ICICI Bank Revises Credit Card Rules for 2026: New Fees, Reward Changes and Discontinued Benefits

ICICI Bank is set to implement a new structure for credit card usage fees and rewards in early 2026, as per The Economic Times report.  

Effective from January and February 2026, changes include charges on online gaming, wallet loads, transportation spends, and revised reward and benefit policies across various card categories. 

New Payment Charges Including Online Gaming and Wallet Transactions 

A 2% transaction fee will be levied on online gaming platforms such as Dream11, Rummy Culture, Junglee Games, and MPL.  

This applies to payments tagged under gaming-related merchant category codes. Loading ₹5,000 or more into third-party wallets like Amazon Pay, Paytm, and Freecharge will attract a 1% charge.  

Additionally, transportation expenses exceeding ₹50,000 in specific merchant categories (MCC: 4111, 4112, 4784, 4131) will also incur a 1% fee. 

Reward Point Revisions Across Card Types 

From January 15, 2026, retail purchases will continue to earn 6 reward points per ₹200 spent, excluding specified categories. Reward caps on transportation-related spends vary by card.  

For example, Emeralde Metal cardholders earn rewards on monthly spends up to ₹20,000 while Platinum and Coral cardholders will have a ₹10,000 limit. Insurance transactions up to ₹40,000 per month continue to accrue points at existing rates (MCC: 5960, 6300, 6381, 6399). 

Read More: ICICI Bank Share Price in Focus After Receiving GST Demand of ₹237 Crore! 

Changes to Movie Benefits and Add-On Card Charges 

From February 1, 2026, complimentary BookMyShow benefits will be discontinued for ICICI Bank Instant Platinum cards.  

However, users of select cards can continue receiving these benefits by spending ₹25,000 in the preceding quarter. Also, a one-time fee of ₹3,500 will be applicable on new Plus (Add-on) cards issued on or after January 15, 2026, for the Emeralde Metal card. 

Dynamic Currency Conversion Fee Adjustments 

The Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fee has been revised. Amazon Pay ICICI Card fee increases to 1.99%, while Times Black will be charged 1.49%. MakeMyTrip Travel Card will be levied 0.99% and Emeralde series cards will bear a 2.00% DCC fee. 

Conclusion 

ICICI Bank’s revised credit card policies for 2026 include notable fee changes for online gaming, wallet loads, and transportation spends. Reward earning caps and benefits on various cards have also been adjusted or discontinued. Users are advised to review these updates applicable from January and February 2026 before planning their spending strategies. 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities or companies mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation or investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.