ICICI Bank has announced a series of significant updates across its retail credit card portfolio, effective January 15, 2026 and February 1, 2026. These changes impact reward point eligibility, spend caps, fees, and popular benefits such as BookMyShow.

Below is a clear breakdown of what is changing and what it means for cardholders.

Reward Points: Tighter Eligibility and Monthly Caps

From January 15, 2026, ICICI Bank will continue offering 6 Reward Points per ₹200 on eligible retail spends for select premium cards, including the Emeralde Metal Credit Card. However, reward exclusions are being expanded.

Key Exclusions

Reward Points will not be earned on:

1. Government services
2. Fuel purchases
3. Rent and property management payments
4. Tax payments
5. Third-party wallet transactions

Transportation Spend Capping (Effective Feb 1, 2026)

1. Emeralde Metal Credit Card: Rewards applicable only up to ₹20,000 per month
2. Rubyx, Sapphiro, Emeralde and Private variants: Rewards capped at ₹10,000 per month
3. Actual reward points earned will depend on the merchant category code (MCC)

Insurance Spend Capping

1. Reward Points on insurance spends will be limited to ₹40,000
2. Applicable across Coral, Platinum, HPCL, and other mid-range ICICI cards

Frequent users who rely on transportation, insurance, or utility-heavy spending will see reduced reward accrual beyond the defined limits. ICICI’s reward structure is now more aligned toward discretionary retail spending rather than essential or high-volume categories.

BookMyShow Benefits Move to Spend-Based Model

ICICI Bank is transitioning away from unconditional entertainment benefits.

1. Complimentary BookMyShow tickets are discontinued on Instant Platinum cards from Feb 1, 2026
2. For most ICICI credit cards, BookMyShow benefits will now require:
3. ₹25,000 spent in the previous quarter
4. Eligibility resets every quarter.

Occasional users may lose access to BookMyShow offers if they do not meet the quarterly spend thresholds. The benefit now effectively acts as a loyalty reward, not a default perk.

New Transaction Fees Introduced

ICICI Bank is introducing category-based fees across all retail credit cards.

Gaming and Skill-Based Platforms

1. 2% fee on platforms such as Dream11, MPL, Junglee Games, and similar apps

Wallet Loading Charges

1. 1% fee on wallet loads of ₹5,000 or more
2. Applies to Amazon Pay, Paytm, MobiKwik, Freecharge, and Ola Money

High Transportation Spends

1. 1% fee on transportation expenses exceeding ₹50,000

Using credit cards as intermediaries for wallet loading or gaming transactions becomes significantly less attractive. These fees discourage non-retail and pass-through spending.

Add-On Card Fee Introduced

Effective January 15, 2026:

1. A one-time fee of ₹3,500 will apply for each add-on card.
2. Applicable only to Emerald Metal Credit Cards
3. Applies to add-ons issued on or after the effective date

This increases the cost of maintaining multiple cards within a household on premium ICICI products.

Revision in Forex and Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Charges

ICICI Bank has revised DCC charges across cards:

1. Amazon Pay ICICI: 1.99%
2. Emeralde / Private variants: 2.00%
3. Other ICICI cards: Up to 3.50%

International spends converted at the point of sale may attract higher charges, especially on mid-tier cards. Cardholders should actively opt out of DCC when possible.

EMI Foreclosure Charges Introduced

1. Cancelling or discontinuing ongoing EMIs will now attract foreclosure charges.
2. Applies across all ICICI retail credit cards

Flexibility to exit EMIs mid-cycle is reduced, making EMI conversions a more committed decision.

Key Takeaways

1. Rewards are increasingly capped and category-restricted
2. Lifestyle benefits like BookMyShow are now spend-linked
3. Wallet loading and gaming transactions face additional costs.
4. Premium card ownership becomes more expensive to maintain

These changes signal a broader industry trend toward controlled reward distribution and reduced arbitrage opportunities. Cardholders are advised to review these changes carefully in the context of their spending patterns ahead of 2026.

Source:

ICICI Bank – Updated Credit Card Charges & Policy Notice

Official notice issued by ICICI Bank detailing changes effective January–February 2026.

Read the full notice here:

https://www.icici.bank.in/content/dam/icicibank/india/managed-assets/revamp-page-images/docs/pdf/credit-card-charges-updated-notice.pdf