The Citi Cashback Card and the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card are entry-level credit cards whose aim is to provide cash back to credit cardholders who have just entered the field of credit cards. The Citi Cashback Credit Card is a basic credit card that provides cardholders with cash back on their regular spending and accelerated cashback while they spend on some specific categories such as utility bills and movie ticket bookings. This card also provides the cardholders with a fuel surcharge waiver on their fuel transactions at the IOCL fuel stations. Since this is a basic credit card, this card comes with an annual fee of Rs. 500 and does not provide cardholders with any major value-added benefits.

Citi Cashback Card vs Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card

On the other hand, the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card is also a cashback credit card that provides cardholders with cash back on their normal spending and higher cashback while they spend on online transactions. This card is also a quite basic credit card but provides the cardholders with a certain interest-free period as a welcome benefit to this credit card. The cardholders are also entitled to a fuel surcharge waiver. This credit card is placed at a joining and renewal fee of Rs. 499 which can be waived off on the basis of the amount spent using the credit card. This card does not provide other major value-added benefits as this is an entry-level credit card and the main aim of this credit card is to provide cashback to the cardholders.

Since both the credit cards, i.e., the Citi Cashback Credit Card and the Standard Chartered Credit Card are basic credit cards and might look similar to each other in terms of the features and benefits that they provide. Following are the detailed features and benefits of the individual cards to have a better understanding of them.

Citi Cashback Credit Card

As the name suggests, this credit card is a cashback credit card that provides customers with generous cashback on the amount that they spend using their credit card. Placed at a joining and renewal fee of Rs. 500, this credit provides some other benefits such as offers while paying rent using the rent payment platforms, discounts on MakeMyTrip and Duty-Free Stores, etc. This card also provides a fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions. Let us now discuss in detail the features and benefits of the Citi Cashback Credit Card –

  • The cardholders will get an accelerated cashback of 5% while booking movie tickets. The maximum cashback is capped at a maximum of Rs. 100 under this category.
  • 5% cashback on utility bill payments using the Citibank bill payments facility and via Citibank online. The cardholders will get a maximum cashback of Rs. 100.
  • While paying telephone bill payments using this credit card, the cardholders will get a cashback of 5%. Cashback under this category is also capped at a maximum of Rs. 500.
  • If telephone bill payment is made via Citibank online or using Citibank online bill payment facility, it will be considered under the same category as utility bill payment.
  • On all other spending done using the Citibank Cashback Credit Card, the cardholders will get a cashback of 0.5%.
  • The cardholders will also get a cashback while they pay using RedGirraffe – Rent Payment Platform.
  • You can save up to 10% while making bookings through MakeMyTrip.
  • While purchasing in duty-free stores and paying using the Citibank Cashback Credit Card, the cardholders will get a cashback of 15%.
  • The cardholders are entitled to a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% at all IOCL fuel outlets on a minimum transaction of Rs. 10.
  • You can enjoy a discount of 20% on your dining bills at the participating restaurants.
  • The cashback that the cardholders get with the Citibank Cashback Credit Card is automatically adjusted every month against the statement balance of the card in multiples of Rs. 500.

Check here: Citi Cash Back Credit Card Review

Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card

Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card is a cashback credit card that has been designed to target individuals with low income or people who are new entrants in the field of credit cards. This credit card is placed at a joining and renewal fee of Rs. 499 which is quite affordable and justified with respect to the benefits that this credit card provides to its members. As an added feature, the SC smart credit card provides the cardholders with a longer interest-free period in the form welcome benefit. The cardholders will earn cashback on all their spending made using this credit card, whether online or offline. The cardholders can also get a waiver on the annual fee if they are able to spend some specific amount using the credit card. Keep reading the article to know more about this credit card in detail –

  • As a welcome benefit, the cardholders will get an extended interest-free period by making only the minimum payment due on the credit card. The offer is valid for the first 90 days of the card issuance date.
  • The cardholders will get an accelerated cashback of 2% on all the online spending done using this credit card. The maximum cashback is capped at Rs. 1,000 per month under this category.
  • You can get a cashback of 1% on all offline spending made using this credit card. The maximum cashback under this category is capped at Rs. 500 in a month.
  • Fuel transactions are not eligible for cashback.
  • The renewal fee of Rs. 499 on this credit card can be waived off if the cardholder spends Rs. 1.20 Lakhs using this credit card in an anniversary year.
  • Another benefit that this card offers is a low-interest rate of 0.99% per month on all the EMI transactions done using this credit card.
  • The cashback that you will get on making transactions with your credit card will be automatically credited to your account.

Quick Comparison

Now that we have discussed the features of both the cards individually, let us now have a quick comparison between the Citi Cashback Credit Card and the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card –

Basis Citi Cashback Credit Card Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
Reward Rate
  • 5% cashback on utility bill payments.
  • 0.5% cashback on all other transactions.
  • 2% cashback on all online transactions.
  • 1% cashback on all offline transactions except fuel.
Reward Redemption
  • The amount of cashback will be adjusted against the statement balance of the credit card in multiples of Rs. 500
  • The amount of cashback will automatically be credited to the cardholder’s account.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
  • 1% at IOCL fuel stations.
  • 1%
Welcome Benefits
  • NA
  • Extended interest-free period of 90 days from the date of card issuance.
Dining Benefits
  • 20% off on dining bills at the partnered restaurants.
  • NA
Movie Benefits
  • 5% cashback while booking movie tickets
  • NA
Joining Fee
  • Rs.500 + Taxes
  • Rs. 499 + Taxes
Renewal Fees
  • Rs. 500 + Taxes
  • Rs. 499 + Taxes
  • (Can be waived off on spending Rs. 1.20 Lakhs or more in the previous year)
Eligibility
  • Issued to either self-employed or salaried individuals.
  • The applicant must be between the age of 23 to 60 years.
  • The applicant should have a decent credit score.
  • Issued to either salaried or self-employed individuals.
  • The primary applicant must be between 18 years to 65 years of age.
  • The applicant should have a stable source of income and a decent credit score.
  • The applicant should be staying in the city which has a Standard Chartered Bank branch.

Bottom Line

The Citi Cashback Credit Card and the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card are very basic credit cards that have been designed for individuals with low income and who are new entrants in the field of credit cards. The Citi Cashback Credit Card provides cardholders with cashback on the spending that they make using their credit card and higher cashback on some specific categories. This card also provides discounts on their dining bills and a fuel surcharge waiver at IOCL fuel stations. On the other hand, the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card is also a cashback credit card that provides cash back to customers on their regular spending and accelerated cashback while they spend on online transactions. Both credit cards come with a similar joining and renewal fee. The cardholder can go through the features and benefits of the individual cards and then decide on which card he wants to opt for.

Click here:-  To compare & check credit card review in India.

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