Best SBI Credit Card for Salaried Employees

Think of a credit card as your financial buddy— always there to convert your regular and premium spending into exciting benefits and rewards. But this depends on how wisely you use it. 

Every card serves a different purpose and is suited to different classes of people. Let's consider salaried employees, for example. Which card is best for them? Which card can best suit them and provide more offers? Well, one has many options depending on the bank one prefers. 

But when it comes to getting a credit card, it's very important to get it issued from a trusted bank. And you would agree that SBI is a well-known and probably the most popular name, right?

• In just 10 months of its inception in 1998, SBI Card achieved a notable milestone of 1 lakh credit card customers.
• By 2002, it entered the elite '1 Million Card Club,' and by 2005, it had doubled its reach, serving a base of 20 lakh cardholders.

As of November 2024, with more than 2 crore credit cards in circulation, SBI proudly ranks as India’s second-largest credit card issuer.

It is India’s trusted banking giant, offering a treasure box of credit cards perfect for salaried employees.

Let’s discover the best SBI credit cards for our monthly payroll buddies and how you can pick the best one to match your lifestyle.

Table of Contents:

• Importance of Credit Cards for Salaried Employees
• Why Are SBI Credit Cards Popular Among Salaried Employees?
• Best SBI Credit Cards for Salaried Employees
  • Cashback SBI Card
  • SBI Card Elite 
  • BPCL SBI Card Octane
  • SBI Card Prime

Importance of Credit Cards for Salaried Employees

Imagine getting rewarded for the groceries you buy, the fuel you fill, or even the movies you watch. Sounds exciting, right? 

Or, perhaps, if it’s the middle of the month, and your budget feels tighter than your jeans after having a multi-cuisine dinner at a wedding reception. A credit card can be your lifesaver to ease your pending monthly expenses.

Here’s how a credit card can be your “payment-covering” buddy:

• Rewards on daily expenses: Turn your everyday spending, from your morning coffee to evening snacks, into reward points for your next purchase
• Expense management: Keep track of where your hard-earned money goes, whether it’s fuel, online shopping, trying a new cafe’s menu, or watching back-to-back series on Netflix
• Emergency backup: Unexpected medical bills? Credit cards can be your instant financial cushion.

But with so many options out there, why should salaried employees consider SBI credit cards?

Why Are SBI Credit Cards Popular Among Salaried Employees?

SBI isn’t just any bank; it’s the largest banking and financial services organisation in India with an asset base of over ₹61 lakh crore and a legacy of 200+ years.

So, you can expect a variety of rewards and benefits from the credit cards it issues. 

• From shopaholics to travellers, there’s an SBI card for every person. Ex. SBI card Elite and SBI card Prime credit cards
• Whether you’re spending on fuel or groceries, cashback and rewards can follow you everywhere with its Cashback SBI and BPCL SBI card Octane credit cards.

With SBI credit cards catering to different income levels, there’s no need to stretch beyond your financial comfort zone.

Let’s check out all the above mentioned SBI credit cards in detail and find out which one is the best match for salaried employees.

Best SBI Credit Cards for Salaried Employees

From cashback on everyday purchases to getting unique travel perks, you can maximise your salary’s potential with the below SBI credit cards:

1. Cashback SBI Card

Ever wished to get paid for shopping online or at retail stores? With the Cashback SBI card, you’ll be earning rewards for all online purchases.

Cashback SBI card benefits:

• 5% cashback on online transactions (no restriction on merchant categories)
• 1% cashback on offline spending
• Cashback is not applicable on utility, insurance, fuel, rent, wallet, school & educational services, jewellery, railways, etc.
• Cashback auto-credited to the SBI Card account within 2 working days post next statement generation
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps in India on transactions worth ₹500 to ₹3,000 (max. ₹100 per statement cycle)

What you’ll have to spend for these benefits:

Description	Charges
Joining Fee	₹999
Annual Fee	₹999 (reversed on annual spending ₹2 lakh)

Learn more about the SBI Cashback Credit Card here.

2. SBI Card Elite

Think of this card as your VIP pass to experience luxury. Whether it’s a blockbuster movie or a first-class airport lounge, you’re always covered for rewards with this. 

SBI Card Elite benefits:

• ₹5,000 e-gift vouchers (Yatra, Hush Puppies/Bata, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion and Shoppers Stop)
• ₹6,000 free movie tickets annually (max. discount ₹250/ticket for 2 tickets per booking/month)
• Up to 50,000 bonus reward points (₹12,500/year)
• 10,000 bonus reward points on ₹3 to ₹4 lakh annual spend
• 15,000 bonus reward points on ₹5 to ₹8 lakh annual spend
• 5X reward points on dining, department stores and groceries
• 2 reward points per ₹100 on all other spends (except fuel)
• 4 reward points = ₹1
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps (max. ₹250/statement cycle)
• 6 international airport lounge visits/year (max. 2 per quarter)
• 2 domestic airport lounge visits/quarter
• 1.99% lowest foreign currency mark-up charge on international usage
• 2 reward points per ₹100 on international spends

What you’ll have to spend for these benefits:

Description	Charges
Joining Fee	₹4,999
Annual Fee	₹4,999 (reversed on annual spending ₹10 lakh)

Get full details of the SBI Bank Elite Credit Card to improve your lifestyle.

