Bank of Baroda IRCTC BOBCARD Credit Card Review
Author And Publisher: Gyro 3.oIRCTC BOBCARD Credit Card
Financial Expert Advice
Choose Your First (or Next) Credit Card Wisely
Maintain Two Credit Cards: One For Routine Expenses And Auto-Debits, And Another Reserved For Emergencies. Avoid Pursuing Rewards; Prioritize Financial Stability And Discipline.
Bank of Baroda IRCTC BOBCARD Credit Card Review:
40X Train Ticket Rewards, ₹350 Annual Fee
& 4 Free Railway Lounge Visits
introduction
IRCTC BOBCARD is a co-branded credit card from BOBCARD and IRCTC designed specifically for frequent train travelers in India. It offers up to 40 reward points per ₹100 on train ticket bookings via IRCTC website and app, plus a welcome bonus of 500 reward points on achieving the initial spend milestone. Cardholders also enjoy 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses per year, fuel surcharge waiver, and the ability to convert big-ticket purchases into Smart EMIs for smoother repayments. Joining fee is ₹500 and annual fee is ₹350, making it a value-focused travel card for regular rail users.
key features and benefits
Welcome Benefits
500 Bonus Reward Points: Credited on spending ₹5,000 or more within 60 days of card issuance.
Reward Structure
iRCTC Train Tickets (Website & Mobile App): 40 Reward Points per ₹100.
Departmental Stores: 4 Reward Points per ₹100.
All Other Categories: 2 Reward Points per ₹100.
Railway Lounge Access
- 4 Railway Lounge Complimentary Visits: 1 visit per calendar quarter (4 annually) at partner IRCTC railway lounges.
additional Benefits
- Up to 3 Lifetime Free Add-On Cards: Complimentary cards for family members.
- Smart EMI Option: Convert purchases ₹2,500+ into 6-48 month installments.
- zero Liability on lost card (report Immediately).
Card Essential
Rewards and Benefits Analysis
Best for: Frequent train travelers, business rail commuters, holiday rail planners, those seeking authentic rail journey value.
Real Value Example (Annual Spend ₹1,50,000):
IRCTC train tickets (₹60,000 × 40X): 24,000 RP = ₹6,000 cashback.
Departmental stores (₹40,000 × 4X): 1,600 RP = ₹400 cashback.
Other categories (₹50,000 × 2X): 1,000 RP = ₹250 cashback.
Total RP: 26,600 RP = ₹6,650 value.
Railway lounge access (4 visits × ₹1,500): ₹6,000 value.
Fuel surcharge waiver (₹15,000 fuel × 1% capped): ₹1,200 annual.
Welcome bonus (year 1): ₹625 value.
Total annual value: ₹26,475+ (year 1 with welcome).
Less annual fee (₹350): Net benefit = ₹26,125+ (year 1).
Subsequent years: ₹25,500+ annually.
Practical Considerations
Fees & Charges Summary:
₹500 joining fee.
₹350 annual fee.
Eligibility:
Salaried: 21-60 years (primary), 18+ (add-on).
Self-Employed: 24-65 years.
Residency: Indian residents only.
Documentation (Bank of Baroda IRCTC BOBCARD):
PAN card (mandatory).
Recent passport-sized photo (white background, no tinted glasses).
Address proof: Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence, Job Card.
Income proof: Salaried (2-month salary-credited bank statements + salary slips); Self-employed (ITR + bank statements).
Redemption Options
- BOBCARD Rewards Portal:
- Reward Points redeemable exclusively for cash credit against outstanding card balance (1 RP = ₹0.25 direct conversion As per Bank of Baroda documentation), straightforward, transparent redemption suitable for train travel focus.
- Best Value Strategy:
Consolidate all train bookings via IRCTC app/website using BOBCARD for 40X Earning.
Link IRCTC BOBCARD Loyalty Number to IRCTC Login ID for automatic reward capture.
Combine 40X rewards + 10% direct savings for maximum train expense reduction.
Plan departmental shopping through card (4X acceleration).
Redeem quarterly for cash credit.
Utilize railway lounge visits strategically around travel schedule (4 annual visits).
Ideal User Profile
Frequent train travelers (monthly or weekly commuters).
Business professionals using rail Extensively .
Holiday train planners (regular vacation rail trips).
Indian residents with authentic rail travel frequency.
Those prioritizing train journey savings over airline travel.
Final Thoughts
- Strengths:
Earns 40X unlimited rewards on IRCTC train bookings—no caps for frequent rail travelers.
Grants 4 complimentary railway lounge visits yearly, one per quarter at major stations.
Low ₹350 annual fee keeps costs minimal for solid train-focused value.
Accelerates 4X on departmental stores and groceries for everyday retail.
- Limitations:
Verdict:
Highly recommended for frequent train travelers, business rail commuters, and vacation rail planners generating ₹15K+ annual IRCTC spending—caveat: value proposition diminishes significantly for casual rail users or those preferring airline travel; works best for professional commuters with consistent weekly/monthly train journeys.
Additional Tips for Applicants
Assess authentic rail frequency: Ensure genuine ₹1,000+ monthly IRCTC spending for value realization.
Calculate train savings: Model annual IRCTC spend × 40X earning, against ₹350 annual fee.
Best Usage Recommendations: Consolidate all train bookings through IRCTC website/mobile app (40X unlimited); link IRCTC account for automatic earning; route departmental shopping via card (4X); maintain fuel within ₹100 monthly waiver cap; settle full balance monthly; redeem quarterly for cash credit.
CDMS EXPERT ADVICE
Co-branded train cards only make sense when your real IRCTC travel matches the 40X reward focus—never book extra journeys just to earn points. Always treat ticket rewards as a bonus on planned trips, not a reason to travel more. If card dues start rising, stop non-essential bookings, use the card only for genuine journeys, and aim to pay the full bill every month so interest does not wipe out your savings. If you feel stuck, talk to a qualified financial planner, debt counsellor, or advisor to build a repayment and budgeting plan before balances spiral further.
This review offers a clear and balanced overview of The Bank of Baroda IRCTC BOBCARD Credit Card’s strengths and limitations, helping readers make an informed choice about whether this card fits their
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