American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) vs IndusInd Bank Tiger
A field-by-field comparison of fees, reward rates, accelerated categories, caps, exclusions, lounge access and forex markup, using each issuer's own published terms. Affiliate payout never decides the verdict.
Short answer
American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) and IndusInd Bank Tiger differ first on recurring cost: American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) has an annual fee of ₹4,500 + GST against ₹0 for IndusInd Bank Tiger, so IndusInd Bank Tiger is cheaper to hold. On rewards, American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) earns 1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 on eligible spend while IndusInd Bank Tiger earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend. IndusInd Bank Tiger has the lower forex markup at 1.5%. Neither card wins outright: the better choice depends on which accelerated categories match your spend, the monthly caps, the exclusions and issuer approval fit.
Source: CardMasters issuer-evidence catalogue, release 2026-08-01. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) | IndusInd Bank Tiger |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | American Express | IndusInd Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹1,000 + GST | ₹0 |
| Annual fee | ₹4,500 + GST | ₹0 |
| Fee waiver | ₹1,50,000 annual eligible spend | No waiver recorded |
| Base rewards | 1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 on eligible spend | 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend |
| Accelerated routes | None recorded | None recorded |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, insurance, utilities, cash advance, emi | fuel |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 1.5% |
| Domestic lounge | none | 8/yr (no spend condition) |
| International lounge | none | 2/yr |
| Card networks | Amex | Visa |
| Best suited to | disciplined monthly spender, points collector | lifetime free, lounge, air india miles, high annual spender |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-07-30 | Checked 2026-08-01 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) better than the IndusInd Bank Tiger?
Neither is universally better. American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) charges ₹4,500 + GST a year and earns 1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 on eligible spend; IndusInd Bank Tiger charges ₹0 and earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend. The better card is the one whose accelerated categories, caps and exclusions match your actual spending, after subtracting the annual fee and GST.
Which of the two has the lower annual fee, American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) or IndusInd Bank Tiger?
IndusInd Bank Tiger has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹0. A spend-based waiver may reduce the effective cost of the other card, so check the waiver threshold before deciding.
Which is better for international spending, American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) or IndusInd Bank Tiger?
IndusInd Bank Tiger publishes the lower forex markup at 1.5% versus 3.5%. Also confirm whether international transactions earn rewards, since some issuers exclude them.
Can I hold both cards together?
Yes, provided each is approved on its own merits and you can pay both statements in full. Holding both makes sense only when their accelerated categories do not overlap; otherwise the second card adds an annual fee without adding rewards.