YES Bank credit cards compared

Formerly known as the YES First Exclusive, which gained acclaim for combining zero foreign transaction markups with unrestricted airport lounge access, this product has been restructured and rebranded as the YES Bank RESERV. The repositioning came with a significantly reduced fee structure—dropping from ~₹10,000 down to ₹2,499 (the joining fee is waived with ₹40,000 spent within 30 days, while the renewal fee waives at ₹3 lakh annual spend). However, its hallmark travel perks were scaled back: the foreign currency markup is now 2% (adjusted upward from 1.75% on 15 June 2026), and airport lounge access is capped at 6 international visits annually plus 3 domestic visits per quarter, with domestic access requiring ₹1 lakh in quarterly spending (a spend gate originally introduced at ₹35,000 in March 2024 and increased in April 2025). The earning schedule operates across three brackets: 24 YES Rewardz per ₹200 online (~3% at ₹0.25 per point, subject to a monthly cap of 36,000 points before reverting to the offline rate), 12 points per ₹200 on in-person retail (~1.5%), and 6 points per ₹200 (~0.75%) on Select categories including utilities, insurance, education, groceries, rent, and wallet reloads. Government transactions have been excluded from rewards since April 2025. In its current form, the RESERV stands as a competitive mid-premium proposition led by robust online reward earning rather than super-premium luxury benefits.

Positioned as YES Bank's pinnacle private banking product, the YES Private Credit Card is an invite-only metal card designed exclusively for affluent clientele. It commands an upfront joining fee of ₹50,000 (non-waivable) and an annual renewal fee of ₹10,000, which is waived upon meeting an annual spend threshold of ₹25 lakh. The card's standout features include an industry-leading 0.50% foreign currency markup—among the lowest available in the Indian credit card market—alongside unlimited domestic and international airport lounge visits through LoungeKey and Mastercard, complete with 12 complimentary guest passes per year and no spend prerequisites on international entries. The reward structure is equally substantial: cardholders earn 20 YES Rewardz per ₹200 on domestic spending (~2.5% effective return) and 40 points per ₹200 on international transactions (~5% effective return at ₹0.25 per point). Welcome and lifestyle privileges include a ₹9,000 Oberoi e-gift voucher, 12 complimentary golf rounds per year, and an initial welcome bonus of 2,00,000 points credited upon payment of the joining fee. While overall reward value depends on redemption channel choices, the combination of minimal forex overhead, luxury hospitality vouchers, and comprehensive lounge coverage easily justifies the card for heavy international travellers.

Historically recognized as an accessible gateway to zero foreign currency markups, the YES First Preferred Credit Card no longer offers that hallmark feature. Following YES Bank's fee restructuring effective 15-Jun-2026, the card levies a 2.00% forex markup (increased from 1.75%) alongside steeper auxiliary costs, including a cash withdrawal fee of 2.5% or ₹650. Despite these adjustments, it retains moderate travel and lifestyle utility: standard retail spends earn 8 YES Rewardz per ₹200 (~1% return at a valuation of ₹0.25 per point), while select categories including groceries and utilities yield 4 points per ₹200. Accelerated rewards across travel, dining, fashion, and healthcare require enrolling in optional paid Rewards Subscription Plans (charging ₹5,000 annually for 5X points in those specific categories, or ₹3,500 annually for 3X points across all spending). The card also provides spend-linked lounge access and golf benefits. Pricing is set at a ₹999 joining fee (waived upon spending ₹50,000 within the first 3 months) and a ₹999 annual renewal fee (waived at ₹2.5 lakh in yearly spend). Applicants should evaluate the card on its current earning and perk structure rather than its retired zero-forex status.

Positioned directly beneath the flagship YES Private, the YES Private Prime Credit Card delivers the core super-premium privileges of YES Bank's private tier at a significantly lower initial outlay. It carries a ₹20,000 joining fee (non-waivable) and an annual renewal fee of ₹10,000, with renewal charges waived upon reaching ₹20 lakh in yearly card spend. The card replicates the flagship's market-leading 0.50% foreign exchange markup and unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access, providing 4 complimentary guest passes per year (compared to 12 on the flagship) without spend gates on international entries. The reward earning schedule is identical to the top tier: 20 YES Rewardz per ₹200 on domestic transactions (~2.5% effective return) and 40 points per ₹200 on international spending (~5% effective return at ₹0.25 per point). It enhances cardholder value by granting an Oberoi e-gift voucher worth ₹9,000 on both joining and annual renewal, complemented by VIP airport meet-and-assist services and golf privileges. Offered exclusively by invitation to high-net-worth clients, the Private Prime serves as an efficient, highly practical route to YES Bank's premium travel and low-forex ecosystem.

