IDFC First Bank HPCL Power+ Credit Card Review

IDFC First Bank has launched its first co-branded credit cards in partnership with HPCL. We have two fuel credit card variants – Power and Power+. Both are on the Rupay Select platform and are decent fuel credit cards with savings on fuel spends. Here is a review of the upper variant IDFC First Bank HPCL Power+ credit card.

Overview

Fees and Charges

It seems like IDFC First Bank has realized that there are drawbacks of offering LTF credit cards. While Wealth variant is still LTF, it has set an annual fee against the new Power and Power Plus fuel credit cards.

There are a few other welcome benefits that can be availed within 30 days of card setup:

• 5% cashback up to Rs 1000 on the transaction value of 1st EMI conversion
• ₹150 Discount on order above ₹500 on Swiggy
• ₹500 Discount on ZoomCar rentals
• Discount up to 50% on Domestic and International Rental Cars with Eco Rent A Car and EuroCard

Rewards

• HPCL Fuel and LPG: 24 RP/Rs 150 ~4% Return on up to Rs 10000 spend every month
• Utilities and Groceries: 30 RP/Rs 150 ~5% Return on up to Rs 2000 spend every month
• IDFC FASTag: 30 RP/Rs 150 ~5% Return on up to Rs 1000 spend every month
• All Other Spends: 3 RP/Rs 150 ~0.5% Return
• Non HPCL Fuel, Insurance, EMI Transactions: No Rewards
• Extra 1.5% cashback (as Payback points) on using HP Pay
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver

4% value-back on HPCL fuel and LPG spends of up to Rs 10000 per month is a good return. While the 5% value-back on utilities and groceries is good, the cap is too low and will not be that useful.

HP Pay is a scan-and-pay app through which we can pay for fuel and gas cylinders. This is possible if the fuel pump has an HP Pay QR code. But, there is an extra charge of 1% for using credit cards on HP Pay. So, the 1.5% benefit is not of much use.

Rewards Redemption

Each reward point is equal to 25 paise and can be redeemed as a statement credit. This is one of the best benefits of this card. There is no restriction that we need to redeem the rewards for fuel or vouchers. Statement credit is always better and makes more sense than those options.

But, there is a redemption charge. IDFC First Bank charges Rs 99 + GST for every reward point redemption. So, it is better to accumulate points and then redeem them.

Complimentary Airport Lounge Access

• Complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge access: Once every quarter on minimum monthly spends of Rs 5000
• Check this list for eligible airport lounges

Key Benefits

• Complimentary Roadside Assistance up to 4 times per year
• 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver up to Rs 200 per statement cycle. This will be applicable on fuel transaction value of Rs 200 to Rs 5000.

The complimentary RSA is one of the unique privileges for a card of this segment. It covers many of the RSA services that we get as a paid cover from the vehicle showroom.

Final Thoughts

The IDFC First Bank HPCL Power+ credit card is a great option if your fuel spends are up to Rs 10000 per month. With many cashback cards not offering rewards on fuel, it has become essential to hold a fuel credit card. We finally have a HPCL equivalent of the BPCL SBI Octane credit card to get good savings on fuel transactions.

The second plus point of this card is it is on Rupay. Sooner or later, it will get onboarded to Rupay on UPI and we can use it UPI transactions too.

But, there is a con too. It is not for this card but for IDFC First Bank. IDFC First Bank does not issue two credit cards to one customer. So, if you already have another IDFC First Bank credit card then you cannot get this one.