The SBI Cashback card became popular for one simple promise: 5% cashback on online spends, credited automatically. The promise still holds, but the card has been trimmed several times since launch. Here is the card in 2026.
SBI Cashback at a glance
| SBI Cashback Credit Card | |
|---|---|
| Joining and annual fee | ₹999 + GST (₹1,179) |
| Fee waiver | Spend ₹2 lakh in a year (rent and wallet loads do not count) |
| Online spends | 5% cashback, up to ₹2,000 a month |
| Offline spends | 1% cashback, up to ₹2,000 a month |
| Excluded (earn nothing) | Fuel, rent, wallet loads, utility bills, insurance, education, jewellery, EMIs, online gaming, tolls, government payments, railways |
| Fuel surcharge | 1% waived, up to ₹100 a month |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.5% |
| Lounge access | None |
| Network | Visa |
| Minimum income | ₹20,000 a month |
What changed
- April 2026: the combined ₹5,000 cap per cycle became ₹2,000 online plus ₹2,000 offline. The 5% now stops at ₹40,000 of online spend in a month.
- May 2023: the cap was halved from ₹10,000 and many categories were excluded; free domestic lounge visits were removed.
- April 2023: the first-year-free offer ended; the ₹999 joining fee applies.
What you really get: worked examples
| You spend online each month | Cashback a month | Cashback a year |
|---|---|---|
| ₹5,000 | ₹250 | ₹3,000 |
| ₹20,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹12,000 |
| ₹40,000 | ₹2,000 (the cap) | ₹24,000 |
| ₹60,000 | ₹2,000 (capped) | ₹24,000 |
Online spends of ₹5,000 a month alone do not reach the ₹2 lakh waiver, so you would pay ₹1,179 a year and keep about ₹1,800 net. At ₹20,000 a month (₹2.4 lakh a year) you cross the waiver and keep the full ₹12,000.
The exclusions matter
Paying your electricity bill, insurance premium, rent or school fees online does not earn 5%. Those count as excluded categories and earn nothing, even when paid online. The 5% is really for online shopping, food delivery, travel bookings and similar spends.
Who it suits
- Someone who shops online for ₹10,000 to ₹40,000 a month across many sites, not just one
- Someone who wants cashback credited automatically, with no points to redeem
If most of your online spend is food delivery and groceries, cards with 10% in those categories may pay more (see best cashback credit cards). If you mainly pay by UPI, note this is a Visa card and cannot be used for UPI payments.
Full fees and terms are on the SBI Cashback card page.
Frequently asked questions
Is SBI Cashback 5% on all online spends?
On online spends outside the excluded categories. Utility bills, rent, wallet loads, insurance, education and similar payments earn nothing, even online.
What is the SBI Cashback monthly cap?
Since April 2026: ₹2,000 a month on online spends and ₹2,000 on offline spends.
Is the SBI Cashback fee waived?
Yes, if you spend ₹2 lakh in a card year. Rent and wallet loads do not count.
This is general information to help you compare, not financial advice. SkyloFin is not a financial adviser. Fees, rates and caps change, so check the bank’s own terms before you apply. Card figures are from SkyloFin’s card pages as on 1 October 2026; card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in. SkyloFin may earn a commission when you apply through our links; it never changes what you pay.
Updated 18 Oct 2026.
