IDFC FIRST vs Yes Bank Credit Cards: Zero Forex Everywhere Against Unlimited Lounges

Zero forex markup is the IDFC FIRST default on every card we list. Yes Bank's range runs from 0% on a couple of niche cards up to 3.5%, and its premium cards sit at 0.5% to 2%. But Yes Bank has the Reserv, which gives unlimited domestic and international lounge access for ₹2,499 a year. That tension sets the comparison.

Forex: zero against up to 3.5%

IDFC FIRST's Millennia, Select and Wealth all carry 0% forex and no joining or annual fee. Yes Bank's Reserv charges 2%, the Marquee 1%, and Yes Private 0.5%. Its everyday cards, such as ACE and ELITE+, charge 3.5% and 3%. If you spend abroad on an ordinary card, IDFC FIRST wins this category outright.

Lounges at the low end

IDFC FIRST Select gives 1 domestic visit a quarter plus 4 railway lounge visits a quarter, once you spend ₹20,000 in the preceding month, and needs a ₹1,00,000 monthly income. Yes Bank's FIRST Preferred costs ₹999, waived at ₹2,50,000, with 2 domestic visits a quarter and 4 international visits a year, for a ₹24,000 income floor. The Yes ELITE+ costs ₹999 with 2 domestic visits a quarter and 3 international a year. Yes Bank is the better option for a lounge card at a lower income.

Mid-premium

The IDFC FIRST Ashva costs ₹2,999, with 4 domestic and 2 international visits a quarter, 0% forex and a ₹1,00,000 income floor. The Yes Reserv costs ₹2,499, waived at ₹3,00,000, with unlimited lounge visits at home and abroad, 2% forex and an 8% travel reward, but a ₹2,00,000 income floor. The Diamond Reserve from IDFC FIRST costs ₹3,000, waived at ₹6,00,000, with 2 domestic and 2 international visits a quarter and 6.67% on travel. Yes Reserv is more generous on lounges; IDFC is cheaper on forex. Yes leads on lounge volume.

Premium and super-premium

IDFC FIRST's Mayura costs ₹5,999 with up to 16 domestic and 16 international visits a year, unlocked by ₹20,000 monthly spend, and a ₹2,08,333 income floor. The Yes Bank Marquee costs ₹9,999 to join and ₹4,999 a year, waived at ₹10,00,000, with 24 domestic visits and unlimited international visits, 1% forex and a 3% base earn. Gaj from IDFC costs ₹12,500 with 4 domestic and 4 international visits a quarter. Private cards from both banks carry unlimited lounge access: IDFC FIRST Private costs ₹50,000 to join and ₹25,000 a year; Yes Private costs ₹50,000 to join and ₹10,000 a year. Marquee is the cheaper entry to large lounge allowances; IDFC is better on forex.

Fuel and everyday

IDFC FIRST Power+ costs ₹499, waived at ₹1,50,000, with 6.5% on fuel and 5% on groceries and utilities (capped at ₹2,000 a month). Yes Bank's fuel waiver is 1% on most cards, and the Yes Uni RuPay card has 1% fuel waiver up to ₹7,500. IDFC leads on fuel and utility-led spend.

Which one to choose

An occasional traveller abroad: IDFC FIRST Millennia or Select. A heavy lounge user at modest cost: Yes Reserv. A premium traveller who spends overseas often: IDFC FIRST Mayura or Yes Marquee, depending on whether lounge count or forex matters more to you.

Related reading

See our IDFC FIRST Bank credit cards guide and Yes Bank credit cards guide for every card, and IDFC FIRST vs RBL for a different mid-size pairing.