Bandhan Bank Launches Sparks, Ignite, Flare and Lumina: Its First Real Credit Card Portfolio

Bandhan Bank has launched its first-ever credit card portfolio in partnership with Mastercard. This move marks a new phase in the bank’s retail banking strategy, bringing varied credit card offerings with different spending needs and preferences.

The four cards – Sparks, Ignite, Flare and Lumina – cater to distinct customer segments, with benefits spanning rewards, lifestyle, travel and everyday spending.

The launch strengthens Bandhan’s retail product offerings as it seeks to deepen relationships with existing customers while reaching new ones.

The four cards, side by side

Bandhan Bank is pitching the cards at different kinds of spenders, including GenZ starting out, frequent travellers, and people who want the premium extras.

We pulled every detail to help you understand what’s on offer.

The catch: different interest rates

It’s easy to miss, as it's only in the fine print. On Flare and Lumina, the interest rate you pay on any unpaid balance depends on whether you already have an account with Bandhan.

On Flare, the interest rate is 2.00% a month if you already bank with them, and 3.50% a month if you don't. On Lumina, it's 1.50% versus 3.50%. On Sparks and Ignite, it’s 3.50% for everyone.

So, if you're applying for Flare or Lumina without an existing Bandhan account, you're on the higher rate. However, this only matters if you carry a balance instead of paying your bill in full. If you pay in full, the interest rate never touches you.

One more thing worth knowing: Bandhan's pages also show a "Value Chart," adding every possible perk into one big annual number next to the fee. Sparks card claims ₹10,000 a year in benefits against a ₹499 fee, Lumina claims ₹1,78,900 against ₹9,999, and so on. Just treat it as rewards ceilings, not standard benefits.

Should you apply?

If you already bank with Bandhan, Sparks or Ignite are reasonable low-commitment cards to add. Flare or Lumina make sense too. The lounge access and reward rates are competitive with other issuers. But we know nothing about how smooth claims, redemptions or customer service are.

Our honest take: wait a billing cycle or two before applying, unless you're already a Bandhan customer. Let the first wave of cardholders find the rough edges first.

If you do apply, treat the value-chart numbers as the absolute ceiling, work out your own realistic number from your actual spending, and compare that to what an established issuer would give you for the same fee.

If you want to see how a lifetime-free credit card compares before you commit to a fee, or want the full picture on how card fee waivers actually work in India, we've covered both in detail.

Bandhan also launched a FLASH digital card in GFF 2026. If you want the full picture, check our GFF 2026 roundup of credit card launches.

Disclaimer

This is my honest read, not formal financial advice. I'm not your advisor, and before you act on anything big, run it past a professional. But here's exactly how I'd think about it.