What is a Co-Branded Credit Card?

A co-branded credit card is issued by a bank in association with a second party which could be a retail partner, travel website, sports league or a premium hotel chain. A co-branded card is sponsored by both the entities and is designed to carry features from both. Depending on the partner the bank has tied up with, customers can enjoy benefits while making purchase transactions. Co-branded credit cards come with various offers, incentives and discounts and are affiliated with retail merchants. As per the recent trend, banks have been tying up with e-commerce websites to introduce co-branded credit cards. Fuel and airline credit cards are some of the most common co-branded credit cards where rewards points can be redeemed for air miles, flight awards, products and class upgrades.

Benefits of Co-Branded Credit Cards:

• All co-branded credit cards are accepted worldwide and can be used at any merchant outlet across the globe. Co-branded credit cards are usually offered in association with MasterCard, visa or American Express.
• Co-branded credit cards can be used just like normal credit cards but offer exclusive travel benefits and attractive discounts for customers.
• Purchases done as EMIs with co-branded credit cards will carry zero finance charges, depending on the card availed.
• Customers can accrue JP Miles and make redemptions for slight tickets and gift vouchers with any Jet Airways co-branded credit card.
• Some co-branded credit cards also offers entertainment and movie ticket offers, railway ticket benefits and insurance to customers.
• Since co-branded credit cards are attached to a particular brand, customer can avails cards customised to their spend category and lifestyle requirements.
• Co-branded credit cards are available with flexible payment options and 24/7 customer care support provided by banks.
• Most co-branded credit cards do not have transaction fees and also offer surcharge waivers for customers.

Types of Co-Branded Credit Cards:

The key features of a few popular co-branded credit cards have been explained below -

• SimplyCLICK SBI Card:

State Bank of India offers the SimplyCLICK SBI Card in collaboration with Amazon India, Cleartrip, LensKart, FabFurnish, BookMyShow, Food Panda and Ola Cabs. This co-branded credit cards provides card users with excellent benefits on online shopping with opportunities to earn 10X rewards points. SimplyCLICK SBI Card can enjoy privileges like login gifts from Amazon, e-shopping rewards from all the partners, e-vouchers for milestone spends, fuel surcharge waivers and annual fee reversals when the spend exceeds Rs. 1 lakh. Other cashback offers can be got from Cleartrip, Bookmyshow, Fabfurnish and OLA. Customers can use the SimplyCLICK SBI Card across the globe at any merchant outlet. Some of the other benefits of the card include add-on cards, cash withdrawals, railway ticket bookings, utility bill payments, EMI conversions, easy money and balance transfer. The annual fees and joining fees charged for the SimplyCLICK SBI Card is Rs. 499. The annual fee will be waived off if the previous year’s purchase is more than Rs. 1 lakh. No fee is charged for add-on credit cards. The finance charges applicable on extended credit for the SimplyCLICK SBI Card is 3.35% per month.

• Yatra SBI credit card:

State Bank of India offers the Yatra SBI credit card in collaboration with Yatra.com. As welcome gifts, card holders can get a cashback of Rs. 100 when they make their first cash withdrawal. Customers can get travel vouchers from Yatra.com for a value of Rs. 8250, once the joining fee has been paid. Customers can get 6X rewards points, fuel surcharge waivers, complimentary lounge access, add-on card feature, etc. Some of the other benefits of the card include add-on cards, cash withdrawals, railway ticket bookings, utility bill payments, EMI conversions, easy money and balance transfer. The annual fees and joining fees charged for the Yatra SBI credit card is Rs. 499. The annual fee will be waived off if the previous year’s purchase is more than Rs. 75,000. No fee is charged for add-on credit cards. The finance charges applicable on extended credit for the Yatra SBI credit card is 3.35% per month.

• IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card:

As welcome gifts, IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card holders can get 350 bonus rewards points when Rs. 500 is spent within 45 days of card issue and also a cashback of Rs. 100 when they make their first cash withdrawal. Railway tickets booked on irctc.co.in for AC1, AC CC and AC2 can get customers a value back of 10% in the form of rewards points. Other purchase can get customers 1 rewards point for every Rs. 150 spent. IRCTC also provides various travel offers and privileges including booking of flight tickets. The other benefits included under this card are fuel surcharge waiver and transaction charge waiver. Customers can also get various offers from Visa and features like add-on cards, cash withdrawals, utility bill payments, EMI conversions, easy money and balance transfer. The annual fees charged for the IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card is Rs. 300 and the joining fees charged will be Rs. 500. No fee is charged for add-on credit cards. The finance charges applicable on extended credit for the IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card is 3.35% per month.

