ICICI Bank
Coral
The ICICI Coral is the quintessential "all-rounder" for beginners, offering a balanced mix of movie discounts, dining perks, and unconditional railway lounge access. While its airport lounge access now requires a ₹75,000 quarterly spend, its availability on the RuPay network for UPI payments makes it a versatile daily driver for those building their credit profile.
Direct link to the issuer's website. Terms apply — verify current offer with the bank.
Data last updated 31 May 2026.
At a Glance
Annual Fee
₹500
Joining Fee
₹500
Fee Waiver
Spend ₹1,50,000 annually
Lounge Access
See details
Forex Markup
3.5%
Effective Yield
0.5% – 6%
Our Take
The ICICI Coral is the quintessential "all-rounder" for beginners, offering a balanced mix of movie discounts, dining perks, and unconditional railway lounge access. While its airport lounge access now requires a ₹75,000 quarterly spend, its availability on the RuPay network for UPI payments makes it a versatile daily driver for those building their credit profile.In 2026, the Coral card’s value proposition has split. While its airport lounge access is now strictly "spend-linked" (₹75k in the previous quarter), it remains one of the few cards to offer 1 complimentary railway lounge visit per quarter with zero spend requirements—a massive win for train commuters. An unbiased review must highlight the 25% movie discount (up to ₹100) on BookMyShow and INOX, available twice monthly. While the 0.5% base reward rate (2 points/₹100) is low, the ability to earn points on utilities and insurance—categories often excluded by rivals—and the ₹1.5 lakh annual fee waiver keep it a low-cost, high-utility staple.
Pros
- Rare Utility & Insurance Rewards: Earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on utility and insurance spends. In 2026, when most major banks have moved to 'zero-rewards' for bills, the Coral remains one of the few cards that pays you to stay on top of your life's mandatory costs.
- The 2026 'RuPay-UPI' Advantage: The RuPay variant of the Coral card can be linked directly to UPI apps (GPay, PhonePe). This allows your readers to earn rewards even on small QR scans at local vendors, which is the most common way Indians spend today.
- Massive Milestone Engine: Provides 2,000 bonus points at ₹2 Lakhs spend and 1,000 extra points for every ₹1 Lakh thereafter (up to 10,000 points annually). For a middle-income household, this 'bonus layer' effectively increases the base reward rate by ~0.5%–1%.
- Generous Movie 'Double-Play': Offers 25% off (up to ₹100) on both BookMyShow and INOX, twice a month. While other ICICI cards like the Platinum have discontinued movie benefits in 2026, the Coral has retained them as a 'premium entry' perk.
- Integrated Railway Lounge Access: Includes 1 complimentary railway lounge visit per quarter. With the recent revamp of Indian railway stations, these lounges provide a high-value, air-conditioned sanctuary for commuters that is often overlooked.
- Lifelong RuPay Benefit: For existing ICICI customers, the RuPay variant is often offered as a 'Lifetime Free' (LTF) second card. This allows users to keep their Visa/Mastercard for international use while using the RuPay-Coral for UPI without paying two fees.
Cons
- The 2026 '75k Lounge Barrier': Effective January 2025 and continuing into 2026, you must spend at least ₹75,000 in the *previous* calendar quarter to unlock just 1 domestic airport lounge visit. For an entry-level cardholder, this is a very high 'pay-to-play' threshold.
- Poor 'Air Mile' Conversion: Unlike HDFC or Axis cards in the same price tier, ICICI Reward Points do not convert well to airline miles. Redemption is primarily restricted to the ICICI catalog or statement credit at a meager ₹0.25 per point.
- Microscopic 0.5% Base Reward Rate: Earns a flat 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on general retail. This 0.5% value-back is significantly lower than the 1.5%–2% offered by competitors like the Axis ACE or the SBI Cashback card.
- The 'HPCL-Only' Fuel Lock: The 1% fuel surcharge waiver is strictly restricted to HPCL pumps and only for transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000. If your readers prefer IndianOil or Bharat Petroleum, this card provides zero fuel benefits.
