Now many people have credit card in India and I am one of them. To get credit card there are many banks. All the credit cards work in same way. But there are many type of credit cards. On HDFC bank site there are 15 type of credit cards that you can apply to get one for you.
I canceled my ICICI bank account because their debit card was unable to verify my PayPal account. I was unable to renew my web hosting account with ICICI debit card. It was useful for online mobile recharge only. Most of my friends know I have a prepaid Reliance CDMA. ICICI agent promised, you will be able to do everything online as one can do with his credit card. The only difference is you will not have credit, but you see what happened. I thought if my ATM-cum-Debit card from SBI does the same job why should I have minimum balance of rupees 10,000/- in ICICI.
I registered my hosting account using credit card of one of my dad’s friend. And next year I had my own credit card hopefully. I was able to manage credit card again from one of dad’s friend’s to renew my hosting account. But having one of your own credit card is 100 times better.
I tried to get a credit card in my nearest SBI branch that is close to my society. But the officer started talking about F.E.M.A., F.E.R.A. and NRI banking. I thought what the hell officer is talking, he was misguiding me. This is the problem in India. If something is possible still you can not get that. Because no one will tell you about the process.
I decided to visit main branch of SBI in Ahmedabad city, that is also international branch in Ahmedabd for SBI bank. There someone told me to go to 10th Floor. When I reach there someone told me to go to 3rd floor, when I reached there someone told the section has been shifted to seventh floor. I told enough is enough and then my voice was not in good manner and the officer started speaking in English (it is not my duty to get a credit card for you) because I was speaking in Hindi, I mostly speak in Hindi wherever I go. But I saw he is speaking in English I also started in English then he become quiet. He dialed a number and told me to go to 4th floor and ask for Mr. X. Mr. X was cheerful person talking very gently and using word “Sir” for me. I told him my problem and he told “let me check in PC for rules and requirements”. I told no problem, the he took half an hour to find the file with the help of another one. Finally he find the files and told me you should having a minimum 0f 50,000/- rupees transaction quarterly to get a credit card. That was the end of my hopes and dreams.
Thanks to one of my my friend, he was trying to get government job and he successfully passed in all the aspects of SBI banking exams. Now he is in an SBI branch that is near to his home. He told me it is possible to get credit card without qualifying all the aspects.
I already have a SBI savings account, I had to manage only 10 thousand rupees, I told my friend I can manage to get 50 thousand if I am going to get a credit card. He told me don’t worry 10K is enough. It was really a breath of relief.
When I was choosing my credit card, I was illegible to apply for any one of three type of credit cards, but he suggested me to select advantage SBI card. Because that is for students only and hopefully I am still a student. As a student you get additional benefits.
To get my credit card I visited my friends SBI branch with 10 thousand case in my pocket, my original driving license, original PAN card, my election card, my latest passport size photographs and my SBI saving account pass book. But they need only my photo, driving license, pan card and passbook. I got a form and in 15 minutes all the process was complete. In next 10 days I had my credit card.
I have deposited only 10K so I have only 9K credit limit per month. Next year I can increase it.
Good and helpful suggestions..
kreditkort
My axis bank debit card is working fine on anything which require credit card as godaddy.com, paypal, hostgator, vps.net, ebay, and on everything i have tried till now.
It is nice but my ICICI was not working for my host provider Bluehost I was getting message your card is blocked. It also did not worked with PayPal I was getting same message your card is blocked. I tried hard to resolve this problem with ICICI but I did not get good replies, card was working online but only for Mobile recharging purpose or simply on Indian website transaction.
I have no problem with axis bank visa electron card and no hassle to maintain credit card. With axis card everything just work!
Axix bank branch is also near my society. I had visited that branch and had a conversation with branch manager before visiting ICICI branch but the Axix bank manager told me “I am looking for the bank which let me make payments online with a debit card.” I do not know why he told me like this perhaps he had no knowledge of online payment systems or he could not understand what I was talking about.
