HDFC Bank’s Big Credit Card Update: What Changes from 1 July 2025?

If you’re an HDFC credit card holder, there’s some important news you should know. Starting July 1, 2025, HDFC Bank is making significant changes to its credit card rules that will impact how and where you earn rewards, and how much you may have to pay for certain transactions.

Whether you’re someone who pays rent using a HDFC credit card, loads digital wallets often, or plays skill-based games like fantasy cricket, these changes could affect your monthly budget. But don’t worry—we’ve broken it all down for you in a simple, easy-to-understand way.

What’s Changing and Why?

HDFC Bank says the new rules are aimed at ensuring fair usage and sustainability of reward systems. While many people use credit cards responsibly, some categories like rent payments or wallet top-ups have seen overuse just to earn points or benefits. So, these changes are meant to curb misuse while keeping the experience fair for regular users.

1. No More Reward Points for Skill-Based Gaming

If you love spending on apps like Dream11, MPL, RummyCulture, or other online gaming platforms, there’s a big update:

• No reward points or cashback will be given on these spends.
• If your monthly spend exceeds ₹10,000 on gaming, a 1% fee will be charged on the entire amount.
• The maximum fee you’ll be charged is ₹4,999 per month.

2. Wallet Load Charges Are Coming

Loading your digital wallets like Paytm, PhonePe, Mobikwik, or Freecharge using your credit card will now attract charges too:

• Spend over ₹10,000 in a month, and a 1% fee applies on the total wallet loading amount.
• Again, the fee is capped at ₹4,999/month.

3. Utility Bill Payment Threshold Introduced

Paying your utility bills via HDFC credit card? Here’s what changes:

• If your monthly utility bill payments exceed ₹50,000, a 1% transaction fee will apply to the total spend.
• This includes electricity, broadband, postpaid mobile, gas, etc.
• Insurance payments are excluded, so they won’t be counted towards this limit.

4. Rent, Fuel, and Education Spend—Fee Caps Added

Previously, these categories already had a 1% fee, but now, HDFC has added a fee cap of ₹4,999 per transaction:

• Rent Payments: 1% fee remains, capped at ₹4,999.
• Fuel Transactions: A 1% fee applies only if the transaction exceeds ₹15,000.
• Education Payments:
  
  • If paid through third-party apps (like Cred, Cheq, etc.), a 1% fee applies.
  • If paid directly to an institution or via POS, no fee.
  • International education spending is not affected.

5. Monthly Reward Point Caps on Insurance Payments

HDFC has also revised reward point limits on insurance spends:

Earlier, these caps were daily, which benefited heavy spenders. Now, with a monthly cap, you’ll need to plan your insurance payments more carefully.

How to Avoid Extra Fees and Maximize Rewards

Here are a few simple ways to navigate the new rules smartly:

• Track your spending by category each month.
• Avoid crossing ₹10,000 on gaming and wallet loads.
• For big utilities or rent payments, use alternative payment methods if you’re near the threshold.
• Pay education fees directly instead of using third-party apps.
• Monitor your insurance spending to stay under the monthly reward point limit.

 Final Thoughts

The new rules may seem overwhelming at first, but they’re easy to manage with a little planning. Most regular users won’t be affected too much unless they frequently spend large amounts in specific categories.

So, take a moment to review your monthly HDFC credit card usage and set reminders or spending alerts if needed. With a bit of smart budgeting, you can still make the most of your credit card without paying extra fees.