The SBI Elite and SBI Aurum credit cards are two premium options offered by SBI Card, customized for those who desire exclusive privileges, high rewards, and comprehensive benefits. This comparison will help you decide which card aligns better with your financial lifestyle, from travel perks and reward points to annual fees and lounge access.

SBI Elite and SBI Aurum Credit Cards

SBI Elite and SBI Aurum are among the top-tier offerings from SBI Card. While both cards cater to a luxury-oriented audience, they target different user needs and lifestyles. The SBI Elite card is designed for high spenders looking for versatile benefits, while the SBI Aurum card provides a more exclusive set of services and privileges for ultra-premium users.

Key Features

Let’s start with a comparison of the essential features and benefits:

Feature	SBI Elite Credit Card	SBI Aurum Credit Card
Annual Fee	₹4,999 + GST	₹10,000 + GST
Welcome Benefits	₹5,000 worth of welcome vouchers	₹10,000 worth of welcome vouchers
Reward Rate	Up to 2.5 Reward Points per ₹100 spent	Up to 4 Reward Points per ₹100 spent
Lounge Access	Domestic & International	Higher number of Domestic & International
Foreign Exchange Markup	1.99%	1.99%
Insurance Benefits	Personal Air Accident Cover of ₹50 Lakh	Personal Air Accident Cover of ₹2 Crore
Eligibility	₹6-7 Lakhs per annum income requirement	₹15 Lakhs per annum income requirement
Renewal Benefit	₹5,000 worth of renewal vouchers	₹10,000 worth of renewal vouchers
Concierge Services	Available	Exclusive Aurum Concierge Services

Annual Fees and Welcome Benefits

The annual fees for these premium cards reflect the types of benefits they offer. The SBI Elite card has a lower annual fee of ₹4,999, making it more accessible for high spenders, whereas the SBI Aurum card costs ₹10,000 annually, which aligns with its ultra-premium privileges.

Both cards offer attractive welcome benefits:

• SBI Elite: ₹5,000 worth of welcome e-gift vouchers from brands like Yatra, Pantaloons, Hush Puppies, and more.
• SBI Aurum: ₹10,000 worth of vouchers from top-tier brands like Montblanc, Hidesign, and William Penn.

The welcome benefits on the SBI Aurum card are superior, reflecting the card’s focus on exclusive experiences.

Reward Points Structure

SBI Elite Credit Card

• Rewards Rate: 2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on dining, groceries, and departmental stores, and 1 Reward Point on other spends.
• Milestone Rewards: Earn up to 50,000 bonus Reward Points annually for achieving spending milestones, which translates to increased value for high spenders.
• Reward Point Redemption: Points can be redeemed for gift vouchers, merchandise, flight tickets, and hotel bookings.

SBI Aurum Credit Card

• Rewards Rate: 4 Reward Points per ₹100 on every transaction, which is higher than the Elite card, making it ideal for those with significant monthly expenditures.
• Milestone Rewards: Earn 20,000 Reward Points upon reaching ₹5 Lakhs in annual spends and another 20,000 points for reaching ₹10 Lakhs, offering even higher reward potential.
• Reward Point Redemption: Aurum points are redeemable across a broad selection, including flights, hotels, and exclusive merchandise, at a higher redemption value than SBI Elite.

Winner: The SBI Aurum card has a higher reward rate and more lucrative milestone rewards, making it more beneficial for users with a higher spend capacity.

Travel and Lounge Benefits

Both cards offer excellent travel benefits, including airport lounge access:

SBI Elite

• Domestic Lounge Access: Complimentary access to domestic airport lounges eight times per year.
• International Lounge Access: Four complimentary visits to international airport lounges per year.
• Foreign Exchange Markup Fee: 1.99% on international transactions.

SBI Aurum

• Domestic Lounge Access: 8 complimentary visits per quarter (higher frequency than Elite).
• International Lounge Access: Unlimited complimentary visits via the Priority Pass program, ideal for frequent international travelers.
• Foreign Exchange Markup Fee: 1.99%, similar to Elite.

Winner: SBI Aurum outshines SBI Elite in terms of lounge benefits, especially for frequent international travelers who benefit from unlimited access.

Insurance Benefits

Both cards provide insurance coverage, but SBI Aurum has a superior package:

• SBI Elite: Personal Air Accident Cover of ₹50 Lakhs and lost card liability of ₹1 Lakh.
• SBI Aurum: Personal Air Accident Cover of ₹2 Crore and lost card liability of ₹3 Lakhs, making it more suitable for individuals seeking higher security.

Winner: SBI Aurum offers more comprehensive insurance coverage, providing better peace of mind for cardholders.

Concierge Services

Concierge services provide premium cardholders with 24/7 assistance for various needs like dining reservations, travel bookings, and event planning. While both cards offer these services, SBI Aurum’s concierge services are more exclusive, providing priority access and a higher level of service.

Other Benefits

SBI Elite

• Movie Benefits: Two free movie tickets every month with a maximum discount of ₹500 per ticket through BookMyShow.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on fuel surcharges at all petrol stations in India (capped at ₹250 per month).
• Birthday Benefits: Other Reward Points for spending on your birthday.

SBI Aurum

• Luxury Lifestyle Benefits: Access to exclusive dining, hotel, and wellness offers globally, which include higher-end brands than those in the Elite program.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on fuel surcharges, with a cap of ₹500 per month, higher than the SBI Elite card.

Winner: The SBI Aurum card again takes the lead with exclusive lifestyle benefits and a higher cap on the fuel surcharge waiver.

Eligibility Criteria

Due to the high-end benefits, the eligibility criteria are also different:

• SBI Elite: Minimum annual income of ₹6-7 Lakhs for salaried individuals and ₹6-7 Lakhs for self-employed individuals.
• SBI Aurum: Minimum annual income of ₹15 Lakhs for both salaried and self-employed individuals, reflecting the card’s ultra-premium status.

If you meet the eligibility for SBI Aurum, it generally offers better perks, but the SBI Elite card remains an excellent choice for those who may not meet the higher income threshold.

Pros and Cons

Card	Pros	Cons
SBI Elite	Lower annual fee, versatile benefits, movie ticket offers	Lower reward rate, limited lounge access
SBI Aurum	Higher reward rate, unlimited international lounge access, luxury benefits	Higher annual fee, stringent eligibility

Final Verdict

Who Should Choose SBI Elite?

The SBI Elite credit card is suitable for those who seek a premium card with lower annual fees and access to versatile benefits across travel, entertainment, and rewards. If you value rewards but do not want to commit to a high annual fee, SBI Elite is an excellent option.

Who Should Choose SBI Aurum?

The SBI Aurum card is the ultimate choice for those who spend frequently and desire luxury benefits like unlimited lounge access, higher rewards, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Although the annual fee is higher, the exclusive privileges it provides may justify the cost for those in the ultra-premium segment.

So overall, both SBI Elite and SBI Aurum cards are exceptional in their categories, with SBI Elite offering broad, versatile benefits for premium users and SBI Aurum catering to an elite class of high spenders who value exclusivity and enhanced privileges.