BPCL Co-branded Credit Card: Annual Fee Waiver Threshold Increased by SBI
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BPCL SBI Card's annual fee waiver now needs ₹1 lakh in spends, up from ₹50,000. Monzy explains what's changed and what cardholders should do.
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State Bank of India has increased the annual spend requirement to waive the renewal fee on its SBI BPCL Credit Card, a popular co-branded fuel credit card known for its value back feature on fuel purchases at BPCL petrol stations.
The SBI BPCL card is one of the best fuel credit cards to be used at Bharat Petroleum pumps and comes with a joining fee and offers annual savings through its fuel surcharge waiver and reward points program. Cardholders can get up to 4.25% value back on fuel purchases at BPCL petrol pumps, which includes a 1% fuel surcharge waiver and up to 13 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on fuel, capped at 1,300 reward points per month.
Effective recently, cardholders must now spend at least ₹1,00,000 in the preceding year, up from ₹50,000, to avoid paying the renewal fee. This change indicates a tightening of benefits for entry-level co-branded fuel cards, making it more challenging for low-to-moderate users to avoid the annual fee and maximize value back rewards. Several other benefits have also been altered, reducing perks for certain cardholders.
What’s Changed with SBI BPCL Credit Card?
- Annual fee waiver threshold increased from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 in annual spends;
- Airport lounge access benefits restricted from January 10, 2026
- Accelerated clawback of reward points: cashback and instant discount reversals tightened
Other Changes & updates to SBI Card's portfolio
- Withdrawal of complimentary ₹1 crore air accident insurance on premium cards like SBI Elite and Miles Elite (effective from July 15, 2025)
- Discontinuation of some co-branded cards (Etihad Guest, OLA Money variants) in portfolio rationalisation
This change marks one of several recent “devaluation” moves by banks in India, where previously generous credit card benefits are being scaled back.
With SBI raising the waiver threshold for the BPCL co-branded credit card from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000, many cardholders may find it harder to meet the new eligibility criteria for the annual fee waiver, depending on their spending categories and fuel expenses.
Customers who selected cards based on lower fee waiver thresholds or bundled perks may now face steeper spend requirements or lose certain benefits.
SBI BPCL Card Before vs After: Comparison
Parameter | Prior to Change | After Change |
|---|---|---|
Annual spend required for fee waiver | ₹50,000 | ₹1,00,000 |
Renewal fee impact | Waived easily beginning after ₹50,000 spend in preceding 12 months | Waived only if spend ≥ ₹1,00,000 in preceding 12 months |
What This Means for SBI BPCL Cardholders?
Cardholders who previously met the ₹50,000 spend but spent less than ₹1,00,000 will now need to either increase their spends or pay the renewal fee.
If you were using the BPCL SBI Credit Card as a secondary card and only spending around ₹50,000 annually, you will now need to significantly increase your usage to avoid the annual fee. By increasing your eligible spends, you can earn rewards and accelerated reward points not only on BPCL fuel purchases but also on other categories such as grocery and daily spends, maximizing your annual savings.
Those relying on fee waivers may reassess the cost-benefit of holding the BPCL co-branded card, especially if many of their purchases are outside categories that contribute to spend calculations. The card offers accelerated rewards and a maximum fuel surcharge waiver (up to 1% per transaction, subject to a monthly cap), which can lead to substantial annual savings for users who frequently use the card at BPCL petrol pumps. The fuel surcharge waiver directly reduces the cost of fuel purchases, enhancing the overall value-back.
What You Should Do?
- Check your credit card statement or notices to confirm whether your renewal cycle has been affected.
- Review your annual spend and see if it meets the ₹1,00,000 threshold, if not, estimate how much extra you need to spend.
- Consider which spends count toward waivers, they may exclude certain transactions.
- Explore alternative fuel credit cards with lower thresholds or fully waived fees if your spending pattern doesn’t change. You can apply online through the official SBI Card website or app for a secure application process.
- If you are close to threshold, contact SBI Card for retention offers; sometimes exemptions or incentives can be negotiated.
About the Author
Sakshi Dubey
Sakshi loves to shop and uses credit cards to understand how she can minimize her spending and maximize rewards. She writes posts about credit card rewards, best cards for everyday spends, and guides on optimizing credit card usage.