YES Bank RESERV Credit Card

Overview

The YES Bank RESERV is the bank's mid-premium travel card, built around two things frequent flyers actually use: lounge access on both sides of the border and a low foreign exchange markup. At ₹2,499 plus GST it sits below the super-premium tier, yet it hands you benefits that usually show up only on costlier cards. That is the whole pitch, premium travel perks without a super-premium price tag.

Rewards and earning

The card splits its earning by channel. Online spends earn 24 reward points per ₹200, which YES Bank positions at around 3% back, while offline and other eligible spends earn 12 reward points per ₹200. If most of your monthly outgo runs through websites and apps, the online rate does the heavy lifting, so this card rewards a digital-first spender more than someone who mostly pays in stores. Reward points are redeemed through the YES Bank catalogue and redemption options, so the value you finally get depends on how you choose to redeem.

Fees

The joining fee is ₹2,499 plus GST, and it is fully reversible: spend ₹40,000 within 30 days of getting the card and the fee is credited back to you. The renewal fee is the same ₹2,499 plus GST, waived when your annual spends touch ₹3 lakh or more. The standout on the fees side is the forex markup of just 1.75%, well below the 3.5% many cards charge, which quietly saves money on every overseas swipe and international online order.

Eligibility

YES Bank aims this card at higher earners. You are generally expected to have a monthly income of around ₹2 lakh, or an annual income of ₹18 lakh or more. Keep your PAN, address proof and income proof (salary slips or ITR) ready before you apply.

Who it is for

This is a card for the frequent traveller who wants lounge access at home and abroad plus a genuinely low forex markup, without paying super-premium fees. With roughly 12 domestic and 6 international lounge visits a year, it covers a serious travel calendar, and the 1.75% markup rewards anyone who spends in foreign currency. If you rarely fly or spend mostly offline, the value proposition thins out quickly.

Verdict

The RESERV earns its place as a mid-premium travel card. The 1.75% forex markup and dual lounge access are the real draws, the reversible joining fee lowers the risk of trying it, and the ₹3 lakh waiver is achievable for its target income group. Just make sure your spending leans online and your travel is frequent enough to use the lounges, otherwise the fee will outrun the rewards.