Most of the Indian bank employees do not know about PayPal. It is an unknown term for them. I asked told I want to make payment online for my hosting account but he was…
Don’t listen those bank guys who know nothing about online transcation. And in my experiance Axis bank have very fast and good services, they also clear my adsense check very quickly. I also have an hdfc credit card but i use it only for ebay (It let me pay my order in emi) But for all the other thing Axis bank visa card is good enough for me.
Oh i forget to tell you something that i am running http://tuffclassified.com a free classified site I think you should have to include it in your free classified list.
That is a very helpful blog you have written. I am thinking of getting a credit card and I am a student as well. My reasons for getting one is to verify my paypal account with it. There are some good suggestions and thanks for sharing your experience.
@Anshul You are welcome.
Dear Madhav,
Thanks a lot for sharing your invaluable experience with us!! I almost gave up hope trying to open a paypal account untill I came across your article. I have a few questions and would really appreciate your answer.
1.Can we apply for CC at any core SBI branch assuming we have someone working at that branch?? or is it limited branches??
2.Min balance – Does this mean that the account should have a minimum of Rs.10000/- at ALL TIMES throughout the year??ie Say I have Rs.X in my account, does it mean I can use only Rs(X-10000)/-??
3. How much does it cost you monthly/yearly to maintain you credit card??
4. Does it work well with paypal??
I would really,really appreciate if you could answer these questions either here or through email.
Thanks in advance!!
God Bless for you kindness!!!
You can apply in nay branch I think, you can apply for CC on on the same account or another account.
From long time have written 10K credit on 10k balance but credit is only 9K on 10K balance.
Sure it will work well with paypal.
There is some annual maintenance fee but that is not costlier and that may be under Rs 250.
you get credit on behalf of your deposit. There was also installment scheme in beginning but you have to pay all in a time. You can deposit more than 10 if you need more credit.
Hi, Madhav,
Thanks again for your reply. I went to my local SBI bank and had a productively talk with the staff in-charge. Everything you say is true except regarding the minimum deposit. He said for students (SBI advantage gold credit card) a minimum amount of Rs.20,000/- is required. The reason being that students don’t get salary. How did you manage to get around this when you applied ? And the credit limit is 80% of the deposited amount.
Anyway, are you affected by the paypal policy changes about $500 limit cap on a single transaction ? What do you think regarding this?
Thanks again!!!
Hi, there may be some changes in rule, but I managed to get CC for 10K deposit and the credit I get is 90% or 9k out of 10k.
Actually PayPal is now useless for me because it has no use at all I think.
You are the MAN, buddy.
Keep up the good work!
Will go to sbi bank and talk with the manager hope he accept 10000rs fixed deposit haha
hai guys i dont know what you mean by 10k 9k
any one please tell me what is it?
10k means 10 thousand rupees and 9k means 9 thousand rupees.
Hello Madhav,
You previously told “Actually PayPal is now useless for me because it has no use at all I think.” Does this also mean that Paypal is also useless for renewing domain names? (for India of course)
Actually now you do not need paypal, paypal has lost its way. If you have credit card and online banking you have enough. Because you can not make direct payments via paypal. You have to use you credit card via paypal that is nonsense. So you can directly use your credit card. I no longer use PayPal to make payments, still I have active paypal account to accept payments.
God.. I hate those bank officials. They are Technologically illiterate. I Don’t know How the HELL they got those post “Branch Manager” without knowing nothing.
Hi Madhav
I was an NRI…But now I have come to India and am no longer a NRI..I have to start all over again…I do not have any business or a job at present…I need a Credit Card very badly…Pls tell me what is the procedure to get a Indian Credit Card…can I use Paypal with that Credit card…Thanks Waiting for your quick reply Madhav…take care
this is very informative post i hve read on this topic…Thank u so much…
hey i too had the same problem with federalbank debit card and sbi debit card…
Good Information sharing. Many Peoples facing to get SBI Credit Card. Your own experience will helpful and clarify all doubts.