Reliance SBI Card Review
★ 3.0 / 5
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹499 + GST (₹589 payable) |
| Annual Fee | ₹499 + GST, waived on ₹1,00,000 annual spends |
| Best Suited For | Regular AJIO, JioMart and Reliance Retail shoppers |
| Reward Type | Reward Points (1 RP = ₹0.25) + Reliance Retail vouchers |
The Reliance SBI Card is the entry-level half of SBI Card’s co-branded partnership with Reliance Retail, the premium half being the Reliance SBI Card PRIME. It is built for one specific person: someone who already buys groceries on JioMart, clothes on AJIO or at Reliance Trends, medicines on Netmeds and electronics at Reliance Digital, and would like those spends to pay something back.
The single biggest hook is the first-year voucher stack. You get a ₹500 Reliance Retail voucher on activation plus discount vouchers worth up to ₹3,200, against a joining fee of ₹589 including GST. That alone makes year one cash-positive if you actually use the vouchers. What you should not expect is a strong ongoing reward rate: outside the Reliance ecosystem this card returns 0.25%, which is among the weakest base rates in the market.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate & earn structure
Rewards are paid as SBI Card Reward Points, and every point is worth ₹0.25 when redeemed. That conversion is what turns the headline “10 reward points” into a real number, so both figures are shown together below.
| Spend category | Reward Points per ₹100 | Effective value back |
|---|---|---|
| AJIO and JioMart online (excluding UPI) | 10 RP | 2.5% |
| Participating Reliance Retail stores | 5 RP | 1.25% |
| Dining and movies | 5 RP | 1.25% |
| All other retail spends | 1 RP | 0.25% |
| Fuel, rent, wallet loads | Nil | Nil |
Two things deserve attention. First, the accelerated Reliance rates apply at participating stores only. The list covers Reliance Trends, Reliance Digital, Reliance Smart, Reliance Jewels, Netmeds, Zivame, Azorte, Fashion Factory, Coverstory, Urban Ladder and Clovia, but participation can change, so check before a large purchase. Second, the AJIO and JioMart 10 RP rate does not apply to UPI payments. If you pay JioMart through a UPI app linked to the RuPay variant of this card, you earn 1 RP per ₹100 at participating Reliance Retail stores instead, a drop from 2.5% to 0.25%.
There is no published monthly cap on point earning on the base variant, which is unusual and worth confirming in the card’s terms before you plan a large Reliance purchase around it.
Redemption options & point value
Points are redeemed through the SBI Card rewards portal, most usefully against Reliance Retail vouchers, and are also redeemable against the wider SBI Card catalogue and as statement credit. Every redemption attracts a ₹99 + GST redemption fee, which matters more on a low-earning card than a high-earning one: if you redeem 1,000 points (₹250 of value) and pay ₹117 including GST to do it, you have handed back nearly half your reward. Let points build to at least 4,000–5,000 before redeeming.
Reward Points are valid for 24 months from the date they are earned. Points not redeemed within that window are forfeited on the last day of the 24th month.
Welcome benefit
On card activation you receive a ₹500 Reliance Retail voucher, plus a bundle of brand discount vouchers with a stated total value of ₹3,200. The vouchers are only worth what you would have spent anyway, and each carries a minimum transaction value:
| Brand | Voucher value | Minimum transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Reliance Trends | ₹500 | ₹2,499 |
| Azorte | ₹500 | ₹5,000 |
| Fashion Factory | ₹500 | ₹1,499 |
| Urban Ladder | ₹500 | ₹4,999 |
| AJIO | ₹250 | ₹1,499 |
| Coverstory | ₹250 | ₹1,499 |
| Zivame | ₹300 | ₹1,199 |
| Netmeds | ₹300 | ₹1,499 |
| Clovia | ₹300 | ₹1,199 |
| JioMart | ₹100 | ₹500 |
To extract the full ₹3,200 you would need to spend roughly ₹22,000 across ten different Reliance brands. Realistically most people redeem three or four of these, call it ₹1,200 to ₹1,500 of genuine value on top of the ₹500 voucher.
Milestone benefits
Milestone vouchers are the strongest recurring feature on this card, and the thresholds are low:
| Annual spend at participating Reliance Retail stores | Voucher |
|---|---|
| ₹25,000 | ₹500 |
| ₹50,000 | ₹750 |
| ₹80,000 | ₹1,000 |
The tiers are cumulative, so ₹80,000 of Reliance spending in a card year returns ₹2,250 in vouchers, an extra 2.8% on top of the base reward rate. Note the qualifying condition carefully: milestone spends are counted on transactions at participating Reliance Retail stores only, not on your total card spend. This is different from the ₹1,00,000 fee-waiver threshold, which counts all eligible spends.
Dining benefits
Dining and movie spends earn 5 RP per ₹100, or 1.25% back. There is no separate dining programme, no restaurant discount tie-up and no BookMyShow ticket benefit on the base variant. The free monthly movie ticket belongs to the PRIME version.
Travel benefits
There are none. No air miles conversion, no hotel programme, no travel insurance and a 3.5% forex markup make this a domestic shopping card only. If you are looking for a travel card, this is not it.
