IDFC Credit Cards Hit With Another Major Devaluation – Mayura, Ashva, Wealth & More

It seems like hardly a week goes by without hearing about another devaluation. Banks also seem to be learning from each other, constantly introducing new ways to curb misuse or reduce reward earnings for users. Yet again, a fresh wave of changes has been announced for IDFC FIRST Credit Cards, affecting a wide range of cards, including Ashva, Mayura, Diamond Reserve, and even the IDFC Wealth Credit Card.

While there are several card-specific changes, some common changes have also been introduced across all IDFC FIRST Credit Cards. From 18th June onwards, cardholders will now need to spend ₹20,000 in the previous month to avail the buy-one-get-one movie benefit.

Apart from this, reward points will now only be earned on spends up to the credit limit during a billing cycle. Any spends beyond the credit limit will not earn reward points.

Changes like these clearly show that the bank is moving towards tighter control over its reward system and credit card benefits. One of the biggest and most surprising changes is the removal of lifetime-valid reward points on some credit cards. This was one of the key features that made IDFC FIRST Bank stand out, and the bank had heavily promoted it over the years. However, different reward point validity periods have now been introduced for various cards.

Changes to Mayura & Ashva Credit Card

One of the major changes coming to both Ashva & Mayura metal credit cards is that the Buy One Get One movie benefit will now become spend-based. Cardholders will need to spend ₹20,000 in the previous month to become eligible for this benefit.

Earlier, similar spending conditions were already introduced for airport and railway lounge access, and now even the free movie ticket benefit will depend on monthly spending.

IDFC is not alone in making such changes. Similar spending conditions were earlier introduced by ICICI Bank on some of its credit cards as well.

Complete Update for IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card

Complete Update for IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card

Changes to FIRST Wealth Credit Card

The IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card was once considered one of the most rewarding credit cards in the country, but over time, the card has seen several devaluations. Now, one of its biggest and most loved features has also been removed. Reward Points earned on the card will no longer remain lifetime valid, as the bank has now introduced a validity period of 24 months for points earned on the card.

The movie ticket benefit offered with the card has also become spend-based. Cardholders will now need to spend ₹20,000 in the previous month in order to become eligible for the free movie ticket benefit.

However, not all changes are negative. From 18th June 2026, the bank is also revising the card’s accelerated rewards structure. Cardholders will now earn 10X Reward Points on dining, travel, and international transactions starting from the very first eligible transaction, with no minimum spending requirement.

Earlier, users had to spend ₹20,000 in a billing cycle to unlock these accelerated rewards. Dining transactions, including food delivery, will be identified by eligible merchant category codes (MCCs), while travel purchases will be identified by airline, hotel, and other travel-related MCCs. International transactions will include spending made at overseas merchants.

Complete Update for IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card

Changes to Diamond Reserve Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank has announced a few changes for Diamond Reserve Credit Card users, effective from 18th June 2026. Cardholders will continue to get premium benefits like zero forex markup, airport lounge access, golf benefits, travel insurance, and Buy One Get One movie offers.

However, the movie benefit will now become spend-based, meaning users must spend ₹20,000 or more in the previous calendar month to avail the offer. Additionally, reward points will now only be earned on spends up to the assigned credit limit in a billing cycle, while spends beyond the limit will not earn rewards. The card will also continue to offer bonus reward points on travel bookings made through the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app.

Complete Update for Diamond Reserve Credit Card

Changes to Gaj: Credit Card

Interestingly, even the newly launched premium Gaj Credit Card has not been spared from these changes, showing that tighter reward policies are now impacting even top-tier cards.

Another key change is that reward points will now only be earned on spends made up to the card’s credit limit in a billing cycle. Any spending beyond the assigned limit will not earn rewards.

Complete Update for Gaj: Credit Card

Changes to FIRST Millennia Credit Card

Reward Points earned on the card will now be valid for 24 months from the date they are credited. This means Reward Points earned from the July 2026 statement cycle onwards will expire after two years if not redeemed.

