IDFC FIRST vs Bank of Baroda Credit Cards: A One-Sided Match With Two Exceptions

This is a lopsided pairing, and it is easier to say so early. IDFC FIRST charges 0% forex on every card on our list and lists no annual fee on its core range. Bank of Baroda's BOBCARD lineup earns 0.2% to 0.75% base on most cards and charges 2% to 3.5% on foreign spend. There are two narrow places where BOBCARD wins.

Everyday spending

BOBCARD Prime and Vikram have no annual fee but base rates of 0.4% and 0.25%. The Bank of Baroda Easy and Classic cost ₹500 each, with no lounge access. IDFC FIRST's Millennia has no fee, a ₹25,000 income floor and 0% forex; the Classic gives a 1% base, with 3% on dining and 2% on online shopping. For a first card from either, IDFC FIRST is the better value. IDFC FIRST wins decisively.

Fuel

HPCL Bank of Baroda ENERGIE costs ₹499, waived at ₹50,000, with 6.5% on fuel (capped at ₹4,000 a month), a ₹15,000 income floor and 4 domestic lounge visits a year. The IDFC FIRST Power+ costs ₹499, waived at ₹1,50,000, with a 6.5% saving on HPCL fuel spend, 5% on groceries and utilities (capped at ₹2,000 a month) and 1 lounge visit a quarter. Both give the same fuel rate. BOB's waiver is easier to reach; IDFC FIRST adds groceries and utilities. Tie.

Where BOBCARD wins: cheap unlimited domestic lounges

BOBCARD Eterna costs ₹2,499 (first year free), waived at ₹2,50,000, with unlimited complimentary domestic lounge access, 2% forex and a ₹1,00,000 income floor. BOBCARD Tiara has the same fee, with unlimited domestic access that depends on ₹75,000 of quarterly spend. IDFC FIRST's closest cards, Select and Ashva, cap lounge visits at 1 and 4 a quarter, and Ashva costs ₹2,999 for 4 domestic and 2 international visits a quarter. Someone who flies domestic routes most weeks may find Eterna the cheapest way to unlimited access. BOB wins narrowly.

Where BOBCARD wins: professional and service co-brands

BOB runs lifetime-free co-brands for professional bodies and services: the ICAI Exclusive card has no annual fee, 3 domestic lounge visits a quarter on ₹40,000 of quarterly spend and 2% forex; the CMA One and ICSI Diamond cards have similar terms. The Indian Army Yoddha and Assam Rifles Sentinel cards offer 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter on ₹20,000 quarterly spend. Members of those groups can get lounge access at no fee, which IDFC FIRST's free cards mostly do not offer. BOB wins for eligible members.

Premium and travel

IDFC FIRST has Ashva, Mayura (₹5,999, up to 16 domestic and 16 international visits a year), Gaj (₹12,500) and Private (₹50,000 to join, ₹25,000 a year), all at 0% forex. BOB's Etihad Guest card costs ₹2,500 with 8 domestic and 4 international visits a year at 1% forex, and its Premium version costs ₹5,000 with 0% forex. The BOBCARD Scapia has no fee and 0% forex. Beyond those, BOB has nothing at super-premium level. IDFC FIRST wins.

How to choose

A first card with no fee: IDFC FIRST Millennia or Classic. A frequent domestic flyer who will not travel abroad: BOBCARD Eterna. An accountant or defence-services member: the matching BOBCARD co-brand. Anyone spending abroad: IDFC FIRST.

More to read

Open the IDFC FIRST Bank credit cards guide and the Bank of Baroda credit cards guide. For another match-up involving BOB, see Kotak vs Bank of Baroda.