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Credit card annual fee waiver condition — how does it actually work?

Subhashree Bhat

Asked 17 Jun 2026

15

Banks say annual fee is waived if I spend ₹40,000 in the previous year. Does the spend include EMI, wallet loads, and reversals? Please clarify with examples.

3 Answers

4
Sumanth Sastry·10 Mar 2026

Tip from someone who made this mistake: never max out the credit limit in the first 6 months. Banks track utilisation, and high utilisation right after approval often triggers a credit limit decrease or even an account review.

3
Shankar Patel·2 Apr 2026

I had the same dilemma. The way I decided was: list down my top 3 monthly spend categories, calculate the rewards on each card, and pick whichever gives the highest cashback on MY pattern. Generic 'best card' lists are useless for personal decisions.

-1
Bhavana Mane·30 May 2026

On the add-on card: yes, the primary cardholder is fully liable for all spends on the add-on. There is no separate credit limit or statement. So only issue it to someone you trust absolutely — spouse, parents. Not friends, not siblings you have money disputes with.

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