Canara Bank Credit Cards in India: Full Catalogue, Best Picks, News and Deals (2026)

Canara Bank runs 15 retail credit cards, and every one of them has a zero joining fee and a zero annual fee. Check them all here, including the four secured cards you can get against a fixed deposit, the ones with real lounge access, and the one to pick depending on how you spend.

If you bank with Canara, you've probably wondered if its credit cards are worth the hassle. Well it depends on what you want from it. The rewards are modest, at 0.5% on almost everything. But the cards are free, the lounge access on the top tier is better than most free cards in India.

There's one catch the "free" label hides. Canara charges an inactivity fee of ₹100 to ₹1,000 a year if you don't spend enough on the card. So, the real cost of holding one depends on how much you use it.

This article lists every active Canara Bank credit card, what each one actually gives you, and the spend you need to avoid the inactivity fee.

Who is Canara Bank, and Where Does It Stand with the RBI?

Canara Bank is a public sector bank with its head office in Bengaluru. It was founded on 1 July 1906 in Mangalore by Ammembal Subba Rao Pai as the Canara Hindu Permanent Fund.

The Government of India nationalised Canara Bank on 19 July 1969 and still holds about 63% of it. It's a scheduled commercial bank listed on the NSE and BSE. On 1 April 2020, Syndicate Bank merged into Canara Bank, making it the fourth-largest public sector bank in the country.

As of June 2026, Canara Bank serves over 12 crore customers through 10,131 branches and 11,047 ATMs/Recyclers. Every deposit you hold with the bank carries DICGC insurance of up to ₹5 lakh per depositor, which is separate from anything to do with your credit card.

The card book is small for a bank this big. As of August 2026, Canara had about 13 lakh credit cards in circulation, accounting for just 1.05% of the market among all credit card issuers in India.

Canara issues its cards directly from the bank. It asked the RBI for permission to move the card business into a separate subsidiary, but that was turned down in September 2024.

On card networks, Canara issues on Visa, Mastercard and RuPay. The RuPay cards can be linked to UPI, including through Canara's own ai1 and ai1Pe apps.

Full Canara Bank Credit Card Catalogue

Canara's line-up is simple. It has 11 regular cards across three tiers of benefits, plus four secured cards against fixed deposits. Canara Bank also issues a Visa Corporate card, but only to businesses.

None of the cards charges a joining fee or an annual fee. And they earn the same 2 reward points per ₹100 spent on shop and online transactions. Each point is worth ₹0.25 when you redeem it for cashback on Canara's rewards portal or the ai1 app. That's a 0.5% return across the board.

Entry-level cards

The Classic and Standard cards need an independent income of ₹2 lakh a year and carry a credit limit of up to ₹5 lakh. Spending just ₹1,000 a month keeps the inactivity fee away, making them easy lifetime free credit cards for most people.

The Gold cards need ₹3 lakh a year and go up to a ₹25 lakh limit. Their only real step up is the insurance: ₹8 lakh of air accident cover for you and ₹4 lakh for your spouse, against ₹4 lakh and ₹2 lakh on the Classic cards.

Mid-tier cards

The mid-tier cards are for lounge access, requiring ₹3 lakh a year in income, and go up to a ₹50 lakh limit. Mastercard Platinum is the only one here with a guest visit, which makes it the pick of this tier if you fly with a companion.

Premium cards

The premium cards need an independent income of ₹10 lakh a year. Mastercard World has the best lounge access in Canara's line-up, and it's the only card that covers guests on international visits too. RuPay Select adds ₹10 lakh of RuPay accident cover and 24x7 concierge on top of the standard insurance. Visa Signature's product page doesn't list any international lounge visits.

RuPay Select is also the one card where the rewards go beyond the flat 0.5%. It pays 5% cashback on restaurant bills and on utility bills, capped at ₹50 a month each. This is a network-level offer from NPCI rather than a Canara reward. The dining half depends on the restaurant's merchant category code, which you can check with the Monzy MCC scanner first.

Canara Bank Secured Credit Cards (Against FD)

Canara issues four of its cards against a fixed deposit: Canara RuPay Select Secured. Canara RuPay Platinum Secured, Canara Visa Gold Secured and Canara Mastercard Gold Secured. They work exactly the same like the regular cards, and they have the same fee structure and benefits.

The only difference is the way you qualify. You don't need to show income, because the FD backs the card. Your credit limit is up to 75% of the FD's principal, with a minimum of ₹25,000. Joint deposits held "either or survivor" are accepted.

