YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Review 2026: Rewards, Lounge Access & Fees

Yes Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Review

The YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card is the rebranded version of the YES PREMIA and YES ELITE Credit Cards. It is designed for users looking for a mix of rewards, travel benefits, and lifestyle perks.

The card is currently being offered as a Lifetime Free credit card through select application channels, making it an attractive option for users who want premium benefits without paying annual fees.

Cardholders earn 12 YES Rewardz Points for every ₹200 spent online and 6 YES Rewardz Points for every ₹200 spent offline. The card also offers complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, golf privileges, movie ticket discounts through BookMyShow, and a fuel surcharge waiver.

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Key Highlights

FeatureDetails
Card TypeLifestyle & Travel Credit Card
Current OfferLifetime Free through select application channels
Reward RateUp to 12 YES Rewardz Points per ₹200 on online spends
Domestic Lounge Access2 complimentary visits per calendar quarter
International Lounge Access3 complimentary visits per year
Lounge Spend Requirement₹50,000 spends in the previous qualifying quarter
Golf Benefits4 green fee waivers per year + 1 golf lesson per month
Movie Benefit25% off on BookMyShow up to ₹250 per month
Forex Markup2.75% + GST
Fuel Surcharge Waiver1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹5000
Rewards Subscription PlanOptional 3X and 5X reward plans available
Purchase ProtectionUp to ₹50,000 on eligible online purchases
Best ForLounge access, travel benefits, golf privileges and lifestyle perks
Scapia Card
Lifetime Free
Forex Fee Rate 0% Markup (~₹4k Saved / ₹1L Spend)
Access Policy Unlimited Lounges (On ₹20k monthly cycle)

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Fees

Fee TypeDetails
Joining Fee₹999 + GST Lifetime Free (Current Offer)
Welcome Benefit₹500 Amazon Gift Voucher on spending ₹1000 within the first 30 days (excluding rent and wallet transactions)
Joining Fee WaiverOn ₹20,000 spends within the first 30 days
Annual Fee₹999 + GST Lifetime Free (Current Offer)
Annual Fee WaiverOn ₹2 lakh spends in a membership year (excluding rent and wallet transactions)

Note: The YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card is currently being offered as a Lifetime Free card through select application channels. Under the standard fee structure, the card carries a joining fee and annual fee of ₹999 + GST each.

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Rewards

Type of SpendReward PointsReward Rate
Online Spends (except select categories)12 YES Rewardz Points per ₹2001.5%
Offline Spends (except select categories)6 YES Rewardz Points per ₹2000.75%
Select Categories (Utilities, Insurance and Education)4 YES Rewardz Points per ₹2000.5%
Rent, Wallet, Fuel, Government, Marketing & Advertising, Cash Withdrawals and EMI TransactionsNo Rewards0%

Maximum reward points per statement cycle: 12,000

The ELITE+ is not a card that stands out for its reward rate. At 1.5% on online spends, it falls behind cards like SBI Cashback if your goal is to maximise returns.

That said, rewards are only one part of the story. The card also offers domestic and international lounge access, golf benefits, movie ticket discounts, and a low forex markup. These benefits add a lot more value than the rewards alone.

The Rewards Subscription Plan is another interesting feature. Users can pay an annual subscription fee to earn higher rewards on eligible spends. If you spend regularly on online shopping, travel, dining, fashion, or healthcare, the subscription can improve the card’s overall value.

With the card currently available as a Lifetime Free offer through select channels, the ELITE+ is easier to recommend. You may not get market-leading rewards, but you do get a good mix of travel and lifestyle benefits without worrying about annual fees.

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card: Rewards Subscription Plan

Yes Bank Reserv Credit Card Rewards Subscription Plan

The YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card offers an optional Rewards Subscription Plan for cardholders who want to earn more reward points on their spending. Additional reward points earned through these plans are capped at 75,000 points per calendar month.

Subscription Plan 1: Up to 3X Rewards

The 3X Plan comes with an annual fee of ₹1500 + GST.

Spend TypeReward Points
Online Spends24 Rewardz Points per ₹200
Offline Spends18 Rewardz Points per ₹200
Select Categories12 Rewardz Points per ₹200

This plan is best suited for users who spend across multiple categories and want higher rewards on most transactions.

Subscription Plan 2: Up to 5X Rewards

The 5X Plan comes with an annual fee of ₹2500 + GST.

Under this plan, accelerated rewards are available on spends made in Travel, Dining, Fashion and Healthcare categories.

Spend TypeReward Points
Online Spends in Eligible Categories36 Rewardz Points per ₹200
Offline Spends in Eligible Categories30 Rewardz Points per ₹200
Select CategoriesRegular reward rates apply

The 5X Plan works best for users who spend heavily on travel bookings, restaurants, apparel purchases and healthcare expenses.

Is It Worth It?

For most cardholders, the standard rewards structure will be enough. The subscription plans make sense only if your spending is high enough to recover the annual subscription fee through the additional reward points earned.

Heavy spenders in travel, dining and online shopping categories can extract significantly more value from the ELITE+ by opting for one of these plans.

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Review: Rewards Redemption

YES Rewardz Points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, gift vouchers, shopping, bill payments, mobile recharges, and partner offers.

