BOB Eterna Credit Card Detailed Review

Growing up in a small town where credit cards were viewed with deep suspicion, I never imagined I'd one day be evaluating premium cards for their international payment capabilities.

Back then, my elders would warn me about the "credit trap" every time I mentioned wanting a card for international payments. Today, I have a few cards and friends keep calling me for card advice.

Last month, a cousin called me for advice. He's starting a consulting business and needed a premium card for client payments and travel.

The BOB Eterna kept coming up in my research. After eight years of responsible credit card use and never missing a single payment, I've learned to spot both the marketing hype and the real-world practicalities that actually matter.

I'll give you the complete picture of whether BOB Eterna deserves a spot in your wallet, based on real user experiences, community feedback about BOB Eterna from Reddit, and my own analysis of the numbers that actually matter.

No sugar-coating, no jargon, just the kind of advice I'd give my own family.

Who Is BOB Eterna Actually For?

Most premium card reviews dance around the fundamental question: who should even consider this card?

I've noticed this pattern after helping several friends evaluate their options. Everyone wants to talk about rewards and benefits, but nobody wants to address the elephant in the room: income requirements and spending patterns.

BOB Eterna demands a minimum annual income of ₹12 lakh. That's not just a number on an application form. It translates to roughly ₹1 lakh monthly income, and banks verify this seriously.

More importantly, you need to spend ₹2.5 lakh annually to waive the renewal fee. That's ₹20,833 per month on your credit card.

Let me put this in perspective.

When I got my first card years ago, it was purely functional: I needed to pay for international software subscriptions. I wasn't chasing status or rewards. I needed a tool that worked reliably for specific payments. That's the mindset you should have with BOB Eterna.

Red Flags for Applicants

• If you're chasing your first premium card primarily for status
• If your monthly card spending is consistently under ₹15,000
• If you already have established relationships with other premium cards that work well
• If you can't comfortably hit spending thresholds without forcing unnecessary purchases

Green Flags for Applicants

• Regular international business payments (that 2% forex markup actually helps)
• Frequent domestic travel with consistent lounge usage
• High online spending across dining, travel, and international categories
• Small business owners with predictable monthly card expenses

This card works best for people who naturally spend ₹20,000+ monthly on cards anyway. If you're forcing that spending level just to justify the card, you're approaching it wrong.

The Real Costs: Beyond the ₹2,499 Fee for BOB Eterna

I have a simple rule about credit card fees: never pay them unless the math clearly works in your favor. Too many people focus on the headline annual fee without calculating the real cost of ownership. With BOB Eterna, the fee structure tells an interesting story about who this card actually serves.

The joining fee waiver requires ₹25,000 spend in 60 days. That's ₹416 per day or roughly ₹12,500 per month for two months. Doable for most people considering a premium card. The renewal fee waiver needs ₹2.5 lakh annually, which breaks down to ₹20,833 monthly.

Last I checked, BOB Eterna is running a LTF offer which has been extended till March 2026. So, you can apply for it without paying the fee, which increases its value massively.

Hidden Costs I Watch For

• Fuel surcharge waiver is only 1% capped at ₹250 per statement cycle (not generous)
• No reward points earned on fuel transactions (unlike some competitors)
• Foreign transaction fees still 2% (better than 3.5% standard but not zero)
• Lounge access requires ₹40,000 quarterly spend (₹13,333 monthly)

When I helped my cousin calculate his actual spending, the fee waiver seemed achievable initially. His consulting business generates around ₹25,000 monthly in card expenses.

But when we looked deeper, most of that spending was on categories that don't earn accelerated rewards. The math didn't justify switching from his existing ICICI Amazon card setup.

Community feedback on Reddit consistently mentions reward crediting delays. One user wrote, "Proceed with caution. This card is good as LTF but Eterna very rarely provided LTF." Another mentioned waiting 2-3 statement cycles for bonus points to appear. When you're counting on rewards for redemptions, timing matters.

My recommendation: only consider this card if you can comfortably hit spend thresholds without forcing purchases. The moment you start buying gift cards or making unnecessary transactions to meet requirements, you've already lost money regardless of the rewards earned.

BOB Eterna Rewards Program: The Good, Bad, and Confusing

I learned early in my credit card journey that simple beats complex every time. My first points-heavy card had such a complicated redemption structure that I ended up with thousands of unused points that eventually expired. That experience taught me to value straightforward reward systems over impressive-sounding multipliers.

BOB Eterna's reward structure looks attractive on paper: 15X points on dining, travel, and international spends, plus 3X on everything else. But there's a monthly cap of 5,000 points on accelerated categories, which limits your earning potential to ₹33,333 in bonus category spending per month.

