AU Bank Launches Traverse Credit Card: A Premium Card Exclusively for NRIs
AU Small Finance Bank has introduced the Traverse Credit Card, designed specifically for Non-Resident Indians. With a mix of travel, lifestyle, and milestone benefits, the card competes in the premium category, where global usage and luxury privileges are strong features. While it offers advantages such as low forex markup, international lounge access, and milestone rewards, it carries a moderate base reward rate. The NRI-focused credit card market in India is still relatively small, with limited options available. The addition of products like this adds much-needed versatility to the segment.
Key Highlights of the AU Traverse Credit Card
The AU Traverse Credit Card is designed as a premium lifestyle card exclusively for NRIs, offering them the convenience of global spending along with luxury privileges.
- Annual Fee: ₹4,999 + GST
- Fee Waiver Condition: Annual fee waived on spending ₹6 lakh in a year.
- Welcome Benefit: MakeMyTrip voucher worth ₹5,000 on activation within 30 days of card setup
- Milestone Benefits: On completing annual spend of ₹10 lakh, cardholders earn a Taj Hotels voucher worth ₹10,000.
Rewards & Benefits
The AU Traverse Credit Card offers cardholders rewards in the following spending categories.
| Rewards Earned | Nature of Expenditure |
| 4 Reward Points per ₹100 ( ~1%) | International Spends |
| 2 Reward Points per ₹100 (~0.5%) | Domestic Spends |
| 1 Reward Point per ₹100 (~0.25%) | Insurance, Utility & Telecom Spends* |
| *Cardholders can earn a maximum of 100 Reward Points per Utility & Telecom transaction. | |
Fuel, EMI, Cash, Rent, Education & Government MCC transactions are not eligible to earn reward points.
When it comes to rewards, the AU Bank Traverse Credit Card offers decent value. Assuming the best-case scenario where 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25, the reward rate translates to 1% on international spends, 0.5% on domestic spends, and 0.25% on insurance, utility, and telecom payments. Although the base rate is modest, extra milestone benefits and travel privileges increase the overall value.
Travel Privileges
AU Traverse Credit Card offers a couple of travel perks, and since the card is designed for Non-Resident Indians, its travel perks hold higher significance.
- Low Forex Markup: To encourage worldwide spending, the card has a low forex markup fee of 0.99% on international transactions.
- Airport Lounge Access: The AU Traverse Credit Card provides users with 8 domestic lounge visits per year (up to 2 per quarter) and 8 international lounge visits per year (up to 2 per quarter).
- Duty-Free Cashback: For any duty-free transaction of ₹10,000+, earn a flat cashback of ₹500 every month
- Meet & Assist Service: The card provides 4 complimentary Meet & Assist services per year (one per quarter). This includes VIP assistance for check-in, security, and other airport formalities, ensuring a hassle-free travel experience.
- Airport Spa Access: The card also offers up to 4 complimentary airport spa visits per year (one per quarter).
Final Thoughts
The AU Bank Traverse Credit Card is a premium lifestyle and travel card crafted exclusively for NRIs. While its base reward rate is moderate, the luxury privileges, low forex markup, milestone benefits, and extensive travel perks make it an appealing choice for frequent international travelers. If you are an NRI looking for a card that balances global spending power with luxury experiences, the AU Traverse Credit Card is worth considering. In the broader NRI credit card market, alternatives such as the IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card, Yes Bank RESERV, Yes SELECT NRI Card, and Kotak NRI Royale Signature Credit Card also target similar audiences.
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