Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card

Standard Chartered's Ultimate Credit Card stands out with one of the highest base reward rates in India. You earn 5 reward points for every ₹150 spent at most merchants, and since 1 reward point equals Re 1, the effective return is 3.33% on regular purchases. Select categories like utilities, supermarkets, insurance, property management, schools, and government payments earn at a reduced rate of 3 points per ₹150 (2%). Fuel transactions earn zero points but qualify for a 1% surcharge waiver instead.The card runs on the Mastercard network and includes a complimentary Priority Pass membership for both primary and supplementary cardholders. Domestic lounge access through the Mastercard program gives you 4 free visits per calendar quarter, totalling up to 16 per year. International lounges through Priority Pass allow 1 complimentary visit per month, provided you spent at least ₹20,000 on the card in the previous month. Without meeting this spend condition, each visit costs USD 27.Golf privileges set this card apart from most competitors. Cardholders get complimentary access to premier golf courses across India, with the bank estimating the value at around ₹5,000 per session. Insurance coverage is equally strong: air accident cover of ₹1 crore through HDFC ERGO, medical travel insurance of USD 25,000, and additional protection for baggage delay, loss of baggage, hijacking, and flight delays.Both joining and annual fees are ₹5,000 each with no publicly stated waiver condition. Overseas transactions carry a 2% forex markup, well below the industry standard of 3.5%. The 360 Degree Rewards program lets you redeem points through an online catalogue. Eligibility requires applicants to be between 21 and 65 years old with a stable monthly income, and the card is available in Standard Chartered's sourcing cities across India.