Equitas Tiga Credit Card

Overview

Equitas Small Finance Bank's Tiga Credit Card is built for how India actually pays in 2026, which is mostly by phone. You pick RuPay or Visa when you apply, and if you go with RuPay, the card links to UPI so every scan-and-pay counts towards rewards. The fee is small, the first year is currently free as a limited-period offer, and the whole design leans towards young, digital-first users rather than frequent flyers.

Rewards and earning

The core pitch is simple. You earn 3 reward points for every ₹100 spent on UPI, contactless (tap-to-pay) and Pay-by-3 partner merchants, which is where most day-to-day spending happens. Everything else earns 1 point per ₹100. Points are worth roughly ₹0.15 each against vouchers or products and about ₹0.10 as cashback, and they stay valid for two years. A few categories are left out entirely: rent, wallet top-ups, fuel and government payments do not earn points, so read the fine print before you route a big bill through the card.

The other headline is Pay-by-3. At select merchants, an eligible purchase is split automatically into three monthly instalments, and for the first three months the interest runs at a low 0.99% per month. You still earn points on those converted spends, which is a nice touch for anyone who leans on EMIs for slightly larger buys.

Fees

The joining fee is ₹500 plus GST, though the first year is free right now under a limited-period offer. The renewal fee is also ₹500 plus GST, and it is waived if you spend ₹1,20,000 in the previous anniversary year, which works out to about ₹10,000 a month. Beyond that, the numbers are ordinary for this segment: interest is about 3.75% per month once the intro window ends, the foreign currency markup is 3.4%, and a cash advance costs 2.5% or ₹250, whichever is higher. You also get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel spends between ₹500 and ₹3,000, up to five free add-on cards, and an interest-free period of up to 50 days.

Eligibility

Equitas positions this as an entry-level card, so the bar is not high. You typically need to be between 21 and 60 years old, earning around ₹35,000 a month (roughly ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh a year), with a credit score of about 700 or more. Applicants choose RuPay or Visa at the application stage.

Who it is for

This card suits someone whose spending lives inside UPI and tap-to-pay: groceries, food delivery, kirana stores, online shopping and the like. If that is you, the flat 3X on those categories quietly adds up, and the low fee plus a first-year waiver keeps the running cost close to zero. It is also handy for people who like splitting mid-size purchases into EMIs, thanks to Pay-by-3.

It is a poor fit if you want lounge access, travel perks, dining discounts or a welcome gift, because the Tiga has none of those. Heavy spenders who value premium benefits will outgrow it quickly.

Verdict

The Equitas Tiga is an honest, no-frills rewards card that pays you for the way you already spend. The 3X rate on UPI and contactless is genuinely useful, and the Pay-by-3 EMI feature is a thoughtful extra. Just go in clear-eyed: the base rate is plain, the points are worth modest amounts, and there are no lifestyle perks. As a low-cost first card, or as a dedicated UPI-rewards card alongside something richer, it earns its place. If you want frills, look elsewhere.