BOB Credit Card Annual Fee Waiver Guide

Key Takeaways

• Annual fee waivers on BOBCARD are spend-based - the fee is reversed automatically when you hit the annual spend milestone within your card anniversary year. You do not need to call or request it.
• Thresholds range from ₹35,000/year (Easy card) to ₹5,00,000/year (Etihad Guest Premium) - the higher the card tier, the higher the spend required.
• Fee waiver is applicable only to non-delinquent accounts. If your account has an overdue outstanding, you are not eligible for the waiver even if you hit the spend threshold.
• First year fee: charged in the 3rd bill statement from the card issuance month, provided the spend milestone is not met by then. This is distinct from the annual (renewal) fee.
• Several BOBCARD cards are currently being issued as Lifetime Free (LTF) for a limited period - meaning no joining fee and no annual fee for the life of the card. Always check the current offer before applying.
• Fuel transactions do not earn reward points on most BOBCARD cards - and depending on MITC terms, may not count toward fee waiver spends. Always verify at bobcard.co.in/most-important-terms-and-condition.
• BOBCARD has announced fee and feature revisions effective 15 July 2026. Verify current thresholds at bobcard.co.in before the anniversary cycle.

How the Annual Fee Waiver Works on BOBCARD

BOBCARD's fee waiver mechanism is automatic and spend-based. Here is how it works:

• Your card anniversary year runs from the month of card issuance (or the renewal anniversary) for 12 months.
• If you spend the required amount on eligible transactions within that anniversary year, the annual fee is reversed on your account - no action required from your side.
• If you do not hit the threshold, the annual fee is charged to your card account in the first statement after your anniversary year ends.
• First year fee: works slightly differently - it is levied in the 3rd billing statement from card issuance month, provided you have not hit the spend milestone by that point. If you meet the spend milestone before the 3rd statement, the first year fee is also waived.
• Delinquency disqualification: fee waiver and annual fee reversal are applicable only to non-delinquent cardholders. If your account has any overdue outstanding - even a partial payment default - you are not eligible for the waiver in that cycle.

Fee Waiver Thresholds by Card

All fees exclude GST. Thresholds sourced from bobcard.co.in product pages as of June 2026. Verify current thresholds at the respective product page or MITC before your anniversary cycle - BOBCARD has announced revisions effective 15 July 2026.

Cards Currently Available as Lifetime Free (Limited Period)

BOBCARD periodically offers specific cards under a limited-period Lifetime Free (LTF) scheme - meaning zero joining fee and zero annual fee for the life of the card, with no spend-based waiver required. As of June 2026, the BOBCARD Premier has been available as LTF for eligible applicants.

Important: LTF offers are promotional and not permanent features of the product. Whether a card is available LTF at the time of your application depends on the current offer. Always check the BOBCARD product page at bobcard.co.in/credit-card-types before applying - the LTF offer may be extended, withdrawn, or replaced with the standard fee structure.

Cards that are structurally lifetime free (regardless of spend or promotional period) include: BOBCARD Prime (FD-secured), BOBCARD ICAI Exclusive, and BOBCARD ICSI Diamond.

What Counts Toward the Annual Spend Threshold?

Not all transactions on your BOBCARD count toward the fee waiver spend threshold. The following categories are typically excluded from eligible spend:

• Fuel transactions - fuel spends earn a surcharge waiver, not reward points, and may not count toward milestone spend on most cards. Verify in your card's MITC.
• Cash withdrawals - ATM cash advances are never counted toward eligible spend.
• EMI interest and processing fees - these are charges, not purchases, and do not contribute to your eligible spend.
• Wallet loading transactions - wallet loads attract a 1% processing fee on BOBCARD and do not earn reward points or count toward spend milestones on most cards.
• Annual fee, joining fee, and other card charges themselves.
• Returned and reversed transactions - if a purchase is cancelled or refunded after posting, the spend is also reversed from your eligible total.

Eligible spend is essentially retail purchases charged to the card - both domestic and international - that are not excluded by the MITC. UPI transactions via the RuPay variant of BOBCARD cards are eligible for spend-based purposes (though reward points via UPI are capped per statement cycle at 500 points).

For the exact list of excluded MCCs (merchant category codes) for your specific card, refer to the Features & Rewards - Important T&C section of the MITC at bobcard.co.in/most-important-terms-and-condition.