Redemption OptionValue
Flights & Hotels~25 paise per Reward Point
Gift Vouchers~10 paise per Reward Point
Air Miles10 Rewardz Points = 1 Mile
MerchandiseVariable

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Lounge Access

BenefitDetails
Domestic Airport Lounge Access2 complimentary visits per calendar quarter
Domestic Lounge EligibilitySpend ₹50,000 or more in the previous qualifying quarter
International Airport Lounge Access3 complimentary visits per year
International Lounge EligibilityPrimary cardholder only
Add-on Card EligibilityEligible for domestic lounge access as per program terms

The YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card offers a decent lounge access program for occasional travellers. Cardholders get 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter and 3 international lounge visits every year.

Domestic lounge access is linked to spending. To unlock lounge visits for the next quarter, you must spend at least ₹50,000 during the previous qualifying quarter. This requirement is reasonable and should be easy to meet for most regular card users.

YES Bank follows a slightly different quarter cycle for lounge eligibility:

  • 21 December to 20 March
  • 21 March to 20 June
  • 21 June to 20 September
  • 21 September to 20 December

For example, if you spend ₹50,000 between 21 March and 20 June, you become eligible for complimentary lounge access between 21 June and 20 September.

The addition of 3 international lounge visits every year adds further value, especially for users who travel abroad occasionally.

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Golf Benefits

BenefitDetails
Green Fee Waivers4 complimentary green fee waivers per calendar year
Golf Lessons1 complimentary golf lesson every calendar month
Eligible CoursesVaries by Visa and Mastercard variant

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card: Other Key Benefits & Charges

Yes Bank Reserv and Elite BookMyShow Offer

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card: Other Key Benefits & Charges

Benefit / ChargeDetails
Fuel Surcharge Waiver1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000
Fuel Surcharge Waiver CapMaximum ₹125 per statement cycle
BookMyShow Offer25% discount on movie tickets, capped at ₹250 per calendar month
Foreign Currency Markup2.75% + GST (~3.25% effective)

Yes Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Currently available as a Lifetime Free credit card through select application channels
  • 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter
  • 3 complimentary international airport lounge visits every year
  • Earn accelerated rewards on online spending
  • Optional 3X and 5X Rewards Subscription Plans can significantly boost reward earnings
  • Includes golf benefits with complimentary green fee waivers and golf lessons
  • 25% discount on BookMyShow movie tickets up to ₹250 per month
  • Low forex markup of 2.75% compared to many entry-level credit cards
  • Purchase protection cover for eligible online purchases

Cons

  • Reward rate is lower than leading cashback cards such as SBI Cashback
  • No rewards on rent, wallet loads, fuel, government payments and EMI transactions
  • Reward earnings are capped at 12,000 points per statement cycle
  • Domestic lounge access is subject to spend-based eligibility criteria
  • Rewards Subscription Plans require an additional annual fee
  • International lounge access is limited to 3 visits per year
  • Forex markup is lower than average but not as attractive as zero forex credit cards

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Review: Conclusion

The YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card is one of the more interesting Lifetime Free credit cards available right now. While the rewards are not market-leading, the combination of lounge access, golf benefits, movie discounts, and a low forex markup makes it a well-rounded option.

The rewards alone are not enough to make this card stand out. There are cashback cards that offer better returns on everyday spending. However, the ELITE+ is more than just a rewards card. It works best for users who want a mix of travel and lifestyle benefits on a single card.

The optional Rewards Subscription Plans are also worth considering for heavy spenders, as they can significantly improve the earning rate on eligible transactions.

With the card currently being offered as Lifetime Free through select channels, it becomes an easy card to keep in your wallet. Even if you use it mainly for lounge access, movie discounts, and occasional travel, the overall value can be quite good.

If you are looking for maximum cashback, look elsewhere. If you want a well-rounded lifestyle card with useful benefits and no ongoing fee commitment, the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card is a solid choice.

YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card FAQs

Is the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card Lifetime Free?

YES Bank is currently offering the ELITE+ Credit Card as a Lifetime Free card through select application channels. Applicants should verify the offer terms at the time of application.

What is the reward rate on the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card?

The card earns 12 YES Rewardz Points per ₹200 spent online, 6 YES Rewardz Points per ₹200 spent offline, and 4 YES Rewardz Points per ₹200 on select categories such as utilities, insurance, and education.

Does the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card offer airport lounge access?

Yes. The card offers 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter and 3 complimentary international airport lounge visits per year, subject to applicable terms and eligibility criteria.

What is the forex markup on the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card?

The YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card charges a forex markup of 2.75%, making it a reasonable option for occasional international spending.

Does the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card offer golf benefits?

Yes. Cardholders receive 4 complimentary green fee waivers per year and 1 complimentary golf lesson every month at participating golf courses.

What is the YES Bank Rewards Subscription Plan?

The Rewards Subscription Plan is an optional paid add-on that allows ELITE+ cardholders to earn up to 3X or 5X reward points on eligible transactions and selected spending categories.

Are rent payments eligible for rewards on the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card?

No. Rent payments, wallet loads, fuel transactions, government payments, cash withdrawals, and EMI transactions are not eligible for YES Rewardz Points.

Who should get the YES Bank ELITE+ Credit Card?

The card is best suited for users looking for airport lounge access, golf benefits, movie ticket discounts, and a rewards program in a single Lifetime Free credit card.

Yes Bank ELITE+ Credit Card

Card Maven

Fees
Rewards
Benefits
3.7

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top