SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card-Ultimate review-2025

SBI SimplySave credit card is made for everyday spending, offering rewards on groceries, dining, movies and more. It is a rewards-oriented card from SBI Card, primarily aimed at users who have steady everyday offline spending.

Cardholders get 10 points per Rs 150 on groceries, dining, department stores and movies, and 1 point per Rs 150 on other spends. The rewards are fairly simple to understand & redeem: 4 points = Rs 1.

The card has a Rs 499 joining/annual fee, waived if you spend Rs 1 lakh+ in the previous year.
1% fuel surcharge waiver on Rs 500– Rs 3,000 petrol transactions, up to Rs 100 per cycle.

SimplySAVE enables contactless payments for small spends. Accepted at over 24 million outlets globally, including 3,25,000+ in India.

Best for those who spend on essentials offline & can hit the Rs 1 lakh spend mark to waive the fee.

Table of Contents

Overview & Positioning

SBI SimplySAVE is an entry-level rewards card for everyday spending – perfect for those who want a simple card with benefits focusing on essentials like groceries and dining. Because of its moderate annual fee, and a waiver available for certain spend levels, it’s designed for users who want a card for day-to-day use.

Key Features & Detailed Benefits:

Here are the deets on SimplySAVE’s awesome features & benefits, super useful for daily life!

1)Reward Structure:

Accelerated Rewards (10x):

Get 10 points per Rs 150 on dining, movies, departmental stores and groceries.

Base Rewards:

You get 1 point per Rs 150 for all other kinds of spends.

Value of Points:

According to SBI, 4 reward points = Rs 1.

Cap on Reward Points (RuPay Variant):

For RuPay variant (or certain versions), there is a cap: max 5,000 points/month on 10x categories.

Welcome Bonus:

Spend Rs 2,000 in 60 days, get 2,000 bonus points – sweet deal!

2)Fuel Surcharge Waiver

1% fuel surcharge waiver on petrol transactions, saving you some extra cash.
Waiver applies to Rs 500- Rs 3,000 petrol transactions only.
There is a maximum waiver of Rs 100 per statement cycle.

3)Fee Structure

Joining/Annual Fee: Rs 499 + applicable taxes
Renewal Fee: Rs 499 + taxes
Fee Waiver Condition: Hit Rs 1 lakh spend and the renewal fee is gone.
Foreign Currency / International Transactions:
On international transactions, there is a 3.5% markup applies.
Finance (Interest) Charges:
Finance charges are around 3.75% monthly – that’s around 45% per annum, pretty steep if you don’t pay on time.

4)Other Card Features:

Contactless Payments: Tap and pay is available for small transactions.
Global Acceptance: This card is widely accepted, works at over 24 million outlets globally.
Add-on Cards: Get add-on cards for family members, and earn points on their spend too.
Balance Transfer on EMI: Need to manage debt? Transfer balance to SimplySAVE and convert it into EMIs, helpful.
Flexible Pay: Rs 2,500+ purchases can be converted to EMIs via Flexible Pay do it within 30 days.
Utility Bill Payments: Pay utility bills easily with Easy Bill Pay, saves you a trip.
Cash Advances: Withdraw cash from ATMs, works globally.

Pros: What Makes SimplySAVE Attractive

Strong Rewards for offline spending:
If you spend big on groceries, dining, movies, and departmental stores, this card’s 10× rewards is a game-changer.
Relatively Low Fee: Rs 499 ain’t much for a premium card, especially when you can waive it with Rs 1 lakh spend.
Fuel Benefit: Fuel surcharge waiver of 1% is a nice perk if you drive often.
Flexibility in Payments: Balance transfer and Flexi-pay let you turn big spends into EMIs, super flexible.
Wide Acceptance and Contactless: Perfect for daily spends, tap and pay makes small transactions a breeze and it’s widely accepted.
Add-on Cards: Family’s spends, your rewards. Add-on cards mean everyone’s purchases earn you points.
Welcome Bonus: 2,000 points is a meaningful bonus given the cost.
(if you meet the spend)

Apply now: https://wee.bnking.in/c/ZDk0OWVjY

Cons: What to Be Careful About

Low Reward on Other Categories: Other spends get 1 point/ Rs 150, kinda low, especially on travel, bills, and stuff you don’t buy often.
Cap on Monthly Rewards Points: Some versions, like RuPay, have a 5,000-point cap on 10× rewards per month.
Redemption Fee: Redeeming points costs Rs 99 + GST, can be a bummer if you’re cashing in often.
High Foreign Transaction Fee: 3.5% forex markup on international spends.
High Interest Rate: Carrying a balance? 3-3.5% monthly finance charge is steep; best to pay full bill on time.
Spend Requirement for Waiver: Rs 1 lakh spend to waive the fee isn’t a cakewalk; if you don’t hit it, you’ll be paying the renewal fee.
Reward Exclusions: Some transactions like balance transfers, cash advances, and fuel aren’t eligible for rewards.
User Complaints / Perception: Some users on Reddit felt they were sold SimplySAVE when cashback cards might have suited them better.
“They tried to do the same… said it’s going to be cashback card… but then I got SimplySave…”
Reward Burning / Redemption Efficiency:
Redemption fee and point value (4 pts = Rs 1) kinda cap the rewards; not the best value for every rupee.

