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ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Launched

ICICI Bank has launched the Emerald Private Metal Credit Card, which offers all the benefits of the ICICI Emerald Credit Card along with a few additional benefits.

Welcome Benefits:
  1. Taj Epicure membership for the first year. [You'll get one stay voucher with this]
  2. Receive 12,500 bonus reward points after annual fee payment each year.
  3. EazyDiner Prime membership (renewed annually).
Main Benefits:
  1. Unlimited golf games/lessons for the primary cardholder.
  2. Unlimited domestic airport lounge access using the Emerald Private Metal Credit Card for both the primary and add-on cardholders.
  3. Unlimited international airport lounge access using Priority Pass for both the primary and add-on cardholders.
  4. Buy one, get one free movie/event ticket from BookMyShow twice per month. Maximum Discount: Rs. 750 per ticket.
  5. Up to Rs. 12,000 refund for a maximum of 2 transactions per year on tickets booked exclusively with the Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card.
  6. Discounted markup fees: 2%.
  7. 1% fuel surcharge waiver for all transactions up to Rs. 4000. Maximum surcharges waiver - Rs. 1000 per statement cycle.
  8. No Extra Charges/Penalty For: Cash Withdrawal, Over limit, Late payment.
  9. You can get 3 complimentary add-on cards
Reward System:
Earn 6 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent.
No reward points on Tax Payment, Rent payments, EMI and Fuel purchases.

Reward Points Value:
Flight/Hotel Booking: 1 reward point = Rs. 1
Gift Vouchers*: 1 reward point = Rs. 1
Rewards Catalogue [other products]: 1 reward point = Rs. 0.60
Statement Credit: 1 reward point = Rs. 0.40

*Brands' Gift Vouchers available under the 1:1 redemption ratio include:
  • Travel Category: MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Yatra, ClearTrip, Hyaat, Marriott International, ITC Hotels, Taj Hotels.

    View attachment 36109
  • Electronics: Apple
  • Luxury Brands: Tanishq, Mothercare [Luxe], G-Star Raw [Luxe], Giorgio Armani [Luxe], Emporio Armani [Luxe], Canali [Luxe], Coach [Luxe], Tumi [Luxe], Scotch & Soda [Luxe], Jimmy Choo [Luxe]
There are lots of other brand vouchers available, but for those, you'll get a value of 1 reward point = Rs. 0.60. I think you have a decent option available under the 1:1 redemption category. ITC, Hyatt, Marriott, Taj, and other travel-related vouchers are worth considering. So, in terms of redemption options, I must say this is a decent card. And I think this is better than HDFC SmartBuy portal flight or hotel booking redemption system. The main downside of SmartBuy portal flight or hotel booking redemption is that you can't use 100% reward points. However, in the case of ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Card, you can just get an MMT voucher or any other travel voucher and book your flights or hotels.

Reward Rate:
Flight/Hotel Booking: 3%
Gift Vouchers: 3%
Rewards Catalogue: 1.8%
Statement Credit: 1.2%

Reward Redemption:
You can redeem your ICICI Bank Reward Points across Catalogues, from movie and travel vouchers to lifestyle products, mobiles, appliances, statement credit and more.
Redemption of Reward Points against statement balance (cashback redemption) is capped at 50,000 Reward Points per Statement cycle.

Reward Capping:
  • Reward Points earned on Insurance transaction will be capped at 5,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 1,66,800]
  • Reward Points earned on grocery transaction will be capped at 1,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 33,400]
  • Reward Points earned on Utilities transaction will be capped at 1,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 33,400]
  • Reward Points earned on Education transaction will be capped at 1,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 33,400]

Milestone Benefits:
Spend Rs. 8 lakhs per year and receive 2 air travel vouchers worth Rs. 3000 each (total Rs. 6000) from EaseMyTrip. Reward Rate: 0.75%.
Spends 4 Lakhs and get first EaseMyTrip voucher worth Rs. 3000/-​
Spends 8 Lakhs and get your second EaseMyTrip voucher worth Rs. 3000/-​

Charges:
Joining Fee: Rs. 12,499 + GST.
Annual Fee: Rs. 12,499 + GST.
Annual Fee Reversal Criteria: Spend Rs. 10 lakhs in the next card membership year to have your annual fee reversed.

