SBI Elite Credit Card Review (2026)
SBI's premium offering with 5x on dining and groceries, unlimited domestic lounges, and Club Vistara Silver (transitioning to Air India Flying Returns post-merger). Best for category-heavy spenders.
Last updated: 2026-04-02· By PointsWallah Editorial
Fee Details
| Annual Fee | ₹4,999 |
| Joining Fee | ₹4,999 |
| Fee Waiver | Spend 10L in a year for 5,000 bonus points (effectively offsets fee) |
| Income Required | ₹12L/year |
| Network | Visa |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | Yes |
Reward Rates
Currency: SBI Reward Points
Milestone Benefits
5,000 bonus reward points on spending 10L
Lounge Access
Our Review
The SBI Elite is a strong card if your spending aligns with its accelerated categories (dining + groceries). At 5x on these categories, someone spending 20K/month on food and groceries earns 1,000 points/month on these categories alone. The unlimited domestic lounge access is a genuine premium perk at this price point. Where it falls short: the 2x base rate means non-category spends earn poorly, and the 10L milestone for fee offset is unrealistic for most cardholders. Compare this honestly with HDFC Regalia's 4x on everything — for most people, a flat 4x beats a 5x on two categories + 2x on everything else.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- + 5x on dining, grocery, and departmental stores — great for daily spends
- + Unlimited domestic lounge access
- + 6 international lounge visits
- + Club Vistara Silver membership (complimentary upgrade, priority boarding) — note: Vistara merged into Air India in late 2024; this benefit is transitioning to Air India's Flying Returns programme
Cons
- - 2x base rate on non-category spends is low for a 5K fee card
- - 10L spend required to offset annual fee through milestone — very high
- - SBI reward point redemption options are limited compared to HDFC
- - Category benefits have caps that aren't always clearly communicated
Best For
Compare SBI Elite Credit Card
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SBI Elite Credit Card worth it in 2026?
It depends on your spending. The SBI Elite Credit Card costs ₹4,999/year (waiver: Spend 10L in a year for 5,000 bonus points (effectively offsets fee)). With an effective base return of 0.5%, you'd need to spend approximately ₹10.0L per year just to break even on the fee. If your annual spend exceeds that, the card earns you money.
What is the SBI Elite Credit Card annual fee?
The SBI Elite Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹4,999. Joining fee is also ₹4,999. Fee waiver: Spend 10L in a year for 5,000 bonus points (effectively offsets fee).
What is the minimum salary required for SBI Elite Credit Card?
The minimum annual income required for the SBI Elite Credit Card is ₹12L. However, if you have an existing banking relationship with SBI Card, you may get approved at a lower income level.
Disclaimer: This review is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Card features, fees, and reward structures may change without notice. Please verify all details on SBI Card's website before applying. We may earn a commission if you apply through our links — this does not affect our editorial assessment.