ICICI Bank Credit Card Changes from Jan 15, 2026: New Fees & Benefits Explained
Big Update for ICICI Credit Cardholders
ICICI Bank credit card rule changes are coming into effect from January 15, 2026, and they will directly impact how customers earn rewards, enjoy entertainment benefits, and pay fees on everyday transactions. If you use an ICICI Bank credit card, these updates could affect your spending habits, especially on foreign currency transactions, gaming platforms, and wallet top-ups.
Let’s break down the new rules, fees, and benefits in detail so you know exactly what to expect.
ICICI Credit Card Reward Points
- Emeralde Metal Credit Card holders will continue to earn 6 reward points for every ₹200 spent on retail transactions.
- However, certain spends will not earn points: government services, fuel, property management, rent, tax payments, and third-party wallets.
- This means everyday shopping, dining, and lifestyle spends remain rewarding, but utility and wallet loads won’t add to your points balance.
👉 Tip: Focus your card usage on retail and lifestyle spends to maximize rewards.
ICICI Credit Card BookMyShow Benefits
- To unlock BookMyShow offers, cardholders must spend ₹25,000 in the preceding quarter.
- Example: To enjoy free tickets or discounts in April–June 2026, you must spend ₹25,000 between Dec 26, 2025 – Mar 25, 2026.
- This spending-based eligibility will be reviewed every quarter.
👉 Entertainment lovers should plan quarterly spends strategically to keep enjoying movie benefits.
Add-On Card Fee
- For Emeralde Metal Credit Card holders, all new add-on cards issued after Jan 15, 2026 will attract a one-time fee of ₹3,500.
- Existing add-on cards remain unaffected.
👉 Families planning to issue add-on cards should apply before the deadline to avoid extra charges.
Dynamic Currency Conversion Fee
Foreign currency spends are getting costlier for some cards. Here’s the revised fee structure:
| Credit Card | New DCC Fee |
|---|---|
| Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card | 1.49% |
| Emeralde Metal / Emeralde / Emeralde Private | 2.00% |
| MakeMyTrip Travel Credit Card | 0.99% |
| Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card | 1.99% |
| All other ICICI cards (Signature, Platinum, etc.) | 3.50% |
👉 Frequent travelers should note that MakeMyTrip Travel Card now offers the lowest conversion fee at 0.99%, making it the most cost-effective choice for international spends.
Transaction Fee on Gaming Platforms
- A 2% fee will be charged on transactions made on platforms like Dream11, Rummy Culture, Junglee Games, and MPL.
- This applies to all ICICI credit cards starting Jan 15, 2026.
👉 Online gamers should factor in this extra cost when topping up or playing on these platforms.
Transaction Fee on Third-Party Wallets
- A 1% fee will apply on transactions of ₹5,000 or more when loading funds into wallets like Amazon Pay, Paytm, MobiKwik, Freecharge, and OlaMoney.
- Smaller loads below ₹5,000 remain free.
👉 If you frequently load large amounts into wallets, consider splitting transactions to avoid fees.
Cash Payment Fee at ICICI Bank Branches
- Paying credit card dues in cash at ICICI Bank branches will now cost ₹150 per transaction, up from ₹100 earlier.
- Digital payments remain free and more convenient.
👉 Switch to online payments to save money and time.
What This Means for ICICI Credit Cardholders
These changes reflect a broader trend in Indian banking: encouraging digital payments and reward-linked spending, while discouraging high-risk or high-cost transactions like gaming and wallet loads.
- Travelers: Best to use MakeMyTrip ICICI Travel Card for foreign spends.
- Entertainment fans: Keep track of quarterly spends to retain BookMyShow benefits.
- Families: Apply for add-on cards before Jan 15, 2026 to avoid fees.
- Gamers & wallet users: Expect extra charges, plan transactions wisely.
Key Takeaways
- Rewards remain strong for retail spends.
- Entertainment benefits now require quarterly spending discipline.
- Foreign currency fees vary widely—choose the right card.
- Gaming and wallet transactions will cost extra.
- Cash payments at branches are more expensive—go digital.
External References
- ICICI Bank Official Website
- Wikipedia: Credit Card (en.wikipedia.org in Bing)
- Reserve Bank of India – Credit Card Guidelines
- Quora Discussions on Credit Card Rewards
READ ALSO || SIM Fraud Alert: How to Track Aadhaar-linked Numbers
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