HDFC Bank Credit Cards – Forex Markup Charges

In terms of market capitalization and assets, HDFC Bank is the biggest private bank in India, with over 1.95 crore credit card users across the country. The bank has various types of cards ranging from super-premium, travel, lifestyle, shopping, fuel, etc., and people can opt for the card that suits them the most. Many premium and mid-range offerings by HDFC Bank have a lower forex markup fee and are ideal for people who make foreign transactions regularly.

People who frequently travel to foreign countries for business or vacation have to pay extra charges whenever they swipe their card for a foreign currency transaction. Most of the credit cards by top issuers in our country charge a forex markup fee of around 3-3.5% of the transaction amount.

HDFC Bank has multiple cards that have a lower forex markup fee of 2 to 3%, which is lower than the standard 3.5% fee charged by most cards. With some super-premium cards, you even get bonus reward points on international spending and exclusive travel privileges that will make your foreign travels more comfortable and exciting than ever.

Read further to check out the forex markup charges of top HDFC Bank credit cards and related information.

Table of Contents

Forex Markup Charges of HDFC Bank Credit Cards

The following are the forex markup fees of some of the top credit cards offered by HDFC Bank –

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card

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(4.7/5)

Fees

Joining Fee

Rs. 10,000 + GST

Renewal Fee

Rs. 10,000 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel

Reward Type

Reward Points

Foreign Currency Markup

 2% of Transaction Amount

HDFC Bank INFINIA Metal Credit Card

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(5/5)

Fees

Joining Fee

Rs. 12,500 + GST

Renewal Fee

Rs. 12,500 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel

Reward Type

Reward Points

Foreign Currency Markup

2% of the total transaction amount + taxes

Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card

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(4.5/5)

Fees

Joining Fee

Rs. 1,499 + GST

Renewal Fee

Rs. 1,499 + GST

Best Suited For

Shopping

Reward Type

Reward Points

Foreign Currency Markup

2% of the total transaction amount.

HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card

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(4.5/5)

Fees

Joining Fee

Rs. 2,500 + GST

Renewal Fee

Rs. 2,500 + GST

Best Suited For

Shopping

Reward Type

Reward Points

Foreign Currency Markup

2% on all forex transactions

HDFC Bank Diners Club Privilege Credit Card

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(4.5/5)

Fees

Joining Fee

Rs. 2,500 + GST

Renewal Fee

Rs. 2,500 + GST

Best Suited For

Movies

Reward Type

Reward Points

Foreign Currency Markup

1.99% of the conversion amount (plus applicable taxes)

6E Rewards XL – IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card

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(4.6/5)

Fees

Joining Fee

Rs. 1,500 + GST

Renewal Fee

Rs. 1,500 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel

Reward Type

Reward Points

Foreign Currency Markup

2.5% (plus applicable taxes)

When is the Forex Markup Fee Charged?

When you swipe your credit card for international spends, MasterCard, Visa, or other card networks charge extra for foreign currency markup, and your credit card issuer adds extra to the total charges, which amounts to around 3-3.5% in forex markup charges. If the fee is 3% and you spend Rs. 1 Lakh on a transaction, you will need to pay Rs. 3000 extra.

Moreover, the forex markup fee is charged every time you make a foreign transaction and can add up to a lot over time. Other than this, a currency conversion fee is also charged by the payment processor, where you swipe your credit card. Thus, foreign spends can get quite expensive for you if you do not own a credit card with low forex markup fees.

Eligibility for HDFC Bank Credit Cards

You must meet certain eligibility requirements to apply for the HDFC Bank credit cards –

• Applicant must be 21 to 60 years of age in case of salaried, and 21 to 65 years of age in case of self-employed people.
• Applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• Applicant must have a decent credit score
• Applicant must have a stable source of income.

Credit Cards Comparison

In the following table, we will compare the top HDFC Bank credit cards that have a low forex markup fee than other cards –

Bottom Line

Card issuers charge a forex markup fee whenever you swipe your credit card for international transactions in foreign currency. People who regularly visit abroad or make online international spends, can end up paying a lot of money in forex markup charges over a period of time. HDFC Bank is one of the top card issuers in India, and you should opt for a card that offers a low forex markup fee if you make international transactions frequently.

As discussed above, there are super-premium cards like HDFC Bank Infinia and HDFC Bank Diners Club Black that charge a low 2% forex markup fee. There are other premium cards like Diners Club Privilege, Regalia, Regalia First, and Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank with a 2% fee, while the 6E Rewards XL Indigo HDFC credit card has a 2.5% fee. Most other HDFC Bank credit cards have the standard 3.5% forex markup charge.

We recommend everyone who makes frequent foreign currency spends to get one of the cards with a low forex markup fee so that they can save money in the long run.