A fixed deposit is one of the most preferred modes of investment in India and an FD that also provides you with a credit card, i.e. a credit card against FD, is a win-win situation for the risk-averse investors/customers and for those who wish to build/improve their credit score.
What is a Credit Card against FD?
A credit card against fixed deposit or FD is a secured credit card. Having a fixed deposit account is the prerequisite of getting a credit card against FD. Many banks like SBI, SBM Bank (India), etc. offer this feature with their FDs.
The prime feature of this credit card is that the linked FD is lien marked, i.e. acts as collateral. The credit limit is generally 80%-90% of the FD amount. It should be noted that the lien-marked FD keeps on earning interest.
In case the cardholder misses the payment of the monthly credit bill, the bank can redeem the linked FD to recover the outstanding amount. Fees and charges on a credit card against FD are usually lower than an unsecured card and these cards are easily approved.
Step UP Credit Card
SBM Bank (India) Ltd. with Paisabazaar as co-branded partner has introduced a credit card against fixed deposit – Step UP Credit Card. This card is designed especially to cater to the needs of an average salaried individual. The minimum FD amount is kept only at Rs. 2,000 thus making it quite affordable. This is a 100% pre-approved credit card and takes minutes to apply.
While the FD in the bank earns guaranteed interest, the Step UP card adds to the purchasing power of the depositor. Let’s look at its features.
Features of Step UP Credit Card
The following are the prime features of the Step UP credit card:
- Flexible credit limit
- Digitized application process – zero contact
- Nil joining fee for FDs of more than Rs 5,000 (Rs. 250 + 18% GST for FD of up to Rs. 5,000)
- Nil renewal fee
- Helpful in building a strong credit score