Credit Card Changes in January 2026
Fees, rewards and benefits the banks changed on the cards we list, with the source for each. Updated twice a day.
- 47Changes
- 30Cards
- 33Reduced
Get an email when credit cards we list change
Only when a bank changes fees, rewards or benefits. At most once a day, and every email has a one-click stop link.
January 2026
Reduced18 Jan 2026
International earn halved; top rate spend-gated
Before10X (10 RP/₹150)Now5X (5 RP/₹150)
Reduced18 Jan 2026
Earn re-pegged: 1 point per ₹200 for the lifetime-free family
Bank's notice ↗Before1 reward point per ₹150 for all eligible primariesNow1 point per ₹200 when attached to Millennia/Classic/Select/Wealth/Family/WOW!/WOW! Black/Business Multiplier; ₹150 retained for Private/Ashva/Mayura/Diamond Reserve/FIRST Business
Changed18 Jan 2026
Bonus reward points on travel booked in the IDFC FIRST app
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo app-booking bonusNow50X bonus on hotels, 30X bonus on flightsReduced18 Jan 2026
Fair-usage fees on heavy FASTag and railway spends
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo FASTag or railway spend feeNow1% fee above ₹10,000 FASTag or ₹25,000 railway per cycleReduced18 Jan 2026
Whole cycle's reward points forfeited if minimum due is missed
Bank's notice ↗BeforePoints accrued regardless of payment behaviourNowNo points for any cycle where the minimum amount due is unpaid by the due date
Reduced18 Jan 2026
International earn halved to 5X
Before10X (10 RP per ₹150)Now5X (5 RP per ₹150)
Reduced18 Jan 2026
FASTag & railway spends cut to 1X, plus high-usage fees
BeforeEarned at card rate, counted toward 10X thresholdNow1X only; excluded from 10X threshold; 1% high-usage fee
Changed18 Jan 2026
Bonus reward points on travel booked in the IDFC FIRST app
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo app-booking bonusNow50X bonus on hotels, 30X bonus on flightsReduced18 Jan 2026
Fair-usage fees on heavy FASTag and railway spends
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo FASTag or railway spend feeNow1% fee above ₹10,000 FASTag or ₹25,000 railway per cycleReduced18 Jan 2026
Whole cycle's reward points forfeited if minimum due is missed
Bank's notice ↗BeforePoints accrued regardless of payment behaviourNowNo points for any cycle where the minimum amount due is unpaid by the due date
Reduced18 Jan 2026
FASTag & railway spends cut to 1X, plus high-usage fees
Bank's notice ↗BeforeEarned at base rate, counted toward 10X thresholdNow1X only; excluded from 10X threshold; 1% high-usage feeChanged18 Jan 2026
In-app travel accelerators added (33% hotel / 13% flight)
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo app-booking bonusNow33% bonus RP on hotels, 13% bonus RP on flights (IDFC FIRST app)
Reduced18 Jan 2026
Second base-earn cut, re-pegged from ₹150 to ₹200, FASTag/railway to 1X
Bank's notice ↗Before4 pts / ₹150Now4 pts / ₹200
Changed18 Jan 2026
Bonus reward points on travel booked in the IDFC FIRST app
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo app-booking bonusNow45X bonus on hotels, 20X bonus on flightsReduced18 Jan 2026
FASTag folded into the capped Essentials bucket
Bank's notice ↗BeforeFASTag earned 3X outside the Essentials ceilingNowFASTag counts within Essentials, still 3X, but sharing its 300 RP/cycle ceilingReduced18 Jan 2026
Fair-usage fees on heavy FASTag and railway spends
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo FASTag or railway spend feeNow1% fee above ₹10,000 FASTag or ₹25,000 railway per cycleReduced18 Jan 2026
Whole cycle's reward points forfeited if minimum due is missed
Bank's notice ↗BeforePoints accrued regardless of payment behaviourNowNo points for any cycle where the minimum amount due is unpaid by the due date
Changed18 Jan 2026
Bonus reward points on travel booked in the IDFC FIRST app
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo app-booking bonusNow45X bonus on hotels, 20X bonus on flightsReduced18 Jan 2026
FASTag folded into the capped Essentials bucket
Bank's notice ↗BeforeFASTag earned 5X outside the Essentials ceilingNowFASTag counts within Essentials, still 5X, but sharing its 600 RP/cycle ceilingReduced18 Jan 2026
Fair-usage fees on heavy FASTag and railway spends
Bank's notice ↗BeforeNo FASTag or railway spend feeNow1% fee above ₹10,000 FASTag or ₹25,000 railway per cycle
Showing 20 of 47
Change data from CardAdvisor, checked against each bank's notice where one is linked. A card's page always shows its current terms. How we check facts. The yearly report, by bank and month.
Guides in Plain Words
Short reads that explain how it works before you decide.
- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹500 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹500 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
GuidesNo-Cost EMI: What It Really Costs You, With a Worked ExampleNo-cost EMI is not a trick, but it is rarely free. Here is where the money goes: the discount you give up, the processing fee, and GST on the interest, worked out on a Rs 30,000 phone.Read the guide →- GuidesBest Online Shopping Credit Cards in India (2026)The credit cards that pay the most back on online shopping in 2026, which sites count, the monthly cap and the annual fee.Read the guide →












