Credit Card Comparison: HDFC Infinia vs. ICICI Bank Emerald Private Metal Credit Card (After iShop Launch)

Dobbiee · Thursday at 6:29 PM

kvndsz512 said:
are u sure of the 50L thing? is it there anywhere? havent seen any pdf or image related to 50L trv only needed

bcuz i had come across one pdf or ss where the breakup is there even if they stopped wealth select u can consider that from wealth select criteria they are giving private banking still its way above 50L

Recently customer care told me that Wealth Select has been discontinued. Its now a direct upgrade from Wealth to Private. Need to double check.

kvndsz512 · Thursday at 8:21 PM

Dr.Anand456 said:
Yes, this has been confirmed by multiple ICICI employees, but it depends on the services you use with ICICI Bank and how long your relationship with the bank has been.

For example, if you have had an account with ICICI Bank for over 10 years and have taken a loan (such as a home loan) and a car laon with an outstanding principal amount of more than ₹1 crore, that amount is considered in the Total Relationship Value (TRV). Additionally, some customers have had their accounts upgraded to Private Banking solely based on their current account relationship.

After speaking with multiple bank employees, it became clear that a TRV of ₹5 crore is not necessarily required. Instead, a TRV of more than ₹50 lakhs is generally sufficient. In fact, some customers have had their accounts upgraded to Private Banking even with a TRV of around ₹1 crore. However, even this is not a guaranteed criterion.

yes but there is no written proof or anywhere mentioning 50L so they can anytime deny it ... and for downgrade they have anyways mentioned that it can be downgraded to any variant as per ur current DIV.. Rest try and see xD if ur rbi ombudsman is good he would help else as per what i thing it would be of no outcome 😛 icici is smart 😂

@TechnoFino also has been fighting for the fees issue on emerald from so long xD

theXfactor · Friday at 6:06 PM

Dr.Anand456 said:
Super-premium credit cards offer a host of exclusive benefits tailored for high-net-worth individuals. In this article, we compare two of the most prestigious options in India—the HDFC Infinia Credit Card and the ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card. This comparison is based on official information from HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, focusing on reward programs, travel perks, shopping advantages, and fees to help you make an informed decision.

Both cards feature a sleek metallic design, symbolizing exclusivity, but they differ significantly in rewards, benefits, and cost structures.

HDFC Infinia Credit Card

Designed for high-spending individuals, the HDFC Infinia offers one of the most rewarding point redemption structures, making it an excellent choice for travel and luxury benefits.

Key Features:

Reward Points:

5 Reward Points (RP) per ₹150 spent on retail purchases, including insurance, utilities, and education (except fuel).

Reward cap: 2,000 RP/month on grocery spends and 5,000 RP/day on insurance spends.

Accelerated Rewards:

10X RP on travel and shopping via SmartBuy.

High Redemption Value:

Flights & Hotels via SmartBuy: 1 RP = ₹1

Apple Products & Tanishq Vouchers via SmartBuy: 1 RP = ₹1

Airmiles Conversion: 1 RP = 1 air mile

Cashback: 1 RP = ₹0.30

Travel & Lifestyle Benefits:

Unlimited Airport Lounge Access (Domestic & International) for primary and add-on cardholders.

Club Marriott Membership (First year free) with dining and stay discounts.

Complimentary nights and buffets at select ITC Hotels.

Unlimited Golf Games at leading Indian and select international courses.

Additional Perks:

Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% on fuel spends between ₹400 & ₹1,00,000 (Max waiver: ₹1,000/month).

Foreign Currency Markup Fee: 2% + GST on international transactions.

24x7 Concierge Services for travel, dining, and business assistance.

Insurance Coverage:

₹3 Crore Air Accidental Cover.

₹50 Lakh Emergency Overseas Hospitalization.

₹9 Lakh Credit Shield Cover.

No Cash Advance Fee with an interest-free period of up to 50 days.

Drawbacks:

High Annual Fee: ₹12,500 + GST.

Invitation-Only Eligibility: Difficult to obtain.

Capped Accelerated Rewards: Max 15,000 bonus RP/month on SmartBuy.

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

The ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal caters to frequent travelers with its unique reward structure and lifestyle benefits.

Key Features:

Reward Points:

6 RP per ₹200 spent across all retail categories, including groceries, utilities, education, and insurance.

Category Caps:

1,000 RP cap per cycle for groceries, utilities, and education each.

5,000 RP cap per cycle on insurance spends.

