Deep-Dive Review: ICICI Bank Royal Challengers Bangalore Credit Card

⚠️ Important Notice — Card Discontinued

[!WARNING] This card is DISCONTINUED. The official ICICI Bank product page at https://www.icicibank.com/cards/credit-card/royal-challengers-bangalore-credit-card.page returns 404 as of 3 July 2026. ICICI Bank has stopped sourcing new applications for this RCB co-brand card. Existing cardholders can continue using it for outstanding balances, Reward Points redemption, and EMI conversions.

What this means for you:

• New applications: Not possible — the card cannot be applied for.
• Existing cardholders: Can continue using the card for purchases, EMI conversions, and Reward Points redemption until renewal/expiry.
• Reward Points: Already-accrued points continue to expire 36 months from accrual date.
• Alternative: For an active IPL co-brand, look at the SBI Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings SBI or Delhi Capitals SBI Credit Card. For RCB merchandise, consider shopping directly on the RCB online store.

Community Verdict

[!NOTE] The ICICI Bank Royal Challengers Bangalore Credit Card was an entry-level Lifetime Free co-branded Visa card issued by ICICI Bank in partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore. It was targeted at RCB cricket fans with benefits like RCB merchandise discounts, early-bird booking access for Bengaluru home matches, and 1.5% rewards on online shopping / 1% on travel / 1 ICICI Reward Point per ₹100 offline retail (~0.25% return). Joining and annual fee were both ₹0 (Lifetime Free). The card had no lounge access, no insurance benefits beyond ₹50,000 fraud liability cover, no milestone rewards, no welcome benefit, and a 3.5% forex markup. Discontinued by ICICI Bank — the official product URL returns 404 today.

Pros

• Lifetime Free Card: Joining and annual fee both ₹0 + GST — no recurring cost on the card.
• Strong Online Reward Rate: 1.5% rewards on online shopping spends — better than the standard offline retail rate.
• Travel Reward Rate Decent: 1% flat rewards on travel spends via Reward Points.
• RCB Merchandise / Match Privileges (Legacy): Co-branded discounts on official RCB jerseys, accessories, and early-bird ticket pre-sale access for Bengaluru home matches (legacy benefits; current applicability subject to bank confirmation).
• ₹50,000 Fraud Liability Cover: Sums insured against fraudulent transactions.
• Free Add-on Cards: Nil add-on card fee for family members (legacy record).
• 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver: On transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000 at all fuel pumps.
• 3-Year Point Validity: Reward Points valid for 36 months from accrual — comfortable redemption window.
• Airmile Conversion: 1 RP = 0.25 airmile — useful for occasional flyer redemption.

Cons

• DISCONTINUED — New Applications Not Possible: Official ICICI Bank page returns 404 as of 3 July 2026; sourcing stopped by ICICI Bank.
• No Airport Lounge Access: No domestic or international lounge program on this entry-level card.
• No Welcome Benefit: No joining voucher bundle documented on the legacy card.
• No Milestone Rewards: No annual spend-based milestone bonus — contrast with active ICICI cards (Rubyx, Sapphiro, Emeralde).
• Offline Reward Rate Low: 1 ICICI Reward Point per ₹100 offline retail (~0.25% return) — below mid-premium cards.
• Heavy Reward Exclusions: Fuel, rent (MCC 6513), wallet loads, government payments, and EMI conversions earn zero Reward Points.
• 3.5% Forex Markup: Erodes international reward value — use a 0%-forex card for overseas trips.
• Reward Redemption Fee: Flat ₹99 + GST charged per redemption request via the Reward Points catalogue.
• Cash Advance Interest ~42% p.a.: 3.5% per month on ATM withdrawals — avoid cash advances entirely.
• No Insurance Beyond Fraud Cover: No Air Accident Insurance, no travel insurance, no purchase protection.
• No Concierge: No dedicated 24×7 concierge service on the legacy RCB card.
• Renewal Fees Subject to Bank Confirmation: Even Lifetime Free cards can be revisited in T&Cs — existing cardholders should re-check current most-important terms.

