SBI Card ELITE vs Yes Bank Marquee
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
SBI Card ELITE and Yes Bank Marquee differ first on recurring cost: SBI Card ELITE has an annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST against ₹4,999 + GST for Yes Bank Marquee, so holding cost is identical. On rewards, SBI Card ELITE earns 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends while Yes Bank Marquee earns 18 YES Rewardz Points per ₹200 on eligible offline and other non-accelerated retail spend. Yes Bank Marquee 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 2026-08-01. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | SBI Card ELITE | Yes Bank Marquee |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | SBI Card | Yes Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹9,999 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹10,00,000 annual eligible spend | ₹10,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends | 18 YES Rewardz Points per ₹200 on eligible offline and other non-accelerated retail spend |
| Accelerated routes | 10 Reward Points per ₹100; 10,000 accelerated-point monthly cap, then 2 points per ₹100 | online travel & airline spends · utility spend |
| Reward exclusions | balance transfer, balance transfer emi, flexipay, cash advance, easy money, encash, dial a draft, atm withdrawal, fees, fuel, rent, wallet load, government | fuel, rent, wallet load, government, marketing advertising, cash advance, fees, post purchase emi, emi on call, instant emi, insurance, education, railway, toll, ferry |
| Forex markup | 1.99% | 1% |
| Domestic lounge | 8 complimentary visits per year, maximum 2 per quarter | 6/quarter (₹1L quarterly spend condition), incl add-on |
| International lounge | 6 complimentary Priority Pass visits outside India per calendar year, maximum 2 per quarter; paid thereafter | unlimited for primary + add-on |
| Card networks | Visa, Mastercard | Mastercard World Elite |
| Best suited to | movies, dining, low forex | international lounge, movies, low forex |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-07-30 | Checked 2026-08-01 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the SBI Card ELITE better than the Yes Bank Marquee?
Neither is universally better. SBI Card ELITE charges ₹4,999 + GST a year and earns 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends; Yes Bank Marquee charges ₹4,999 + GST and earns 18 YES Rewardz Points per ₹200 on eligible offline and other non-accelerated retail 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, SBI Card ELITE or Yes Bank Marquee?
Both cards carry the same recorded annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST, so the decision rests on rewards, caps and exclusions rather than holding cost.
Which is better for international spending, SBI Card ELITE or Yes Bank Marquee?
Yes Bank Marquee 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.