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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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Yes that's why I said but if the ffp you want isn't at 1:1 then icici is better if it ends up having 1:1
With accelerated rewards points and based on how you redeem your miles ( 1 Mile can give you upto 1.5 Rs return ) Infinia is no nonsense card with better returns than ICICI Emerald metal by a distance.
Emerald Metal Card is a good to have card but with no renewal benefits in terms of Rewards, No accelerated Rewards Structure, with no Miles Partners it's just another card with good Lifestyle benefits. If one doesn't have Infinia one can go for Emerald Metal but aim should be to keep trying for Infinia and also for Magnus Burgundy ( though Axis has pathetic customer service and subject to you are fine with 10 lacs AQB). Even I was tempted for Emerald but realised its not useful for me. It will either remain unused or if I use it will impact my spends on other Metal cards which is not beneficial
People who are not into miles can also go for Apay 🙂
 
I got 2 metal emeralde cards so should I activate it and use if for first year and second year onwards cancle the cards as it get taj one night stay n all
 
You get renewal reward points but Taj 1 night free stay is only for first year.

This was a good card for offline spends until it had 1:1 statement credit. Now this is good only for non spend benefits.

A good combo anyone can make is DCB + Emeralde metal. This way you cover offline spends on Emeralde earning 3% for hotels and airline transfers on Emeralde portal and DCB you can use for accelerated points on SmartBuy. DCB is comparatively easy to come by and this would fill the gap until you secure Infinia.
 
Ohhhhhh, right yes. I notice that now. Makes sense. Makes sense. Thanks for pointing out. Good info.
Ironically, the spend based fee waiver is 10L for Private Metal and 15L for Plastic.

ICICI 🤯

Question Mark What GIF by MOODMAN
 
I think, they now realised that they need to be a bit competitive..
To eliminate this anomaly, they will phase out plastic..
now we are in that transition period…
The plastic version was indeed phased out for a month, but is back again after the recent TnC update (confirmed by a bank staff).
 
we have to wait and see how it pans out.. it seems they are also becoming like AXIS.. it seems...
I would certainly wouldnt mind paying 499 + 18% gst (588.82) extra, for my 1st metal cc, plus the extra perks i would not say no, if icici force me.

No harm dreaming right ? 😁
 
Can you elaborate please?
The bank change the cashback value of its reward points within few days of its birthday. It was an OP cc at first, but unfortunately its value lowered amongst the cc community very fast.

The "confirmed by bank staff" news is that the bank started giving out plastic emeralde again, which was on hold when the emeralde metal card started.

There are many posts here regarding the recent downgrade/devalue, which has been discussed in detail. I suggest you go thru the forum for the same.
 
The bank change the cashback value of its reward points within few days of its birthday. It was an OP cc at first, but unfortunately its value lowered amongst the cc community very fast.

The "confirmed by bank staff" news is that the bank started giving out plastic emeralde again, which was on hold when the emeralde metal card started.

There are many posts here regarding the recent downgrade/devalue, which has been discussed in detail. I suggest you go thru the forum for the same.
I am aware of the deval of the Private Metal. I inferred that T&Cs for Emeralde plastic were changed. Anyways, thank you!
 
Hi Friends,
With icici rewards points earned by this card can used for Flight ticket booking? Do ICICI have any portal like HDFC Smartbuy?
if not then how to redeem the points for flight booking?

Thanks,
Saroj
 

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