% if the merchant is coded as a supermarket. BOBCARD says it relies on the code the merchant’s bank provides.
How the cashback is paid
Cashback is worked out on your net eligible spends for the cycle and appears as a credit in the following month’s statement. You do not redeem anything and there is no redemption fee, so ₹1 of cashback is worth exactly ₹1.
If a purchase is cancelled or refunded, its cashback is taken back. Any cashback not yet credited is lost if you close the card or switch to another BOBCARD variant.
Fuel, EMI and add-on cards
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on fuel transactions of ₹400 to ₹5,000, up to ₹250 per statement cycle |
| Smart EMI | Purchases above ₹2,500 can be converted into 6 to 48 month EMIs |
| Add-on cards | Up to 3, free for life, for family members above 18 |
| Lounge access | Not offered |
| Welcome benefit | None listed |
You can also add the card to Google Pay for tap-to-pay and QR payments at shops.
Fees & Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fee plan | ₹499 + GST a year, or ₹49 + GST a month |
| Fee waiver | Not available |
| Interest | 3.75% a month (45% a year) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| Cash withdrawal | 2.5% or ₹500, whichever is higher |
| Late payment | Nil below ₹100 due, rising in slabs to ₹1,300 above ₹50,000 due |
| Over limit | 2.5% of the excess or ₹600, whichever is higher |
| Rent and wallet loads | 1% of the amount |
| Utility bills of ₹50,000 or more | 1%, maximum ₹3,000 per transaction |
| Fuel transactions of ₹10,000 or more | 1% |
| Toll and bus payments of ₹5,000 or more | 1% |
| Education fees via third-party apps | 1%, maximum ₹5,000 |
GST at 18% applies to all fees and interest. The yearly plan costs ₹588.82 all-in. The monthly plan costs ₹693.84 over 12 months, so pick the yearly plan if you plan to keep the card.
You can change your fee plan only once in the life of the card, by writing to crm@bobcard.co.in.
The charge that catches people out is the fee with no waiver. You pay it every year, so the card needs at least about ₹1,000 of online spends a month at 5% just to cover itself.
Eligibility & Documents Required
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Residency | Indian resident |
| Age | 21 to 60 years |
| Salaried income | ₹3 lakh net a year or more |
| Self-employed income | ₹3.6 lakh net a year or more |
You need your PAN and a recent photograph, plus address proof such as Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence. Salaried applicants share 2 months of bank statements showing salary credits. Self-employed applicants share 3 months of business bank statements.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 5% on eligible online spends | Extra cashback capped at ₹1,500 per statement |
| Cashback credited automatically | Groceries, fast food, rent and insurance excluded |
| Low ₹499 yearly fee | Fee can never be waived |
| Up to 3 free add-on cards | No lounge access and a 3.5% forex markup |
BOBCARD Cashback vs Competitors
| Card | Annual fee | Online return | Other spends |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOBCARD Cashback | ₹499 + GST | 5%, extra capped at ₹1,500 | 1% |
| IndusInd ePay Amex | Nil | 4 to 10 points per ₹500+ payment, ₹0.35 each | Same |
| Federal Bank Signet | Nil | 3x on electronics and apparel | 1x |
The free cards cost nothing to hold, but neither publishes a return close to 5%. If you spend even ₹2,000 a month online, the BOBCARD Cashback’s fee pays for itself and leaves you ahead.
How to Apply
Click Apply Now on the BOBCARD Cashback page and fill in the online form. Then e-sign it with your Aadhaar and complete a video KYC call. Choose the yearly or monthly fee plan during the application.
Existing BOBCARD holders cannot upgrade to this card, and this card cannot later be upgraded to another BOBCARD variant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee of the BOBCARD Cashback credit card?
₹499 + GST a year, or ₹49 + GST a month if you choose the monthly plan. There is no spend target that waives either fee.
What is the maximum cashback on BOBCARD Cashback?
The extra 4% on online spends is capped at ₹1,500 per statement. The base 1% has no published cap, so total cashback can go above ₹1,500.
Does BOBCARD Cashback give cashback on groceries?
Not at supermarkets and convenience stores, which are on the excluded list. Fast food restaurants are excluded too.
Why did I not get 5% cashback this month?
You need at least 4 transactions in the statement cycle to unlock the 5% rate. Purchases below ₹100 and excluded categories also earn nothing.
What is the minimum salary for BOBCARD Cashback?
₹3 lakh net a year for salaried applicants and ₹3.6 lakh for the self-employed. You must also be 21 to 60 years old.
Does BOBCARD Cashback give airport lounge access?
No. The card has no lounge benefit, so pair it with another card if you fly often.
Bottom Line
Get the BOBCARD Cashback if you shop online regularly and want simple money back without tracking points. Make at least 4 purchases a cycle and keep online spends under ₹37,500, and you earn the full 5%.
Skip it if most of your spending goes on groceries, rent, insurance or travel, because those categories earn nothing. Skip it too if you rarely shop online, since a free card will cost you less than the ₹499 fee.
