Federal Bank Celesta vs IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select
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
Federal Bank Celesta and IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select differ first on recurring cost: Federal Bank Celesta has an annual fee of ₹0 against ₹0 for IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select, so holding cost is identical. On rewards, Federal Bank Celesta earns 1 Federal Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend while IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select earns 3 Reward Points per ₹200 on eligible spends. IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select has the lower forex markup at 1.99%. 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 | Federal Bank Celesta | IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Federal Bank | IDFC FIRST Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Annual fee | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Fee waiver | No waiver recorded | No waiver recorded |
| Base rewards | 1 Federal Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend | 3 Reward Points per ₹200 on eligible spends |
| Accelerated routes | travel & international spends · dining · insurance | 10 Reward Points per ₹200 on eligible dining, travel and international purchases |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, wallet load, government, financial institution, quasi cash, cash advance | fuel, emi, cash advance |
| Forex markup | 2% | 1.99% |
| Domestic lounge | 2/quarter (₹60K spend in prior quarter) | 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per quarter after ₹20,000 spend in the previous calendar month; 4 railway lounge visits per quarter with the same monthly spend gate |
| International lounge | 2/yr, no spend criteria | none |
| Card networks | Visa Signature, Mastercard | Visa Signature |
| Best suited to | balanced, lifetime free, occasional traveler | lifetime free, low forex, balanced |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-07-30 | Checked 2026-08-01 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Federal Bank Celesta better than the IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select?
Neither is universally better. Federal Bank Celesta charges ₹0 a year and earns 1 Federal Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend; IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select charges ₹0 and earns 3 Reward Points per ₹200 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, Federal Bank Celesta or IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select?
Both cards carry the same recorded annual fee of ₹0, so the decision rests on rewards, caps and exclusions rather than holding cost.
Which is better for international spending, Federal Bank Celesta or IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select?
IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select publishes the lower forex markup at 1.99% versus 2%. 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.