Yes Bank vs IndusInd Credit Cards: Small Annual Fees Against Large Joining Fees

Yes Bank and IndusInd both field premium lounge cards, but they price them in opposite ways. Yes Bank's cards mostly carry a modest annual fee with a spend waiver, from ₹499 on ACE to ₹4,999 on Marquee. IndusInd's premium range lists large joining fees (₹15,000 on Pinnacle, ₹25,000 on Celesta, ₹75,000 on Crest and Indulge) and, on our list, no separate annual fee on several of them. Check current terms before assuming either.

Free and cheap cards

IndusInd's Tiger has no fee, a ₹15,000 income floor, 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter, 2 international visits a year and 1.5% forex. Yes Bank's Zagg is also free, with up to 8 domestic visits a year unlocked by ₹50,000 of previous-quarter spend and a ₹15,000 income floor, so the Tiger's edge is that it adds international visits. The Yes Klick RuPay and Uni RuPay are free with no lounge access, though Uni RuPay charges 0% forex. Yes Bank's ELITE+ costs ₹999 with 2 domestic visits a quarter and 3 international a year, and FIRST Preferred costs ₹999 with a ₹24,000 income floor. IndusInd Tiger narrowly leads at zero fee; Yes Bank leads at ₹999.

Mid-premium

The IndusInd Legend has a ₹5,000 joining fee, 1.8% forex and Priority Pass for 600+ lounges, while the Avios Visa Infinite costs ₹10,000 to join and ₹5,000 a year with 2 domestic and 2 international visits a quarter. The Yes Reserv costs ₹2,499, waived at ₹3,00,000, with unlimited domestic and international access, a 4% base and 2% forex. Reserv gives more access for less. Yes Bank wins.

Premium

The IndusInd Pinnacle costs ₹15,000 with unlimited domestic access, 1 international visit a quarter, 5% on online shopping and 3.5% forex. Celesta costs ₹25,000 to join and ₹5,000 a year, waived at ₹10,00,000, with unlimited domestic and 2 international visits a quarter. 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, a 3% base and 1% forex. Marquee is cheaper and charges less on forex than Pinnacle or Celesta. Yes Bank wins.

Above ₹50,000

IndusInd goes far deeper: Pioneer Heritage (₹1,00,000 joining, 0% forex, unlimited access), Pioneer Private (₹25,000 annual, 0% forex), the Indus Solitaire (4 domestic and 4 international visits a quarter, 0% forex) and the Crest. Yes Bank offers Private (₹50,000 joining, ₹10,000 annual, 0.5% forex) and Private Prime (₹20,000 joining, ₹10,000 annual, 0.5% forex). IndusInd leads on choice and forex at the top.

Everyday rewards

IndusInd's cheaper cards earn very little: Aura Edge 0.125%, Tiger 0.15% and Nexxt 0.2%. Yes Bank's entry cards earn more per rupee: Klick RuPay 0.5% base with 1% on other spend, EMI at 1% base with 3% on online shopping (capped at ₹1,000 a month) and PaisaSave 6% on dining and travel (capped at ₹3,000 a month). Yes Bank wins.

Which card suits which buyer

An early-career professional who wants some lounge access: IndusInd Tiger. A mid-income traveller: Yes Reserv or ELITE+. A heavy flyer who spends abroad and can afford the entry cost: Yes Marquee. A buyer with a very high income and a taste for 0% forex at the top: IndusInd Pioneer Heritage or Pioneer Private.

Next in this series

The Yes Bank credit cards guide and IndusInd Bank credit cards guide cover each lineup, and IDFC FIRST vs IndusInd shows how a third bank compares.