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SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card Review
- 10× rewards (10 RP per ₹150 = 6.6% headline) on dining, groceries, movies, departmental stores
- 1 RP per ₹150 on other retail (0.16% effective at ₹0.25/point)
- Welcome 2,000 RP on spending ₹2K within 60 days
- Fee waived at just ₹1L annual spend
- Low ₹499 fee, accessible eligibility
- Reward points valid 2 years (standard SBI)
- Reward point value low (1 RP = ₹0.25) — 6.6% headline becomes 1.65% effective on accelerated categories
- Base earn on non-accelerator is very weak (0.16% effective)
- No lounge access
- 3.5% forex markup
- Overlap with SimplyCLICK — heavy online shoppers should pick SimplyCLICK instead
Fees & charges
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹499 + GST |
| Renewal fee | ₹499 + GST — waived on ₹1L annual spend |
| Finance charge | 3.5% p.m. |
| Cash advance | 2.5% (min ₹500) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| Late payment | Up to ₹1,300 |
Eligibility & documents
Age
21+ years; typical upper limit 60-65
Income
Stable monthly income. SBI Card doesn’t publish strict threshold for SimplySAVE; typical target salaried ₹20K+/month
Employment
Salaried or self-employed; Indian resident
Recommended CIBIL
720+
Typical credit limit
₹25,000 – ₹1.5 lakh at issuance
Documents
PAN, Aadhaar, salary slip + bank statement OR ITR, address proof
Rewards structure
10× accelerator categories:
- Dining / restaurants
- Groceries
- Movies
- Departmental stores
Earn 10 RP per ₹150 spent in these categories (6.6% headline, 1.65% effective at ₹0.25/point catalogue redemption).
Other spends: 1 RP per ₹150 (0.66% headline, 0.16% effective — very low).
Fuel: Excluded from reward earning (surcharge waiver applies).
Redemption: 4 RP = ₹1 statement credit. Not directly transferable to airline miles.
Reward point expiry: 24 months from earn date.
Welcome benefits & milestones
Welcome benefit: 2,000 reward points (₹500 value) on spending ₹2,000 within 60 days of card issuance.
Fee waiver: Spend ₹1 lakh in anniversary year → next year’s ₹499 fee waived.
No additional milestone bonuses. Value comes from the base 10× earn + welcome + fee waiver.
Key benefits
- 10× rewards on 4 offline categories (dining/groceries/movies/dept stores)
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹500-₹3,000 transactions, cap ₹100/month)
- EMI conversion on transactions ₹2,500+
- Free add-on cards for family
- 24×7 SBI Card customer service
- Interest-free credit up to 50 days
Usage terms & fine print
Lounge access
No complimentary lounge access at this tier.
Fuel surcharge waiver
1% fuel surcharge waiver on ₹500-₹3,000 transactions, cap ₹100 per statement cycle.
Interest-free period
Interest-free credit up to 50 days. Minimum payment 5% or ₹200.
EMI conversion
EMI on transactions ₹2,500+. Tenures 3-24 months. Interest 0.99-1.5% p.m.
Digital wallets & UPI
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay supported. Visa or Mastercard variants. A RuPay-UPI variant also exists — check at application for UPI-linking needs.
Insurance cover
Lost card liability cover, basic purchase protection
Compared with alternatives
SBI SimplyCLICK (₹499) →
Same fee, online-focused (10× on BookMyShow/Cleartrip/Myntra etc.). Pick SimplyCLICK if online-heavy; SimplySAVE for offline.
SBI Cashback (₹999) →
2× the fee but 5% on ALL online (no merchant restriction). Better for heavy online shoppers.
HDFC Swiggy (₹500) →
Same fee. 10% Swiggy + 5% on 9 categories. More modern partner mix.
HDFC MoneyBack+ (₹500) →
Same fee. 10× on Amazon/Flipkart/BigBasket/Reliance/Swiggy. Different brands — pick by your spending pattern.
Who the SBI SimplySAVE is for
Middle-class Indian households spending ₹8-15K/month on groceries, restaurants, movies, department stores. The fee is waivable at ₹1L annual spend (easy to hit), and 10× on these 4 categories earns ₹1,500-2,500/year in rewards. Good starter/secondary card for family use.
Not the right card if: you shop primarily online — SimplyCLICK has the same fee with online accelerator. Also weak base earn makes this a poor choice for spending outside the 4 accelerated categories.
How to apply & how to cancel
Apply: Apply via sbicard.com → Cards → SimplySAVE. Instant eligibility pre-check. Approval 5-7 days.
Cancel: Call SBI Card helpline (1860 180 1290). Clear dues; redeem RP before closure.
Final verdict
SBI SimplySAVE is a no-frills offline rewards card that pairs well with SimplyCLICK (online) or an Amazon Pay ICICI. At ₹499 fee with easy waiver, it’s hard to go wrong as a family daily-spend card. Nothing exceptional but nothing to complain about either.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between SimplySAVE and SimplyCLICK?
SimplyCLICK = 10× on 8 online brands (Cleartrip, Myntra, etc.). SimplySAVE = 10× on 4 offline categories (groceries, dining, movies, dept stores). Pick based on your spending split.
What is the SimplySAVE Advantage variant?
A newer variant of SimplySAVE with slightly revised structure. Check current SBI Card site — benefits largely similar; Advantage adds small enhancements.
Are the rewards capped?
Typical SBI policy has monthly caps on accelerated earn. Confirm current cap at application; historically 5,000 RP per category per month for most SBI mid-tier cards.
Do movies include BookMyShow online?
Yes — BookMyShow, PVR, INOX, Cinepolis online and offline bookings qualify for 10× earn.
How does 4 RP = ₹1 redemption work?
To redeem 1,000 RP for statement credit, you get ₹250. Effective 0.25 per point.
Can I get SimplySAVE on RuPay for UPI?
Yes — RuPay variant exists. Allows card-on-UPI linking for offline merchants accepting UPI.
Can I upgrade SimplySAVE to Prime or Elite?
Yes — SBI allows upgrade within its family based on usage history. Tenure carries over.
Do rewards expire?
Yes — reward points valid 24 months (2 years) from earn date.
Data current as of April 2026. Credit card fees, rewards and benefits are revised periodically by issuers. Always confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.