The thing is, your ICICI Bank credit card is about to get a lot more expensive to use. Specifically, the bank just dropped a massive list of fee hikes and benefit cuts that kick in early 2026.
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If you’re into online gaming or use third-party wallets like Paytm, you’re the primary target. And then the reward caps follow. Let’s be real, the days of “free” perks on these cards are fading fast, or nothing.
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One of the biggest stings is a new 2% fee on online gaming. Specifically, if you’re using your card on apps like Dream11 or MPL, you’re getting hit with an extra charge every single time.
And then there’s the wallet situation. If you load more than ₹5,000 into apps like Amazon Pay, you’ll now pay a 1% transaction fee. Here’s the kicker: even your commute could cost more. Specifically, transportation transactions over ₹50,000 will now carry a 1% fee. Let’s be real, they are taxing every move you make.
The rewards side isn’t looking much better. ICICI is putting a tight ceiling on how much you can actually earn. Specifically, reward points for transport are now capped at ₹10,000 for mid-tier cards and ₹20,000 for premium ones.
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Even your BookMyShow Buy-One-Get-One offer is getting a reality check. Starting February 2026, you have to spend at least ₹25,000 in the previous quarter just to unlock that movie ticket. And then there’s the Dynamic Currency Conversion fee, which is jumping as high as 2% for some premium cards. Specifically, the situation is getting pricey for international shoppers.
HDFC users aren’t escaping the squeeze either. Starting January 10, 2026, you can’t just swipe your debit card for lounge access anymore. Specifically, you’ll need a voucher, and the spending requirements to get those vouchers are going up.
The situation is ongoing as banks tighten their belts across the board. Specifically, you need to audit your spending now to avoid getting buried in these new “convenience” fees.
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