Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card

Overview

The Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card is a secured credit card from Kotak Mahindra Bank, issued against a fixed deposit of ₹10,000 or more. Your credit limit is set at 90% of the FD amount. Unlike most credit cards that require income documentation, this card needs only an FD and a Kotak 811 savings account, making it accessible to students, homemakers, and anyone building credit for the first time.The card earns 4 reward points per ₹100 on online transactions and 1 reward point per ₹100 on other spends. Each reward point is worth ₹0.10, and points never expire. You can redeem them through Kotak net banking for cashback, movie tickets, or air miles, with a minimum of 2,000 points required for cashback redemption. A welcome bonus of 500 points kicks in when you spend ₹5,000 or more in the first 45 days.Fuel savings come through a 1% surcharge waiver capped at ₹3,500 per year. Railway travellers benefit from a 1.8% surcharge waiver on IRCTC bookings and 2.5% waiver at railway counters, up to ₹500 annually. Milestone spenders earn Amazon vouchers: ₹250 for ₹36,000 annual spend and ₹1,000 for ₹72,000 annual spend. The card also supports contactless payments, has an EMV chip, and comes with complimentary add-on cards.This card works best for first-time credit card users who want to establish a credit score without paying annual fees. The low FD requirement of ₹10,000 keeps the entry barrier minimal. If you primarily shop online, the 4x reward rate on digital purchases adds more value than most entry-level cards provide. The zero late payment fee is another safety net for new cardholders still learning credit discipline.

Pros

↑Zero joining and annual fees for life, with no spend requirement to waive fees, plus zero late payment charges for new cardholders still building credit habits
↑4 reward points per ₹100 on online purchases, the highest online earn rate among secured credit cards, with points that never expire
↑Only ₹10,000 FD needed with no income proof, making it accessible to students, homemakers, and anyone without a salary slip

Cons

↓Reward point value dropped from ₹0.25 to ₹0.10 per point in June 2025, cutting the effective online earn rate to just 0.4%
↓No airport lounge access, no travel insurance, and 3.5% forex markup make this card unsuitable for any international spending
↓Credit limit capped at 90% of FD amount, so even a ₹1 lakh FD only gives ₹90,000 limit, and FD funds remain locked until card is closed

Key Highlights

Welcome Offer
500 bonus points on ₹5,000 spend in 45 days
500 bonus reward points on ₹5,000+ spend in first 45 days
3 months OTTPlay subscription at ₹1
Woohoo voucher worth ₹250
Welcome offer valid until March 31, 2026

Reward Rate
4 RP per ₹100 online, 1 RP offline
Online transactions: 4 reward points per ₹100
Offline transactions: 1 reward point per ₹100
Redemption value: ₹0.10 per point
Reward points never expire

Minimum Salary
No income proof required
Secured against FD of ₹10,000 or more
Age: 18 to 75 years
Indian resident
Kotak 811 savings account needed
No salary slips or ITR required

Joining Fee
Nil (₹250 if limit under ₹18,000)
Joining fee: Nil for credit limits ₹18,000 and above
₹250 joining fee for credit limits below ₹18,000
No hidden charges

Annual Fee
Nil (lifetime free)
Annual fee: Nil
No spend-based waiver needed
Lifetime free card
Add-on cards also free

Why Choose?
Build credit with just ₹10,000 FD
Minimum FD: ₹10,000 for 181+ days
Credit limit: 90% of FD amount
Helps build CIBIL score
No income proof or salary required
Ideal for first-time credit card users

Key Benefits

Fuel

★4.0

▼

1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India
Annual cap of ₹3,500 (approximately ₹292 per month)
Applies to fuel transactions at eligible outlets
Savings of up to ₹3,500 per year on fuel purchases

Milestone

★3.0

▼

₹250 Amazon voucher on ₹36,000 annual spend
₹1,000 Amazon voucher on ₹72,000 annual spend
Maximum milestone value: ₹1,250 per year
Milestones tracked on anniversary year basis

