If you hold most HDFC Bank credit cards, this is the update that will hit your wallet directly. Starting 15th May, HDFC Bank is revising its reward points structure so that cardholders will earn 1 reward point for every ₹200 spent instead of the earlier 1 reward point for every ₹150 spent.
That is a clear devaluation for everyday spenders. In simple terms, you now need to spend more to earn the same number of points, which means the card becomes less rewarding on the same bill. The change applies to all HDFC Bank credit cards except Infinia (including Metal), so this is a broad shift rather than a niche tweak.
For anyone who uses an HDFC card for routine purchases, this deserves immediate attention. If your card was previously a decent all-rounder for groceries, dining, or general spends, the new threshold makes it less attractive unless you’re in one of the excluded premium tiers. The bank has effectively made the points engine slower for most cardholders.
This is especially important because reward structures are often where the real value of a card lives. A small-looking change from ₹150 to ₹200 sounds harmless at first glance, but for frequent spenders it adds up quickly. If you were using an HDFC card as your default swiping option, it may be time to reassess whether another card in your wallet now gives better value.
Premium cardholders are better protected here, since Infinia (including Metal) is excluded. That means HDFC is drawing a sharper line between its top-end cards and the rest of the portfolio. For everyone else, the message is pretty clear: the bank wants to slow down points accrual on mainstream cards.
My take? This is the kind of change that makes card strategy matter more. If you have a better cashback card or a competing rewards card with a stronger earn rate, this is a good time to compare. If HDFC was your default card for everything, you may want to reserve it for categories where it still makes sense and shift other spends elsewhere.
Bottom line: from 15th May, most HDFC Bank credit cards will earn 1 reward point per ₹200 instead of 1 reward point per ₹150. If you’re not on Infinia or Infinia Metal, this is a real devaluation — and a good reason to review where your everyday spends go.