One good thing is that these FD-backed cards have a lower interest rate at 2% a month (24% a year) against 2.5% a month (30% a year) on the regular ones.

That's still expensive borrowing, so make sure that you clear the bill in full every month.

Our guide to FD-backed credit cards in India compares the available secured cards in India, and our piece on moving from a secured to an unsecured card covers what comes next.

Best Canara Bank Credit Cards to Pick

If you pay for most things through a QR code, go for Canara RuPay Platinum. It can be linked to UPI, so your daily payments can all go on the card. However, reward points are awarded only on card swipes and online spends. The card is free as long as you spend about ₹4,200 a month, and it comes with up to 4 domestic lounge visits a year.

Our list of the best RuPay credit cards in India is a good place to look for a suitable UPI-rewards card.

You eat out most weekends? Canara RuPay Select. It pays 5% back on restaurant bills and on utility bills, up to ₹50 a month for each. If you spend ₹1,000 a month on each, that's ₹1,200 a year back on top of the normal points.

If you fly a few times a year, usually with your partner, check out Canara Mastercard World. It's the only Canara card with guest lounge visits. A couple flying together can use the lounge on two trips every quarter and still have one solo visit left over. You'll need to spend about ₹8,400 a month to avoid the ₹300 inactivity fee.

You want a card only for emergency needs: Canara RuPay Classic or Visa Classic. They have the lowest spend needed to avoid the inactivity fee. At ₹12,000 a year, it’s just ₹1,000 a month (even if you miss that, the fee is only ₹100).

Recent Canara Bank Credit Card News and Launches

Canara's card base has grown steadily, from about 9 lakh cards in June 2024 to around 13 lakh by August 2026. In September 2024, the RBI rejected Canara's plan to move its card business into a separate subsidiary, citing concerns about the growth of unsecured lending in banking. The cards stay with the bank itself as a result.

In December 2025, Canara launched Canara ai1Pe, a standalone UPI app built with NPCI BHIM Services. Its cards haven’t been devalued as much as many other Indian cards devalued in 2026. With a flat 0.5% reward rate and no annual fees, Canara's cards don't have much left to cut anyway.

FAQs about Canara Bank credit cards

Are Canara Bank credit cards free?

Yes. All 15 retail Canara cards have no joining fee and no annual fee. But each one carries an inactivity fee if your yearly spend falls short: ₹100 below ₹12,000 on Classic cards, ₹150 below ₹25,000 on Gold, ₹200 below ₹50,000 on Platinum, ₹300 below ₹1 lakh on RuPay Select and Mastercard World, and ₹1,000 below ₹2 lakh on Visa Signature.

Which Canara Bank credit card has the best lounge access?

Canara Mastercard World has the best lounge access. It gives 3 domestic lounge visits a quarter for you plus 2 for guests, and 2 international visits a year for you plus 2 for guests. RuPay Select card gives 2 domestic visits a quarter and 2 international visits a year. Our guide to credit card lounge access explains how these visits work at the airport.

Can I get a Canara Bank credit card against an FD?

Yes. Canara issues RuPay Select, RuPay Platinum, Visa Gold and Mastercard Gold as secured cards against a fixed deposit. Your limit is up to 75% of the FD's principal, with a minimum limit of ₹25,000, and you don't need to show income proof.

Can I use a Canara Bank credit card on UPI?

Yes, if it's a RuPay card. The RuPay Classic, RuPay Platinum, RuPay Select and their secured variants can be linked to UPI, including through Canara's ai1 and ai1Pe apps.

What income do I need for a Canara Bank credit card?

It depends on the tier you're applying for. Classic and Standard cards need an independent income of ₹2 lakh a year. Gold and Platinum cards need ₹3 lakh. RuPay Select, Mastercard World and Visa Signature need ₹10 lakh. The secured cards don't have an income requirement, since your FD backs the card and its limit.

What is the forex markup on Canara Bank credit cards?

Canara charges up to 3% on foreign currency transactions across its cards, plus GST. That's in line with most Indian cards. You'll need to switch on international usage through net banking, the ai1 app or your branch before using the card abroad.

If you already bank with Canara, one of these cards costs you nothing as long as you use it, and the lounge access on the top tier is better than most free cards offer. Pick the tier your income qualifies for, work out whether you'll clear its inactivity threshold, and pair it with a better rewards card if everyday cashback matters to you.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and doesn't constitute financial advice. Eligibility criteria, fees and product features mentioned are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of September 2026, but they can change without notice at the issuer's discretion. Please read the latest Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) on the Canara Bank website and consult a certified financial advisor before applying for any credit card.