Hands-on Experience with SC Ultimate Credit Card
Ultimate credit card is flagship offering from Standard Chartered Bank with top notch reward rate on regular spends. The card catapulted into Super Premium category as soon as it got launched. USP of this card is no exclusions whatsoever (till now) to RPs earning capability on any kind of spends category, EMI spends included.
Ultimate was being issued on Mastercard World platform since last few years. Due to Mastercard ban, issuance was on hold. Starting February 2022, SC has tied up with Visa and started its issuance under Infinite variant. Personally Ultimate Visa Infinite variant looks far better than its Mastercard World counterpart.
SC Ultimate looks stunning in reflective Visa Infinite logo complementing the golden black theme. Deserves a place as one of the best looking card in the industry.
Joining Fees
- Joining/Renewal Fee: Rs 5000+GST
- Welcome Bonus: 6000 RPs within 60 days after payment of joining fee (Value: INR 6000)
Note: I received joining benefit of 6000 RPs post 50 days of joining fee
Reward Points
- 5 reward points on every INR 150 spent (1 Reward Point = INR 1)
- In reality, you get 1 reward point on every INR 30 spent making it even better
- Reward Rate: 3.3%
- Reward redemption fee of 99+ GST applicable
- Best part is- you can redeem RPs as soon as the transaction gets posted, need not wait for statement generation
- GVs currently available include options among Grocery, Fashion, Jewellery, 5 Star Hotel chains, Travel brands/ categories (amazon, flipkart GVs are not an option though)
That means this card stands on par with HDFC Infinia & HDFC Dinner Black. Infact, its better than those two, considering SC Ultimate card has ability to redeem for gift vouchers at face value (1RP= INR 1)
Note: RPs can’t be redeemed for statement credit or Miles transfer
How to Get?
Easiest way to get SC Ultimate is based on your existing SC credit card with a credit limit in the range of 4 Lakhs. As you might know, I upgraded to SC ultimate from SC small credit card which I recently got hand on and it was a smooth experience.
If you are new to SC, C2C basis other bank cards having limit of 5 lacs n older than 12 months may help. Call SC customer support if you are planning C2C basis other bank cards, as few readers have complained of applications being rejected and hurting CIBIL too.
Note: If you hold Citibank or HSBC credit cards with 4L+ limit, chances of approval basis C2C application are higher
Limitations
- LTF Ultimate is near impossible unless you are HNI with SC (no point wasting time n energy on this )
- Spend based waivers not applicable (you can always ask for waiver and SC may consider basis high spend sometimes)
- Fuel surcharge waiver is not applicable (though you earn regular RPs)
- PP offer of 1 visit pm upon spending 20K last month is unattractive for a card of this status
- Visa Infinite offers on BookMyShow (quota is seldom available now a days)
- Less merchant offers
- No membership or tie-up of any kind
- Amazon, Flipkart GVs as redemptions option is not available
