The AU Prathama Credit Card is AU Small Finance Bank’s entry-level card, with a token ₹100 + GST fee that is waived from the second year once you spend ₹75,000 in a year. Rewards are modest but simple: extra points when you tap to pay, extra points when your monthly spend crosses ₹5,000, and a bonus every time you set up a new autopay. Each point is worth ₹0.25.
How the rewards work
| What you do | Points | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Contactless tap-and-pay | 2 points per ₹100 | 0.5% |
| All other spends | 1 point per ₹100 | 0.25% |
| Extra on spends above ₹5,000 in a statement cycle | +2 points per ₹100 | +0.5% |
| First standing instruction or autopay with each merchant | 500 bonus points | ₹125 |
Caps: utility and telecom spends earn at most 100 points per transaction. Repeat autopay setups with the same merchant don’t earn the 500-point bonus again.
What you would actually earn
Spend ₹15,000 a month, half of it by tapping your card. The first ₹5,000 earns the base rate, and the ₹10,000 above it earns 2 extra points per ₹100. That works out to roughly 75 + 75 + 200 = 350 points, or about ₹87 a month. Set up autopay for your mobile, broadband and OTT subscriptions in the first month and you get another 1,500 points (₹375) as a one-off.
The best rate, about 1%, comes from contactless spends above ₹5,000 a month. Below that, the card returns 0.25%–0.5%, which is low.
Other features
- EMI conversion on eligible transactions of ₹500 and above, with a minimum total of ₹2,000.
- Fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on ₹400–₹5,000 transactions, up to ₹100 per statement cycle.
Things to watch
- The autopay bonus is one-off per merchant, so it boosts the first few months more than later ones.
- Paying by UPI or swiping instead of tapping drops you to the lower base rate.
- Only fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000 get the surcharge waiver, and the cap is a small ₹100 a cycle.
- EMI conversions usually carry interest or fees, so use them for genuine needs, not to stretch everyday spending.
Fees and charges
| Joining fee | ₹100 + GST |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹100 + GST |
| Renewal waiver | Spend ₹75,000 or more in the year, from the 2nd year |
Eligibility
| Age | 21 to 65 years |
|---|---|
| Employment | Salaried or self-employed |
| Credit score | 725 or above |
| First credit card? | Not allowed; you need an existing credit history |
Note: AU markets Prathama for first-time users, but the offer lists new-to-credit applicants as not allowed. Expect to need an existing credit history and a 725+ score.
Documents you will need
- Identity: PAN card (or Form 60)
- Address: Aadhaar, passport or a recent utility bill
- Income: latest salary slips or bank statements
- Photo: a recent passport-size photograph
How to apply
- Tap Apply on AU Bank site on this page to open AU Small Finance Bank’s card application.
- Fill in the form in one session, using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Complete video KYC from your current address when prompted.
- Activate the card with a first transaction of ₹100 or more within 30 days.
Who should get it, and who shouldn’t
Get it if you want a cheap second card for small everyday payments, autopays and EMIs, and you spend at least ₹6,000–₹7,000 a month so the fee is waived.
Skip it if you want strong rewards. For the same credit score, a lifetime-free cashback card will usually return more on everyday spending.
