RBL vs AU Bank Credit Cards: Two Mid-Size Lineups, Two Ideas of Value

RBL and AU Small Finance Bank are both mid-size issuers with long lists of cards, which is exactly why it is easy to pick the wrong one. RBL's best cards are paid, specialised and built around travel or fuel. AU's are cheaper, lean on RuPay and UPI, and push lounge visits harder at the top.

Entry-level fees

AU is the cheaper starting point. The LIT card is lifetime-free on RuPay with 5% on dining and online shopping (₹500 monthly cap each), the Altura costs ₹199 with the fee waived at ₹40,000, and the Prathama costs ₹100. RBL's entry cards, ShopRite and Play, each charge ₹500 and want ₹1.5 lakh of spend for a waiver. For someone who does not want to pay anything, AU leads.

Mid-tier travel and forex

RBL's World Safari charges ₹3,000 with a zero forex markup, and the fee is waived at ₹3 lakh. World Safari Plus costs ₹6,000, also at zero forex, with 4 international lounge visits a year. AU's Zenith costs ₹7,999 and pays 5% on travel, but charges 3.49% on forex. AU's Zenith Plus drops that to 0.99%. RBL's iGlobe, for NRI customers, charges 1.5%.

The lounge arithmetic is where AU surprises: Zenith Plus lists 16 international and 16 domestic visits a year. RBL's World Safari offers 2 domestic visits a quarter with a ₹35,000 spend condition. For forex alone, RBL wins at the mid-tier; for lounge visits, AU.

Everyday UPI and RuPay

AU's CheQ card is lifetime-free, pays up to 12% on online shopping and utilities with a ₹5,000 monthly cap, and the KOSMO card pays a plain 1.5%. RBL's Jalsa is a RuPay card at ₹999 with 5% on online shopping capped at ₹500 a month. AU has the better value across the RuPay range.

Fuel and groceries

RBL has what AU lacks here. The IndianOil RBL card costs ₹500 and pays 5% on fuel with a ₹500 monthly cap, while the XTRA version at ₹1,500 pays 7.5% with a ₹1,000 cap. ShopRite pays 5% on groceries (₹250 cap). AU's Altura pays 3% on groceries capped at ₹1,000 a month, which is the closer comparison. Fuel and grocery buyers: RBL for fuel, AU for flexible grocery cashback.

The top shelf

RBL Icon costs ₹5,000 and requires ₹70,000 a month of income, and the Insignia costs ₹7,000. Above them Nova and LUMIÈRE (₹50,000) are invite-only. AU's top card is Zenith Plus, so for a flagship with an invite-only feel, RBL is the only choice of the two.

Which reader fits which bank

Pick AU if you want a free RuPay card, or lounge visits in volume without paying the highest fees. Pick RBL if you spend abroad, drive on one fuel brand, or are heading for a metal invite card.

Where to read more

The RBL Bank credit cards guide and AU Bank credit cards guide cover each card in detail. For the RuPay side of this story, read RuPay vs Visa vs Mastercard credit cards.