From free-to-use benefits shifting to spend-based ones, and repeated devaluations on the same card, credit card users have seen it all. Earlier, one could use a card freely for most transactions. Now, cardholders must constantly track spend limits, caps, and conditions, and the situation isn’t improving. Recently, ICICI Bank devalued a large number of its credit cards, and now IDFC First Bank is following the same path.
IDFC First Bank has made changes across almost its entire credit card portfolio. Reward rates on international spends have been reduced on cards like Mayura and Ashva, and on several cards, the reward-earning base has been revised from ₹150 to ₹200. On top of this, a new Fair Usage Policy has been introduced. Overall, nearly every IDFC First credit card has seen one devaluation or another.
Make sure you stay updated on all the new changes coming to your IDFC First Credit Card in 2026.
IDFC Ashva and Mayura
For international (forex) spends, cardholders will now earn up to 5X reward points, reduced from the earlier 10X, on all eligible transactions. This is a major change to both these premium cards and shall massively bring down the overall value derived from them.
If the cardholder does not pay the minimum amount due by the stated payment due date, the bank may withhold or reverse the reward points earned for that billing cycle.
IDFC First Classic/Select/Wealth
IDFC First Bank has revised the reward-earning base on its popular lifetime free credit cards from ₹150 to ₹200 per reward point, resulting in a 25% reduction in reward earnings.
The golf and airport lounge access program has also been affected for IDFC Wealth and Select Credit Cards.
| Cards | Current | New Benefit from 1st April 2026 |
| IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card |
|
1 Complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge Access Every Quarter (4 Each Year) |
| IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card |
|
|
FIRST SWYP Credit Card
Monthly milestone rewards for special categories have been revised. These changes will take effect from the March 2026 statement cycle.
| Current | New |
| 400 Reward Points on Minimum Spends of ₹20,000 Rental and Utility Spends | 400 Reward Points on a Minimum Cumulative Spend of ₹20,000 on FASTag Recharges (MCC 4784) and Railway Spends (MCC 4111, 4112) |
Club Vistara IDFC FIRST
If the cardholder does not pay the minimum amount due by the payment due date mentioned in the billing statement, the bank may withhold or reverse the Maharaja Points earned for that billing cycle.
Fair Usage on Select Categories (All Cards)
- FASTag recharges and railway transactions will now earn only the base 1X reward points.
- If FASTag recharges on the Credit Card go beyond ₹10,000 in a billing cycle, a 1% charge will be applied on the entire FASTag recharge amount for that cycle.
- If the railway spends cross ₹25,000 in a billing cycle, a 1% fee will be charged on the total railway spend for that cycle.
Bottom Line
This latest devaluation by IDFC First Bank reduces the value of several popular lifetime free credit cards and also lowers reward earnings on premium cards like Mayura and Ashva. These cards were positioned as luxury options for international spends, but their reward rate has now been cut in half.
What are your thoughts on this latest move by IDFC First Bank?