If you have added certain big-ticket items to your shopping cart and are looking for the right time to purchase it, you can now happily stop waiting further! When you shop with your SBI credit card, you get the chance to convert the SBI credit card bill into EMI via its Flexipay facility. The SBI credit card EMI facility, i.e. Flexipay, rightly works with the tagline of “Payback your big purchases in flexible instalments” and allows you to apply for it easily.
SBI offers you the opportunity to take advantage of Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI) on large purchases. In other words, you can convert SBI credit card bills to EMIs that can be paid at regular intervals. This facility is called the “Flexipay” and enables customers to break down large purchases into smaller repayment amounts over the course of 3 to 24 months. To be precise, SBI Flexipay eliminates the need of repaying immediately after purchasing a product on SBI Credit Card.
The key features of SBI Flexipay are listed below:
You can convert your SBI credit card bill into smaller EMIs within 30 days of the purchases
You can avail this facility with a minimum transaction of ₹500 or above
The minimum booking amount must be ₹2,500
To avail the EMI option on SBI credit card, you can follow any of the two simple ways mentioned below:
Step 1: Log in to your SBI Card online account.
Step 2: On the homepage, click on ‘Benefits’ and then select the ‘Flexipay’ option.
Step 3: Then, select the eligible purchase that you wish to convert into EMIs.
Step 4: choose the repayment period and the corresponding interest rate.
Step 5: Once you select all the details confirm the booking.
Another way is to directly call the SBI credit card customer care number and request the representative to convert your SBI credit card bill into EMIs via Flexipay. You will receive a confirmation SMS on your registered number.
Apart from these, you can log in to chatbot ‘ILA’, resolve your queries regarding SBI Credit Card EMI conversion, and follow the instructions.
To utilise the benefits offered under the SBI Flexipay facility, you must fulfil the following transaction eligibility parameters:
You must make retail purchases by using your SBI Credit Card
Your transactions must be done in less than 30 days
Your transaction value must be greater than ₹500. This may vary in case of certain offers
You can convert multiple retail transactions (greater than ₹500) into a single Flexipay plan. This may vary in case of specific offers
You must have a minimum booking amount of ₹2,500
Remember, you cannot convert the following transactions via Flexipay:
Cash and fuel transactions
Interest, fees, fuel, or any other charges levied on your SBI credit card
Individual transactions whose value is less than ₹500
Following is a comprehensive breakdown of the fees and charges that you have to bear while availing the SBI Flexipay facility:
Tenor |
Monthly Instalment * per ₹1,000 |
6 months
|
₹176.5 |
12 months
|
₹92.6
|
24 months
|
₹50.9 |
You will be able to join the SBI Flexipay facility by paying an interest rate of 20% p.a. Additionally, you will have to pay a one-time processing fee of 2% (up to min. ₹249 and max. ₹1,500) and other fees such as foreclosure fee of 3%, and cancellation fee of 3% (post 45 days of placing booking request) on any outstanding principal amount.
If you wish to avail of the Flexipay option on your SBI Credit Card, you must have a detailed knowledge regarding both the benefits and the drawbacks of this facility. Read along!
Using the Flexipay option, you can enjoy the advantage of converting large purchases into smaller EMI amounts. This would enable you to make big-ticket purchases without any worry.
With this facility, your expenses can be spread across a period of months to even years. This will protect your monthly budget from any excessive financial burdens or constraints.
You can also enjoy interest-free payments on certain purchases. This can help further reduce expenditure as they can do away with the interest and the processing fees
When you opt for SBI Flexipay facility, an interest rate or 20% per annum (or as per applicable offer) are charged. Thus, the total interest outgo can be quite large in case of long repayment periods.
In this method of conversion, the purchased amount gets blocked against the credit limit and is lifted only once the EMI amount is paid.
Below is discussed certain pointers that you must consider while converting SBI Credit Card bill into EMI:
Those who opt for a longer repayment tenor usually pay a low EMI amount. Even if choosing a longer repayment tenor helps you to manage monthly finances adeptly; you will have to pay a higher total interest amount at the end of tenor. This may eat up the actual benefit of opting for the EMI conversion facility.
Interest rate decides the cost of borrowing. Therefore, before you initiate the application process of SBI Credit Card EMI facility, you must calculate the total cost of borrowing.
Timely payment and credit score are interdependent. If you make timely EMI payment, you will be able to maintain a decent credit score vice versa. Not only that, but also you will be able to save yourself from getting crushed under the massive mountain of accumulating interest.
If you are an add-on cardholder, you cannot book Flexipay on your card.
Not all cardholders may be eligible for SBI credit card EMIs. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you’re eligible for such conversion before proceeding to do it.
When you opt for the SBI credit card EMI conversion, you lose out on the reward points that you received for the transaction that’s being converted.
If the purchase amount is ₹500 and above, you can easily convert your SBI credit card bill into EMI via the SBI Flexipay facility.
The minimum booking amount for Flexipay is ₹2,500.
The EMI interest rate on the SBI card bill varies as per the applicable offer. You can contact the customer care or visit the official website to get the required information.
To activate your SBI EMI card, you must shop with your SBI Credit Card and then log in to your online SBI credit card account. Next, you have to select Flexipay and follow the instructions. Alternatively, you can call the SBI Card helpline to place a request for Flexipay booking.
There are various tenure options such as 3 months and 6 months for no-cost EMI options and 6,9,12,24, and 36 months for normal EMI tenures.
At the time of any purchase, you as an SBI cardholder can select the EMI option, which will result in the credit card bills being converted into EMIs. It is to be noted that the bank charges interest for every conversion of bills to EMI which is normally higher than the usual interest rates. Additionally, you can make use of the SBI credit card EMI calculator to understand the interest rates and charges better
With the Flexipay option, you can convert your big-ticket purchases into easy EMIs. During the purchase transaction, you have the option to apply for this option.