Student Credit Cards in India

Credit Card for Students

Irrespective of whether one is studying in India or abroad, student credit cards are specially designed to suit the needs of college students. You can apply for a student credit card online to manage your daily expenditures, such as buying study materials, transportation, leisure activities, etc. Continue reading to know the key highlights of credit cards for students.

Key Highlights of Student Credit Cards

• Student credit cards can be applied for against fixed deposits, savings account, education loan, or through government schemes

• These students’ credit cards usually have a validity of 5+ years

• Student credit cards come with low-interest rates as compared to regular credit cards

• Students’ credit cards offer low credit limits to ensure that students do not fall into a debt trap

How to Apply for a Student Credit Card Online

Much like any other card application, you can initiate the application process for student credit cards online as well as offline. However, do note that some banks may allow only online applications. It is, therefore, wise to discuss this with a bank representative before initiating the application process. The basic steps that you must follow for the online student credit card application process include:

• Step 1: Visit the bank’s official website.

• Step 2: Fulfil the eligibility criteria and click on ‘Apply Now’.

• Step 3: You might be asked to submit a few documents to initiate the process.

• Step 4: Once you have uploaded all the necessary documents successfully, click on ‘Submit’.

Since the user base for these credit cards are students, banks usually do not consider the typical credit card eligibility criteria. Such as credit score and stable income, when reviewing the student credit card application. Thus, instead of conventional methods, credit cards for students can be applied for by any of the below-mentioned means:

•  Apply Against a Fixed Deposit

If you have a fixed deposit (FD) in your name, you can use it to apply for student credit card online or offline. However, the minimum amount eligible for a credit card against a fixed deposit may vary from bank to bank.

•  Apply as an Add-on Card

If you have a family member who owns a credit card, you can get a credit card for students as an add-on card. However, to get the add-on card approved, the primary cardholder must have a good credit history.

•  Apply Against a Savings Account or Loan

If you have a savings bank account with a steady monthly average balance, you can use it to apply for a student credit card online. Some banks, such as SBI, also grant these cards (e.g. SBI Student Plus Advantage Credit Card) to people who have got an education loan with them.

•  Take Advantage of Government Schemes

A lot of state governments in India have launched programs that offer credit cards for students. Some of the common government programs offering such cards are West Bengal Student Credit Card Scheme, Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, Jharkhand Student Credit Card Scheme, etc.

Eligibility and Documents Required to Apply for a Student Credit Card

A student credit card is a type of credit card available to students in college to suit their needs. It allows them to meet their expenses instantly and manage their funds.

• Student Credit Cards Eligibility 

There is no income limit eligibility for the student credit cards since students do not earn. However, there are certainly some basic criteria that a student must fulfil in order to be eligible for a student credit card. In general, students above the age of 18 are eligible to apply for the card. It is to be noted that eligibility criteria can differ from one bank to the other. These credit cards have a validity period of five years and also come with reasonably low-interest rates.

• Student Credit Card Documents 

When a student intends to apply for a student credit card, they will be asked to provide the following documents:

• PAN card or any other government-approved photo ID proof

• Aadhaar Card or any other government-approved residential address proof

• Birth Certificate

• Identity Card of the college or any other proof of enrolment

• Passport-sized photograph

Banks Offering Student Credit Cards in India

Although the concept of a credit card for students is quite new in India, many banking institutions have begun to offer them of late. Listed below are a few of the banks that offer student credit cards in India.

• State Bank of India

• HDFC Bank

• Kotak Mahindra Bank 

• ICICI Bank

• Axis Bank

Types of Student Credit Cards 

If you wish to apply for a student credit card, then it is important for you to know about the different types that are available. Here’s a quick overview of the list of student credit cards that you can apply for right now.

1. SBI Student Plus Advantage Credit Card

The Student Plus Advantage credit card from SBI is one of the most popular credit cards for students. Available for an annual fee of just ₹500, the card offers a host of different benefits. Check out a few of them below.

• Ability to use reward points to pay outstanding dues

• 1 reward point for every ₹100 spent on the card

• 10x reward points for all international, grocery and departmental store transactions

• Fuel surcharge waiver of 2.5% across all fuel stations in India

2. HDFC Bank ForexPlus card

Ideal for students who have enrolled in foreign universities, the ForexPlus card is a prepaid card that functions like a typical credit card. To use the card, first, you would need to load it up with funds. You can transfer funds to the card in INR and then later on use it to pay for products or services in a foreign currency. The card protects the holder from exchange rate fluctuations.

3. HDFC Multicurrency Platinum ForexPlus Chip card

The Multicurrency Platinum ForexPlus Chip card from HDFC Bank also works in a very similar fashion to the bank’s ForexPlus card. The only difference is that the Multicurrency card supports payments in up to 20 different foreign currencies.

Since this student credit card is a prepaid card, you would have to deposit funds in the card’s account before you can begin to use it. In addition to this, the card also comes with a card protection plan to the tune of ₹5 Lakhs.

4. West Bengal Student Credit Card (WBSCC)

Launched by the government of West Bengal, the WBSCC allows students to avail a loan of up to ₹10 Lakhs. These loans are available at a very low-interest rate of just 4% per annum for a maximum tenure of 15 years. The loan can be used by students to pay for their higher education. This credit card for students is offered through various partner banks. You can apply for this student credit card through the website https://wbscc.wb.gov.in/, which is a dedicated portal established by the West Bengal Government.

Features and Benefits of Credit Cards for Students

While they will vary from lender to lender, the general features and benefits of getting a student credit card are discussed below:

• A student credit card comes with a limited credit limit so that students do not fall into a debt trap by overspending

• A student credit card has a low cash withdrawal limit so that students can use it only for emergencies

• Student credit cards offer convenience and quick access to funds

• The interest rate is low to ensure easy and convenient repayment

• A student credit card has a validity of 5 years

• Some banks offer the facility to convert the student credit card to a standard credit card once the cardholder completes his/her college education

• As a student credit card helps in prompt repayment of dues, it easily helps the cardholder to build a good credit score

• You can earn and redeem reward points and get discounts against student credit card transactions

• You can get a student credit card with zero fees and charges

Add-on Credit Cards for Students 

An add-on card is a supplementary credit card issued against a primary credit card. This is one of the simplest ways to procure a credit card, you do not have to go through the same process as a regular credit card. The primary user and immediate family members of the primary user are the only ones eligible for add-on cards.

Student Credit Card Rewards Points

Student credit cards are designed in such a way that college students can manage their finances in an easy and hassle-free manner. With a student credit card, you can enjoy some of the best credit card offers, cashback, and discounts. You can get special discounts and cashback on movie tickets and events along with a fuel surcharge waiver, free airport lounge access, interest-free ATM withdrawal. What’s more! Transactions made using these cards are also eligible for rewards. The accumulated credit card reward points can then be redeemed against coupons and merchandise available in the bank’s reward catalogue.