ICICI Bank Credit Card Changes 2026: New Fees & Reward Caps Explained

ICICI Bank has officially announced ICICI Bank credit card changes effective from 15 January 2026 and 1 February 2026, bringing notable changes to fees, reward caps, and conditional benefits. These revisions impact most retail cardholders across popular cards such as Emeralde, Sapphiro, Rubyx, Coral, Platinum variants, and several co-branded variants. The changes include new fees on gaming/wallet loads and reward caps on transport spends.

For users, this means spending patterns that earlier earned uncapped rewards or free perks may now attract additional charges or lower benefits. Understanding these updates early helps avoid surprise fees and lets you plan card usage more efficiently.

Table of Contents:

1. ICICI Credit Card Changes: Key Effective Dates from Jan-Feb 2026
2. New Fees Introduced on ICICI Credit Cards
3. ICICI Credit Card Reward Structure Changes
4. ICICI Bank Credit Card Entertainment Benefits Changes (BookMyShow Rules)
5. ICICI Bank Credit Card Updates: Affected Cards Comparison
6. Who Will Be Most Impacted by ICICI Bank Credit Card Changes in 2026?
7. What Should ICICI Credit Card Users Do Now?

ICICI Credit Card Changes: Key Effective Dates from Jan-Feb 2026

The ICICI Bank credit card changes are being rolled out in two phases rather than all at once. This staggered approach affects how quickly changes reflect on your statement.

From 15 January 2026

• Most new fees, including wallet loading charges, transport transaction fees, gaming charges, and revised cash payment penalties, come into force.
   
• These apply across nearly all retail ICICI credit cards.

From 1 February 2026

• Reward caps on select categories.
   
• Changes to entertainment benefits like BookMyShow eligibility.
   
• Revised limits on insurance-related rewards.

Corporate credit cards are excluded, but all individual retail cardholders should review the updated terms on ICICI Bank’s official portal.

New Fees Introduced on ICICI Credit Cards

One of the biggest highlights of the ICICI Bank credit card changes is the introduction of new transaction-based fees on categories that previously saw high usage.

• Wallet loading fee: A 1% charge applies when wallet loads exceed ₹5,000 per month on platforms such as Amazon Pay, Paytm, MobiKwik, Freecharge, and OlaMoney. Smaller top-ups remain unaffected.
   
• Transport transaction fee: A 1% fee is levied on transport-related spends (train or bus bookings under specific MCCs) once total monthly spends cross ₹50,000 in this category.
   
• Online gaming fee: All spends on online gaming platforms will now attract a 2% fee, regardless of amount, making reward gaming strategies significantly less attractive.

Additionally, ICICI Bank has increased charges on branch cash payments and introduced stricter foreclosure fees on cancelled Instant EMI transactions, adding to overall cost sensitivity.

ICICI Credit Card Reward Structure Changes

While base retail rewards remain unchanged, category-specific caps are now a key part of the ICICI Bank credit card updates.

1. Base rewards: Retail spends continue to earn 6 reward points per ₹200, excluding government services, fuel, rent, and similar excluded categories.

2. Transport reward caps: Monthly reward eligibility is capped at:

• ₹20,000 for premium cards like Emeralde, Sapphiro, and Rubyx.
• ₹10,000 for mid-tier cards such as Coral, Platinum variants, Manchester United, CSK, and Expressions.

3. HPCL Super Saver Card: From 1 February 2026, insurance-related reward earnings are capped at ₹40,000 per month, while existing earn rates remain unchanged.

4. Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees revised by tier effective Jan 15 (0.99%-3.5% depending on card).

ICICI Bank Credit Card Entertainment Benefits Changes (BookMyShow Rules)

Entertainment perks, long seen as easy wins for cardholders, are now more tightly linked to spending behaviour under the ICICI Bank credit card changes.

• Spend-based eligibility: To unlock BookMyShow Buy-One-Get-One offers, cardholders must now spend ₹25,000 in the previous calendar quarter.
   