Card-by-Card Detail: What You Need to Know

BOBCARD Easy - ₹35,000 waiver threshold

The easiest waiver threshold in the range. ₹35,000 annualised is approximately ₹2,917 per month of eligible card spend - achievable for most cardholders who use the card for everyday purchases. The annual fee of ₹500 + GST is the lowest in the range. The Easy card is also periodically available as LTF for eligible applicants - check the product page.

BOBCARD Select - ₹70,000 waiver threshold

₹70,000 per anniversary year is approximately ₹5,833/month. The Select card earns 5X reward points on dining and online spends (capped at 1,000 RP per statement cycle) and 1 RP per ₹100 on other categories. Annual fee is ₹750 + GST. The Select also includes personal accidental death cover (Air: ₹15 lakhs, Non-Air: ₹5 lakhs) - a benefit worth noting given the low annual fee.

BOBCARD Premier - ₹1,20,000 waiver threshold

₹1,20,000 per year equals ₹10,000/month - a common threshold for cardholders who use the card as a primary payment instrument for dining, travel, and everyday spends. The Premier earns 5X reward points on travel, dining, and international spends, and comes with 1 complimentary domestic lounge visit per quarter (subject to ₹20,000 preceding quarter spend requirement). Annual fee: ₹1,000 + GST. The card is currently available as LTF for a limited period.

BOBCARD Eterna - ₹2,50,000 waiver threshold

₹2,50,000 per anniversary year equals approximately ₹20,833/month - a meaningful threshold suited to cardholders who use the card as their primary instrument for all significant spends. The Eterna is BOBCARD's flagship lifestyle card with unlimited domestic airport lounge access (subject to ₹40,000 preceding quarter spend), 3 RP per ₹100 on eligible spend, personal accidental death cover (Air: ₹1 Cr, Non-Air: ₹10 lakhs), and a 2% forex markup. Annual fee: ₹2,500 + GST.

BOBCARD Tiara - ₹2,50,000 waiver threshold

Same waiver threshold as Eterna (₹2,50,000/year). Tiara is designed for women cardholders and carries quarterly lifestyle vouchers at Myntra, Nykaa, Flipkart, Lakmé Salon, BigBasket, and complimentary Swiggy One membership. Annual fee: ₹2,500 + GST. Lounge access is subject to ₹40,000 preceding quarter spend.

BOBCARD Etihad Guest (Standard) - ₹3,00,000 waiver threshold

₹3,00,000 per anniversary year equals ₹25,000/month. The Etihad Guest Standard earns 3 miles per ₹100 on Etihad flights and 1 mile per ₹100 on all other spend. Annual fee: ₹2,500 + GST. The fee waiver threshold is higher than the Eterna despite a lower fee - reflective of the card's positioning as a co-branded travel card for active Etihad flyers.

BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium - ₹5,00,000 waiver threshold

The highest waiver threshold in the BOBCARD range. ₹5,00,000 per anniversary year equals approximately ₹41,667/month - targeted at heavy spenders who maximise the card's 6 miles per ₹100 on Etihad purchases, 2 miles per ₹100 on all other spend, 0% forex markup, and 12 domestic + 8 international lounge visits per year. Annual fee: ₹5,000 + GST.

What Happens If You Miss the Threshold?

If you do not hit the spend threshold in your anniversary year, the annual fee is charged to your card account in the first statement after that anniversary year ends. The charge appears on your statement as "Annual Fee" and is due on the next payment date.

You cannot appeal the fee retroactively by spending more after the anniversary year has ended - the clock resets at the start of each new anniversary year. If you want to avoid the fee in the next cycle, you need to hit the threshold during that cycle.

If you are approaching your anniversary and are close to but have not yet hit the threshold, check your current spend total via the BOBCARD portal or app - your eligible spend-to-date is visible in the account details section.

The 15 July 2026 Fee Revision: What to Expect

BOBCARD has announced that some card features and charges will be revised effective 15 July 2026. Cardholders were notified via the BOBCARD homepage: "w.e.f 15th July 2026, some of your BOBCARD features & charges will be revised." Full details are available at bobcard.io/1Jul26 or in the MITC section of bobcard.co.in.

If your card anniversary falls on or after 15 July 2026, verify the current fee waiver threshold at your product page before assuming the threshold stated in this guide still applies. Thresholds, annual fees, and eligible spend categories are all subject to this revision.

Frequently Asked Questions