Recently, many banks have been actively launching new premium credit cards, along with airmiles and hotel-points transfer programs. Standard Chartered has joined the list with their new Standard Chartered Beyond Credit Card.
Although this card does not support airmiles/hotel loyalty transfer yet, it still comes packed with a strong set of benefits. Let’s go through everything this card offers.
Eligibility condition:
Welcome vouchers are provided only if the customer pays at least the Minimum Amount Due by the due date in the statement where the joining fee was charged.
(Not applicable for add-on cards.)
FUM includes:
Both primary and each add-on cardholder gets:
Note:
Same as domestic - primary and add-on cards get full independent benefits.
However, there are a few drawbacks:
You shouldn’t park ₹50 lakh+ in a savings account or low-yield products just to qualify for a credit card. Returns barely match inflation after tax.
For people who already maintain high TRV with a bank, it’s fine. But for regular users, it’s not worth parking such a huge amount.
Although this card does not support airmiles/hotel loyalty transfer yet, it still comes packed with a strong set of benefits. Let’s go through everything this card offers.
Card Details
- Card Name: Standard Chartered Beyond Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹15,000 + GST
- Annual Fee (2nd year onwards): ₹25,000 + GST
Welcome Benefits
Primary cardholders will receive ₹15,000 worth of vouchers from Taj, Luxe, and MakeMyTrip after the joining fee is realised.Eligibility condition:
Welcome vouchers are provided only if the customer pays at least the Minimum Amount Due by the due date in the statement where the joining fee was charged.
(Not applicable for add-on cards.)
Renewal Fee Waiver (From Year 2)
Annual fee is waived if the cardholder maintains ₹50 lakh FUM (Funds Under Management) with SCB in the last 3 months before the fee is due.FUM includes:
- Savings account balance
- Term deposits
- Investments through SCB
- Life-to-date paid insurance premium
- Market value of demat holdings with SCB
Airport Lounge Access
Domestic Lounge Access
- Unlimited domestic lounge access
- 4 complimentary guest visits per year
Both primary and each add-on cardholder gets:
- Unlimited access
- Up to 4 guest visits each year
International Lounge Access
- Unlimited international lounge access
- 4 complimentary guest visits per year
Note:
Same as domestic - primary and add-on cards get full independent benefits.
Golf Privileges
- 2 golf sessions (play/learn) per month
BookMyShow Offer
- Buy 1 Get 1 Free on movie/non-movie tickets
- Maximum discount: ₹1,000
- Once per card per month
- Add-on cards get their own separate BOGO benefit
Dining Benefits (via EazyDiner)
- 25% instant discount, up to ₹2,500
- Applies when booking via EazyDiner and paying with EazyPay using code SCB2500 (available on Thriwe portal)
- Once per month
- Add-on cards also get the benefit
Duty-free Cashback
- 15% cashback on duty-free purchases
- Maximum cashback: ₹1,500 per statement cycle
- Cashback is credited within 2 days of the transaction posting
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
- 1% surcharge waiver
- Maximum waiver: ₹5,000 per statement cycle
Reduced Forex Markup
- 2% forex markup on all international transactions
Reward System
Reward Earning
- 5 Reward Points per ₹150 on general spends
- 3 Reward Points per ₹150 on:
- Utilities
- Supermarkets
- Insurance
- Property management
- Schools
- Government payments
Reward Notes
- Reward points are tracked separately for each card (primary and add-on).
- Points cannot be combined during redemption.
- Redeemable through SC’s reward portal R360.
- Value: 1 RP = ₹1
- Validity: 3 years
Reward Rate
- General spends: 3.33%
- Essential categories: 2%
TF Opinion
At first glance, the Standard Chartered Beyond Credit Card appears very promising. The feature set is strong, and one standout benefit is that almost all premium features are independently available on add-on cards - something rare and genuinely valuable.However, there are a few drawbacks:
1. Separate reward pools for primary and add-on cards
This is unusual and inconvenient. SC should allow combining points, especially on a premium card.2. No accelerated earning portal
In today’s market, customers paying high fees expect something like:- HDFC SmartBuy
- ICICI iShop
3. No airmiles or hotel points transfer
For a ₹25,000 fee (from year two), customers definitely expect mileage transfer options. SC has been behind in this area for years, and it’s high time they introduce it.4. Renewal fee depends on maintaining ₹50 lakh FUM
This is becoming a trend - many banks are launching invite-only premium cards requiring ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore TRV. Honestly, this is not a wise move for most people.You shouldn’t park ₹50 lakh+ in a savings account or low-yield products just to qualify for a credit card. Returns barely match inflation after tax.
For people who already maintain high TRV with a bank, it’s fine. But for regular users, it’s not worth parking such a huge amount.
Final Verdict
The Standard Chartered Beyond Credit Card is a strong first-year card thanks to benefits and welcome vouchers. However, from the second year onward, the card becomes difficult to justify because of:- High annual fee
- Lack of airmiles transfer
- No accelerated portal
- Separate reward pools
- ₹50 lakh renewal FUM requirement