Reward Points

★2.0

▼

Online transactions: 4 reward points per ₹100
Offline transactions: 1 reward point per ₹100
Redemption value: ₹0.10 per point
Effective online earn rate: 0.4%, offline: 0.1%
Points never expire
Minimum 2,000 points needed for cashback redemption

Secured

★4.0

▼

Minimum FD: ₹10,000 for 181+ days
Credit limit: 90% of FD amount
No income proof required
Helps build credit history and CIBIL score
Lifetime free with no annual fee
Zero late payment charges

Shopping

★2.0

▼

4 reward points per ₹100 on online shopping
Effective online earn rate: 0.4%
1 reward point per ₹100 on offline retail
No special merchant partnerships or accelerated categories

Student

★4.5

▼

No income proof or salary slips needed
FD of just ₹10,000 to get started
Builds credit history for future unsecured cards
Zero joining and annual fees
Zero late payment charges
4x reward points on online shopping

Liability Protection

▼

Minimum ₹50,000 coverage against theft or fraudulent use
7-day window to report unauthorized transactions
EMV chip for secure in-store payments
Contactless payment support

Emi

▼

EMI conversion available on eligible purchases
Convert larger transactions into monthly instalments
Interest rate: 3.5% per month (42% annually)
Available through Kotak net banking or mobile app

Detailed Information

Joining Fee	No joining fee (₹250 if credit limit below ₹18,000)
Annual Fee	No annual fee (lifetime free)
Annual Fee Waiver	Not applicable (no fee charged)
Monthly Percentage Rate	3.5%
Annual Percentage Rate	42%
Minimum Monthly Payment	5% of outstanding or ₹200, whichever is higher
Foreign Currency Markup	3.5%
Late Payment Charges	Nil
Overlimit Charges	2.5% of overlimit amount (min ₹500)
Cash Advance Fee	₹300 per ₹10,000 withdrawn
Balance Transfer Fee	Not available on this card
Fee For Supplementary Card	Nil (complimentary)
Card Replacement Fee	₹100
Fee For Duplicate Statement	₹50 per statement
Fee For Cheque Bounce	₹500

Age Requirement Salaried	18-75 years
Age Requirement Self Employed	18-75 years
Minimum Annual Income Salaried	No income proof required (FD-backed secured card)
Minimum Annual Income Self Employed	No income proof required (FD-backed secured card)
Minimum Credit Score	No minimum (secured against fixed deposit)

Identity Proof	PAN Card (mandatory) Aadhaar Card Passport Voter ID
Address Proof	Aadhaar Card Passport Utility Bill (recent) Bank Statement
Income Proof Salaried	Not required (secured card issued against FD of ₹10,000+)
Income Proof Self Employed	Not required (secured card issued against FD of ₹10,000+)

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no joining fee for the Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card if your credit limit is ₹18,000 or above. A ₹250 joining fee applies only if your credit limit is below ₹18,000. Since the card is secured against a fixed deposit, most applicants with an FD of ₹20,000 or more will not pay any joining fee.

The Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card has no annual fee. It is a lifetime free credit card with no spend-based waiver requirements. You will never be charged an annual renewal fee regardless of your spending pattern.

You earn 4 reward points per ₹100 spent on online transactions and 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on offline transactions. Each reward point is worth ₹0.10. Reward points can be redeemed through Kotak net banking for cashback, movie tickets, air miles, and other options. A minimum of 2,000 points is required for cashback redemption.

No, reward points earned on the Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card never expire. You can accumulate points over time and redeem them whenever you have enough for your preferred redemption option. The minimum threshold for cashback redemption is 2,000 points.

You need a minimum fixed deposit of ₹10,000 with a tenure of at least 181 days in your Kotak 811 savings account. Tax Saver FDs, NRI FDs, Sweep-in FDs, Non-Withdrawal FDs, and Minor FDs cannot be used for this credit card. Your credit limit will be set at 90% of your FD amount.

Your credit limit is set at 90% of the fixed deposit amount linked to your card. For example, if you open an FD of ₹50,000, your credit limit would be ₹45,000. You can increase your limit by increasing your FD amount through Kotak net banking or the mobile app.

