ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Detail Review

[ShavirB]

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Review:


Welcome Benefits:

• You get a free Taj Epicure membership for a year, a stay voucher, and EazyDiner Prime membership annually.
• Plus, a nice bonus of 12,500 reward points after you pay the annual fee each year, which is Rs. 12,499 + GST

Main Benefits:

• This card gives you unlimited golf, domestic and international lounge access, which is great for travelers.
• The movie ticket deal from BookMyShow can save you some cash if you're a movie buff.
• They also offer refunds on some ticket bookings and reduced markup fees for currency conversion.

Costs:

• The joining and annual fee is a hefty Rs. 12,499 + taxes.
• You can dodge the annual fee next year if you spend a whopping Rs. 10 lakhs.

Reward Points:

• You get 6 points for every Rs. 200 spent, each point worth a rupee.
• But, you won't rack up points for rent and fuel expenses.
• There's a cap on rewards for groceries, utilities, education, insurance, and tax payments.

Milestone Benefits:

• If you spend a lot, like Rs. 8 lakhs in a year, you get air travel vouchers from EaseMyTrip which could be a nice bonus.

Final Take: This card is a mix of luxury and practical perks, but it's not cheap. It's more suited for high-spenders who can use all the benefits to justify the fees. For average spenders, the fees might outweigh the perks unless you're sure to use every single benefit. If you're not into golf or lounges and just want a straightforward rewards card, you might want to shop around.

 

[prxnshh]

when i last checked, this card doesn't offer lounge access at the domestic terminal of Delhi which is a major thumbs down.

 

[Sudhaker]

how is it compared to HDFC infinia?

 

[ShavirB]

HDFC Infinia anyday because of their Smartbuy feature. If you know how to use Smartbuy you can get upto 15-16% cashback for certain transactions.

 

[Sudhaker]

Have applied for Infinia a month back, they wanted me to visit the bank and submit a signed application, no online processing...
Post that RM calls and says sign mismatch so card rejected.
She promised to try again, fingers crossed...

 

[Ganesh_Shinde]

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Review:


Welcome Benefits:

• You get a free Taj Epicure membership for a year, a stay voucher, and EazyDiner Prime membership annually.
• Plus, a nice bonus of 12,500 reward points after you pay the annual fee each year, which is Rs. 12,499 + GST

Main Benefits:

• This card gives you unlimited golf, domestic and international lounge access, which is great for travelers.
• The movie ticket deal from BookMyShow can save you some cash if you're a movie buff.
• They also offer refunds on some ticket bookings and reduced markup fees for currency conversion.

Costs:

• The joining and annual fee is a hefty Rs. 12,499 + taxes.
• You can dodge the annual fee next year if you spend a whopping Rs. 10 lakhs.

Reward Points:

• You get 6 points for every Rs. 200 spent, each point worth a rupee.
• But, you won't rack up points for rent and fuel expenses.
• There's a cap on rewards for groceries, utilities, education, insurance, and tax payments.

Milestone Benefits:

• If you spend a lot, like Rs. 8 lakhs in a year, you get air travel vouchers from EaseMyTrip which could be a nice bonus.

Final Take: This card is a mix of luxury and practical perks, but it's not cheap. It's more suited for high-spenders who can use all the benefits to justify the fees. For average spenders, the fees might outweigh the perks unless you're sure to use every single benefit. If you're not into golf or lounges and just want a straightforward rewards card, you might want to shop around.

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Review​

The ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card is a new entrant in the super-premium credit card market in India. Crafted from metal, the card itself exudes exclusivity and offers a range of benefits targeted at high-spending individuals with a taste for luxury. Let's delve into the details to see if this card is a metal match for your wallet.
Pros:

• Reward Rate: Earn 6 Reward Points for every Rs. 200 spent, which translates to a decent 3% cashback rate.
• Welcome Benefits: Get a complimentary Taj Epicure membership for a year, EazyDiner Prime membership, and a bonus of 12,500 reward points.
• Travel & Lifestyle: Enjoy unlimited access to airport lounges, complimentary golf rounds, discounts on dining experiences, and up to Rs. 1,500 off per month on BookMyShow tickets.
• Other Benefits: Low foreign currency markup fee of 1.99%, complimentary travel insurance, purchase protection, and higher credit limits compared to regular cards.

Cons:

• High Joining Fee: The card comes with a hefty joining fee of Rs. 12,499 plus taxes, which can be a deterrent for some.
• Reward Redemption: While redemption options are plenty, you might not get the best value compared to other cards that offer travel miles or direct cashback.
• Eligibility Criteria: ICICI Bank has not publicly disclosed the specific eligibility criteria, but it's likely to be targeted towards individuals with high income and a good credit score.

Who Should Buy This Card?

• This card is ideal for frequent travelers who can maximize the benefits of unlimited airport lounge access, travel insurance, and preferential rates on flight bookings.
• Big spenders who dine out often and enjoy golfing will benefit from the reward points, discounts, and complimentary rounds.
• If you value exclusive experiences and the prestige associated with a metal card, the Emeralde Private Metal might be worth considering.

Tentative Credit Limit:
ICICI Bank doesn't disclose specific credit limits publicly. However, considering the card's super-premium nature, you can expect a significantly higher credit limit compared to regular cards, possibly in the lakhs (hundreds of thousands).
Eligibility Criteria (Tentative):
While the official criteria are not available, expect to have a high income (likely in several lakhs per annum) and an excellent credit score (above 750) to be eligible for this card.
Final Verdict:
The ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card offers a compelling package of benefits for those who spend heavily on travel, dining, and entertainment. However, the high joining fee can be a barrier to entry. Carefully consider your spending habits and weigh the benefits against the cost before applying for this card. Make sure to compare it with other super-premium credit cards in the market to see which one best suits your lifestyle and financial goals.

 

[harsha1]

Can we use the reward points for any kind of payments? Like for each year once we paid 12500 fees, we used to get 12500 reward points , so can we club these reward points as each have value of 1rs, and if we wanted to pay some bills, can we club it with partial payment of medical insurances or LIC insurance or any random utility bills using reward points?

 

[Karunakara]

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Review:


Welcome Benefits:

• You get a free Taj Epicure membership for a year, a stay voucher, and EazyDiner Prime membership annually.
• Plus, a nice bonus of 12,500 reward points after you pay the annual fee each year, which is Rs. 12,499 + GST

Main Benefits:

• This card gives you unlimited golf, domestic and international lounge access, which is great for travelers.
• The movie ticket deal from BookMyShow can save you some cash if you're a movie buff.
• They also offer refunds on some ticket bookings and reduced markup fees for currency conversion.

Costs:

• The joining and annual fee is a hefty Rs. 12,499 + taxes.
• You can dodge the annual fee next year if you spend a whopping Rs. 10 lakhs.

Reward Points:

• You get 6 points for every Rs. 200 spent, each point worth a rupee.
• But, you won't rack up points for rent and fuel expenses.
• There's a cap on rewards for groceries, utilities, education, insurance, and tax payments.

Milestone Benefits:

• If you spend a lot, like Rs. 8 lakhs in a year, you get air travel vouchers from EaseMyTrip which could be a nice bonus.

Final Take: This card is a mix of luxury and practical perks, but it's not cheap. It's more suited for high-spenders who can use all the benefits to justify the fees. For average spenders, the fees might outweigh the perks unless you're sure to use every single benefit. If you're not into golf or lounges and just want a straightforward rewards card, you might want to shop around.

Hi Sir,
I am planning to get ICICI Emerald with the purpose of upgrading it further to Emerald Pvt Metal. Will it be easy to get such upgradation?