Key Highlights
- Annual fee: ₹750 + GST. Joining fee waived on ₹7,500 spend in 60 days. Annual fee waived on ₹70,000 annual spend - one of the lowest waiver thresholds in the segment.
- 5X rewards (5 RP per ₹100) on dining and online shopping. Capped at 1,000 RP per statement month (combined dining + online).
- SmartDeal travel bonuses: 4X extra RP on flights and 10X extra RP on hotels booked via BOBCARD SmartDeal portal.
- Base rate: 1 RP per ₹100 on all other eligible spends. 1 RP = ₹0.20 cashback.
- Welcome bonus: 500 RP on ₹5,000 spend within first 60 days of card issuance.
- Eligibility: Indian resident, age 21–60 (salaried) or 24–65 (self-employed), net annual income ₹4.8L+.
The BOBCARD Select is positioned as a step above BOBCARD's entry-level Easy card - it earns higher on dining and online, has a SmartDeal travel bonus layer, and targets salaried and self-employed users with ₹4.8L+ annual income. At a ₹750 annual fee waivable at ₹70,000 annual spend (roughly ₹5,833 per month), it is one of the most accessible reward cards in the BOBCARD lineup by cost of ownership.
The Select card is issued on the Visa platform - unlike the RuPay variants of some BOBCARD cards, this one does not support UPI via QR scan. For cardholders who want a UPI-enabled card, the BOBCARD Easy on RuPay or the BOBCARD Cashback on Mastercard with GPay QR would be more appropriate choices.
Reward Structure: What You Actually Earn
The card's headline benefit is 5X rewards on dining and online shopping - meaning 5 RP per ₹100 in these categories. At 1 RP = ₹0.20, the effective return in these categories is 1.0% - not the 3.75% you would get on a premium card like the Eterna, but meaningful for an entry-to-mid segment card at ₹750 annual fee.
The cap is the critical condition: the 5X reward rate on dining and online is combined and capped at 1,000 RP per statement month. Once the cap is hit, all further dining and online spend earns at the base rate of 1 RP per ₹100. At 5 RP per ₹100, the 1,000 RP cap is reached at ₹20,000 combined dining + online spend per month. Spend beyond ₹20,000/month in these categories earns at 1 RP per ₹100 only.
| Spend Category | Reward Rate | Effective Return (1 RP=₹0.20) | Monthly Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining and online shopping (combined) | 5 RP per ₹100 | 1.0% | 1,000 RP/month (= ₹20,000 spend) |
| Flights via BOBCARD SmartDeal | 4 extra RP (= 5 RP total) | 1.0% | No stated cap |
| Hotels via BOBCARD SmartDeal | 10 extra RP (= 11 RP total) | 2.2% | No stated cap |
| All other eligible spends | 1 RP per ₹100 | 0.2% | No cap |
| Fuel transactions | 0 RP + 1% surcharge waiver | Waiver only (max ₹250/cycle) | - |
| Excluded categories | 0 RP | - | Fuel, education, hospital, insurance, govt, rent, wallet, fast food MCC 5814, supermarkets |
Source: bobcard.co.in/credit-card-types/select, Paisabazaar, BOBCARD MITC. Last verified: 9 May 2026.
The SmartDeal hotel bonus - 10 extra RP plus the 1 base RP = 11 RP per ₹100 at 1 RP = ₹0.20 is a 2.2% return on hotel bookings - is the most competitive earn rate on this card and the clearest reason to use BOBCARD SmartDeal for hotel bookings specifically. For flight bookings, the 5 RP effective rate matches the dining and online rate.
Fees and Charges: Low Cost, Easy Waiver
| Fee/Charge | Amount | Waiver Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹750 + GST | Spend ₹7,500 within first 60 days |
| Annual fee (from Year 2) | ₹750 + GST | Spend ₹70,000 in card anniversary year |
| Finance charge | 3.75%/month = 45% p.a. | No waiver - pay full balance to avoid |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of transaction | No waiver - applies on all international spends |
| Cash withdrawal | 2.5% or ₹500, whichever higher | - |
| Add-on cards | Lifetime free (up to 3) | - |
| Interest-free period | 20 to 50 days | Only if previous balance cleared in full |
Source: bobcard.co.in/credit-card-types/select. BOBCARD MITC Ver 19, effective 1 April 2026. Last verified: 9 May 2026.
The ₹70,000 annual spend threshold for fee waiver is the card's most attractive cost feature. At ₹5,833 per month, this is achievable for most salaried professionals routing regular dining and online purchases through the card. If the threshold is hit, the effective annual cost is ₹0 and the card earns at 1% on qualifying spend indefinitely.
The 3.5% forex markup is a significant cost for international use - it effectively negates the 1% earn rate on foreign transactions and adds a net cost of approximately 2.5% on overseas spending. The Select card is best treated as a domestic-only card. For any international travel, a card with lower or zero forex markup should be used instead.
Eligibility and Application
| Criterion | Salaried | Self-Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 21 to 60 years | 24 to 65 years |
| Minimum net annual income | ₹4.8 lakh | ₹4.8 lakh |
| Residency | Indian resident | Indian resident |
| Add-on card eligibility | Above 18 years | Above 18 years |
Source: bobcard.co.in/credit-card-types/select. Last verified: 9 May 2026.
The application is fully digital: fill the online form at bobcard.co.in, complete Aadhaar-based e-sign, and verify identity via Video KYC. Documents typically needed: PAN (mandatory), Aadhaar (for digital KYC), salary slips or bank statements (if income cannot be auto-verified). Most digital applications are decided within 1–3 business days of VKYC completion.
What the BOBCARD Select Does Not Offer
- No airport lounge access - confirmed by CardInsider. The Select card does not include any domestic or international lounge visits.
- No UPI support - Visa network only. Cannot be linked to GPay, PhonePe, or Paytm as a credit card for QR scan payments.
- Low RP redemption value - 1 RP = ₹0.20, versus ₹0.25 on Eterna and Tiara. Over 1,000 RP, this is a ₹50 difference - meaningful over time.
- High forex markup - 3.5% makes this card uncompetitive for international spending.
- 5X cap limits high spenders - at ₹20,000/month dining + online, the accelerated rate is exhausted. Anyone spending more sees 0.2% effective return on the excess.
Who Should Get the BOBCARD Select
The Select card is well-suited for salaried professionals earning ₹4.8L–₹8L annually who spend regularly on dining and online shopping and want a low-fee rewards card with an achievable waiver. If monthly dining + online spend is ₹10,000–₹20,000 and no international travel is expected, the card earns meaningfully at near-zero cost from Year 2 onwards.
It is not the right card for: frequent domestic or international flyers (no lounge, high forex), high online spenders above ₹20,000/month (cap limits return), or UPI-first users (Visa network, no QR support).
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This review is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All BOBCARD Select features, fees, reward rates, and eligibility criteria are subject to change. Data sourced from bobcard.co.in, BOBCARD MITC, and third-party aggregators as of May 2026. Readers are advised to refer to the Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) available at bobcard.co.in before applying. BOBCARD Limited (formerly BOB Financial Solutions Limited) is a 100% subsidiary of Bank of Baroda and an RBI-regulated entity.
