Here’s the part of the HDFC reward change that cardholders should not gloss over: the bank is moving most cards from 1 reward point for every ₹150 spent to 1 reward point for every ₹200 spent starting 15th May. That’s not just a technical tweak — it’s a meaningful slowdown in how fast points pile up.
The practical impact is simple. If you were using an HDFC card for regular purchases because the points structure felt decent, that math is now weaker. The change applies to all HDFC Bank credit cards except Infinia (including Metal), so the majority of cardholders are affected. Premium users on the excluded cards can breathe easier, but everyone else should assume their everyday earning rate has been trimmed.
This is exactly the kind of update that changes wallet behaviour. A card that once made sense as a default spend card may no longer deserve that spot. If you have another card in your portfolio that gives better cashback or stronger category rewards, this is the moment to move those spends there. Even if you stay with HDFC, you’ll probably want to be more selective about when you use it.
What I find most useful about this update is that it forces a portfolio review. Too many of us keep using the same card out of habit, even when the value has quietly drifted lower. A threshold increase like this is a reminder that reward cards are not static forever, and the best wallet strategy is the one that adapts quickly.
There’s also a broader lesson here for premium vs mainstream cards. HDFC is clearly protecting its top-tier products while tightening the economics on the rest. That means the gap between premium and regular cards is widening, and cardholders need to be more deliberate about which tier they’re actually paying for.
Bottom line: if you’re on an HDFC card outside the Infinia family, the move to 1 reward point per ₹200 from 15th May is a real hit to everyday value. Review your default card now and shift spends if another card gives you a better return.