Card Replacement Fees: Rs. 3500/-

Opinion:
The ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card is the flagship credit card of ICICI Bank. When considering the reward rate, I must say this card offers decent value back on spending. The main drawback is that ICICI Bank does not offer a reward points transfer feature like HDFC Bank or Axis Bank.
Typically, credit cards of this nature provide the option to transfer points. However, in this case, we can only redeem our reward points for brand gift vouchers. I hope ICICI Bank will address this issue and introduce some transfer partners soon. You'll receive 12,500 reward points worth Rs. 12,500 on joining, so mathematically you'll only need to pay the GST (Approx. Rs. 2250/-) each year, similar to the SC Ultimate credit card. Additionally, you'll receive Taj Epicure membership for the first year with this card, allowing you to enjoy a complimentary stay at a Taj hotel. This benefit can help offset your card's joining fees effectively.
Overall, this is a good credit card, unlike other gemstone cards, as it offers a better reward rate. If you are seeking a premium credit card but don't plan to redeem your reward points for airline miles and instead prefer gift vouchers, then this credit card is for you.
 
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12500 points are worth MUCH LESS than Rs.12500.
Because the vouchers available for 12500 points should be discounted at least 10% and maximum 50% (movie vouchers usually 1+1 free).

So the joining cost is well above 2250 (14750-12500=2250)
It's more like paying Rs.3500--8500 for the free 1 night stay, other hotel discounts and airport lounge access.
There is one video of CardAcademy on YT , she is saying that even we can redeem it as statement credit. that makes much sense if we can do that
 
There is one video of CardAcademy on YT , she is saying that even we can redeem it as statement credit. that makes much sense if we can do that
Not sure if it is confirmed, we need to wait till someone on community confirms it. But if it is indeed the case then everyone will go for it. As 3% on offline purchases as statement credit is the best option for people who don't prefer airmiles & stuffs.
 
Not sure if it is confirmed, we need to wait till someone on community confirms it. But if it is indeed the case then everyone will go for it. As 3% on offline purchases as statement credit is the best option for people who don't prefer airmiles & stuffs.
Bank has said this in their card PDF file Here

  1. Value of 1 ICICI Reward Point is ₹1
  2. Redemption of Reward Points against statement balance (cashback redemption) is capped at 50,000 Reward Points per Statement cycle
 
I think icici has portraited themselves as a fooll here.
Once they get joining fees in crores they might keep the points to cash ratio at 0.75
Effectively profiting of the spread
It is all a speculation at this point. Unless someone with the card in hand can confirm this for us, which is after the joining fee is charged, so maybe minimum 45 days from now. Till then we have to wait.
 
I called customer care for status of my application and asked if cash redemption will also be 1:1. He said he is not able to see this option and it's not mentioned in MITC of card. He said you can use them for vouchers. Well we know this is new card and he said it is new info for them too and will know more concrete info till Monday. I am attaching the MITC which was mailed to me after application submission. It is update on 24 April.
We saw similar conflict of terms and data updates with Axis bank. Hope Icici doesn't makes a troll here like Axis
 

Attachments

I called customer care for status of my application and asked if cash redemption will also be 1:1. He said he is not able to see this option and it's not mentioned in MITC of card. He said you can use them for vouchers. Well we know this is new card and he said it is new info for them too and will know more concrete info till Monday. I am attaching the MITC which was mailed to me after application submission. It is update on 24 April.
We saw similar conflict of terms and data updates with Axis bank. Hope Icici doesn't makes a troll here like Axis
I think this must be old MITC as it does not have Emerald Private Metal mentioned in the doc
 
Bank has said this in their card PDF file Here

  1. Value of 1 ICICI Reward Point is ₹1
  2. Redemption of Reward Points against statement balance (cashback redemption) is capped at 50,000 Reward Points per Statement cycle
Joining & Annual Bonus Reward Points
a) 12,500 ICICI Reward Points as Joining and Annual Bonus. These points are
credited in your reward account once every year upon 45 days of fee realisation and card activation. Value of 1 ICICI Reward Point is ₹1.
b) ICICI Reward Points can be tracked & redeemed through iMobile Pay
Application and Internet Banking across categories, from movie and travel
vouchers to lifestyle products, mobiles, appliances.
Steps to redeem your ICICI Bank Reward Points:
Internet Banking
Log in to Internet Banking > Cards & Loans > Credit Card > Reward Points

For redeeming against outstanding dues, call Customer care.
They will be a minimum redemption of maybe 500 or 1000 points for cash, and the maximum is 50,000 per month
 
Update: tried twitter(X) route and asked for upgrade but they asked me to wait until offer comes in the app. So only offline application i possible for now.
Thanks for the update
 
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Well let's hope they are not on annual or joining benefits
If these changes are related to these two items, then it is actually devalaluation of the current card which has SPA access as well.. at a very high level..( not intersted in nitty gritty things)
Lets see..
 

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