Kiwi functions as a digital-first UPI credit card, offering a lifetime-free virtual RuPay card issued in partnership with partner banks (Yes Bank for new applicants, while earlier issuances operated on Axis Bank) and operated through the Kiwi mobile application. Built specifically to route UPI payments through a credit facility, it enables users to link the card to major UPI apps and earn rewards (termed "Kiwis") on merchant QR-code scans, covering minor daily transactions often ineligible on standard cards. Under the standard free plan, users earn 1.5% on UPI scan-and-pay transactions (6 Kiwis per ₹100, valued at ₹0.25 per Kiwi) and approximately 0.5% on standard online spending, delivering a blended return of roughly 1%. The advertised "up to 5%" reward rate (20 Kiwis per ₹100) requires purchasing the optional Kiwi Neon subscription (₹999 per year) and meeting spending milestones; thus, the card is best viewed as a 1.5% UPI earner on its free tier, with Neon serving high-volume UPI spenders. With instant digital onboarding and dedicated UPI features, it stands as an effective zero-cost option for everyday QR transactions.

The YES Bank Marquee is a super-premium credit card delivering an impressive ~4.5% earn rate on online spending (36 reward points per ₹200, when redeemed for travel at ₹0.25 per point) and a low 1% foreign currency markup, packaged with high-end lifestyle benefits including a 40,000-point welcome bonus, 36 movie tickets annually, and complimentary golf privileges. The card carries a joining fee of ₹9,999 and an annual renewal fee of ₹4,999 (waived upon reaching ₹10 lakh in annual spend). Key caveats to consider: voucher redemptions were devalued to ₹0.15 per point (making travel bookings at ₹0.25 the optimal exit route), domestic lounge access is spend-gated at ₹1 lakh per calendar quarter (international lounge access remains unlimited and ungated), transfer partner options are limited (post-merger Club Vistara is defunct, leaving Air India Maharaja Club as the sole partner), reward points expire after 36 months, and YES Bank frequently revises its premium card terms. It serves as an excellent option for digital spenders and international travellers who redeem points deliberately, rather than an all-in-one wallet anchor.

Engineered as a utility-focused financial product, the YES Prosperity Cashback Plus Credit Card centers its value proposition on delivering 5% cashback on recurring household utility bills registered via an auto-pay standing instruction through YES Bank, capped at ₹100 per statement cycle. Utility payments processed without an active auto-pay mandate revert to a 0.75% base rate (subject to a ₹750 monthly cap), while cumulative monthly utility spending exceeding ₹15,000 earns zero rewards. The card also awards 5% cashback on grocery and cinema purchases (capped at ₹100 per cycle), maintains a 0.75% base earn rate on other eligible retail spends, and provides a standard 1% fuel surcharge waiver. These features are packaged against a ₹1,499 annual fee which, according to YES Bank's MITC, cannot be waived through spending milestones. Because YES Bank has formally retired new customer issuance across the Prosperity card series, existing cardholders retain their grandfathered benefits upon renewal, and this review serves as an ongoing reference rather than an active application portal.

The YES Bank Essence is a mid-tier lifestyle credit card positioned for online retail spending, featuring an accelerated earn rate of 12 YES Rewardz per ₹200 on online fashion, beauty, dining, travel, and grocery purchases, 8 points per ₹200 on other online spending, and 4 points per ₹200 on offline transactions. Accelerated online rewards are capped at 9,000 points per statement cycle. YES Rewardz redeem at approximately ₹0.20 each for gift vouchers, products, or statement credits, and up to ₹0.25 when booked for flights and hotels on the YES rewardz portal—yielding an effective return of roughly 1.2% in accelerated categories and 0.4% offline, with stronger returns realized on travel redemptions. The ₹799 joining fee is refunded upon spending ₹20,000 within the first 30 days, while the ₹799 annual renewal fee is waived with ₹1 lakh in annual spend. Additional benefits include a ₹1,000 voucher on a first transaction completed within 45 days, 5,000 bonus points on ₹50,000 spend in the first 90 days, 10,000 milestone points on ₹1 lakh annual spend, birthday perks (a ₹1,000 Myntra voucher and a health check-up), a monthly buy-one-get-one movie ticket on District (up to ₹250 discount), and 1 domestic lounge visit per quarter subject to spend criteria. It serves as a well-balanced card for online lifestyle shoppers who actively redeem rewards for travel.

The YES Bank Elite+ is a mid-tier rewards credit card focused on digital spending: it earns 12 YES Reward Points per ₹200 on online purchases (~1.2% return at ₹0.20 per point, capped at 12,000 points per billing cycle), 6 points per ₹200 on offline retail, and a reduced rate of 4 points per ₹200 on select utility and cable/streaming payments. The card bundles 2 domestic lounge visits per quarter (spend-gated upon spending ₹50,000 in the previous calendar quarter), 3 complimentary international lounge visits annually, a 25% discount on BookMyShow movie tickets (up to ₹250 per month), and a fuel surcharge waiver. Both the joining and renewal fees are set at ₹999; the joining fee is waived by spending ₹20,000 within the first 30 days, while the renewal fee is waived upon reaching ₹2 lakh in annual spend. Points are redeemable via the YES rewardz portal—yielding top value on flights and hotels and lower returns on gift vouchers—with a redemption fee of ₹100 plus GST applied per request. It serves as a dependable option for regular online spenders capable of meeting the introductory and annual fee waiver milestones.

Rebranded from the Prosperity Edge, the YES Bank Select Credit Card positions itself as an entry-level lifestyle product that balances modest earning rates with a surprisingly comprehensive perk package for its ₹599 price point. Cardholders collect 8 YES Rewardz per ₹200 on online transactions (subject to a cap of 5,000 points per billing cycle), 4 points per ₹200 on offline purchases, and 2 points per ₹200 on select utility, cable, and streaming expenses. With YES Rewardz typically valued around ₹0.20 when redeemed for vouchers, bills, or statement credits, and up to ₹0.25 on flight and hotel bookings via the YES rewardz portal, real-world yields land near 0.8% online and 0.4% offline. The card distinguishes itself primarily through ancillary benefits: one domestic airport lounge entry per quarter, four annual complimentary golf green-fee rounds with a monthly coaching session, and a monthly movie buy-one-get-one benefit (up to ₹150 off). Cardholders can have the ₹599 joining fee reversed by spending ₹10,000 in the initial 30 days, while the ₹599 renewal fee is waived on ₹1 lakh of yearly spend. For YES Bank customers seeking leisure benefits at a minimal ongoing cost, it provides reasonable utility provided reward points are purposefully redeemed.

The YES Bank Ace Credit Card (formerly known as Prosperity Rewards Plus) serves as the entry-level online shopping card in YES Bank's retail lineup. It awards 8 YES Rewardz per ₹200 spent on online transactions (capped at 5,000 points per billing cycle), 4 points per ₹200 on offline purchases, and 2 points per ₹200 on select utility and cable/streaming services. YES Rewardz points are valued at approximately ₹0.20 each when redeemed for gift vouchers and merchandise, rising to around ₹0.25 for flight and hotel bookings through the YES rewardz portal, delivering an effective return of roughly 0.8% online and 0.4% offline. The card features an affordable ₹499 annual fee that is waived with just ₹50,000 in annual spending, while the ₹499 joining fee is reversed upon spending ₹5,000 within the first 30 days. It omits airport lounge, golf, and cinema privileges, offering practical essentials instead: a 1% fuel surcharge waiver (capped at ₹100 per month), buy-one-get-one coffee privileges at participating mall outlets, and purchase protection cover. The card is issued on the Visa network per tracking records and does not support direct UPI integration. It functions best as an unpretentious, low-maintenance supplementary card for everyday digital purchases.