Unlike many other premium credit cards, the bank has not introduced a spending threshold for movie ticket benefits. However, cardholders will now have to keep their cards active to remain eligible for the offer. Users can continue to enjoy 25% off, up to ₹100, on movie tickets every month, provided at least one transaction is made on the card in the previous calendar month.

The accelerated travel rewards on the card have now been reduced as well. Cardholders will now earn 20% Bonus Reward Points on hotel bookings and 10% Bonus Reward Points on flight bookings, over and above the applicable base rewards.

Previously, the card offered a much higher 33% bonus on hotel bookings and 13% bonus on flight bookings, making this a noticeable devaluation for frequent travellers.

Complete Update for IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card

Changes to the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card

The usual change of rewards being limited up to the credit limit per billing cycle has now been implemented on the IndiGo IDFC Credit Card as well. Apart from these regular reward restrictions, some new changes and additions will also come into effect from July.

Starting July 2026, IndiGo BluChips earned on the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card will only be credited after the payment due date, and only if at least the Minimum Amount Due (MAD) is paid on time. If the MAD is not cleared by the due date, the BluChips earned for that statement cycle will lapse entirely.

Additionally, from 22nd July 2026, spends on categories like FASTag, railway, government services, and education will earn a reduced rate of just 0.5 IndiGo BluChips per ₹100 spent. The bank has also introduced a cap where BluChips will only be earned on spends up to the assigned credit limit in a billing cycle, including spends made through repayments and re-utilization within the same cycle.

Complete Update for IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card

Changes to Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card

Cardholders will now earn Maharaja Points only on spends made up to the assigned credit limit in a billing cycle, while spends beyond the credit limit will no longer be eligible for rewards. The bank has also clarified that all Maharaja Points earned on the card can only be redeemed through Air India’s Maharaja Club for flight bookings, upgrades, and Cash + Points redemptions.

Complete Update for Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card

Changes to FIRST WOW! Credit Card

The usual rewards tightening has now been introduced on the IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card as well. Existing Reward Points as of the July 2026 statement cycle will remain valid for 24 months, till July 2028, after which expiry rules will apply.

Another major change is that Reward Points will now only be earned on spends up to the assigned credit limit in a billing cycle. Any spends beyond the limit through repayments and re-utilization in the same cycle will not earn rewards.

At the same time, IDFC FIRST Bank is also adding new travel-focused benefits from July. Cardholders will now get 10% Bonus Reward Points on hotel bookings and 5% Bonus Reward Points on flight bookings made through the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app, over and above the regular base rewards.

Complete Update for FIRST WOW! Credit Card

Changes to FIRST Power Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank has also introduced changes to the reward structure of the FIRST Power Credit Card. Cardholders will now earn Reward Points only on spends up to their assigned credit limit in a billing cycle, while spends beyond the credit limit will not be eligible for rewards.

Additionally, reward earnings on hotel and flight bookings made through the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app have been reduced. Users will now get 26.67% bonus Reward Points on hotel bookings and 13.33% bonus Reward Points on flight bookings, over and above the regular base reward points.

Complete Update for IDFC FIRST Power Credit Card

Bottom Line

There was a time when cardholders could freely enjoy the benefits offered on their credit cards, but that is slowly changing now. Several rewarding features are being linked to spending requirements, while reward structures are either being tightened or devalued altogether. These changes are no longer limited to entry-level cards, as even premium credit cards are being affected.

For example, with the high annual charges of the IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card, one would expect the benefits to remain stable for a longer period. However, that no longer seems to be the case. These days, cardholders cannot simply hold a premium credit card and expect its benefits to remain unchanged throughout the year.

While the latest changes to IDFC FIRST Credit Cards may not appear to be a massive devaluation individually, they collectively result in an overall loss of value for cardholders. Benefits such as free movie tickets, lifetime-valid reward points, and bonus reward earnings on travel bookings have now either been restricted or reduced.