IDFC First Bank
IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card
Data last verified: 11 October 2026
- Joining feeFree
- Annual fee₹499 + GST
- Reward rate0.5% on most spends; 2.5% only at partner merchants
Takes you straight to the application. We earn a commission if you are approved, and you pay nothing extra.
- Joining feeFree
- Annual fee₹499 + GST
- Fee waiverOn ₹1 lakh spend a year
- Forex markup0%
IDFC FIRST EARN is a secured card. You put at least Rs 5,000 in a fixed deposit that earns up to 6.30%, and you get a credit limit equal to 100% of it. Because it is backed by the FD, it is a good way to build a credit score if you are new to credit.
It earns 1% cashback on UPI payments made in the IDFC FIRST mobile app, and 0.5% on other eligible spends, including UPI through other apps, bills, wallet loads and insurance. New cards get 10% cashback on spends in the first 15 days.
The fee is ₹499 a year, waived once you spend ₹1 lakh in the year. That is about Rs 8,300 a month, which a primary card can reach. It also includes 25% off movies on District and roadside assistance. The catch is the modest cashback.
Best for: First-time credit users, People building or repairing a credit score, UPI users who bank with IDFC FIRST, Moviegoers.
01IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card Rewards and Benefits
02IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card Annual Fee and Charges
- Joining fee
- Free
- Annual fee
- ₹499 + GST
- Spend-based waiver
- Annual fee waived on ₹1 lakh spend in a year (rent and wallet loads not counted)
- Rewards redemption fee
- Nil
- Forex markup
- 0%
- Interest rate
- Not published
- Fuel surcharge waiver
- No
- Card replacement
- Not published
03What It's Worth, in Rupees
If you spend ₹20,000 a month on this card:
- ₹20,000 on everything else, earning 0.5%₹100
- Back each month, ₹1,200 a year₹100
- Annual fee with 18% GST (waived at this spend)₹0
- In your pocket each year₹1,200
Worked out from this card's reward rates, caps and fee in our data; a rate limited to named merchants is not counted here. Your own spending will differ: see what this card is worth at your spend.
Good for
- Travel only at Flight and hotel bookings made through the FIRST Rewards Gallery in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: 2.5% back, up to ₹2,000 a month
- Spending ₹8,333 or more a month: the ₹589 fee is waived
- Spending abroad: 0% markup, most cards add 3.5%
Skip it if…
- you spend less than ₹8,333 a month (₹1,00,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹589 fee is then charged
- you spend a lot on government payments: the card's terms do not state a rate there, so we count nothing
- you rarely spend on Flight and hotel bookings made through the FIRST Rewards Gallery in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: the 2.5% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.5%
04Product Details
- Secured card issued against a fixed deposit, minimum ₹5,000
- Credit limit of 100% of the FD amount
- ₹499 joining and annual fee, renewal waived at ₹1 lakh yearly spend
- 1% cashback on UPI payments via the IDFC FIRST app
- 0.5% cashback on other eligible spends
- 10% cashback on spends in the first 15 days
- 25% off movie tickets on District
05Pros and Cons
Pros
- Credit limit equals your full FD
- Cashback on UPI payments
- Earns even on bills, wallet loads and insurance
- Fee waiver is easy to reach
Cons
- ₹499 fee if you spend under ₹1 lakh a year
- 1% cashback only through the IDFC FIRST app
06How IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card earns Rewards
0.5% on most spends; 2.5% only at partner merchants. Everything the card pays is capped at ₹500 a month.
