IDFC FIRST Select

Overview

IDFC FIRST Bank arrived in the credit card market with a simple pitch: everything the big banks nickel-and-dime you for, free. The FIRST Select is the strongest expression of that pitch — a lifetime-free card with tiered rewards, never-expiring points, a low forex markup and interest pricing that treats good customers like good customers.

Rewards and benefits

Regular spends earn 3X–6X reward points, and spending above the monthly threshold — or during your birthday month — earns up to 10X. Points never expire, which removes the quiet tax most reward programs levy on casual users. Lounge access at domestic airports and railway stations unlocks on a modest monthly spend of around ₹20,000, and buy-one-get-one movie ticket offers round out the lifestyle benefits. The standout for travellers is the forex markup of around 2%, far below the 3.5% most Indian cards charge — remarkable on a card with no fee at all.

Fees and fine print

There is no joining or annual fee, full stop. Interest rates are dynamic, roughly 0.75% to 3.65% per month depending on your profile — potentially the lowest in the market for strong credit histories, though you should still never plan to revolve. The honest caveats: base earn rates are ordinary until you cross the monthly thresholds, and IDFC's service network is smaller than the big three banks'.

Verdict

The FIRST Select is arguably the best all-round lifetime-free card in India in 2026. It works as a first card, an only card, or the international-spends specialist in a larger wallet thanks to that low forex markup. When the price is zero and the benefits are this real, the case against applying is thin.