BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card vs SBI Card ELITE
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
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE differ first on recurring cost: BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹2,500 + GST against ₹4,999 + GST for SBI Card ELITE, so BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card is cheaper to hold. On rewards, BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card earns 1 Etihad Guest Mile per ₹100 on eligible domestic and cross-border spends while SBI Card ELITE earns 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends. BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card has the lower forex markup at 1%. 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 2026-08-25. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card | SBI Card ELITE |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | BOBCARD | SBI Card |
| Joining fee | ₹2,500 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹2,500 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹3,00,000 annual eligible spend | ₹10,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 1 Etihad Guest Mile per ₹100 on eligible domestic and cross-border spends | 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends |
| Accelerated routes | 3 Etihad Guest Miles per ₹100 | 10 Reward Points per ₹100; 10,000 accelerated-point monthly cap, then 2 points per ₹100 |
| Reward exclusions | fuel | balance transfer, balance transfer emi, flexipay, cash advance, easy money, encash, dial a draft, atm withdrawal, fees, fuel, rent, wallet load, government |
| Forex markup | 1% | 1.99% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹250 per statement cycle on ₹500–₹5,000 transactions | Not recorded — confirm with issuer |
| Domestic lounge | 8/year (2/quarter) | 8 complimentary visits per year, maximum 2 per quarter |
| International lounge | 4/year (1/quarter) | 6 complimentary Priority Pass visits outside India per calendar year, maximum 2 per quarter; paid thereafter |
| Card networks | Visa | Visa, Mastercard |
| Best suited to | travel, international travel, air miles, low forex | movies, dining, low forex |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-08-08 | Checked 2026-07-30 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card better than the SBI Card ELITE?
Neither is universally better. BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card charges ₹2,500 + GST a year and earns 1 Etihad Guest Mile per ₹100 on eligible domestic and cross-border spends; SBI Card ELITE charges ₹4,999 + GST and earns 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends. 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, BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹2,500 + GST. 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, BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card publishes the lower forex markup at 1% versus 1.99%. 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.