Serving as the entry-tier offering in YES Bank's earlier cashback portfolio, the YES Prosperity Cashback Credit Card provided a lower-cost alternative (₹999 fee) to the ₹1,499 Prosperity Cashback Plus. The core proposition delivered 5% cashback on grocery shopping, cinema tickets, and utility payments, alongside a 0.5% base return on all other eligible retail transactions (excluding fuel). However, strict earning limits strictly bounded the total financial upside: two independent ₹100 monthly statement caps apply—one covering groceries and movies (qualifying only on transactions above ₹500, with smaller purchases earning the 0.5% base) and a second covering utility bills, which mandates setting up an auto-pay standing instruction with YES Bank. Utility payments made manually receive only the 0.5% base rate (capped at ₹750 per cycle), while cumulative monthly utility spending beyond ₹15,000 earns no cashback whatsoever. The card includes a 1% fuel surcharge waiver, while YES Bank's MITC specifies that the ₹999 annual fee is non-waivable via spending. Note that YES Bank has officially discontinued issuing this card to new applicants; existing cardholders continue to receive replacement cards upon expiry, making this entry an informational reference for current users.

Structured specifically around healthcare and fitness perks, the YES Bank Wellness Plus Credit Card delivers most of its financial return through integrated wellness services rather than retail spending rewards. Cardholders receive 12 complimentary fitness passes every month (covering gym access, yoga, and Zumba), a comprehensive annual health check-up (aligned with the Aditya Birla Activ Health package), and unlimited remote teleconsultations with general physicians, medical specialists, and nutritionists. On the transaction side, it earns 6 YES Reward Points per ₹200 on standard retail (~0.6%), which scales up to 30 points per ₹200 (~3%) on pharmacy and chemist purchases, alongside two quarterly domestic airport lounge entries (spend-gated) and a 1% fuel surcharge waiver. Cost considerations are central: the card levies a ₹1,499 joining fee and a ₹1,499 annual renewal fee, with YES Bank's MITC confirming that the annual fee cannot be waived through spend. Consequently, the card's viability rests entirely on consistent utilization of its fitness network, check-ups, and medical consultations—offsetting the non-waivable ₹1,499 cost requires actively consuming the wellness package.

Operated on the RuPay network, the YES Bank Zagg Credit Card (formerly known as Rio) is an app-centric, lifetime-free credit card engineered around UPI transactions. Marketing materials highlighting "up to 3%" refer to coin accumulation rather than direct cash back: Zagg credits 3% of eligible transaction volume as Zagg Coins, with each coin carrying a monetary valuation of ₹0.25. Consequently, a ₹100 spend via Zagg UPI generates 3 Zagg Coins worth ₹0.75, translating to an actual return of 0.75% exclusively on Zagg-app UPI and contactless tap-and-pay transactions, while all other spending yields lower returns. Redemptions occur within the Zagg app and incur a ₹100 plus GST redemption charge, with monthly coin accrual restricted to 1.5% of the cardholder's total credit limit. Standard categories including fuel, utility bills, insurance premiums, education expenses, rental payments, and government transactions are entirely excluded from reward earnings. The card's genuine appeal stems not from its reward rate, but from providing complimentary domestic airport lounge access on a lifetime-free card. Note that co-branded Zagg variants issued alongside AU Small Finance Bank and PNB operate under distinct fee and reward structures.

Issued on the RuPay network in partnership with the POP (POPclub) app, the YES Bank POP-CLUB card centers its reward structure entirely on POPcoins. While advertised earn rates appear exceptionally generous—10 POPcoins per ₹100 spent online, 2 per ₹100 on offline purchases, and 2% in POPcoins on POP UPI payments—these figures rely on POP's nominal ₹1 valuation per coin. In practice, POP's terms specify that POPcoins cannot be redeemed for cash or directly fund purchases; rather, they serve as partial order discounts within the POPshop marketplace at merchant-determined ratios and prices. For open-loop utility, such as statement credit, bill payments, or UPI settlements, redemption yields approximately 10 POPcoins per ₹1. Pricing them realistically at ₹0.10 per coin reduces the effective return to roughly 1% online and 0.2% across other channels, with all earned coins expiring 365 days post-credit. The card carries no joining fee, while its ₹399 annual fee is waived upon reaching ₹1.5 lakh in yearly spending, which also yields a 1,500 POPcoin milestone bonus (≈₹150).