Accelerated Rewards via iShop:
| Category | iShop Multiplier | RP per ₹100 |
|-----------|----------------|-------------|
| Flights | 6X | 18 RP |
| Hotels | 12X | 36 RP |
| Shopping Vouchers | 6X | 18 RP |

Reward Redemption:

Cashback & gifts: 1 RP = ₹0.25.

Flights, hotels & brand vouchers: 1 RP = ₹1.

Rewards catalog: 1 RP = ₹0.6.

Statement credit: 1 RP = ₹0.4.

Travel & Lifestyle Benefits:

Unlimited Airport Lounge Access (Domestic & International).

Complimentary Airport Spa Access via Dreamfolks membership.

Travel Cancellation Cover: Up to ₹12,000 annually (max 2 cancellations per year).

Milestone Benefit: EaseMyTrip vouchers worth ₹6,000 (₹3,000 each at ₹4L & ₹8L spend milestones).

Additional Perks:

Taj Epicure Membership (First year free) with dining, spa, and hotel discounts.

BOGO on BookMyShow tickets (Twice per month, max ₹750 per ticket).

Complimentary Golf Rounds (Up to 4 per month for ₹50,000+ spends in previous month).

Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% on all fuel transactions.

Foreign Currency Markup Fee: 2% + GST.

24x7 i-Assist Concierge Services.

No Late Payment Fees or Over-Limit Charges.

Drawbacks:

High Annual Fee: ₹12,499 + GST.

Lower Base Reward Rate: Compared to HDFC Infinia.

Category-wise Comparison

Feature HDFC Infinia Credit Card ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card
Annual Fee ₹12,500 + GST ₹12,499 + GST
Reward Points 5 RP per ₹150 spent (except fuel) 6 RP per ₹200 spent (all spends)
Accelerated Rewards 10X on flights and hotels via SmartBuy 6X on flights & shopping vouchers; 12X on hotels via iShop
Reward Point Value 1 RP = ₹1 for flights and hotels on SmartBuy 1 RP = ₹0.25 for cashback and gifts; up to ₹1 for other options
Reward Points Redemption Flights & Hotels via SmartBuy (1 RP = ₹1); Apple Products & Tanishq Vouchers via SmartBuy (1 RP = ₹1); Airmiles (1 RP = 1 Airmile); Cashback (1 RP = ₹0.30) Cashback & gifts (1 RP = ₹0.25); Flights, Hotels & Shopping Vouchers via iShop
Fuel Reward Points Not applicable Standard reward points
Lounge Access Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access
Travel Benefits Club Marriott membership Complimentary domestic airport spa access; Travel Cancellation Cover
Foreign Currency Markup Fee 2% + GST 2% + GST
Fuel Benefits 1% surcharge waiver on fuel spends between ₹400 & ₹1,00,000 (Max: ₹1,000/month) 1% surcharge waiver on all fuel spends
Shopping Benefits 10X RP via SmartBuy 6X RP on shopping vouchers via iShop; Milestone Benefit: EaseMyTrip vouchers
Hotel Benefits 10X RP on SmartBuy; Complimentary nights & buffet at participating ITC hotels 12X RP on hotel bookings via iShop; Complimentary Taj Epicure membership
Entertainment Benefits - BOGO on BookMyShow movie/event tickets twice per month
Golf Benefits Unlimited complimentary golf games Complimentary golf round/lesson every month (with conditions)
Concierge Services 24x7 Concierge 24x7 Concierge
Cash Advance Fee No fee No fee
Additional Benefits - No late payment fees, no over-limit fees
Eligibility Invitation-only By invitation

Conclusion: Which Card is Right for You?

Choose HDFC Infinia if you prioritize high reward redemption rates, Club Marriott membership, and unlimited golf privileges. It is ideal for those who frequently book travel via SmartBuy and maximize accelerated rewards.

Choose ICICI Emeralde Private Metal if you prefer higher reward multipliers on flights and hotels, airport spa access, and no extra charges on late payments or over-limit transactions. It suits frequent travelers who book via iShop.

Both cards cater to premium users, and your choice depends on your spending habits and reward preferences.

Which one suits you best? Share your thoughts!

There might be some mistakes in my creation, so please correct me if I am wrong. I will fix them accordingly.

