SBI and PhonePe launch two new co-branded credit cards – SBI Purple (₹499 fee) & SBI Select Black (₹1499 fee). Compare fees, rewards, utility bill benefits & lounge access in this detailed review.

PhonePe SBI Credit Cards Review 2025: Purple vs Select Black

State Bank of India (SBI), one of India’s largest banks, has partnered with PhonePe, a leading fintech company, to launch two new co-branded credit cards – PhonePe SBI Purple Credit Card (also called 123 Card) and PhonePe SBI Select Black Credit Card (also called 1510 Card).

These cards are designed to challenge some of the most popular cashback and utility cards in India such as the SBI Cashback Credit Card, HDFC Swiggy Credit Card, and the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card.

So, are these cards worth applying for? Let’s break down their fees, benefits, rewards structure, and best use cases.

Fees & Welcome Benefits

• PhonePe SBI Purple Credit Card
  • Joining Fee: ₹499 + GST
  • Welcome Benefit: ₹500 PhonePe voucher (credited within 45 days of fee payment, valid for 1 year)
  • Renewal Fee: ₹499 + GST (waived on annual spend of ₹1 lakh)
• PhonePe SBI Select Black Credit Card
  • Joining Fee: ₹1499 + GST
  • Welcome Benefit: ₹1500 PhonePe voucher (credited within 45 days of fee payment, valid for 1 year)
  • Renewal Fee: ₹1499 + GST (waived on annual spend of ₹3 lakh)

Rewards & Cashback Structure

Both cards offer maximum value when used on PhonePe for recharges, utility bill payments, and hyper-local spends.

PhonePe SBI Purple Card (123 Card)

• PhonePe spends (recharges & utilities): 3 Reward Points per ₹100 (max 1000 RP/month)
• Online shopping (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Uber, etc.): 2 RP per ₹100 (max 1000 RP/month)
• Other spends (including Scan & Pay): 1 RP per ₹100 (max 1000 RP/month)
• Utility & insurance payments outside PhonePe: 1% reward rate, max 250 RP per month
• Fuel transactions: 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹500–₹3000, capped at ₹100 per statement cycle)

PhonePe SBI Select Black Card (1510 Card)

• PhonePe spends (recharges & utilities): 10 RP per ₹100 (max 2000 RP/month)
• Online shopping (Amazon, Flipkart, etc.): 5 RP per ₹100 (max 2000 RP/month)
• Other spends (Scan & Pay, offline): 1 RP per ₹100 (max 2000 RP/month)
• Utility & insurance payments outside PhonePe: 1% reward rate, max 500 RP per month
• Fuel transactions: 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹500–₹4000, capped at ₹250 per statement cycle)

Value of 1 Reward Point = ₹1 (redeemable via SBI rewards portal for vouchers or cashback).

Milestone & Travel Benefits

• Purple Card: Spend ₹3 lakh annually and earn a ₹3000 Yatra voucher in addition to annual fee waiver.
• Select Black Card: Spend ₹5 lakh annually and get a ₹5000 Yatra voucher plus annual fee waiver.

Lounge Access

• Purple Card: No lounge access.
• Select Black Card:
  • 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (1 per quarter).
  • Priority Pass membership (complimentary for first 2 years) for international lounge access.

Reward Validity & Exclusions

• Reward Points valid for 13 months.
• If no transaction is made for 13 months, or if you miss 2 consecutive bill payments, points are forfeited.
• Certain spends (wallet reloads, EMI, government payments, etc.) are excluded from rewards.

Who Should Apply?

• PhonePe SBI Purple Credit Card (₹499 fee)
  Best for beginners who want a low-fee card focused on PhonePe payments, mobile recharges, and utility bills. It is a good alternative if you are not eligible for SBI Cashback Credit Card.
• PhonePe SBI Select Black Credit Card (₹1499 fee)
  Ideal for heavy PhonePe users and those who pay utility/insurance bills online. With 10% rewards on PhonePe spends and decent online shopping benefits, this card can even compete with Airtel Axis Credit Card for utility spends.

Final Verdict

• Purple Card: Good entry-level option, especially if you want rewards on PhonePe and online shopping.
• Select Black Card: A strong premium option offering high rewards on utilities, insurance, and PhonePe spends. It also includes lounge benefits, making it suitable for frequent travelers.

If you already hold an SBI Cashback Credit Card, the Select Black can still be a great addition, especially for utilities and insurance payments. For Airtel users, compare carefully with the Airtel Axis Card before applying.

Recommendation:

• Get Purple Card if you want a low-fee PhonePe-centric card.
• Get Select Black Card if you are a high spender and want maximum rewards on utilities and travel perks.