IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card

Overview

The IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card is a co-branded card issued with Tiger Fintech (part of the Bajaj Capital group) that tries to do something rare: package airport lounge access, a low forex markup and travel-friendly rewards into a card that costs nothing to own. It is genuinely lifetime free, with no joining fee, no annual fee and no minimum spend to keep it active. For a card positioned around travel, that combination is unusual and it is the main reason people pick it up.

Rewards and earning

The reward structure is tiered by how much you spend in a year. You earn 1 point per ₹100 up to ₹1 lakh, 2 points per ₹100 from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh, 4 points per ₹100 from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh, and 6 points per ₹100 once you cross ₹5 lakh. Each point is worth ₹0.40 on cash credit or brand vouchers, so the base earn works out to roughly 0.4% and the top tier to about 2.4%. The more interesting route for flyers is transferring points 1:1 to Air India Maharaja Points, where the value can stretch further depending on how you redeem the miles. The catch is plain: the low base rate keeps casual spenders at the bottom tier for most of the year, and only heavy annual spending unlocks the better rates.

Fees

There is no joining fee and no annual fee, and unlike most "free" cards there is no hidden spend condition attached to any waiver. The forex markup is just 1.5% + GST, which is genuinely low and makes the card handy abroad or for international online shopping. Interest runs at around 3.5% per month (about 42% a year) if you revolve a balance, so clear the bill in full. A 1% fuel surcharge waiver applies on fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000.

Eligibility

The card is open to Indian residents aged 18 and above. There is no officially published income floor, but you will need a stable monthly income and a healthy credit profile. A CIBIL score of around 750 or higher improves your odds. As always, final approval is at the bank's discretion.

Who it is for

This card suits someone who flies a few times a year, values lounge access and wants to avoid an annual fee. The 8 domestic lounge visits, 2 international Priority Pass visits and the low forex markup are the real draws. If you spend heavily each year, the top reward tiers and Air India transfers start to add up. If your spending is modest and mostly offline, a flat cashback card will simply return more money with less effort.

Verdict

The IndusInd Tiger works best as a "keep in your wallet for free" travel card. You get lounge access and a low forex markup without paying anything, which is hard to argue with. Just do not expect the rewards to shine unless you spend a lot, and treat the Air India transfer as the way to pull out real value. As a no-cost second card for travel perks, it is a sensible pick.