SBI Card ELITE
SBI Cards · Visa
Why this card?
- 2.5% back in reward points on groceries, dining and food delivery and international spends; 0.5% on other spends
- ₹4,999 joining and annual fee; renewal fee waived on ₹10 lakh yearly spend
- 8 domestic and 6 international airport lounge visits a year
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
Card details
- Issuer
- SBI Cards
- Network
- Visa
- Annual Fee
- ₹4,999
- Joining Fee
- ₹4,999
- Reward Type
- points
- Best Reward Rate
- 2.5% on groceries
- Forex Markup
- 1.99%
- Domestic Lounge
- 8/yr
- Min. Monthly Income
- ₹1,00,000
- Rates verified
- 2026-10-06
Our verdict
SBI Elite is a premium travel and lifestyle card with solid lounge access — 8 domestic visits a year (2 per quarter) and 6 international Priority Pass visits a year. A ₹5,000 welcome e-gift voucher has been listed against the ₹4,999 fee, but confirm the current welcome offer before applying. Base rewards are modest at about 0.5% back as points, rising to about 2.5% on departmental stores, groceries, dining and international spends.
Pros
- 8 domestic lounge visits/year (2 per quarter)
- 6 international lounge visits per year via Priority Pass, capped at 2 per quarter
- ₹5,000 welcome e-gift voucher listed in the issuer's brochure — check the current offer
- 5X reward points (about 2.5% back) on departmental stores, groceries, dining and international spends
Cons
- Only about 0.5% back as points on non-bonus categories — low for a ₹4,999-fee card
- Fee waiver requires ₹10L annual spend — one of the higher bars in the segment
- 1.99% forex markup — decent but not zero or best-in-class
- SBI reward points have fewer redemption options vs Axis EDGE Miles or HDFC points
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the 6 quarterly domestic lounge visits roll over if unused?
No — domestic lounge visits reset each calendar quarter (Jan–Mar, Apr–Jun, Jul–Sep, Oct–Dec). Unused visits expire at quarter end. You can access up to 24 different lounges per year across all quarters.
What are the welcome e-gift voucher brands?
SBI Elite welcome vouchers are from lifestyle brands like Yatra, Shoppers Stop, Hush Puppies, and similar. The specific brand mix may vary — worth ₹5,000 total and credited on card activation.
Is SBI Elite better than HDFC Regalia Gold?
For lounge access: SBI Elite wins (24 domestic vs 16 with Regalia Gold). For reward rate on travel and dining: Regalia Gold wins (5X with Priority Pass + lower forex at 2%). Choose Elite for maximum lounge frequency; Regalia Gold for better reward accumulation and lower income threshold.