Ongoing brand discounts
Separate from reward points, the card carries standing 5% instant discounts at several Reliance brands. These are offer-based and change periodically, so treat the figures below as current-as-of-update rather than contractual:
| Brand | Discount cap |
|---|---|
| Reliance Trends | Up to ₹250 per month |
| AJIO | Up to ₹250 per month, on orders above ₹2,999 |
| Azorte | Up to ₹500, on orders above ₹3,500 |
| Zivame | Up to ₹250 per month |
| Coverstory | Up to ₹250 per month |
| Urban Ladder | Up to ₹250 per transaction |
A 5% cashback on JioMart spends, capped at ₹250 per month, has also been running on this card, redeemable across general merchandise and fashion categories.
You also accumulate RelianceOne loyalty points alongside card rewards: 1 RelianceOne point per ₹200 on offline grocery spends, plus 1 additional point per ₹200 at Fashion Factory.
Airport lounge access
None. The base Reliance SBI Card offers no complimentary domestic or international lounge visits. If lounge access is a requirement, the Reliance SBI Card PRIME provides 8 domestic and 4 international visits per calendar year at a ₹2,999 + GST fee.
Insurance & protection covers
The card carries standard SBI Card fraud protection and zero-liability cover on reported lost cards, but no published air accident, purchase protection or travel insurance cover on this variant.
Fees & Charges
All fees below are exclusive of tax; 18% GST applies on top of every figure.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual / renewal fee | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | Spends of ₹1,00,000 in the previous card year |
| Finance charges | Up to 3.50% per month (42% per annum) |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% of the amount, minimum ₹500 (domestic and international) |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.5% of the transaction value |
| Reward redemption fee | ₹99 per redemption |
| Card replacement | ₹100 – ₹250 |
Joining & annual fee, and how to get it waived
The fee is ₹499 plus GST in year one and again on each anniversary, so ₹589 leaves your account each time. From the second year it is reversed if you spent ₹1,00,000 or more on the card in the preceding card year, roughly ₹8,400 a month. Unlike the milestone vouchers, this threshold counts all eligible spends, not just Reliance ones, which makes it achievable for anyone using the card as a primary card.
A caution on that logic: pushing ₹1,00,000 of non-Reliance spending through this card to save ₹589 earns you 0.25%, or ₹250. The same ₹1,00,000 on a 1.5% flat card would return ₹1,500. Chasing the waiver with the wrong spends costs more than the fee.
Forex markup
3.5% of the transaction value, plus GST on the markup. On a ₹50,000 international spend that is ₹1,750 before tax, high enough that this card should stay in the drawer when you travel.
Interest rate & finance charges
Up to 3.50% per month, which is 42% per annum, charged from the transaction date on any revolved balance and from day one on cash withdrawals. Late payment charges range from nil on outstanding balances up to ₹500, to ₹1,300 on balances above ₹50,000:
| Outstanding balance | Late payment fee |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹500 | Nil |
| ₹501 – ₹1,000 | ₹400 |
| ₹1,001 – ₹10,000 | ₹750 |
| ₹10,001 – ₹25,000 | ₹950 |
| ₹25,001 – ₹50,000 | ₹1,100 |
| Above ₹50,000 | ₹1,300 |
At 42% a year, a single revolved month wipes out several months of rewards. This card only makes sense if you clear the statement in full.
Fuel surcharge waiver
1% surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000, capped at ₹100 per statement cycle. Fuel spends earn no reward points.
Cash advance & other charges
Cash withdrawals cost 2.5% of the amount or ₹500, whichever is higher, and start accruing interest at up to 3.50% per month from the withdrawal date with no interest-free period. Rent, wallet loads and fuel are excluded from the rewards programme entirely.
Eligibility & Documents Required
SBI Card does not publish a fixed income cut-off for this card, and approval depends on the bank’s internal assessment of your profile and bureau record. Broad parameters:
- Age: 21 to 70 years
- Income: a stable, documented source of income; salaried and self-employed applicants are both eligible
- Credit score: a healthy bureau score improves your chances, though no issuer guarantees approval at any score
Documents: PAN card, Aadhaar or another accepted address proof, a passport-size photograph, and income proof: latest salary slips or Form 16 for salaried applicants, or ITR for the self-employed.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| First-year vouchers worth up to ₹3,700 against a ₹589 fee | 0.25% return on all non-Reliance spends |
| 2.5% value back on AJIO and JioMart online spends | 1 RP = ₹0.25 is a poor conversion ratio |
| Milestone vouchers start at just ₹25,000 of Reliance spend | No airport lounge access at all |
| Low ₹499 fee with an achievable ₹1,00,000 waiver | ₹99 fee on every reward redemption |
| Standing 5% discounts across several Reliance brands | 3.5% forex markup makes it unusable abroad |
| RuPay variant allows UPI-linked payments | UPI spends drop the earn rate to 1 RP per ₹100 |
Reliance SBI Card vs Competitors
| Reliance SBI Card | Tata Neu Plus SBI Card | Amazon Pay ICICI Card | Flipkart Axis Bank Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹499 + GST | ₹499 + GST | Nil (lifetime free) | ₹500 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹1,00,000 spends | ₹1,00,000 spends | Not applicable | ₹3,50,000 spends |
| Top rate | 2.5% on AJIO/JioMart | Up to 7% on select Tata Neu categories | 5% on Amazon for Prime members | 7.5% Myntra, 5% Flipkart |
| Base rate | 0.25% | 1% (including UPI on RuPay) | 1% | 1% |
| Welcome benefit | ₹500 voucher + ₹3,200 discount vouchers | 499 NeuCoins (₹499) | Varies by campaign | ₹250 Flipkart voucher |
| Lounge access | None | 4 domestic per year, on ₹50,000 previous-quarter spend | Spend-linked | None |
| Reward currency | RP at ₹0.25 each | NeuCoins at ₹1 each | Amazon Pay balance | Statement cashback |
The comparison is unflattering in one specific way: the reward currency. NeuCoins convert at ₹1, Amazon Pay cashback is cash within Amazon, Flipkart’s cashback lands on the statement, while SBI’s Reward Points on this card convert at ₹0.25 and cost ₹99 to redeem. The Reliance card wins only if the Reliance ecosystem is where your money actually goes, and if the voucher stack fits brands you already buy.