- Strict 2026 'Dead' Categories: As of early 2026, ICICI has officially removed reward points for Rent payments and E-wallet loading. These high-value transactions also do not contribute toward the ₹1.5 Lakh annual fee-waiver milestone.
Earning & Redemption
How You Earn
| Category | Reward rate | Yield % | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Retail Spends | 2 Reward Points (RP) per ₹100 | 0.50% | No Upper Cap (on general retail) |
| Utilities & Insurance | 1 RP per ₹100 | 0.25% | Capped at ₹40,000 spend per month for Insurance/Utility |
| UPI Spends (RuPay Variant) | 1 RP per ₹100 | 0.25% | No explicit cap on UPI base points (Rupay variant) |
| Transport Spends (Rail/Taxis) | 2 RP per ₹100 | 0.50% | Capped at ₹10,000 spend per month |
| iShop Portal (Accelerated) | Up to 48 RP per ₹100 | 12% | Varies by Merchant |
Milestone Rewards
| Spend | Benefit | Value | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹2 Lakh | Annual Milestone 12,000 pts | ₹500 | Earn 2,000 bonus RP upon hitting ₹2 Lakhs anniversary year spend. |
| ₹1 Lakh | Incremental Milestone1,000 pts | ₹250 | Earn 1,000 bonus RP for every ₹1 Lakh spend after the initial ₹2L (Max 10,000/year). |
| ₹1.5 Lakh | Fee Waiver0 pts | ₹500 + GST Savings | Annual fee waived for the next year if annual spends exceed ₹1.5 Lakhs. |
Redemption Value
| Channel | Value per point | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Rewards Catalogue (Vouchers) | ₹0.25 per point4:1 Ratio | Best Value (Redeem for Amazon, Croma, or Shoppers Stop vouchers via iMobile) |
What You Need to Know
The ₹75k Lounge Gate
Effective Jan 2025/2026, you must spend ₹75,000 in the PREVIOUS quarter to unlock the next quarter's lounge access.
Impact: Casual or secondary card users will almost never trigger this benefit.
New BMS Spend Gate
BookMyShow 25% discount now requires a spend of ₹25,000 in the previous calendar quarter.
Impact: If the card is dormant, you lose the 'cheap movies' benefit entirely.
Essential Fine Print
Reward Exclusions
Excluded from Reward Points: Fuel transactions and rent payments do not earn reward points.
Lounge Access
Domestic Airport Lounge Access
1 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per quarter. (Note: You can enjoy complimentary airport lounge access by spending ₹75,000 in the preceding calendar quarter)
Railway Lounge Access
4 complimentary access to select railway lounges in India annually.
Milestone Benefits
Milestone Reward Points
Earn 2,000 Reward Points on spending ₹2,00,000 in a year; earn 1,000 Reward Points for every ₹1,00,000 spent thereafter (up to 10,000 points annually).
Annual Fee Waiver
Renewal fee waived if spends exceed ₹1,50,000 in the previous year.
Additional Features
Movie Discounts
25% discount up to ₹100 per transaction on minimum purchase of two movie tickets; available twice a month via BookMyShow. Note: You can enjoy the BookMyShow offer on your Credit Card by spending ₹ 25,000 or more in the preceding quarter.
Reward Earning Rate
2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent (excluding fuel and utilities); 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on utilities and insurance categories.
Fees & Charges
| Fee Type | Amount / Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹500 |
| Annual / Renewal Fee | ₹500 |
| Fee Waiver Threshold | Spend ₹1,50,000 annually |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% |
| Reward Redemption Fee | ₹99 per redemption |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% surcharge |
Eligibility Criteria
Salaried
Age > 21 years, Monthly Income > ₹ 20,000
Self-Employed
Age > 21 years, Annual Income > ₹ 2,40,000
Ready to apply for Coral?
Annual fee: ₹500 · Waived on ₹1,50,000 spend
Annual fee
₹500
0.5% – 6% yield