For a long time, the TechnoFino Community expected that HDFC Infinia would eventually face some level of devaluation, most likely around 2026. That assumption was based on history, lifecycle patterns of premium cards, and how banks usually behave.
But what has surfaced now is far more serious than a routine devaluation.
An official HDFC Bank document, marked as internal yet publicly accessible on their website, reveals a major change in how Infinia credit cards will be retained going forward.
And yes - this is about card continuation, not just fee waiver.
Effective from 1st Jan, 2026, To keep your HDFC Infinia credit card active, you must either:
• Spend ₹18,00,000 in a calendar year
Or
• Maintain a ₹1 crore+ relationship value with HDFC Bank
Failing this, the card can be reviewed / discontinued.
This is a fundamental shift.
Till now, premium card conversations revolved around:
• Joining fee
• Renewal fee
• Fee waivers
Now, the discussion has moved to:
"Do you even deserve to hold this card?"
Banks in India - have been following this model quietly for years.
Almost every top-tier / invite-only credit card is not judged purely on:
• Your credit score
• Or your past loyalty
Instead, it is judged on how much total business you bring to the bank.
Ultra-premium cards are not highly profitable products on their own.
So banks compensate by demanding value elsewhere:
• High CASA balances
• Investments & relationship value
• Large annual spends (MDR income)
More spend = more MDR = more revenue.
This new Infinia rule simply makes that logic official and transparent.
• Infinia annual fee waiver requires ~₹10L spends
• Infinia survival now requires ~₹18L spends
Which means:
Even if your fee is waived, your card is still not safe.
This puts many cardholders in an awkward position, especially those who:
• Got Lifetime Free Infinia
• Or use Infinia selectively, not as a primary card
Spend ₹18L every year or park ₹1 Cr with us.
Jokes aside, this is a very serious signal from the bank.
• Yes, HDFC will enforce this
• Maybe not aggressively from Day 1
• But ₹10–12L unofficial minimum spends will become standard practice
₹18L will remain the official benchmark, even if flexibility exists initially.
And once HDFC normalises this behavior, other banks will follow, silently first, officially later.
• Premium cards will slowly become relationship-locked products
• Holding multiple top-end cards across banks will get extremely difficult
• Banks will push customers to choose one primary ecosystem
• "Card collectors" will feel the heat first
In short:
Top-end credit cards will no longer be lifestyle products —
They will become loyalty contracts.
But it is early warning news.
If you hold Infinia, plan your spends wisely.
If you aspire for Infinia, understand what you’re signing up for.
And if you hold multiple premium cards across banks - the coming years will demand hard choices.
We’ll keep tracking developments closely.
More updates soon - only on TechnoFino Community.
Original thread credit: @kumarvishwas
But what has surfaced now is far more serious than a routine devaluation.
An official HDFC Bank document, marked as internal yet publicly accessible on their website, reveals a major change in how Infinia credit cards will be retained going forward.
And yes - this is about card continuation, not just fee waiver.
What Has Changed?
As per the document:Effective from 1st Jan, 2026, To keep your HDFC Infinia credit card active, you must either:
• Spend ₹18,00,000 in a calendar year
Or
• Maintain a ₹1 crore+ relationship value with HDFC Bank
Failing this, the card can be reviewed / discontinued.
This is a fundamental shift.
Till now, premium card conversations revolved around:
• Joining fee
• Renewal fee
• Fee waivers
Now, the discussion has moved to:
"Do you even deserve to hold this card?"
Is This a New Concept?
No. Not at all.Banks in India - have been following this model quietly for years.
Almost every top-tier / invite-only credit card is not judged purely on:
• Your credit score
• Or your past loyalty
Instead, it is judged on how much total business you bring to the bank.
Ultra-premium cards are not highly profitable products on their own.
So banks compensate by demanding value elsewhere:
• High CASA balances
• Investments & relationship value
• Large annual spends (MDR income)
More spend = more MDR = more revenue.
This new Infinia rule simply makes that logic official and transparent.
Where It Really Starts Hurting
Here is the biggest contradiction:• Infinia annual fee waiver requires ~₹10L spends
• Infinia survival now requires ~₹18L spends
Which means:
Even if your fee is waived, your card is still not safe.
This puts many cardholders in an awkward position, especially those who:
• Got Lifetime Free Infinia
• Or use Infinia selectively, not as a primary card
A Small Reality Check (With a Smile)
For years, TechnoFino members have been asking:Looks like HDFC Bank finally answered:
Spend ₹18L every year or park ₹1 Cr with us.
Jokes aside, this is a very serious signal from the bank.
Will HDFC Really Enforce ₹18L Strictly?
My honest assessment:• Yes, HDFC will enforce this
• Maybe not aggressively from Day 1
• But ₹10–12L unofficial minimum spends will become standard practice
₹18L will remain the official benchmark, even if flexibility exists initially.
And once HDFC normalises this behavior, other banks will follow, silently first, officially later.
The Bigger Picture: This Is Not Just About Infinia
This move hints at a larger shift in the Indian credit card ecosystem:• Premium cards will slowly become relationship-locked products
• Holding multiple top-end cards across banks will get extremely difficult
• Banks will push customers to choose one primary ecosystem
• "Card collectors" will feel the heat first
In short:
Top-end credit cards will no longer be lifestyle products —
They will become loyalty contracts.
Final Thoughts
This is not panic news.But it is early warning news.
If you hold Infinia, plan your spends wisely.
If you aspire for Infinia, understand what you’re signing up for.
And if you hold multiple premium cards across banks - the coming years will demand hard choices.
We’ll keep tracking developments closely.
More updates soon - only on TechnoFino Community.
Original thread credit: @kumarvishwas
Last edited:
