
State Bank of India
Aurum
The SBI Aurum is an invite-only, metal masterpiece tailored for the ultra-elite. While its ₹9,999 fee is high, it is uniquely exempt from the 2026 SBI redemption caps, allowing uncapped point-to-mile transfers.
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
₹9,999
Joining Fee
₹9,999
Fee Waiver
Spend ₹12,00,000 annually
Lounge Access
See details
Forex Markup
1.99%
Effective Yield
1% – 4.8%
Our Take
The SBI Aurum is an invite-only, metal masterpiece tailored for the ultra-elite. While its ₹9,999 fee is high, it is uniquely exempt from the 2026 SBI redemption caps, allowing uncapped point-to-mile transfers. With unlimited international lounge access (including guests) and a dedicated concierge, it remains the most prestigious tool in the SBI arsenal for high-net-worth individuals.In 2026, the Aurum card solidified its "super-premium" status by bypassing the restrictive "multiples of 4,000" redemption rules that hit other SBI cards. While the base reward rate is a modest 1% (4 pts/₹100), the value is packed into its lifestyle perks: 4 free movie tickets monthly (via BookMyShow) and 16 golf rounds annually. An unbiased review must highlight the April 2026 milestone shift: you now earn a ₹1,500 Tata CLiQ voucher monthly on a ₹1 lakh spend, but the ₹20,000 Apple voucher requires a steep ₹20 lakh annual commitment. For travelers, the 1.99% forex markup and the rare flight cancellation insurance (up to ₹3,500) provide a safety net that justifies the non-waivable fee.
Pros
- Stacked Monthly & Annual Milestones: Offers a ₹1,500 Tata CLiQ voucher every month you spend ₹1 Lakh. When you add the annual tiers—₹5,000 (at ₹5L), ₹10,000 Taj voucher (at ₹10L), and ₹20,000 Apple voucher (at ₹20L)—high spenders can extract over ₹50,000 in 'pure bonus' value per year.
- Unlimited Global Lounge Suite: Provides unlimited international lounge access via DreamFolks with a rare 'Plus One' perk (1 complimentary guest visit per quarter). Domestic access is capped at 4 per quarter, but unlike mid-tier cards, these are not currently gated by quarterly spend hurdles.
- Elite 1.99% Forex Markup: Maintains a highly competitive 1.99% markup for international transactions. For a super-premium card, this makes it an efficient tool for global luxury shopping, especially when paired with its uncapped 1% base reward rate.
- The 'Lifestyle Concierge' Bundle: Includes 1-year complimentary digital subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal and Mint, a Club Marriott membership, and a membership to Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) for angel investing—perks that cater specifically to the 'wealth' demographic.
- Comprehensive 'Flight Cancellation' Shield: Uniquely offers two flight cancellation refunds per year (up to ₹3,500 per instance) for any airline, regardless of whether the ticket was refundable. This is a high-utility 'peace of mind' feature for busy executives.
Cons
- The 2026 'Redemption Multiple' Logic: Effective April 1, 2026, SBI has unified its redemption policy. While Aurum users are exempt from the 60,000-point monthly cap, they must still redeem in multiples of 4,000 points. This adds a slight 'liquidity friction' compared to the seamless 1:1 redemption of the HDFC Infinia.
- Mediocre 1% Base Reward Rate: Earns a flat 4 Reward Points per ₹100 (1% value-back). Without hitting the milestones, the 'raw' earning power is significantly lower than the 3.3% base rate of the HDFC Infinia or the 2% of the Axis Magnus.
- High Invitation Barrier: Unlike the SBI Elite, you cannot simply 'apply' for the Aurum. It requires a documented annual income of ₹40 Lakhs+ and usually an existing high-limit relationship with SBI, making it inaccessible for many emerging affluent users on *CreditGully*.
- Punitive 'Dead Category' List: No reward points are earned on Fuel, Rent, Insurance, Utilities, and Education. Critically, these categories also do not count toward the ₹12 Lakh annual spend target for the fee waiver, making the waiver harder to hit for 'boring' spenders.
- The ₹9,999 'Flex' Fee: The annual fee is steep and only waived at the ₹12 Lakh mark. While the joining bonus of 40,000 points (₹10,000) 'neutralizes' the first year, the ongoing cost is high if your annual spending doesn't consistently hit the seven-figure mark.
Earning & Redemption
Milestone Rewards
| Spend | Benefit | Value | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹1 Lakh | Monthly Milestone0 pts | ₹1,500 (Tata Cliq Voucher) | Earn a ₹1,500 voucher every month you spend ₹1 Lakh. (Total ₹18,000/year). |
| ₹5 Lakh | Annual Milestone 10 pts | ₹5,000 (Tata Cliq Luxury) | Earn a ₹5,000 voucher upon reaching ₹5 Lakhs annual spend. |
| ₹10 Lakh | Annual Milestone 20 pts | ₹10,000 (Taj Voucher) | Earn a ₹10,000 Taj Experience voucher upon reaching ₹10 Lakhs annual spend. |
| ₹20 Lakh | Annual Milestone 30 pts | ₹20,000 (Apple Voucher) | Earn a ₹20,000 Apple Store voucher upon reaching ₹20 Lakhs annual spend. |
Redemption Value
| Channel | Value per point | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Aurum Portal (Vouchers/Travel) | ₹0.25 per point1:1 Ratio | Best Value (Redeem for luxury brand vouchers or travel bookings) |
| Air Miles Transfer | Variable5:1 Ratio | Moderate (Partners: Maharaja Club, Qatar Airways Avios, Club ITC) |
| Statement Credit (Cash) | N/ANot Supported | Aurum does not support direct statement credit; use points for vouchers. |
What You Need to Know
Exclusion from 2026 Capping
Unlike SBI Prime/Elite, Aurum is exempt from the 60k-point monthly redemption cap.
Impact: Allows ultra-high spenders to redeem large point balances without bottlenecking.
The 'Lounge Guest' Limit
Unlimited international access for primary, but guest visits are capped at 4 per year (1/qtr).
Impact: If traveling with family, you must use add-on cards to keep lounge visits free.
2026 Forex Markup
Forex markup remains at 1.99%, beating the standard 3.5% on most SBI cards.
Impact: Makes it a viable international shopping card, though Yes Marquee (1%) is still better.
Subscription Expiry
WSJ, Mint, and IPV memberships are for 1 year and don't always auto-renew on spends.
Impact: Users must manually track and re-activate these perks every anniversary.
Essential Fine Print
Reward Exclusions
No Reward Categories: Reward points are not earned on Fuel, Rent, Cash Advances, and Balance Transfer transactions.
Welcome Offer
Welcome Reward Points
40,000 Reward Points credited upon payment of the joining fee.
Complimentary 1-year Club Marriott Membership.
With AURUM, indulge in profound luxurious experiences with a complimentary 1-year Club Marriott Membership.
Complimentary 1-year digital subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal and Mint.
Stay in touch with the events of the world as they happen, with complimentary 1-year digital subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal and Mint.
1-year complimentary membership to Inflection Point Venture(IPV)
Embrace the role of an Angel Investor with 1-year complimentary membership to Inflection Point Venture(IPV), worth Rs.29,382.
Lounge Access
Unlimited International Lounge Access
Unlimited complimentary access to 1,000+ international airport lounges for primary and add-on cardholders via Dreamfolks membership.
Domestic Lounge Access
4 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits per quarter. Applicable for Add-on Cardholder(s) as well.
Travel Benefits
Low Forex Markup
Foreign currency mark-up of 1.99% on all international transactions.
Complimentary Golf
4 complimentary green fee rounds and 12 golf lessons per calendar year.
Complimentary Airport Spa
One complimentary Spa access at select airports every quarter within India
Dining Benefits
District by Zomato
Enjoy 15% instant discount on District (dining) with AURUM Credit Card.
Golf Benefits
Golf Privileges
Enjoy 16 complimentary golf rounds per calendar year (4 per quarter) Master the greens with 12 complimentary golf lessons per calendar year
Milestone Benefits
Monthly Milestone
TataCliq Fashion Voucher worth ₹1,500 on reaching a monthly spend of ₹1 Lakh.
Annual Milestone - ₹5 Lakh
₹5,000 TataCliq LUXURY voucher on reaching annual spends of ₹5 Lakh.
Annual Milestone - ₹10 Lakh
₹10,000 Taj Experiences Luxury voucher on reaching annual spends of ₹10 Lakh.
Annual Milestone - ₹12 Lakh
Annual Fee reversal worth ₹9,999
Annual Milestone - ₹20 Lakh
Apple voucher worth ₹20,000
Additional Features
Concierge Services
24x7 dedicated lifestyle concierge for travel, dining, and assistance.
Comprehensive Insurance
Air accident cover of ₹3.5 Crore and lost card liability cover of ₹10 Lakh.
BookMyShow Discount
Up to ₹1,000 off on movie tickets every month (capped at ₹500/booking).
Fees & Charges
| Fee Type | Amount / Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹9,999 |
| Annual / Renewal Fee | ₹9,999 |
| Fee Waiver Threshold | Spend ₹12,00,000 annually |
| Forex Markup | 1.99% |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% surcharge |
Eligibility Criteria
Invitation Only
This card is offered exclusively via invitation to high-net-worth individuals.
Ready to apply for Aurum?
Annual fee: ₹9,999 · Waived on ₹12,00,000 spend
Annual fee
₹9,999
1% – 4.8% yield