The YES Reserv Credit Card is YES Bank’s flagship rewards credit card and the successor to the YES First Exclusive Credit Card. For an annual fee of ₹2499 plus GST, the card offers up to 3% rewards on shopping spends, complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, golf benefits and a low 1.75% forex markup fee.
What makes the card stand out is its optional 3X and 5X Rewards Subscription Plans, which can significantly boost reward earnings for high spenders. Add in the annual fee waiver on ₹3 lakh spends and the card starts looking like a compelling option for frequent shoppers and travellers.
But is the YES Reserv Credit Card worth its annual fee in 2026? In this detailed review, we’ll look at its rewards, lounge access, fees, subscription plans, pros, cons and whether it deserves a place in your wallet.
YES Reserv Credit Card Fees
| Fee Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹2499 + GST |
| Joining Fee Reversal | Spend ₹40,000 within 30 days of card issuance (excluding rent and wallet transactions) |
| Annual Fee | ₹2499 + GST |
| Annual Fee Waiver | Spend ₹3 lakh in a card anniversary year (excluding rent and wallet transactions) |
| Renewal Benefit | 8000 Bonus Reward Points if the annual fee is charged (from the 2nd year onwards) |
The YES Reserv Credit Card comes with a joining and annual fee of ₹2499 plus GST. While the fee is higher than before, the waiver conditions are fairly easy to meet. You can get the joining fee reversed by spending ₹40,000 within the first 30 days and avoid the annual fee altogether by spending ₹3 lakh in a card anniversary year.
Even if you do not meet the annual fee waiver requirement, the card offers 8000 bonus reward points when the renewal fee is charged. These points can be redeemed at a value of up to ₹0.25 per point. So, the renewal benefit can offset most of the annual fee.
Note: Rent and wallet transactions are not counted towards the spending milestones for joining fee reversal and annual fee waiver.
YES Reserv Credit Card Rewards
| Type of Spend | Reward Rate | Approx. Return* |
|---|---|---|
| Online Shopping (Non-Select Categories) | 24 Reward Points per ₹200 | 3% |
| Offline Shopping (Non-Select Categories) | 12 Reward Points per ₹200 | 1.5% |
| Select Categories** | 6 Reward Points per ₹200 | 0.75% |
| Rent, Wallet, Fuel, UPI | No Reward Points | 0% |
Reward Points Cap: Maximum 36,000 Reward Points per statement cycle.
Select Categories: Utilities, Insurance, Education, Government Services, Tax Payments, Grocery Stores, Transportation, Taxi Services, Bus Lines, Toll Payments and select merchant categories defined by YES Bank.
The YES Reserv Credit Card earns 3% back on online purchases and 1.5% back on offline spends, which is quite competitive for a card in this fee range.
The card works best for users whose spending is focused on shopping. The monthly reward cap is generous as well. At the highest earning rate, you would need to spend ₹3 lakh in a statement cycle before reaching the cap of 36,000 reward points.
However, many commonly used categories earn lower rewards. Utilities, insurance, education, tax payments and government spends earn just 0.75% back. Rent payments, wallet loads, fuel spends, UPI transactions and EMI conversions do not earn any reward points.
Overall, the rewards program is attractive for shopping-focused users, but less rewarding for those who spend heavily on bills, insurance or other excluded categories.
Yes Reserv Credit Card: 3X/5X Rewards Subscription Plan
YES Bank offers an optional rewards subscription plan that allows RESERV cardholders to earn accelerated reward points for an annual fee. These plans can significantly boost the card’s reward rate for high spenders.
The additional reward points earned through these plans are capped at 75,000 bonus reward points per calendar month.
