The BOBCARD started operations in 1994, and its non-banking financial organization, BOBCARD Limited, takes care of the credit card business. Individuals can find the credit card that best fits their needs, including lifestyle, fuel, travel, dining, shopping, corporate, and business options. If you are one of those people who regularly travel abroad, then you must be wary of the forex markup fees you have to pay whenever you use your card for foreign transactions. Most basic credit cards charge a standard 3.5% forex markup fee, while some premium ones have low forex markup charges of around 2 to 3%.
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In the following section, we will take a look at the forex markup fees of the top BOBCARD credit cards, along with other information about them.
6 Miles/₹100 on Etihad Airways and 2 Miles/₹100 on All Other Domestic and Cross-Border Spends
10,000 + 5,000 (LIMITED TIME OFFER) Etihad Guest Bonus Miles on Spending ₹50,000 Within 60 Days, Silver Tier Status on First Transaction, and Upgrade to Gold Tier After an Etihad Transaction Within 6 Months
3 Miles/₹100 on Etihad Airways and 1 Mile/₹100 on All Other Domestic and Cross-Border Spends
5,000 + 2,500 (LIMITED TIME OFFER) Etihad Guest Bonus Miles on Spending ₹50,000 Within 60 Days and Silver Tier Status on First Etihad Transaction Within 6 Months
15 Reward Points/₹100 on Online, Travel, Movie, and Dining Spends (~3.75%). 3 Reward Points/₹100 on Other Eligible Spends (~0.75%)
10,000 Bonus Reward Points
Up to 15x Reward Points with the Varunah Premium Card, Up to 10x Reward Points with the Varunah Plus Card, and up to 5x Rewards with the Varunah Card.
Complimentary Amazon Prime membership for one year, as well as 500 bonus Reward Points with the Varunah Premium Card.
1 Reward Point on every spend of Rs. 100 and 5x Reward points on dining, utility bills, and online purchases.
Complimentary Fit Pass Pro Membership for 6 Months and 500 Bonus Reward Points
The forex markup fee is charged by the credit card issuer when the card is swiped abroad, and the transaction is in a foreign currency. Every credit card has a forex markup fee, which you should check before applying for a card. If you frequently make international spends, then you should look for a card with a low forex markup fee.
The credit card network charges a 1% fee for foreign transactions, and then the card issuer adds a percentage to it. This makes the forex markup fee around 3-3.5% on most credit cards. Some premium credit cards have a lower forex markup fee of around 2-2.5% also. Other than this, you also have to pay a currency conversion fee for foreign transactions.
All these charges can add up over time, and therefore, it is recommended to go for a card that has a low forex markup fee.
In the following section, we will take a look at the forex markup fees of the top BOBCARD credit cards, along with other information about them.
The BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card is designed for frequent Etihad travellers who want strong travel privileges. Cardholders earn 6 miles per ₹100 spent on Etihad flights and 2 miles per ₹100 on other eligible spends, helping them accumulate miles faster for future trips. The card also offers 12 domestic and 8 international airport lounge visits every year without any spending condition, making airport travel more comfortable. One of its biggest advantages is the 0% forex markup, which means you do not pay extra charges on international transactions, a major savings compared to most cards that charge 2–3.5%.
The BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card is a good option for travellers who fly with Etihad occasionally and want simple travel benefits. You earn 3 miles per ₹100 spent on Etihad bookings and 1 mile per ₹100 on other eligible spends, helping you build miles for future flights. The card offers 8 domestic and 4 international lounge visits every year, giving you a comfortable airport experience before departure. It also comes with a low 1% forex markup on international transactions, which is much lower than most credit cards and helps you save on overseas spending.
The card comes at a joining fee of ₹2,499 and offers a welcome bonus of 10,000 reward points and a complimentary FitPass Pro membership. As BOBCARD’s top offering, the Eterna card includes unlimited domestic lounge access, insurance benefits, complimentary golf rounds and lessons, and more. You get accelerated 15 RPs per Rs. 100 spent on movie, travel, and dining, and 3 RPs per Rs. 100 spent elsewhere. The card is ideal for frequent travellers as it charges a low forex markup fee of 2% of the transaction amount.
The BOBCARD Varunah comes in three variants: the basic, the Plus, and the Premium. All these cards are for the Indian Navy exclusively, with the Premium version having the highest joining fee of Rs. 2499, the Plus version at Rs. 1499, and the basic variant is free of cost. All three cards have different privileges across different categories, and you should get the Varunah Premium card if you want the best benefits out of the three cards. The cardholder gets decent welcome benefits, reward rates, airport lounge access, and much more with the Varunah range of cards. The Varunah Plus card has a 2.5% forex markup fee, while the Varunah Premium card has a 2% forex markup fee.