3. BPCL SBI Octane Credit Card

With this card, your everyday city ride or long drive can feel like a reward. It’s like having a magic spell that turns your fuel bills into savings.

BPCL SBI Card Octane benefits:

• 6,000 bonus reward points (equivalent to ₹1,500) on annual fee payment
• 7.25% value back (~25X points) on fuel purchases at BPCL petrol pumps, up to 2,500 points per billing cycle
• 6.25% + 1% fuel surcharge waiver on every BPCL transaction up to ₹4,000 (max. waiver ₹100 per statement cycle)
• 25 reward points per ₹100 spent on BPCL Fuel, Lubricants & Bharat Gas (website/app only)
• 10 reward points per ₹100 spent on dining, departmental stores, groceries & movies (up to 7,500 points/month)
• 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on other retail purchases (excluding mobile wallets and non-BPCL fuel)
• 25 points per ₹100 on Bharat Gas (website/app only), capped at 500 points per cycle
• 4 reward points = ₹1
• 4 visits per year to domestic VISA lounges (max. 1 per quarter)
• ₹2,000 e-gift vouchers from Aditya Birla Fashion, Yatra, or Bata/Hush Puppies on annual spends of ₹3 lakh

What you’ll have to spend for these benefits:

Description	Charges
Joining Fee	₹1,499
Annual Fee	₹1,499 (reversed on annual spending ₹2 lakh)

Explore the complete benefits of the BPCL SBI Card Octane for fuel savings.

4. SBI Card Prime

This card can feel like having a personal financial companion who makes sure every rupee you spend on travel and other categories is rewarded, giving you exclusive benefits in return.

SBI Card Prime benefits:

• ₹3,000 e-gift vouchers from Bata/Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, or Yatra.com
• 10 reward points per ₹100 on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and movies
• 2 reward points per ₹100 on all other retail spends (except fuel)
• 4 reward points = ₹1
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions ₹500 to ₹4,000 across all petrol pumps (max. ₹250 per statement cycle)
• ₹1,000 Pizza Hut e-voucher on spending ₹50,000 in a quarter
• ₹7,000 e-gift vouchers from Yatra.com/Pantaloons on annual spends of ₹5 lakh 
• 4 international lounge visits per year (max. 2 per quarter) 
• 8 domestic lounge visits per year (max. 2 per quarter)
• 20 reward points per ₹100 spent on your birthday (capped at 2,000 points per year)

What you’ll have to spend for these benefits:

Description	Charges
Joining Fee	₹2,999
Annual Fee	₹2,999 (reversed on annual spending ₹3 lakh)

Find more details about the SBI Bank Prime Credit Card here!

Conclusion

What have we learned so far? When it comes to choosing the right credit card, it can feel like every card on the market is offering something unique. But before you get carried away by these tempting offers, it’s important to remember that a credit card comes with responsibilities. 

Be prepared, and then go for it!

For salaried employees, whether you’re saving on fuel, earning cashback on groceries, or enjoying luxurious perks, SBI credit cards ensure your hard-earned money works harder for you.

However, it's essential to understand the terms, fees, and how each card fits your spending habits before making a decision.

Now the question is, how do you choose the best card for your needs? That's where Finology Select comes in. Compare multiple credit card options with their detailed analysis and pick the suitable partner in the card to save more as you spend.

FAQs

1. Which SBI credit card is best for a salaried person?

If you’re looking for a versatile option, the SBI card Prime can be a great choice that checks all the boxes. It offers rewards on dining, groceries, and travel, along with benefits like fuel surcharge waiver and access to international as well as domestic lounges.

2. Which credit card is best for a salaried employee?

The answer depends on your lifestyle. For frequent online shoppers, the Cashback SBI card is a potential winner, while commuters can save big with the BPCL SBI card Octane.

3. Which SBI credit card has the highest limit?

The SBI card Elite generally offers the highest credit limit among the above-covered SBI credit cards. Although the exact amount depends on your income and creditworthiness.

4. Which credit card is best for a ₹35,000 salary?

Any of these 4 cards can be the best for you in their own respective way. It simply depends on your spending habits. If your spending is mostly not very high in a year, the Cashback SBI card or BPCL SBI card Octane fits this salary bracket, combining value and affordability.