The card provides a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions at all fuel stations across India. This waiver is capped at ₹3,500 per year, which translates to approximately ₹292 in monthly savings. The waiver applies to eligible fuel transactions at petrol pumps nationwide.

You get a 1.8% railway surcharge waiver on bookings through irctc.co.in and a 2.5% railway surcharge waiver at Indian Railway booking counters. The maximum railway surcharge waiver is ₹500 per year across both online and counter bookings combined.

When you spend ₹36,000 in your card anniversary year, you receive an Amazon voucher worth ₹250. If you spend ₹72,000 in an anniversary year, you receive an Amazon voucher worth ₹1,000. The maximum milestone benefit is ₹1,250 per year if you hit both spending targets.

New cardholders receive 500 bonus reward points (worth ₹50) when they spend ₹5,000 or more within the first 45 days of receiving the card. You also get a 3-month OTTPlay subscription for ₹1 and a Woohoo voucher worth ₹250. The welcome offer is valid until March 31, 2026.

Any Indian resident aged 18 to 75 years can apply. Since this is a secured credit card issued against a fixed deposit, no income proof, salary slips, or ITR documents are needed. You must have a Kotak 811 savings account and an FD of ₹10,000 or more with a minimum tenure of 181 days.

You need a PAN Card (mandatory), along with any one identity proof such as Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID. Address proof options include Aadhaar Card, Passport, recent utility bill, or bank statement. No income documents are required since the card is secured against your fixed deposit.

Yes, the Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card is available on both the RuPay and Visa networks. The RuPay variant works primarily for domestic transactions, while the Visa variant provides international acceptance. Both variants carry the same reward structure and benefits.

Yes, add-on cards are available and issued free of charge. Each add-on card carries the same benefits as the primary card. You can track spending on each add-on card separately and set individual credit limits for each add-on card based on your requirements.

The monthly interest rate is 3.5%, which works out to 42% annually. This applies to any outstanding balance carried forward after the payment due date. To avoid interest charges entirely, pay your full statement balance within the payment due date and benefit from the up to 48-day interest-free period.

The card charges a 3.5% markup on all foreign currency transactions. This applies to any purchase made in a currency other than INR. If you frequently shop on international websites or travel abroad, this markup will add to your transaction costs.

No, the Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card has zero late payment charges. This is a significant advantage for first-time cardholders who are still building their payment discipline. However, interest at 3.5% per month will still apply on any unpaid balance.

You can apply through the Kotak 811 mobile app or the Kotak Mahindra Bank website. First, open a Kotak 811 savings account, then create a fixed deposit of ₹10,000 or more for at least 181 days. The card application can be completed online without visiting a branch.

Yes, you can convert eligible purchases into monthly instalments through Kotak net banking or the mobile app. EMI conversion is subject to the bank's terms and interest rate of 3.5% per month. This helps spread the cost of larger purchases over multiple months.

Yes, the card comes with an EMV chip and contactless payment technology. You can tap the card at POS terminals that support contactless transactions for quick and secure payments without entering your PIN for small-value purchases.

When you close your Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card, the linked fixed deposit is released and the FD amount (with accrued interest) becomes available in your savings account. You cannot withdraw or break the FD while the credit card is active, as it serves as collateral for your credit limit.

Yes, you can increase your credit limit by increasing the fixed deposit amount linked to your card. Your credit limit is always set at 90% of your FD value. You can add to your FD through Kotak net banking or the mobile app, and your credit limit will be updated accordingly.

The cash advance fee is ₹300 for every ₹10,000 withdrawn. Cash advances also attract interest from the date of withdrawal at 3.5% per month. There is no interest-free period on cash advances, so this should be used only in emergencies.

The card provides a minimum coverage of ₹50,000 against theft or fraudulent use. You have a 7-day window to report unauthorized transactions to the bank. The EMV chip and contactless payment technology also add layers of security for in-store transactions.

The minimum payment due is 5% of the outstanding balance or ₹200, whichever is higher. Paying only the minimum due will avoid account delinquency but interest at 3.5% per month will apply on the remaining balance. Always try to pay the full statement amount to avoid interest charges.