Yes Bank vs RBL Credit Cards: Budget Lounge Access Against Zero-Forex Travel

Yes Bank slips lounge access into cheap cards. RBL mostly does not. Cards such as Yes SELECT (₹599), Essence (₹799), ELITE+ (₹999) and Wellness Plus (₹1,499) all list airport lounge visits, while RBL's ShopRite, Play, Cookies, Platinum Delight and the Shoppers Stop and Paisabazaar cards say "not offered". On the other side, RBL's World Safari family charges 0% forex while Yes Bank's travel cards charge 1% to 2%.

Budget cards and lounges

Yes ELITE+ costs ₹999, waived at ₹2,00,000, with 2 domestic visits a quarter and 3 international a year, 3% forex and a ₹25,000 income floor. Yes Wellness Plus costs ₹1,499 with 8 domestic visits a year and a ₹25,000 income floor. Yes SELECT costs ₹599 with 1 visit a quarter. RBL's Platinum Maxima Plus costs ₹2,500 with 2 domestic visits a quarter after ₹35,000 spend, and RBL Apex costs ₹1,000 with 1 visit a quarter. Yes Bank leads on cheap lounge access.

Zero-forex travel

RBL World Safari costs ₹3,000, waived at ₹3,00,000, with a 2% base in miles, 5% on travel, 0% forex, 2 domestic visits a quarter (after ₹35,000 of previous-quarter spend) and 2 international Priority Pass visits a year, for a ₹40,000 income floor. The World Safari Plus costs ₹6,000 and Lite costs ₹1,000, both at 0% forex. Yes Bank has no card at that fee with 0% forex: its ₹2,499 Reserv charges 2%. RBL leads on forex.

Premium

The RBL Icon costs ₹5,000, with 6% on travel and dining (capped at ₹600 a month), 2% forex and 2 domestic visits a quarter. The RBL Insignia costs ₹7,000 with 6 international visits a year and 1.5% forex. Yes Reserv costs ₹2,499 with unlimited lounge visits at home and abroad and a 4% base, while the Yes Marquee costs ₹9,999 to join and ₹4,999 a year with 24 domestic and unlimited international visits at 1% forex. Both Yes Bank cards give more lounge access than RBL's mid-premium cards, but both ask for a ₹2,00,000 monthly income. Yes Bank leads on lounge volume; RBL on entry income.

Premium ceiling

RBL Nova costs ₹12,500 with 12 domestic and 12 international visits a year, at 2% forex. LUMIÈRE costs ₹50,000 with unlimited lounges and 0% forex. Yes Private costs ₹50,000 to join and ₹10,000 a year, with 0.5% forex. Yes Bank's annual fee is lower; RBL's LUMIÈRE has the better forex. Even.

Fuel and partner cards

RBL's IndianOil XTRA costs ₹1,500 with 7.5% on fuel, capped at ₹1,000 a month; the standard IndianOil RBL card costs ₹500 with 5%. Yes Bank's fuel benefit is the 1% surcharge waiver. RBL's other partners (Shoppers Stop, BookMyShow, Patanjali) have no Yes Bank equivalent. RBL wins.

Who should pick which

A salaried buyer on ₹25,000 who wants a first lounge card: Yes ELITE+ or Wellness Plus. A traveller who will pay in foreign currency often: RBL World Safari. A heavy flyer who wants unlimited lounges at a low fee: Yes Reserv. A driver on IndianOil: RBL XTRA.

Dig deeper

Compare the Yes Bank credit cards guide with the RBL Bank credit cards guide, or read IDFC FIRST vs RBL.