Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card benefits
- Benefit
Milestone benefits at ₹2 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh of spends, the top one a ₹20,000 luxury stay
- Benefit
Luxury stay gift card from EaseMyTrip (₹10,000) or Lohono (₹12,000) as a welcome benefit
- Lounge
Unlimited airport lounge visits in India and abroad for primary and add-on cardholders
Good to know
- 1.49% forex markup and 2.5% in reward points on international spends
- Annual fee of ₹20,000 reversed on ₹25 lakh of spends in the card year
Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card rewards and cashback
| Where you spend | Rate | Monthly limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bills and utilitiesUtility, insurance, education and government payments together earn up to 5,000 points a statement cycle. | 2 points per ₹100 | 5,000 |
| Everything else | 2 points per ₹100 | None |
We value one point at ₹0.4 in the usual redemption.
No rewards on: Fuel, rent and transactions converted to EMI.
All reward rules
- ICICI Bank gives 2% in reward points on eligible spends in India and 2.5% on international spends. We read this as 2 points per ₹100 in India. The higher international rate is not in the maths.
- We use ₹0.40 per point, the statement credit value, which is the only redemption value ICICI Bank states for this card. The bank says a point can be worth up to ₹1 on other redemptions, but does not say which ones.
- Milestone benefits are not in the maths: Klook experiences worth ₹10,000 at ₹2 lakh of spends, WeWork passes or airport transfers worth ₹10,000 at ₹5 lakh, a Tata CLiQ Luxury gift card worth ₹10,000 at ₹10 lakh, and a one-night stay at Ayatana or Lohono worth ₹20,000 at ₹20 lakh. Each must be claimed in the Times Black app within 6 months.
- Welcome benefits: a luxury stay gift card from EaseMyTrip (₹10,000) or Lohono (₹12,000), Toni and Guy (₹3,000) and Interflora (₹1,000) gift cards, a yearly Zomato Gold membership and visa help worth ₹10,000 from Atlys and OneVasco.
- ICICI Bank's card page says the card comes on two networks, Visa and American Express, with the benefits of both.
What the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card gives back in a year
Say you spend ₹2,00,000 a month. Worked out with the same maths as the calculator above.
| Spending | A month | Back | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | ₹20,000 | 0.8% | ₹1,920 |
| Dining and food delivery | ₹13,300 | 0.8% | ₹1,277 |
| Online shopping | ₹1,20,000 | 0.8% | ₹11,520 |
| Travel | ₹6,700 | 0.8% | ₹643 |
| Fuel | ₹6,700 | 0% | ₹0 |
| Bills and utilities | ₹13,300 | 0.8% | ₹1,277 |
| Everything else | ₹20,000 | 0.8% | ₹1,920 |
| Total | ₹2,00,000 | ₹18,557 | |
| Renewal fee with GST | −₹23,600 | ||
| You keep | -₹5,043* |
Spend ₹1,00,000 more in the year and the renewal fee is waived.
Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card annual fee and charges
- Joining fee
- ₹20,000
- Annual fee
- ₹20,000
- Fee waiver
- ₹25,00,000 a year
- Foreign currency markup
- 1.49%
Joining fee and annual fee ₹20,000 each, before GST. Spend ₹25 lakh or more in a card year and the next year's annual fee is reversed. Add-on cards cost ₹3,500. There is no fee to redeem points and no fee on ATM cash withdrawals, though interest still applies.
Fuel surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel pumps, up to ₹1,000 a statement cycle.
Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card eligibility
- Age
- 21 or above
- Salaried income
- ₹24,00,000 a year
- Self-employed income
- ₹24,00,000 a year
Salaried applicants need a monthly income of ₹2,00,000. Self-employed applicants need a yearly income of ₹24,00,000.
The bank alone decides approval and your credit limit.
Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card lounge access
The bank's terms list no fixed number of free airport lounge visits on this card.
Lounge access has no fixed count. Primary and add-on cardholders get unlimited airport lounge visits in India, and unlimited visits outside India with Priority Pass. Guests pay USD 29 plus GST a visit.
Is the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card right for you?
A card with a ₹20,000 fee that spending can waive, paying an average 0.8% on most spends.
Worth its fee if you spend about ₹2,09,000 a month or more. Below that, the ₹20,000 fee costs more than the card gives back on spending like the example above.
Good for you if
- You spend ₹25,00,000 a year or more (about ₹2,08,400 a month), so the ₹20,000 renewal fee is waived.
- You pay in foreign currency, abroad or on foreign websites: the markup is 1.49%, against a typical 3.5% on the cards we list.
Not for you if
- You spend less than about ₹2,08,400 a month: you would pay ₹23,600 a year with GST.
Check the latest fees and terms on the bank's page before you apply.
Alternatives to Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card
Two similar cards to weigh up before you apply. The last column shows what each may be worth on ₹30,000 a month of mixed spending, after the renewal fee with GST. Rates paid only at named brands are not counted, so a brand card can earn more if you shop there.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards up to | You keep a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card | ₹20,000 | 0.8% | -₹21,008* |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | Free | 3% | ₹9,720* |
| BOBCARD ETERNA Credit Card | ₹2,499 | 3.75% | ₹7,470* |
If most of your spending looks like the example above, the HSBC Premier Credit Card may suit you better: it would leave you ₹69,588 a year, against -₹5,043 with the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card.
*Estimate only, not a promise. We work it out from the bank's published terms and the spending you enter. What you actually get depends on the bank, your transactions and any change in its terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Times Black ICICI Credit Card annual fee?
The joining fee and annual fee are ₹20,000 each, plus GST. From the second year, the annual fee is reversed if you spent ₹25 lakh or more in the year before.
What is 1 Times Black reward point worth?
ICICI Bank says a point is worth up to ₹1. Against your card bill, 1 point is worth ₹0.40. There is no redemption fee on this card.
What forex markup does the Times Black card charge?
1.49% on foreign currency spends. The same 1.49% applies when you pay in rupees abroad or to a merchant registered outside India.
What income do I need for the Times Black ICICI card?
Salaried applicants need ₹2 lakh a month. Self-employed applicants need ₹24 lakh a year. You must be over 21.