In a significant shift for its premium card portfolio, HDFC Bank appears to have sharply increased the annual spend requirement for waiving fees on its Infinia Credit Card. The threshold has reportedly been raised from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 18 lakh.
Several Infinia cardholders have received direct emails outlining revised eligibility norms to continue enjoying benefits without paying annual charges. According to the communication, continued access to the Infinia programme will now depend on either higher annual card spends or a stronger overall banking relationship with the bank.
As per the email, customers must meet at least 1 of the following conditions in a financial year: annual card spends of Rs 18 lakh across primary and add-on cards, or maintaining a Relationship Value (RLV) of Rs 50 lakh. The RLV includes combined average monthly balances across savings, current, and deposit accounts.
This represents a steep jump from the earlier spend-based waiver threshold of around Rs 8 lakh, effectively more than doubling the requirement. The move suggests a repositioning of the Infinia card, with the bank likely focusing on retaining high-value and deeply engaged customers within its ultra-premium segment.
The communication further indicates that the revised norms have been waived for existing customers for FY26. Cardholders will continue to receive uninterrupted benefits until March 2027. The first review under the new framework is expected in April 2027, providing a transition period for customers to align their spending or relationship balances.
Notably, the changes have not yet been formally published on the bank’s website or through any public announcement. The update appears to have been shared selectively via customer emails, pointing to a phased rollout.
The development comes at a time when banks across the industry are recalibrating premium credit card economics. Many are tightening benefit structures and linking eligibility more closely to profitability and relationship depth.
Sources reached out to HDFC Bank for an official comment on the revised Infinia fee waiver norms. However, the bank had not responded at the time of publication.
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