Union Bank of India vs Bank of Baroda Credit Cards: Two 6.5% HPCL Fuel Cards With Very Different Caps

The two lineups share an odd twin: each bank sells an HPCL co-brand with a 6.5% fuel rate and an annual fee near ₹500. The cap on that rate differs sharply, and that detail is a good way into a comparison where Union has the leaner lineup and BOBCARD the wider one.

The two HPCL cards

The Union Bank Uni Carbon charges ₹499 to join and ₹550 a year (waived at ₹1,00,000), with a 6.5% fuel rate capped at ₹500 a month and a 0.5% base. It carries a ₹20,000 income floor. The HPCL Bank of Baroda ENERGIE charges ₹499 for both fees, waived at ₹50,000, and lists the same 6.5% fuel rate capped at ₹4,000 a month, plus a 1% base and 4 domestic lounge visits a year (1 per quarter) that depend on ₹20,000 spend. Its income floor is ₹15,000. Check the card terms to see whether the caps limit spend or reward. On the visible numbers, the BOB card is cheaper to keep and has a higher base rate.

Lounges at a low fee

Union's best-value pair is the JCB Health (₹499, waived at ₹50,000) and JCB Wellness (₹999, waived at ₹1,00,000), each with 8 domestic and 2 international visits a year and a ₹40,000 income floor. The RuPay Select has a ₹550 annual fee, a 1% base and 2 domestic visits per quarter plus 2 international visits a year. Unicorn costs ₹2,400 with 8 domestic and 2 international Priority Pass visits.

BOB's free options include Yoddha and Sentinel (2 domestic visits a quarter on ₹20,000 spend, for service personnel), plus ICAI Exclusive, CMA One and ICSI Diamond (3 domestic visits a quarter on ₹40,000, for professionals). Varunah Plus costs ₹1,499 for 3 domestic visits a quarter. None of BOB's low-fee cards include international lounges, apart from the Etihad Guest pair at ₹2,500 and ₹5,000. If you want an international lounge visit at the lowest price, Union's JCB Health is the stronger pick.

Metal and premium

Union's Nexteria is a RuPay metal card at ₹12,499 a year, waived at ₹8,00,000, with unlimited lounge access for the primary holder plus family visits each quarter and a ₹1,00,000 income floor. It carries a 2.5% forex markup.

BOB's Eterna costs ₹2,499 a year, waived at ₹2,50,000, with unlimited domestic lounges, 3.75% on travel, dining and online shopping, and 2% forex. The Tiara is a ₹2,499 RuPay card with the same 3.75% categories and unlimited domestic access at ₹75,000 of quarterly spend. Neither has international lounges. Nexteria wins if you need international access, but at five times the price. For domestic travellers BOB is much cheaper.

Fintech and travel cards

BOBCARD Scapia is free, has zero forex, a 2% base and 4% on travel. The Etihad Guest Premium costs ₹5,000, has zero forex, 6% on travel and 8 international lounge visits a year. Union lists no fintech co-brand and no zero-forex card. Anyone going abroad on a modest budget will find BOB the only option here.

Which to choose

Fuel buyer: BOB's ENERGIE has the higher base and cheaper waiver, subject to the cap question. International lounge visits at a low fee: Union JCB Health. Domestic lounges plus rewards: BOB Eterna. Metal card with international access: Union Nexteria. Zero-forex travel: BOB Scapia or Etihad Guest Premium.

Where to go next

Our Bank of Baroda guide covers the BOBCARD range in full. For RuPay cards linked to UPI, see the RuPay credit cards on UPI guide, and for another look at Union's lineup, read Union Bank vs SBI Card.