If you spend a lot overseas or on foreign websites, the Kotak White Reserve Credit Card just became a lot more interesting. Kotak Mahindra Bank has increased the international earn rate to 6 reward points per ₹100, up from 4, and it has also raised domestic airport lounge access to 8 per year. For a premium card, that’s a meaningful upgrade in two areas that matter most to frequent travelers.
The card’s fee structure remains premium too. The annual fee is ₹10,000 + GST, with a milestone waiver available on ₹10 lakh spend. That means the card is still clearly aimed at high-spend users, but the better international earn rate gives it a stronger reason to exist for people who regularly book hotels, flights, or overseas shopping in foreign currency.
The lounge change is also worth noting because it makes the card more useful on the ground, not just on paper. 8 domestic airport lounge visits per year is a practical benefit for frequent flyers who want a reliable backup card for airport access. Combined with the improved international rewards, Kotak is making White Reserve look more travel-friendly than before.
Why does this matter? International spends are one of the easiest places for premium cards to differentiate themselves, because many cards either under-reward foreign transactions or bury the value behind complicated redemption structures. Moving from 4 to 6 reward points per ₹100 is a clean improvement that makes the card more attractive for overseas use. If you travel often, book on foreign platforms, or spend in non-INR currencies, this update could shift more of your wallet share toward Kotak.
The fee is still substantial at ₹10,000 + GST, so this is not a casual everyday card. But for people who can use the lounge visits and actually generate meaningful international spend, the math is better now than it was before. The milestone waiver on ₹10 lakh spend also gives heavy users a path to soften the fee burden.
What should you do? If you already hold White Reserve, start routing more of your international spend through it and keep an eye on the 8 domestic airport lounge visits per year. If you’re comparing premium travel cards, this one deserves a serious look if foreign transactions are a big part of your annual spend. And if you’re nowhere near the ₹10 lakh spend waiver, make sure the fee still makes sense before committing.