# ICICI Bank Announces Major Credit Card Changes Effective 2026

> ICICI Bank has announced a series of significant updates across its retail credit card portfolio, effective January 15, 2026 and February 1, 2026 . These changes impact reward point eligibility, spend...

- Source: https://www.creditkeeda.com/news/icici-bank-announces-major-credit-card-changes-effective-2026
- Publisher: Creditkeeda
- Section: News
- Author: Creditkeeda
- Published: 2025-12-14
- Last updated: 2025-12-14
- Tags: credit-cards, icici, rewards

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ICICI Bank has announced a series of significant updates across its retail credit card portfolio, effective **January 15, 2026** and **February 1, 2026**. These changes impact **reward point eligibility, spend caps, fees, and popular benefits such as BookMyShow**.

Below is a clear breakdown of what is changing and what it means for cardholders.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dyougagen/image/upload/v1765681406/creditkeeda-uploads/1765681406349-da7775149838493.62eeaf262b9b2.jpg.jpg)

### Reward Points: Tighter Eligibility and Monthly Caps

From **January 15, 2026**, ICICI Bank will continue offering **6 Reward Points per ₹200** on eligible retail spends for select premium cards, including the **Emeralde Metal Credit Card**. However, reward exclusions are being expanded.

**Key Exclusions**

Reward Points will **not** be earned on:

- Government services
- Fuel purchases
- Rent and property management payments
- Tax payments
- Third-party wallet transactions

**Transportation Spend Capping (Effective Feb 1, 2026)**

- **Emeralde Metal Credit Card:** Rewards applicable only up to **₹20,000 per month**
- **Rubyx, Sapphiro, Emeralde and Private variants:** Rewards capped at **₹10,000 per month**
- Actual reward points earned will depend on the merchant category code (MCC)

**Insurance Spend Capping**

- Reward Points on insurance spends will be limited to **₹40,000**
- Applicable across Coral, Platinum, HPCL, and other mid-range ICICI cards

Frequent users who rely on **transportation, insurance, or utility-heavy spending** will see reduced reward accrual beyond the defined limits. ICICI’s reward structure is now more aligned toward discretionary retail spending rather than essential or high-volume categories.

### BookMyShow Benefits Move to Spend-Based Model

ICICI Bank is transitioning away from unconditional entertainment benefits.

- Complimentary BookMyShow tickets are **discontinued** on Instant Platinum cards from **Feb 1, 2026**
- For most ICICI credit cards, BookMyShow benefits will now require:
- **₹25,000 spent in the previous quarter**
- Eligibility resets every quarter.

Occasional users may lose access to BookMyShow offers if they do not meet the quarterly spend thresholds. The benefit now effectively acts as a **loyalty reward**, not a default perk.

### New Transaction Fees Introduced

ICICI Bank is introducing category-based fees across all retail credit cards.

**Gaming and Skill-Based Platforms**

- **2% fee** on platforms such as Dream11, MPL, Junglee Games, and similar apps

**Wallet Loading Charges**

- **1% fee** on wallet loads of **₹5,000 or more**
- Applies to Amazon Pay, Paytm, MobiKwik, Freecharge, and Ola Money

**High Transportation Spends**

- **1% fee** on transportation expenses exceeding **₹50,000**

Using credit cards as intermediaries for **wallet loading or gaming transactions** becomes significantly less attractive. These fees discourage non-retail and pass-through spending.

### Add-On Card Fee Introduced

Effective **January 15, 2026**:

- A **one-time fee of ₹3,500** will apply for each add-on card.
- Applicable only to **Emerald Metal Credit Cards**
- Applies to add-ons issued on or after the effective date

This increases the cost of maintaining multiple cards within a household on premium ICICI products.

### Revision in Forex and Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Charges

ICICI Bank has revised DCC charges across cards:

- **Amazon Pay ICICI:** 1.99%
- **Emeralde / Private variants:** 2.00%
- **Other ICICI cards:** Up to 3.50%

International spends converted at the point of sale may attract higher charges, especially on mid-tier cards. Cardholders should actively opt out of DCC when possible.

### EMI Foreclosure Charges Introduced

- Cancelling or discontinuing ongoing EMIs will now attract **foreclosure charges.**
- Applies across **all ICICI retail credit cards**

Flexibility to exit EMIs mid-cycle is reduced, making EMI conversions a more committed decision.

### Key Takeaways

- Rewards are increasingly **capped and category-restricted**
- Lifestyle benefits like BookMyShow are now **spend-linked**
- Wallet loading and gaming transactions face **additional costs.**
- Premium card ownership becomes **more expensive to maintain**

These changes signal a broader industry trend toward **controlled reward distribution and reduced arbitrage opportunities**. Cardholders are advised to review these changes carefully in the context of their spending patterns ahead of 2026.

**Source:**

ICICI Bank – *Updated Credit Card Charges & Policy Notice*

Official notice issued by ICICI Bank detailing changes effective January–February 2026.

Read the full notice here:

[https://www.icici.bank.in/content/dam/icicibank/india/managed-assets/revamp-page-images/docs/pdf/credit-card-charges-updated-notice.pdf](https://www.icici.bank.in/content/dam/icicibank/india/managed-assets/revamp-page-images/docs/pdf/credit-card-charges-updated-notice.pdf)