Reward Spends & Categories

The ICICI Bank Royal Challengers Bangalore Credit Card earned ICICI Reward Points (worth ₹0.25/point at catalogue redemption). Note: data is from legacy Finology Select and TechnoFino archived records since the official page returns 404:

Category Spend	Earning Rate / Reward Points
🌐 Online Shopping	1.5% rewards per ₹100 (legacy record)
✈️ Travel Spends	1% flat rewards per ₹100 (legacy record)
🛒 Offline / Retail Spends	1 ICICI Reward Point per ₹100 retail (~0.25% return)
💡 Utility Payments	1 ICICI Reward Point per ₹100 retail (~0.25% return)
🛡️ Insurance Premiums	1 ICICI Reward Point per ₹100 retail (~0.25% return)
🏛️ Government Payments	0% (Excluded)
🏠 Rent Payments (MCC 6513)	0% (1% fee capped at ₹250 + GST)
⛽ Fuel Transactions	0% (1% surcharge waiver ₹400–₹4,000 — no points earned)
💳 Wallet Loads	0% (Excluded)
💳 EMI Conversion (post-conversion)	0% (Excluded)

Reward Point Redemption Value

ICICI Reward Points on the legacy RCB card redeemed via Reward Points catalogue (iMobile app / Net Banking):

• Cash / Statement Credit: 1 RP = ₹0.25 (after ₹99 + GST redemption fee per request)
• Airmiles (Flight Conversion): 1 RP = 0.25 airmile per legacy record
• Cash Vouchers (Brand Catalog): 1 RP = ₹0.25 equivalent value

[!IMPORTANT] Since the card is discontinued, new Reward Points may no longer accrue on existing cards once ICICI migrates the legacy book to a successor product. Existing points already accrued continue to expire 36 months from accrual date.

Annual Milestones & Welcome Benefit

[!IMPORTANT]

• Welcome Benefit: None documented on the legacy RCB card.
• Annual Milestone Rewards: None documented — contrast with active ICICI Rubyx / Sapphiro / Emeralde which have annual spend milestones.
• Annual Fee Waiver: Not applicable — Lifetime Free card.

Airport Lounge & Travel Perks

[!IMPORTANT]

• Domestic Airport Lounges: Not included on the RCB card.
• International Airport Lounges: Not included on the RCB card.
• Railway Lounges: Not included on the RCB card.
• No Spend-Based Lounge Path: Since the lounge program is not part of the legacy RCB card, there is no quarterly spend gate to consider.
• Visa Signature Benefits: As a Visa Signature card, certain international travel benefits (Visa concierge, hotel privileges) may apply subject to bank confirmation.

Insurance Coverage

[!IMPORTANT]

• Fraud Liability Cover: ₹50,000.
• No Air Accident Insurance.
• No Travel / Baggage / Flight Delay Cover.
• No Purchase Protection or Extended Warranty.

Fees & Charges — Snapshot

Fee / Charge	Amount
Joining Fee	Nil (Lifetime Free)
Annual Fee (Year 1)	Nil (Lifetime Free)
Annual Fee (Year 2 onwards)	Nil (Lifetime Free)
Add-on / Plus Card Fee	Nil
Foreign Currency Markup	3.5%
Cash Withdrawal Fee	₹500 (flat)
Cash Advance Interest	3.5% per month (~42% p.a.)
Reward Redemption Fee	₹99 + GST per request
Fuel Surcharge	1% (waived ₹400–₹4,000)
Card Replacement Fee	₹100
Duplicate PIN Fee	Nil
Statement Retrieval Fee	Nil

Who Is This Card For?

Existing cardholders — keep if:

• You hold an inactive legacy RCB card and want to use it for daily UPI-style small spends only
• You can pay outstanding balance in full every month (no carried-over debt)
• You primarily shop online or book travel where the 1.5% / 1% rate is competitive
• You are not eligible for (or don’t want) a current mid-premium card

Skip / upgrade if:

• You want a card you can apply for today — this card is discontinued, migrate to an active ICICI card or another bank’s IPL co-brand
• You want lounge access, milestone rewards, or insurance cover — legacy RCB card has none
• You want lower forex markup — 3.5% is industry standard but HDFC Infinia, Niyo/Scapia offer less
• You want strong offline retail reward rates — Sapphiro / Emeralde offer better utility + insurance earnings

Active alternatives: For an active IPL co-branded card, see SBI Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings SBI, Delhi Capitals SBI, or Lucknow Super Giants SBI Credit Cards. For pure shopping rewards, ICICI Bank Sapphiro or HDFC Regalia Gold are stronger current picks.

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For official terms, interest rates, and applications, refer to the Bank Reference Page.

For monetization on the side, existing cardholders can continue to use the legacy card, but new applications are not possible. To apply for an active ICICI card today via CredSutra, see ICICI Bank Rubyx or Sapphiro. CredSutra earns a referral commission on approved cards at no cost to you.