Real-World Math Example

• Monthly dining spend ₹8,000 = 1,200 points (15X)
• Travel booking ₹15,000 = 2,250 points (15X)
• Other spends ₹10,000 = 300 points (3X)
• Total: 3,750 points (worth roughly ₹750-900 depending on redemption)

The community complaints I've verified through multiple Reddit discussions center around execution rather than structure. Users report inconsistent bonus point allocation and points crediting delays.

Also Read: BOB Eterna Card Review Based on Real Usage

When I compared this to my Amazon ICICI card, the simplicity factor heavily favors Amazon's straightforward cashback system. I know exactly what I'll earn and when it will appear. With BOB Eterna, there's an element of uncertainty that makes financial planning more difficult.

The redemption options feel limited compared to established programs like HDFC Rewards or ICICI Payout. BOB Card's reward ecosystem is still developing, which means early adopters are essentially beta testing the program while paying premium fees.

What works: high multipliers on relevant categories and a reasonable base rate. What doesn't: caps, complexity, and reliability issues based on consistent user feedback. My verdict: good on paper, but execution concerns make it risky for anyone who depends on predictable reward earnings.

Lounge Access: Is It Really "Unlimited"?

I've learned that "unlimited" lounge access often comes with catches that make it practically limited.

BOB Eterna promises unlimited domestic access to 60+ lounges, but requires ₹40,000 quarterly spend. That's ₹13,333 monthly spending just to maintain lounge privileges.

From my travel experience across India, most domestic lounges are overcrowded during peak hours. And after the recent confusions, "Unlimited" access doesn't help when you've to stand in a line just to get in. I've seen this happen repeatedly at Delhi and Mumbai airports during rush hours.

And... the bigger concern is the missing international lounge access.

For a premium card targeting high-income professionals, this feels like a significant gap. Priority Pass cards offer global access, and some competitors provide international lounge benefits without spend requirements.

My recommendation: don't choose this card primarily for lounge access. If you're traveling domestically six or more times per year and can maintain the spend threshold naturally, treat lounge access as a nice bonus rather than a primary benefit.

International Usage: The Forex Story

International spending is where BOB Eterna shows some genuine value. With regular software subscriptions and occasional international transactions, I pay close attention to forex markup rates. Every percentage point matters when you're processing significant international payments.

BOB Eterna's 2% forex markup sits in the middle ground. Better than the standard 3.5% that most cards charge, but not as competitive as premium cards offering 1% or zero markup. For context, here's what a $1,000 transaction costs:

Real Cost Comparison

• • $1,000 transaction ≈ ₹83,000 (let's not get into what dollar rate is today :D )
• • Standard card (3.5%): ₹2,905 in fees
• • BOB Eterna (2%): ₹1,660 in fees
• • Savings: ₹1,245 per $1,000 transaction

For occasional international users, this represents decent value. But if you're processing heavy international volumes, dedicated forex cards or zero-markup premium cards make more financial sense.

The 15X rewards on international spends partially offset the markup, but only if the points credit reliably and redeem at good value.

Community perspective aligns with my analysis: users appreciate the lower markup compared to their other cards but wish it was more competitive with top-tier offerings. For my use case of monthly software payments, the savings are meaningful but not game-changing.

Customer Service Reality Check

Premium cards should offer premium service. Period. This is non-negotiable when you're paying annual fees and maintaining high spending requirements.

Unfortunately, BOB Card's customer service receives mixed reviews from the community, and this concerns me significantly.

Users report inconsistent response times and difficulty reaching specialized support for premium card issues. The email support (eterna@bobfinancial.com) gets better reviews than phone support, but that's hardly a ringing endorsement for a premium product.

My concern stems from BOB Card being relatively new to the premium segment. Service infrastructure takes time to develop, and early customers often bear the cost of that learning curve. Established players like HDFC and ICICI have mature service networks built over decades.

Red Flag Indicators

• Multiple users mention reward crediting issues requiring follow-ups
• Inconsistent information from different customer service representatives
• Limited specialized support for premium card features
• Longer resolution times compared to established premium card issuers

If you value hassle-free service and immediate issue resolution, this might not be your best choice yet. I always advise people to consider their tolerance for service hiccups when evaluating newer premium products.

The Competition Analysis

I believe in honest comparisons. Here are the cards I'd actually consider against BOB Eterna, based on similar positioning and target audience:

Direct Competitors

• SBI Prime: Similar positioning with better service track record
• Axis Atlas: Superior travel benefits and international lounge access
• Amex Platinum Travel: If eligible, offers premium travel ecosystem

Where BOB Eterna wins: competitive reward rates on key categories, lower forex markup than many competitors, and a decent welcome bonus structure. The 15X multiplier on dining and travel can generate significant value for the right spending patterns.

