ICICI Bank Credit Card Rules Set for Major Overhaul From February 1, 2026

On: February 1, 2026 2:12 PM

From February 1, 2026, ICICI Bank will change the way it awards and charges fees for credit card users. This will have a big impact on the benefits and fees they can get. The changes are part of a larger look at how people spend their money and how to better control costs. They will have an impact on millions of users with basic, moderate, and high-end cards. Some perks will be taken away or reduced, but others will still be available but with stricter rules. This means that cardholders need to rethink how they use their cards.

The benefit for popular movies will be rolled back

One of the most obvious changes is that some ICICI Bank credit cards no longer come with a free movie ticket deal through BookMyShow. From February 1, 2026, cards like the Instant Platinum and Instant Platinum Chip will no longer give away free movie tickets. For many customers, this perk had turned into a regular way to save money on leisure, especially for people who go to the movies a lot.

For other ICICI Bank credit cards that still offer the movie deal, the bonus will now depend on how much you spend every three months. Cardholders will have to spend a certain amount in the previous quarter in order to get the movie bonus in the following quarter. This change means that awards will be based on usage instead of being given out for no reason. This will lead to better and more regular spending.

The caps and rules for reward points have changed

Also being tweaked are reward points, which are a big draw for people who use credit cards. Reward points earned on train, bus, and some trip plans will be stopped every month starting February 1, 2026, based on the type of card used. Card caps for mid-tier and entry-level cards will be lower each month, while caps for premium cards will be higher.

Credit card payments for insurance will still earn reward points, but only up to a certain amount each month. If you spend more than this amount, you won’t get any extra benefits. People who use credit cards to pay for big insurance premiums every year may be affected by this change because the general prize value from these purchases may go down.

Some transactions will have higher fees

Along with changes to benefits, ICICI Bank has also added new fees for some types of activities. There will be an extra fee for payments made on online game sites. This is because of stricter controls on spending categories that are high-risk or not necessary. Also, there will now be a service charge for adding more than a certain amount of money to third-party digital wallets.

There will also be an extra charge for high-value transportation purchases over a certain amount. This could affect people who use credit cards to buy expensive plane seats. Also, it now costs more to pay credit card bills in cash at bank offices, which makes digital payment choices cheaper than they used to be.

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What people with cards should remember

The modifications are part of a larger trend in the credit card business: banks are changing reward programs to find a better balance between customer benefits and rising costs. This could mean that casual use may not be as valuable for users as it used to be. Some cardholders may still find their cards useful as long as they stick to the spending limits and meet the yearly standards. Others may need to rethink their spending habits or the card they use.

ICICI Bank has told users to carefully read the new terms and figure out how they apply to their specific type of card. The changeover date of February 1, 2026, is coming up quickly, so users don’t have much time to get ready for it or change how they spend their money to avoid being charged extra or losing perks.