Strange ICICI Account Upgrade to Private Banking because of Times Black Credit Card??

[Anindya98]

Some ICICI Private Banking Queries, please help to answer those who have PB account still:

1. Do we get airport lounge access with Private banking debit card (like wealth management world master debit card)?

I have both the DC.
Wealth Select Visa Infinite DC - 4/Q
Wealth Management Master World DC - 2/Q

1. Is there family banking facility for Private banking, and do we get family debit card with Private Banking (like Family360 account variant)?

Family Banking is available from Wealth Management and above variant.
Yes, all the linked accounts get the same DC and benefits.

1. Any other lifestyle or otherwise useful specific benefits with Private banking account?

Just the DC and ICICI offers some extra benefits like early access to new features, lower interest rates, and a dedicated team for your wealth management.
ICICI WM and Private have no lifestyle benefits worth mentioning.

 

[nikzcool]

Any source to where it mentions first year fee removed?

Was doing my research on the card and came across your msg.

One theory I have is that maybe getting Times Black bumped you guys over the PPOP threshold for PB. The joining + annual fee may be getting recognized at the beginning itself (accrual accounting) and that bumps you to PB.

And now since they removed first year annual fee, new applicants may no longer be getting enough PPOP to be bumped to PB.

Just a theory. Wont bet on it. BTW, people who kept the Times Black card, are you still PB?

 

[Panthera_Tigris]

Any source to where it mentions first year fee removed?

Only the annual fee was removed for first year:

Post in thread 'ICICI Bank Times Black Credit Card Launched - Full Details & Review'

Feb 18, 2025

Could someone confirm what's the fee for Times Black? Is it joining + Annual 20k+20K or just 20K annually?

Thats what customer care said but I saw a ss with 20k+gst annual joining and 2nd year onwards so....

Its in the original post itself

• Adith

• 

 

[✪ D&C Cards Connoisseur 💳]

Only the annual fee was removed for first year

Hello @Panthera_Tigris - we cannot term this as FYF. Here joining charges itself is the first year fee which will be deducted post card activation and according to new ICICI MITC, they will deduct charges at the begining of 2nd year which will be Annual fee. Hope this clarifies the queries regarding the fees of Times Black.

 

[hs23new]

Did anyone get Emerald Metal card pre-approved offer after upgrade to icici private banking?

 

[Panthera_Tigris]

we cannot term this as FYF

I never said it was FYF. The terms used to say joining fee + annual fee in the first year and then they removed that annual fee for the first year.


Before:




Now:

 

[✪ D&C Cards Connoisseur 💳]

I never said it was FYF. The terms used to say joining fee + annual fee in the first year and then they removed that annual fee for the first year.


Before:

View attachment 85997


Now:


View attachment 85998

And now since they removed first year annual fee

Removing first year annual fee means its First Year Free, that's how I termed as FYF aka first year free. But here technically Joining Fee = First Year Fee. So, either they have to mark Joining Fee as Nil or First Year fee as Nil and they have opted marking First Year Fee as Nil, which is same as the Joining Fee. No bank ever charges both Joining and First Year Fee in the very first year of card issuance.

 

[Dobbiee]

I never said it was FYF. The terms used to say joining fee + annual fee in the first year and then they removed that annual fee for the first year.

Removing first year annual fee means its First Year Free, that's how I termed as FYF aka first year free. But here technically Joining Fee = First Year Fee. So, either they have to mark Joining Fee as Nil or First Year fee as Nil and they have opted marking First Year Fee as Nil, which is same as the Joining Fee. No bank ever charges both Joining and First Year Fee in the very first year of card issuance.

ICICI doesnt plays direct. Its maths slightly confuses customers.
Though for a layman the joining fee is first year fee.

Another example is EPM:

1. On joining - Pay 12500 +GST upfront. (called as Joining fee).
2. On completion of 10 lacs target, after one year - Joining fee is revered. Same day 2nd year fee is charged to card. To layman it looks nullified.

And what is mentioned on website and what customer care would say, might also have different calculation. But at the end, results of maths is same. Only made it a little complicated.

ICICI - I Confused I with Complicated Idea.

 

[theflash]

ICICI doesnt plays direct. Its maths slightly confuses customers.
Though for a layman the joining fee is first year fee.

Another example is EPM:

1. On joining - Pay 12500 +GST upfront. (called as Joining fee).
2. On completion of 10 lacs target, after one year - Joining fee is revered. Same day 2nd year fee is charged to card. To layman it looks nullified.

And what is mentioned on website and what customer care would say, might also have different calculation. But at the end, results of maths is same. Only made it a little complicated.

ICICI - I Confused I with Complicated Idea.

Wait what 🤣

EPM has 10L fee waiver

E has 15L fee waiver

What is going on with ICICI 🤣 and E has less reward rate then what's the use for high spends fee waiver.

 

[Dobbiee]

Wait what 🤣

EPM has 10L fee waiver

E has 15L fee waiver

What is going on with ICICI 🤣 and E has less reward rate then what's the use for high spends fee waiver.

Same is the case with TB also.
Thats another complication. Their product team has not been able to create proper Product Portfolio and Architecture.

 

[Dr.Anand456Dr.Anand456 is verified member.]

Wait what 🤣

EPM has 10L fee waiver

E has 15L fee waiver

What is going on with ICICI 🤣 and E has less reward rate then what's the use for high spends fee waiver.

The annual fee waiver for both the Emeralde and Emeralde Private Metal (EMP) cards is now granted at a spending threshold of ₹10 lakhs. This was recently revised from the previous ₹15 lakh requirement for both cards. The website has not been updated properly, but customer care has confirmed that the waiver is applicable at ₹10 lakhs.

 

[theflash]

The annual fee waiver for both the Emeralde and Emeralde Private Metal (EMP) cards is now granted at a spending threshold of ₹10 lakhs. This was recently revised from the previous ₹15 lakh requirement for both cards. The website has not been updated properly, but customer care has confirmed that the waiver is applicable at ₹10 lakhs.

Oh, my mom has upgrade offer for Emeralde but it's a useless card ig 🤔

 

[Dr.Anand456Dr.Anand456 is verified member.]

Oh, my mom has upgrade offer for Emeralde but it's a useless card ig 🤔

Yeah, the Emeralde card is useless. The Times Black credit card is much better. In my opinion, the EMP is still one of the best credit cards in India.