• Instant Platinum impact: Instant Platinum credit cards will lose BookMyShow benefits entirely from February 2026.
   
• Other variants: Cards like Sapphiro, Rubyx, Coral, and co-branded options retain the offer, but only if the quarterly spend condition is met.

This change directly affects light users who rely on occasional entertainment benefits without high spending.

ICICI Bank Credit Card Updates: Affected Cards Comparison

Below is a simplified view of how different card tiers are impacted under the new structure.

Card Tier / Category	Transport Reward Cap (Monthly)	Fee Impacts	Benefit Changes
Premium (Emeralde, Sapphiro, Rubyx)	₹20,000	Wallet 1% (>₹5,000), Gaming 2%, Transport 1% (>₹50,000)	BookMyShow only after ₹25,000 quarterly spend
Mid-Tier (Coral, Platinum variants, Expressions, Manchester United, CSK)	₹10,000	Same as premium	BookMyShow conditional; Instant Platinum loses it
HPCL Super Saver	Not applicable	Standard revised fees	Insurance rewards capped at ₹40,000/month

Who Will Be Most Impacted by ICICI Bank Credit Card Changes in 2026?

The ICICI Bank credit card changes primarily impact users with concentrated spending in specific categories rather than everyday retail users.

• Frequent travellers using cards for high-value train or bus bookings may now see lower effective rewards due to caps and added fees.
   
• Gamers and wallet-heavy users using cards for online gaming or wallet loading face direct cost increases of 1–2%.
   
• Low-spend entertainment users may lose access to BookMyShow offers if quarterly spends do not meet the new threshold.
   
• For routine grocery, utility, and retail usage within limits, the impact remains moderate.

What Should ICICI Credit Card Users Do Now?

These changes signal a clear shift toward controlled rewards and usage-linked perks. Cardholders should:

• Track category-wise spends.
• Avoid unnecessary wallet loading.
• Reassess whether premium cards still justify their annual fees.
• Consider redirecting spends to uncapped categories or alternate cards for better rewards.

Conclusion

The ICICI Bank credit card changes from Jan 2026 introduce stricter fees, defined reward caps, and conditional lifestyle benefits. While everyday retail rewards remain stable, high-value spends in transport, wallets, gaming, and entertainment are now more expensive. Reviewing your card’s updated terms and aligning spending habits accordingly is essential to avoid reduced returns or unexpected charges.

Curious which ICICI cards still align with your spending needs? Explore the top ICICI credit cards with updated features and charges on Finology Select.

FAQs on ICICI Bank Credit Card Updates

1. When do the ICICI Bank credit card changes take effect?
Most fee-related changes start on 15 January 2026, while reward caps and entertainment benefit changes apply from 1 February 2026.

2. Is there a fee on wallet loading using ICICI credit cards?
Yes. A 1% fee applies if wallet loads exceed ₹5,000 per month on third-party apps like Paytm, Amazon Pay, and MobiKwik.

3. Are base reward points reduced under the new ICICI Bank credit card changes?
No. Base retail spends still earn 6 reward points per ₹200, subject to existing exclusions.

4. What is the new BookMyShow eligibility rule?
Cardholders must spend ₹25,000 in the previous calendar quarter to access Buy-One-Get-One offers. Instant Platinum cards lose this benefit entirely.

5. Do these updates affect all ICICI credit cards?
They apply to most retail ICICI credit cards, including Emeralde, Sapphiro, Rubyx, Coral, and Platinum variants (e.g., Manchester United, Expressions). Corporate cards are excluded.

6. Should I change my spending strategy after these updates?
Yes. Monitoring category caps, avoiding high wallet loads, and reassessing premium card value can help maintain better rewards post-update.

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Note: Cardholders are advised to verify card-specific terms in the ICICI Bank app or official MITC page, as limits and exclusions may vary by variant and usage category.

Sources:

• CNBC-TV18 Report
• Moneycontrol
• ICICI Bank Official Page
• Business Today

Details per Dec 2025 announcements; check the ICICI Bank website for latest updates.