How to Apply
- Go to the Reliance SBI Card page on sbicard.com and select Apply Now.
- Enter your mobile number and verify the OTP.
- Fill in your personal, employment and income details, along with PAN and Aadhaar.
- Complete KYC: video KYC is offered to most applicants, otherwise a representative visits for physical verification.
- Submit and note your application reference number; you can track it on the SBI Card website.
- On approval, the card is dispatched to your registered address, and you must activate it to receive the ₹500 welcome voucher.
Applications can also be made at an SBI Card sales desk inside larger Reliance Retail stores, where the co-brand is actively marketed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Reliance SBI Card annual fee waived? The ₹499 + GST annual fee is reversed from the second year onwards if you spent ₹1,00,000 or more on the card in the previous card year. The joining fee in year one is not waivable, though the ₹500 activation voucher offsets most of it.
How many lounge visits does the Reliance SBI Card give? None. The base variant has no complimentary lounge access. Only the Reliance SBI Card PRIME offers lounge visits: 8 domestic and 4 international per calendar year.
What is the reward rate on the Reliance SBI Card? 2.5% on AJIO and JioMart online spends, 1.25% at participating Reliance Retail stores and on dining and movies, and 0.25% on everything else. Each Reward Point is worth ₹0.25.
Does the Reliance SBI Card give rewards on UPI payments? Only on the RuPay variant, and at a reduced rate: 1 Reward Point per ₹100 spent at participating Reliance Retail stores via UPI. The accelerated 10 RP rate on AJIO and JioMart does not apply to UPI transactions.
What is the minimum salary for the Reliance SBI Card? SBI Card does not publish a fixed minimum income for this card. Approval is based on a stable documented income, your bureau record and the bank’s internal assessment, so no salary figure guarantees approval.
Do I earn reward points on fuel and rent with this card? No. Fuel, property rent and wallet loads are excluded from the rewards programme. Fuel does get a 1% surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000, capped at ₹100 per statement cycle.
How do I redeem Reliance SBI Card reward points? Through the SBI Card rewards portal, most usefully against Reliance Retail vouchers. A ₹99 + GST redemption fee applies each time, and points expire 24 months after they are earned, so redeem in larger batches rather than small ones.
Is the Reliance SBI Card better than the PRIME variant? It depends on your Reliance spend. PRIME costs ₹2,999 + GST and returns 5% on AJIO and JioMart with lounge access and a ₹3,000 welcome voucher, but needs ₹3,00,000 of annual spend for its fee waiver. If your Reliance spending is below roughly ₹1 lakh a year, the base card is the sensible choice.
Can I use the Reliance SBI Card abroad? You can, but you shouldn’t. The 3.5% foreign currency markup plus GST makes it one of the more expensive cards for international use, and international spends earn only 1 RP per ₹100.
Bottom Line
The Reliance SBI Card is a narrow card that does one job honestly. If ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 a month of your household spending genuinely runs through JioMart, AJIO, Reliance Trends, Reliance Digital or Netmeds, the maths works: 2.5% on online Reliance spends, ₹2,250 in milestone vouchers at just ₹80,000 of Reliance spend, and a first-year voucher pack that more than covers the ₹589 fee. Add the standing 5% brand discounts and a committed Reliance household can pull ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 of value out of year one.
Skip this card if you shop mainly on Amazon or Flipkart, if you want a card you can use for everything, if you travel internationally, or if lounge access matters to you. A 0.25% base rate and a ₹99 redemption fee make it a poor primary card, and a lifetime-free option like the Amazon Pay ICICI Card will serve a general online shopper better at zero cost. Treat this as a second card that lives in your wallet for Reliance purchases only. That is the role it is genuinely good at.
Fees and features listed here are as of 20 August 2026 and are subject to change by the issuer. Please confirm the current terms on the SBI Card website before applying.
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