Subscription Plan 1: 3X Rewards
Subscription Fee: ₹3500 per year
Under this plan, online spends earn 2X the regular reward points, while offline spends and select category spends earn 3X the regular reward points.
| Spend Category | Reward Rate | Approx. Return* |
|---|---|---|
| Online Shopping | 48 Reward Points per ₹200 | 6% |
| Offline Shopping | 36 Reward Points per ₹200 | 4.5% |
| Select Categories | 18 Reward Points per ₹200 | 2.25% |
Subscription Plan 2: 5X Rewards
Subscription Fee: ₹5000 per year
This plan applies only to spends made in Travel, Dining, Fashion and Healthcare categories.
| Eligible Category | Online Spends | Offline Spends |
| Travel | 72 Reward Points per ₹200 | 120 Reward Points per ₹200 |
| Dining | 72 Reward Points per ₹200 | 120 Reward Points per ₹200 |
| Fashion | 72 Reward Points per ₹200 | 120 Reward Points per ₹200 |
| Healthcare | 72 Reward Points per ₹200 | 120 Reward Points per ₹200 |
Approximate Return:
- Online spends in eligible categories: Up to 9%
- Offline spends in eligible categories: Up to 15%
YES Reserv Credit Card Subscription Plan Review
The 3X plan is easier to justify because it boosts rewards across almost all eligible spending categories. If you have monthly spends of ₹40,000 to ₹50,000, you can recover the subscription fee fairly quickly through the additional reward points.
The 5X plan is more niche. It works best for cardholders who spend heavily on travel bookings, dining, fashion purchases or healthcare expenses. While the reward rates are exceptionally high, the ₹5000 annual fee means you need substantial spending in these categories to come out ahead.
Before subscribing, calculate your annual spending in the eligible categories and compare the additional rewards earned against the subscription fee. For most users, the 3X plan offers better overall value and flexibility.
Note: Transactions that do not earn regular reward points on the card, such as rent payments, wallet loads, fuel transactions, UPI transactions and EMI conversions, remain ineligible under the subscription plans as well.
YES Reserv Credit Card Rewards Redemption
YES Rewardz Points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, gift vouchers, shopping, bill payments, mobile recharges, and partner offers.
| Redemption Option | Value |
|---|---|
| Flights & Hotels | ~25 paise per Reward Point |
| Gift Vouchers | ~10 paise per Reward Point |
| Air Miles | 10 Rewardz Points = 1 Mile |
| Merchandise | Variable |
YES Reserv Credit Card Lounge Access
The YES Reserv Credit Card offers a decent lounge access program for frequent travellers. Cardholders get 3 complimentary domestic lounge visits every quarter, which works out to 12 visits annually. However, lounge access is not automatic. You must spend at least ₹1 lakh in the previous eligibility quarter to unlock access for the next quarter.
The international lounge benefit is more straightforward. You get 6 complimentary international lounge visits every year and can access eligible lounges directly using your credit card. YES Bank no longer issues a Priority Pass with the card.
| Lounge Type | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Domestic Airport Lounges | 3 complimentary lounge visits per quarter |
| Domestic Lounge Eligibility | Spend ₹1 lakh or more in the previous eligibility quarter |
| International Airport Lounges | 6 complimentary visits per year |
| International Lounge Access Method | Direct card swipe at participating lounges (No Priority Pass issued) |
YES Bank follows a unique quarterly cycle for determining lounge access eligibility:
| Spend Period | Lounge Access Period |
|---|---|
| 21 December – 20 March | 21 March – 20 June |
| 21 March – 20 June | 21 June – 20 September |
| 21 June – 20 September | 21 September – 20 December |
| 21 September – 20 December | 21 December – 20 March |
For example, if you spend ₹1 lakh or more between 21 March and 20 June, you will receive complimentary domestic lounge access between 21 June and 20 September.
Complimentary Golf Program
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Green Fee Waivers | 4 complimentary green fee waivers per year |
| Golf Lessons | 1 complimentary golf lesson per year |
| Eligibility | Available at select golf courses across India |
| Network | Benefits vary based on whether your card is issued on Visa or Mastercard |
Other Key Benefits & Charges
Other Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| BookMyShow Offer | 25% discount for movie tickets on BookMyShow with a discount of up to ₹250 per transaction |
| Forex Markup | 1.75% on international transactions |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5000 |
| Fuel Waiver Cap | Maximum waiver of ₹500 per statement cycle |
Yes Reserv Credit Card Pros & Cons
- Up to 3% rewards on online shopping
- 3 domestic lounge visits per quarter
- 6 international lounge visits annually
- Low 1.75% forex markup fee
- Optional 3X and 5X rewards plans
- 8,000 bonus points on fee renewal
- ₹1 lakh quarterly spend needed for domestic lounge access
- Only 0.75% rewards on utilities, insurance and education
- No rewards on rent, wallet and UPI spends
- ₹2,499 annual fee may not suit low spenders
- Subscription plans require extra fees
- No airline or hotel transfer partners
Final Thoughts
The YES Reserv Credit Card is a well-rounded mid-premium credit card that offers a good mix of rewards, travel benefits and lifestyle perks. The card delivers up to 3% rewards on online shopping, complimentary domestic and international lounge access, golf privileges, a low 1.75% forex markup fee and a useful BookMyShow offer.
