HDFC Bank's credit card portfolio went through significant reward restructuring in 2024 and early 2025, affecting its most popular products including the Regalia, Millennia, and Infinia. For cardholders who chose HDFC specifically for its rewards, understanding what changed — and whether to stay or switch — is essential.
Key changes: HDFC Regalia
- International spend rewards capped: From unlimited 4 reward points per ₹150 to 2 points per ₹150 with a monthly cap of 5,000 points on international transactions
- Dining rewards reduced: From 2x on dining to standard 1x
- Insurance premium exclusion: Reward points no longer earned on insurance premium payments
- Fuel surcharge waiver: Retained, but 1% surcharge waiver cap reduced from ₹500 to ₹250/month
Key changes: HDFC Millennia
- 5% cashback on select categories reduced to 3% for non-HDFC SmartBuy channels
- Cashback cap reduced from ₹1,000/month to ₹750/month
- Utility bill payments excluded from accelerated cashback
HDFC Infinia: relatively protected
The Infinia Metal — HDFC's premium offering — retained most of its benefits including 3.3% effective reward rate across most categories and unlimited Priority Pass access. The joining fee increased from ₹10,000 to ₹12,500 but is waived at ₹10L annual spend. For high-spending customers (₹5L+ per year), Infinia remains among the best value premium cards.
Best HDFC alternatives for different profiles
For travel: Axis Magnus (4.8% on accelerated categories, transferable EDGE miles) or SBI Aurum For cashback: SBI Cashback Card (5% on online, no exclusions for most categories) For dining and lifestyle: IDFC FIRST Select (10x on weekends, no joining fee) For premium with fee waiver: Amex Platinum Travel
Should you cancel your HDFC card?
Cancelling impacts your credit score via: (1) reduced credit limit lowering credit utilisation ratio, and (2) reducing average age of accounts. For a card held 3+ years, the credit score impact of cancellation is meaningful. Consider downgrading to a no-fee HDFC card (HDFC Freedom or MoneyBack) rather than cancelling outright, preserving the credit line and account age.