Where it loses: brand trust and service reliability, limited international lounge access, and a newer reward program with apparent teething issues. The community feedback consistently highlights execution problems that established competitors have already solved.

My Recommendation

1. If you want travel benefits: Axis Atlas for comprehensive travel ecosystem
2. If you want established service: SBI Prime for reliability
3. If you want to try something new: BOB Eterna for early adopter benefits

This feels like a card trying to compete with established players but not quite there yet. The fundamentals are sound, but the execution needs refinement. Give it 12-18 months to mature, and it might become genuinely competitive.

BOB Eterna: Eligibility & Experience

I never recommend applying for any credit card unless you're confident about approval. Unnecessary hard inquiries hurt your credit score, and rejection can impact future applications.

BOB Eterna has specific requirements that they enforce strictly.

Strict Requirements

• ₹12 lakh annual income (strictly verified according to community feedback)
• Age range: 21-60 years
• Good credit score (750+ recommended based on approval patterns)
• Indian residency with proper documentation

Community reports suggest a smooth online application process with video KYC. BOB seems more flexible with income documentation compared to some premium card issuers, accepting a wider range of income proof documents.

Timeline expectations based on community reports: 7-14 days for approval and delivery. Some users report faster processing, but plan for two weeks to be safe.

Lifetime free (LTF) possibility is very rare according to multiple Reddit discussions. One user specifically warned, "Proceed with caution. This card is good as LTF but Eterna very rarely provided LTF." Don't count on getting this card without fees.

Last I checked, it's LTF offer is extended till March 2026. So, you can apply for it without paying the fee.

Also Read: BOB Eterna LTF Offer

My Final Verdict: Should You Apply?

After analyzing the features, community feedback, and comparing it against alternatives, BOB Eterna feels like a decent card looking for its place in a crowded market. It has the right ingredients but needs better execution to compete with established players.

Apply If You

• Can comfortably meet all spending thresholds without forcing purchases
• Value the specific reward categories (dining, travel, international)
• Don't mind being an early adopter with potential service hiccups
• Have regular international spending needs
• Want to diversify your card portfolio with a newer option

Skip If You

• Want established, reliable customer service
• Prefer simple, predictable reward structures
• Already have a premium card that meets your needs well
• Can't consistently hit the spend requirements
• • Need international lounge access for business travel

My personal prediction: this card will either significantly improve its service game over the next year or struggle to compete long-term. The fundamentals are there, but execution matters more than features in the premium card segment.

My recommendation: Apply if you have the need as its available on LTF offer, which significantly increases the value. Or wait 6-12 months for the service issues to stabilize and the reward program to mature, or choose a more established alternative that already delivers consistent value.

Remember, credit cards are tools, not status symbols. Choose based on your actual spending patterns, service expectations, and financial goals, not marketing promises or social media hype. The best credit card is the one that works reliably for your specific needs.

Key Takeaways

• High reward rates but with execution challenges reported by users
• Good for international spends, average for domestic benefits
• Service reliability concerns based on consistent community feedback
• Better established alternatives available for most users

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BOB Eterna available as lifetime free?

Yes. They've extended the LTF offer on this one till March 2026.

How long do reward points take to credit?

Community reports indicate inconsistent crediting timelines, with some users experiencing delays of 2-3 statement cycles for bonus points. Regular spending points typically credit within one statement cycle, but bonus category points may take longer to appear.

What's the minimum income requirement really enforced?

The ₹12 lakh annual income requirement is strictly enforced according to community feedback. BOB verifies income documentation carefully, though they seem more flexible with the types of income proof accepted compared to some other premium card issuers.

Does the lounge access work at all domestic airports?

BOB Eterna provides access to 60+ domestic lounges, but requires ₹40,000 quarterly spend to maintain the benefit. Users report that access works well when spend requirements are met, though some lounges may have capacity restrictions during peak hours. You can check lounge access availability here

How does customer service compare to other premium cards?

Customer service receives mixed reviews from the community. Email support (eterna@bobfinancial.com) gets better feedback than phone support, but overall service quality lags behind established premium card issuers like HDFC and ICICI.

Is the 2% forex markup competitive?

The 2% forex markup is better than standard cards (3.5%) but not as competitive as some premium cards offering 1% or zero markup. For occasional international users, it provides decent value, but heavy international spenders might find better options elsewhere.