| Spend category | Rate | Monthly cap | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI payments (scan and pay) | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Online shopping | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Dining and food delivery | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Groceries | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.5% | No cap | Anywhere else in the category |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains, only at listed merchants | 2.5% | ₹2,000 | Only at: Flight and hotel bookings made through the FIRST Rewards Gallery in the IDFC FIRST Bank appTerms: 5.5% on hotels and 2.5% on flights booked via the app's FIRST Rewards Gallery (0.5% base plus a 5%/2% bonus). The bonus is over and above the usual cashback, under its own ₹2,000 per calendar month ceiling separate from the ₹500/cycle cap, and pays the statement after you travel. |
| Fuel | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Bills and recharges | 0.5% | ₹500, shared with other bonus rates | All merchants in the categoryTerms: 0.5% cashback on utilities, insurance and wallet loads; shares the single ₹500/cycle total cashback cap with all other categories |
| Rent | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Insurance premiums | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| School and college fees | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Wallet top-ups | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Taxes and government payments | Not stated | - | the card's terms state no rate here; many cards pay nothing on these |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Everything else | 0.5% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
Terms on the base rate. 1% cashback on UPI spends via the IDFC FIRST app; 0.5% on UPI via third-party apps and on other eligible online spends (fuel included); total cashback capped at ₹500 a statement cycle
07IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card Travel Benefits
Spending abroad carries a 0% forex markup; rewards on it: 0.5% back (the normal rate). See what it costs on your trip
Also on the card. movie ticket offers.
- Movie ticket offers: 25% off up to ₹100 a month on movie tickets via District by Zomato, available when the card was spend-active in the previous month
08IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card Eligibility and Documents
- Age
- 18 to 80 years
- Employment
- Salaried or self-employed
Documents. PAN card Aadhaar / address proof Fixed deposit of ₹5,000 or more (no income proof required)
09Recent Changes
What IDFC First Bank changed on this card recently. The facts on this page already reflect them.
| Date | Change | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sept 2026 | Changed: Forex markup removedSource: IDFC First Bank | 1% to 3.5%, depending on the card | 0% (nil) |
| 9 Sept 2026 | Changed: Forex markup removedSource: IDFC First Bank | 1% to 3.5%, depending on the card | 0% (nil) |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Reduced: Cashback capped at your credit limit per cycleSource: IDFC First Bank | All eligible spends earned cashback | Only spends up to the credit limit per cycle earn cashback |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Reduced: Movie discount gated on staying spend-activeSource: IDFC First Bank | 25% off up to ₹100, once a month | Same, but only if you transacted in the previous calendar month |
| 16 Dec 2025 | Changed: Joining fee dropped to zero for new cardsSource: IDFC First Bank | ₹499 + GST | ₹0 |
See all 6 changes on this card → · All card changes in September 2026 →
10Cards Similar to IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card
IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card is a travel card. The two below are the closest on SkyloFin; open any of them, or put them side by side.
| Feature | IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card |  Federal Scapia Credit card |  IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | Free | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| Annual fee | ₹499 + GST | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| Rewards | 0.5% on most spends; 2.5% only at partner merchants | 2% on most spends; 4% only at partner merchants | 0.38% base, up to 1.25% on dining |
| Domestic lounge | Not included | Unlimited | Not included |
| Forex markup | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Type | Travel | Travel | Dining |
11Explore More
Card facts last verified 11 October 2026.
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in, India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
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Common Questions
How does the IDFC FIRST EARN card work?
You open a fixed deposit of at least ₹5,000 and get a credit card with a limit equal to that deposit.
Can it help me build a credit score?
Yes. As a secured card it is easy to get, and paying on time builds your credit record.
Is the ₹499 fee waived?
Yes, the renewal fee is waived once you spend ₹1 lakh in a year. Below that the fee plus GST is charged.
How much cashback do I get on UPI?
1% on UPI payments made through the IDFC FIRST app, and 0.5% on UPI through other apps.
What is the joining fee for the IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card?
The joining fee is Free. Check the bank's page before you apply, because fees change and promotional waivers come and go.
What is the annual fee for the IDFC FIRST EA₹N Credit Card?
The annual fee is ₹499 + GST.
Does applying through SkyloFin cost more?
No. You pay the same fees you would pay applying directly with IDFC First Bank. We earn a commission from the bank when someone applies through our link, and that is how the site is funded.
SkyloFin is not a bank and does not approve applications. Fees, rewards and eligibility rules are set by the provider and can change without notice. Always read the terms on the provider's site before you apply.
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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 →
