AU Zenith+ Credit Card Review
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹4,999 + GST (₹5,899 all-in), returned as a ₹5,000 voucher or 5,000 points |
| Annual Fee | ₹4,999 + GST from the second year, waived on ₹8 lakh of retail spends in the previous card year |
| Best Suited For | High earners who travel abroad, spend ₹75,000 a month and want low forex and interest charges |
| Reward Type | AU Reward Points, 1 point = ₹1 |
The AU Zenith+ is AU Small Finance Bank’s top metal credit card. Its pitch is not a giant reward rate but a set of unusually low charges: a 0.99% forex markup, interest of 1.99% a month and no fee on cash withdrawals.
On top sit 16 domestic and 16 international lounge visits a year with no spend test, 16 free movie tickets, 8 golf rounds and a monthly milestone worth ₹1,000. Its base earn is a simple 1% and its fee is ₹4,999. Here is how the numbers stack up and who gets value from them.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate and earn structure
| Spend | Earn rate | Value back |
|---|---|---|
| Travel, dining, international | 2 points per ₹100 | 2% |
| All other categories | 1 point per ₹100 | 1% |
| Utility and telecom, insurance, education and government, rent | 1 point per ₹100, capped at 1,000 points across these categories | Up to ₹1,000 |
| Cash, EMI, fuel, transportation, BBPS bill payments, quasi cash | No points | 0% |
AU publishes no monthly cap on the 2x travel, dining and international rate.
Redemption and point value
Every point is worth ₹1, so 2 points per ₹100 means ₹2 back on ₹100. AU charges ₹99 + GST (about ₹117) on each redemption, so redeem in large blocks rather than every month.
₹10 lakh of spending a year at the base rate earns 10,000 points, or ₹10,000.
Welcome and milestone benefits
| Target | Reward |
|---|---|
| Activate the card (paid card, claim within 2 months) | ₹5,000 luxury brand voucher or 5,000 points (₹5,000) |
| ₹75,000 of retail spends in a statement cycle | 1,000 points (₹1,000), every cycle |
| ₹12 lakh of retail spends in a card year | Complimentary Taj Epicure membership |
The monthly milestone is the real engine. Spend ₹75,000 every cycle and you collect up to ₹12,000 a year on top of base points, which lifts your effective return to roughly 2.3%.
Utility, insurance, transportation, rent, education, government, fuel, cash and EMI spends do not count towards it.
Travel, lifestyle and protection
| Benefit | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Domestic airport lounges | 4 a quarter (16 a year), no spend condition |
| International lounges (Priority Pass) | 4 a quarter (16 a year); Priority Pass use in India is chargeable |
| Airport Meet and Assist | 1 a quarter (4 a year) |
| BookMyShow buy one get one | 4 tickets a quarter (16 a year), up to ₹500 off a ticket |
| Golf games or lessons | 2 a quarter (8 a year) |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on ₹400 to ₹5,000, up to ₹1,000 a statement month |
| Air accident cover | Up to ₹2 crore |
| Credit shield and card liability | Up to ₹15 lakh |
| Purchase protection | Up to ₹50,000 |
Fees & Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹4,999 + GST, waived on ₹8 lakh in the previous card year |
| Interest | 1.99% a month (23.88% a year) |
| Forex markup | 0.99% |
| Cash withdrawal fee | Nil (interest still applies from day one); cash limit 20% of credit limit |
| Late payment | 15% of total amount due, ₹10 minimum, ₹1,300 maximum |
| Over-limit | 2.5% of the excess, ₹500 minimum |
| Reward redemption | ₹99 + GST per redemption |
GST at 18% is added to all fees and interest. The ₹8 lakh waiver equals about ₹66,700 a month, a little below the ₹75,000 that unlocks the monthly milestone.
If you are chasing the milestone, the fee waiver comes free.
The trap is AU’s fair usage fees. A 1% charge applies when monthly utility bills cross ₹50,000, when fuel crosses ₹50,000 or half your limit, or when transport spends cross ₹25,000 or half your limit, and on domestic rent and on education fees paid through apps such as CRED or PhonePe (₹99 minimum).
Eligibility & Documents Required
AU asks for a monthly net income of ₹2.5 lakh, which is ₹30 lakh a year. Salaried applicants must be 21 to 60 and self-employed applicants 25 to 65, and you must be a resident Indian.
Add-on cardholders must be over 18. AU calls these criteria indicative and does not publish a minimum credit score, so expect to provide PAN, address proof and recent income proof.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 0.99% forex markup | Base earn of only 1% |
| 1.99% a month interest, no cash withdrawal fee | ₹99 + GST on every redemption |
| 16 domestic and 16 international lounges, no spend test | ₹30 lakh a year income needed |
| ₹1,000 milestone every ₹75,000 cycle | Fair usage fees on bills, fuel, rent and transport |
AU Zenith+ vs Competitors
| Card | Annual fee | Fee waived at | Forex markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU Zenith+ | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹8 lakh | 0.99% |
| HSBC TravelOne | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹8 lakh | 3.5% |
| YES BANK MARQUEE | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹10 lakh | 1% |
At the same fee, Zenith+ beats TravelOne on forex by a wide margin and gives far more lounge visits, while TravelOne wins if you want to move points to airline programmes.
MARQUEE matches the low forex but needs ₹10 lakh to waive, and its points are worth ₹0.25 at best against ₹1 here.
How to Apply
Apply from the Zenith+ page on AU Bank’s website, or ask your AU relationship manager or branch. Fill in your details and income, complete KYC, and track the application online.
After the card arrives, activate it through the AU 0101 app, net banking, the AURO chatbot or customer care, then pick your ₹5,000 welcome benefit within 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AU Zenith+ annual fee waived?
Yes, from the second year the ₹4,999 + GST fee is waived if you spent ₹8 lakh in the previous card year. The first-year fee is not waived, but the ₹5,000 welcome benefit covers it.
How many lounge visits does AU Zenith+ give?
32 a year: 16 domestic and 16 international, at 4 of each a quarter. Unlike most AU cards, Zenith+ has no quarterly spend condition for lounge access.
What is the minimum salary for AU Zenith+?
₹2.5 lakh a month in net income, or ₹30 lakh a year. AU says the criteria are indicative and approval is at its discretion.
What is the forex markup on AU Zenith+?
0.99% on foreign currency and cross-currency transactions. Add 2 points per ₹100 on international spends and you come out ahead of the markup.
Is AU Zenith+ a metal card?
Yes, it is AU’s metal credit card. It is offered on both Visa and RuPay, and each network carries its own set of offers.
Bottom Line
Get the AU Zenith+ if you earn ₹30 lakh or more, spend ₹75,000 a month, and travel abroad often enough to value a 0.99% markup and 16 international lounge visits.
At that level the milestones, the fee waiver and the welcome voucher make it one of the better ₹5,000 cards in India.
Skip it if your spending is below ₹8 lakh a year, if it is mostly bills, rent and fuel, or if you want points you can transfer to airlines. A simple cashback card will serve you better.