Who Should Use This Card (Ideal User Profile)

To maximize the value of SimplySAVE, the ideal user is someone who:

Spends regularly in the 10× categories like groceries, department stores, dining out, movies.
Can spend Rs 1 lakh per year on the card or add-on cards, and you’ll waive that renewal fee.
Pays bills in full, so that high interest doesn’t erode the rewards.
Looking for a solid daily driver, not a flashy travel or luxury card.
Fine with saving up points, don’t mind the Rs 99 fee, kinda prefer accumulating rewards steadily.
Fills up on fuel (Rs 2500- Rs 3000) just for the surcharge waiver.

Risks & Potential Drawbacks to Watch Out For

Mis-selling Risk: Beware of sales pitches, some agents might push SimplySAVE over other cards, or even misrepresent it as cashback.
Reward Devaluation Risk: SBI might tweak the rewards or redemption terms, and it could impact your returns.
Unused Points: Got to accumulate 2000 points to redeem and with the fee, might just leave them stuck.
Over-leveraging: Big spends on EMIs via Flexible Pay gotta plan it out or interest eats into benefits.
International Use: 3.5% forex markup abroad, maybe grab a different card for travel.
Comparison with Other SBI Cards / Alternatives;
SimplySAVE vs SimplySAVE Advantage:
SimplySAVE advantage has lower finance charges, could be a better option.
SimplySAVE vs Cashback Cards:
If cashback’s what you want, especially online, a cashback card might suit you better. SimplySAVE’s more for offline swipes.
Use Alongside Other Cards:
Lots & lots of people pair SimplySAVE with another card, like a travel or online rewards one, to max out rewards.

Strategy to Maximize Benefits:

Here are some smart strategies to squeeze maximum value out of SimplySAVE:

Channel Your Everyday Offline Spending Into It:
Groceries, department stores, dining, movies – use SimplySAVE here, you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Track Your Annual Spend:
Keep a rough monthly target so that you hit or exceed Rs 1 Lakh in a year & get the renewal fee waiver.
Use Flexi-Pay Wisely:
Big spends, convert to EMI via Flexi-Pay, just check those rates first.
Redeem Intelligently:
Redemption’s Rs 299 so save up points and check the catalog. Vouchers or statement credit might be a better deal.
Use Fuel Surcharge Benefits Smartly:
Fill up Rs 2500- Rs 3000 worth of petrol, grab that 1% waiver, no need to overspend though.
Add-On Cards:
Give add-on cards to family members (if possible) so their spends also earn rewards points, helping you reach the Rs 1 Lakh spend threshold faster.
Avoid Interest:
Try to pay your monthly bill in full to avoid the high finance charges.
Monitor Terms:
Periodically check updated T&Cs for any changes in reward rate, redemption rules, or fees

Real-User Feedback & Cautions:

Some users on Reddit have expressed disappointment:

“I cancelled this card after 5-6 months… waiting for accumulating 2k points is hectic…”

There are reports/complaints about being “swapped” into SimplySAVE when they applied for other cards (like cashback).
So, be clear when you apply, read the application PDF and confirm which card you are getting.
No & credit score?
SimplySAVE could be a good starting point to build your credit history.

Apply now: https://wee.bnking.in/c/ZDk0OWVjY

Verdict: Is SBI SimplySAVE Worth It?

Yes – but mostly for a particular kind of user.

If you match the right profile (steady offline spend, ability to hit Rs 1 lakh/year and disciplined repayment), SimplySAVE can be very cost-effective and delivers solid value.
The renewal fee waiver is a huge fact: when you get that, the card becomes essentially “free” to hold and all the rewards are a net gain.

However, it’s not the best card for everyone:

If you are spending on online spends or travel, look elsewhere, cashback or travel rewards cards might serve you better.
If you want simplicity and straightforward use, flat cashback cards are better.
If you carry a balance, SimplySAVE might not be your best bet.

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Apply now: https://wee.bnking.in/c/ZDk0OWVjY

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