BOBCARD has many exclusive credit cards for the Indian Navy, army, and other defense personnel. Similarly, the ICAI BOBCARD Exclusive credit card is a lifetime free card that is exclusively meant for ICAI members. With this credit card, you get a complimentary FitPass Pro membership and a bonus 1000 reward points as a welcome benefit. Not just this, you can earn around 16000 reward points on reaching the annual spend milestone, along with other privileges like insurance benefits, complimentary lounge access, fuel surcharge waiver, and more. Another great benefit, especially for those who consistently travel abroad, is the low 2% forex markup fee on the card.
Follow these steps to apply for BOBCARD credit cards –
| Category | BOBCARD Eterna | BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium | BOBCARD Etihad Guest |
| Joining/Annual Fee | Lifetime Free (Till 31st March 2026) | ₹5,000 + GST | ₹2,500 + GST |
| Welcome Benefit | 6-Month FitPass Pro Membership Worth ₹15,000 and 10,000 Bonus Reward Points | 5,000 + 5,000 (LIMITED TIME OFFER) Etihad Guest Bonus Miles on Spending ₹25,000 Within 60 Days, Silver Tier Status on First Transaction, and Upgrade to Gold Tier After an Etihad Transaction Within 6 Months | 2,500 + 2,500 (LIMITED TIME OFFER) Etihad Guest Bonus Miles on Spending ₹10,000 Within 60 Days and Silver Tier Status on First Etihad Transaction Within 6 Months |
| Reward Earning | 15 Reward Points/₹100 on Online, Travel, Movie, and Dining Spends (~3.75%). 3 Reward Points/₹100 on Other Eligible Spends (~0.75%) | 6 Miles/₹100 on Etihad Airways and 2 Miles/₹100 on All Other Domestic and Cross-Border Spends | 3 Miles/₹100 on Etihad Airways and 1 Mile/₹100 on All Other Domestic and Cross-Border Spends |
| Domestic Lounge Access | Unlimited Domestic Airport Lounge Access on Spends of ₹40,000 in the Previous Quarter | 12 Complimentary Lounge Visits Per Year (3 Per Quarter) | 8 Complimentary Lounge Visits Per Year (2 Per Quarter) |
| Forex Markup Fee | 2% | Zero | 1% |
Whenever we travel abroad for work or leisure, we want to have a relaxing and comfortable experience. Credit cards make it easy to make payments when abroad; however, the high forex markup fees can burn a hole in your pocket. You have to pay these charges every time you swipe your credit card, along with the currency conversion fee.
BOBCARD has a great range of credit cards with thousands of cardholders in India. Several cards from the issuer have a low foreign exchange markup fee. The BOBCARD Eterna, BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium, and BOBCARD Etihad Guest all offer a low Forex charge.
Most other BOBCARD cards charge the standard 3.5% markup fee, as discussed above. Therefore, choose a card with a low markup fee if you plan to use it regularly for international transactions and foreign currency spending.
The foreign exchange markup fee is charged by the credit card issuer when the card is swiped abroad, and the transaction is in a foreign currency. The credit card network charges a 1% fee for foreign transactions, and then the card issuer adds a percentage to it. This makes the forex markup fee around 3-3.5% on most credit cards. Some premium credit cards also have a lower foreign exchange markup fee of around 2-2.5%.
The BOBCARD Eterna credit card comes with a joining and annual fee of ₹2,499 + GST and is one of BOBCARD’s premium offerings. The card offers elite-level privileges across most spend categories and charges a low forex markup fee of 2% of the transaction amount.
Several BOBCARD credit cards charge a low forex markup fee of 2% on foreign currency spend and international transactions. These include – BOBCARD Eterna Credit Card – 2%, ICAI BOBCARD Exclusive Credit Card – 2%, BOBCARD ICSI Diamond Credit Card – 2,% BOBCARD CMA One Credit Card – 2%, BOBCARD Varunah Premium Credit Card – 2%
The BOBCARD Varunah credit card is exclusively for Indian Navy officials, and it comes in three variants: the basic Varunah, Varunah Plus, and the Varunah Premium credit card. The Varunah Plus credit card charges a forex markup fee of 2.5%, while the Varunah Premium credit card charges a forex markup fee of 2% of the transaction amount.