Few corrections:

1. EPM only gives fuel surcharge waiver. NO RP for fuel.
2. EPM offers Only lounge access, no Spa.
3. Excluded categories are more in EPM than Infinia
4. With Infinia's GVP (Global Value Program) there's a +1.97% value back on international transactions
5. Infinia 5X on flights, vouchers etc. and 10X on Hotels, IGP, Jockey, Pharmeasy, Myntra (specific periods)
6. EPM's point to cash conversion is little more than that of Infinia

There are some more subtle mistakes in your comparison. Please correct those to avoid any misinformation to the readers.

drsel · 2025-03-08T01:58:02+0530

Dr.Anand456 · 2025-03-08T05:30:44+0530

theXfactor said:
Few corrections:

1. EPM only gives fuel surcharge waiver. NO RP for fuel.
2. EPM offers Only lounge access, no Spa.
3. Excluded categories are more in EPM than Infinia
4. With Infinia's GVP (Global Value Program) there's a +1.97% value back on international transactions
5. Infinia 5X on flights, vouchers etc. and 10X on Hotels, IGP, Jockey, Pharmeasy, Myntra (specific periods)
6. EPM's point to cash conversion is little more than that of Infinia

There are some more subtle mistakes in your comparison. Please correct those to avoid any misinformation to the readers.

I've updated the thread type in the wiki post, so feel free to make any changes as you see fit. I originally created the post based on the information I had at the time. Since I'll be quite busy for the next few days, I won't be able to research further or make updates myself. If anyone has accurate information about these two cards, they’re welcome to update the post. Thanks for your support and guidance!

hender · 2025-03-08T21:00:43+0530

Noxious said:
ICICI and planning to increase our overdraft to 10 crores which is in process as of now.

What are they charging % interest rate for OD, What are they taking as collectral ?
Are you availing secured OD against FD !!

cardio_guy · 2025-03-08T21:18:23+0530

Dr.Anand456 said:
I've updated the thread type in the wiki post, so feel free to make any changes as you see fit. I originally created the post based on the information I had at the time. Since I'll be quite busy for the next few days, I won't be able to research further or make updates myself. If anyone has accurate information about these two cards, they’re welcome to update the post. Thanks for your support and guidance!

This silent unwanted downgrade is one of the biggest problems of ICICI. They silently downgrade accounts from private to wealth or privilege, but the problem is there is no accountability. We cannot question and nobody knows why it was downgraded or nobody tells the reason. I have told in many threads about the same problem. Apart from this, ICICI is good but nobody can predict when downgrades will happen.

Noxious · 2025-03-08T22:34:37+0530

hender said:
What are they charging % interest rate for OD, What are they taking as collectral ?
Are you availing secured OD against FD !!

9.25% last I checked
My OD is against my property where my business is located.

hender · 2025-03-08T22:45:25+0530

Noxious said:
9.25% last I checked
My OD is against my property where my business is located.

Thanks for sharing, it's a good rate, don't know your usage, but on that limit if usage is above .6 max time, a 50 basis points impacts a lot.

Credit Card Comparison: HDFC Infinia vs. ICICI Bank Emerald Private Metal Credit Card (After iShop Launch)

HDFC Infinia Credit Card

Key Features:

Drawbacks:

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

Key Features

Drawbacks:

Category-wise Comparison

Conclusion: Which Card is Right for You?

Dobbiee

TF Premier

kvndsz512

TF Premier

Attachments

theXfactor

TF Premier

HDFC Infinia Credit Card

Key Features:

Drawbacks:

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

Key Features:

Drawbacks:

Category-wise Comparison

Conclusion: Which Card is Right for You?

drsel

TF Prestige

Dr.Anand456

TF Premier

hender

TF Premier

cardio_guy

TF Legend

Noxious

TF Select

hender

TF Premier

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Credit Card Comparison: HDFC Infinia vs. ICICI Bank Emerald Private Metal Credit Card (After iShop Launch)

HDFC Infinia Credit Card​

Key Features:​

Drawbacks:​

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card​

Key Features​

Drawbacks:​

Category-wise Comparison​

Conclusion: Which Card is Right for You?​

TF Premier

TF Premier

Attachments

TF Premier

HDFC Infinia Credit Card​

Key Features:​

Drawbacks:​

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card​

Key Features:​

Drawbacks:​

Category-wise Comparison​

Conclusion: Which Card is Right for You?​

TF Prestige

TF Premier

TF Premier

TF Legend

TF Select

TF Premier

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HDFC Infinia Credit Card

Key Features:

Drawbacks:

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

Key Features

Drawbacks:

Category-wise Comparison

Conclusion: Which Card is Right for You?

HDFC Infinia Credit Card

Key Features:

Drawbacks:

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

Key Features:

Drawbacks:

Category-wise Comparison

Conclusion: Which Card is Right for You?