Where the card stands out is its optional 3X and 5X Rewards Subscription Plans. Heavy spenders can significantly boost their reward earnings, making the card far more rewarding than its standard reward structure suggests.
That said, the card is no longer as attractive for utility bills, insurance premiums, education payments and other select categories, which earn a lower reward rate. Rent payments, wallet loads, fuel transactions and UPI spends do not earn any reward points either.
Overall, the YES Reserv Credit Card is best suited for users who spend heavily on shopping, travel regularly and can make use of the card’s lounge access and lifestyle benefits. If your spending is primarily on online shopping and retail purchases, the card offers good value despite its ₹2499 annual fee.
YES Reserv Credit Card FAQs
The card comes with a joining and annual fee of ₹2,499 + GST. The annual fee is waived on spending ₹3 lakh in a card anniversary year.
Yes. Cardholders get 3 domestic lounge visits per quarter and 6 international lounge visits per year, subject to applicable terms and eligibility criteria.
The card charges a forex markup fee of 1.75% on international transactions.
The card offers up to 3% rewards on online shopping, 1.5% on offline shopping and 0.75% on select categories such as utilities, insurance and education.
Yes Bank Reserv Credit Card
Good review. However, please confirm where did you find the grocery and supermarket to be listed under Select category? I do not find this in Yes Bank website.
Thank you for highlighting this. This was a part of select categories at the time of writing the review but seems like Yes Bank has revised that list. We have updated the review.
Great! hopefully they have really removed it from the Select category and do not add it again..
It’s actually 6% on online spends with the 3x subscription plan. Yes Bank tricked us into thinking, it’ll be 9%. It’s in the fine print.
So, 6% online, 4.5% offline, and 2.25% select.
Thank you. This is updated now.
Did u got cbk for buying gv from paytm Or smartbuy?
With the 5x subscription plan isnt the Forex reward rates on POS and online 15% and 7.5% and like the bets in the Industry , better than even the Amex Plat card. Please confirm ?
Yes, it is but better to keep track of the points that are credited for accelerated spends. 5X is only for selected categories. 3X is for all spends. With the revamp of Yes Exclusive to Reserv, yet to see how the points get tracked.
Why do you say keep track?
Do they don’t credit it at times ?
They do but always better to keep track.
With the Rewards subscription plan is’nt this the highest yielding card in the market , even better than Infinia and all other cards as rewards jump to 15% , 7.5 % and 3.75 % without commitment to use a specific portal for purchasing like HDFC Smartbuy or Amex Reward Accelerator
That’s right 🙂
As per your understanding , isn’t this better than Marquee after 3x or 5x subscription plan ?
It is for now as Marquee does not get access to the subscription plans.
Also Forex Pos spends will fetch 7.5% with 5x plan. Is that correct ?
5X plan is only for a few categories.
I had applied for 3X subscription on 17 January and the fees was debited on 19 but I haven’t received any reply?’.
Reply for what?
Do we still get the card in box like yes first exclusive?
No idea for Reserv. But they had stopped using boxes long back for issuing Preferred and Exclusive cards.
We get same reward for even ace, right?
No, the Ace has a lower reward rate than Reserv. We will review it soon.
Actually, yes bank team has put reserv card details on every new cards (elite, ace etc)
We will review those soon.
If You can yes bank new cards page on thier website then you will notice reserv reward rates has been put on every new card introduced by YES BANK.