• HDFC Snapdeal Credit Card:

The HDFC Snapdeal credit card has been introduced as a co-branded credit card by HDFC Bank in collaboration with Snapdeal.com. As welcome benefits, customers can get 500 rewards points. 2 rewards points can be got for every Rs. 150 spent. Every purchase done on Snapdeal.com can get customers 3X rewards points. The other features available with the HDFC Snapdeal credit card are fuel surcharge waiver, zero liability insurance, interest free credit, revolving credit and the annual fee will be waived off if the spend exceeds Rs. 1.5 lakhs for the previous year. Card holders can also get attractive offers from Freecharge, Cleartrip and Ola. The annual fees and the renewal fees charged for the HDFC Snapdeal Credit Card is Rs. 500 and the joining fees charged will be Rs. 500. No fee is charged for add-on credit cards.

• JetPrivilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card:

The JetPrivilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card has been introduced as part of the JetPrivilege program and HDFC Bank. Customers can earn EXTRA JP Miles using this card. International and domestic flight tickets bought using this card on jetairways.com can get customers a discount of 5% on the base fare. As part of enrolment benefits, customers can get a complimentary Jet Airways ticket, a discount voucher of Rs. 750 which can be used on Jet Airways, extended Miles expiry, a bonus of 5000 Miles if the spend exceeds Rs. 75,000, a first swipe bonus of 5000 JP Miles, within the first 90 days. On renewal, customers can get a bonus of 4000 JP Miles and a discount voucher of Rs. 750 which can be used on Jet Airways. The MasterCard Lounge Program also offers access to premium lounges across the country. Other benefits include JetPrivilege Tier Points, Excess Baggage Allowance, Dedicated Check-In Counter, Priority Pass Membership and fuel surcharge waiver. The annual fees and the renewal fees charged for the JetPrivilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card is Rs. 2500. Annual fees will be zero until the customer is a member of the JetPrivilege Platinum tier.

• IndusInd Bank Chelsea FC Credit Card:

The IndusInd Bank Chelsea FC Credit Card has been issued as a collaborative effort between IndusInd Bank and Chelsea FC. Customers can enjoy unique rewards and personalized offers with this card. As welcome offers, card holders can get rewards points equal to the joining fees of the IndusInd Bank Chelsea FC Credit Card. As this is a Chelsea FC card, any merchandise bought on the online megastore of the football club can get customers a discount of 10%. Travel benefits include Priority Pass memberships, lounge access fee waivers under the Travel plus Program, travel insurance and much more. Card holders can also get concierge services inclusive of Pre-trip Assistance, Hotel Reservation, Flight Bookings, Sports and Entertainment Bookings and other exclusive arrangements. IndusInd Bank also provides attractive offers on dining, shopping, travel and entertainment to IndusInd Bank Chelsea FC Credit Card holders. Customers can earn 1 rewards point for every Rs. 100 spent on the card. 4X rewards can be earned for transactions done using the IndusInd Bank Chelsea FC Credit Card at any merchant outlet. Redemptions can be done for air miles on all partner airlines, cash credit and at The More Store. Additionally, cardholders can also get insurance against fraud under the Total Protect program, air accident cover and fuel surcharge waivers.

• Axis Bank Miles & More Credit Cards:

The Axis Bank Miles & More Credit Card is offered by Axis Bank in association with Lufthansa. Miles and More is a travel loyalty program provided by Lufthansa, SWISS Air and Austrian Airlines along with few other major airlines. Axis Bank offers two co-branded cards - World Select Card and World Card under this program. The World Select Card comes with welcome offers of 15,000 miles and 4,000 annual miles. Customers can earn 6 miles for every Rs. 200 spent on all eligible spends and 20 miles for every Rs. 200 spent on movie tickets booked using the World Select Card. The World Card comes with welcome offers of 5,000 miles and 3,000 annual miles. Customers can earn 4 miles for every Rs. 200 spent on all eligible spends and 20 miles for every Rs. 200 spent on movie tickets booked using the World Card. Accrued miles do not come with a validity period and can be used anytime by the customer. Miles can be redeemed for flight booking, class upgrades, car rentals, hotel bookings, shopping and other exciting gifts. Customers can also get Lost Card Liability cover, travel benefits, international airport lounge access, fuel surcharge waiver, EMMI conversion facility, etc.

• Jet Airways ICICI Bank Credit Cards:

ICICI Bank offers three co-branded credit cards in collaboration with Jet Airways - Jet Airways ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card, Jet Airways ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card and Jet Airways ICICI Bank Coral Credit Cards. These cards are available as an American Express or a Visa variant. Customers can get bonus miles as welcome gifts, renewal benefits, online discounts, Priority Pass Membership, dedicated Check-in, Excess Baggage Allowance, Fuel Surcharge waiver, insurance cover, privileges from American Express and Visa, dining benefits under the Culinary Treats program, complimentary movie tickets, etc. JPMiles can be earned on transactions using these cards and accrued miles can be redeemed for flight tickets, class upgrades, etc. Visa privileges include Visa airport lounge access, car rental benefits and Chic Outlet shopping offers. American Express privileges include JP Miles accrual, Altitude lounge access, dining, travel, entertainment and shopping benefits from American Express Selects, Global eshop offers, etc. All the Jet Airways ICICI Bank Credit Cards come with enhanced security in the form of embedded microchips and PIN for purchase transactions. BookMyShow offers 1-on-1 ticket deals for bookings done using these Jet Airways ICICI Bank Credit Cards, with a maximum of two tickets issued in a month.

• Jet Airways IndusInd Bank Odyssey Credit Card:

The Jet Airways IndusInd Bank Odyssey Credit Card has been introduced as part of the JetPrivilege program and IndusInd Bank. As joining benefits customers can get 15,000 bonus JP Miles and a domestic flight ticket with the base fare waived off. Renewals can get customers 5000 JP Miles and a domestic flight ticket with the base fare waived off. Online bookings done on jetairways.com can get customers 5% discounts. Other benefits include Bon Vivant dining membership, Excess Baggage Allowance, Dedicated Check-In Counter, Priority Pass Membership, fuel surcharge waiver, wellness offers, golfing deals, concierge assistance and insurance in the form of Counterfeit Card Liability, cover against Unauthorized Transactions and Air Accident Cover. The annual fees charged from the second year for the Jet Airways IndusInd Bank Odyssey Credit Card is Rs. 4000 and joining fee charged is Rs. 10,000. The Jet Airways IndusInd Bank Odyssey Credit Card is available as Visa and American Express variants.

• First Citizen Citibank Titanium Credit Card:

As welcome offers, customers can get First Use Benefit Vouchers worth Rs. 500, Shoppers Stop vouchers for Rs. 500 and Citibank Reward points for Rs. 350. Customers can earn 7 rewards points for every Rs. 100 spent using the First Citizen Citibank Titanium Credit Card. Card holders can get exclusive in-store privileges, payment counters and sale previews from Shoppers Stop. The annual fee on the car will be waived off if the customer spends more that Rs. 30,000 for an entire year. First Citizen Citibank Titanium Credit Card holders can also get attractive wellness offers from premium spas and beauty salons. Accrued First Citizen Points can be redeemed for purchases at any Shoppers Stop outlet and also on the Shoppers Stop website. Citibank offers exclusive concierge privileges, dining and shopping benefits along with the EMI conversion facility to card holders. Value added services on the First Citizen Citibank Titanium Credit Card include instant loans, EMI and easy payment options and convenient balance transfer plans for customers. The interest rate charged on the First Citizen Citibank Titanium Credit Card is 3.25% per month. No fee is charged for supplementary credit cards.

• Jet Airways American Express Platinum Credit Card:

The Jet Airways American Express Platinum Credit Card has been introduced as part of the JetPrivilege program and American Express. Customers can earn 8 JP Miles for every Rs. 150 spent using this card. As part of enrolment benefits, customers can get 10,000 bonus JP Miles and a complimentary Jet Airways ticket with the base fare waived off. On renewal, customers can get a bonus of 5000 JP Miles and a complimentary domestic Jet Airways ticket with the base fare waived off. Accelerated miles can also be earned at the rate of 20 bonus JP Miles. Other benefits include online discounts of 5% on jetairways.com, Excess Baggage Allowance, Dedicated Check-In Counter, stay privileges at Trident Hotels, Preferred Hotel Groups and Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, airport lounge access, Priority Pass Membership, Platinum assistance, Visa assistance, Pay-in-Parts privilege, Platinum concierge services and dining discounts. The first year fees for the Jet Airways American Express Platinum Credit Card is Rs. 5000. Annual fees will be zero until the customer is a member of the JetPrivilege Platinum tier. The renewal fees charged is Rs. 10,000.