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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card vs HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card

Detailed comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and value to help you choose the right credit card for your spending pattern.

City Union Bank

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card

6.8/10
Annual Fee₹499
Base Rewards0.16666666666666669%
NetworkVisa
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HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card

6.2/10
Annual Fee₹500
Base Rewards0.2666666666666667%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureCity Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI CardHDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card
Annual Fee₹499₹500
Joining Fee₹499₹500
Fee Waiver Spend₹1,00,000₹1,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.16666666666666669%0.2666666666666667%
Reward CurrencyReward PointsReward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating6.8/106.2/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card

  • 1.67% on Dining
  • 1.67% on Movies
  • 1.67% on Grocery
  • 1.67% on Departmental Stores

HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card

  • 0% on Grocery — 500 pts/month
  • 0% on Utility Bills — 500 pts/month
  • 0% on Fuel — 500 pts/month

Pros & Cons

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card

Pros

  • 10X Reward Points on daily essentials like Dining, Movies, Departmental Stores, and Grocery.
  • Welcome bonus of 2,000 Reward Points effectively offsets the joining fee.
  • Low annual fee of ₹499 with a reachable waiver threshold of ₹1 Lakh annual spend.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000.

Cons

  • Very low base reward rate of 0.17% on non-category spends.
  • Accelerated rewards are capped at 5,000 points per month.
  • No complimentary airport lounge access or travel-specific benefits.

HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card

Pros

  • 3X Reward Points on grocery, supermarkets, and utility bills.
  • Monthly milestone bonus of 500 points on spending ₹20,000.
  • Annual fee waiver on a relatively low spend of ₹1 Lakh.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations in India.

Cons

  • Low reward point value of ₹0.20 per point.
  • Accelerated rewards are capped at 500 points per month.
  • No complimentary airport lounge access.

Our Verdict

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card if

Low entry barrier and high rewards on common categories like groceries and dining.

Choose HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card if

Specifically designed for Equitas customers looking for an entry-level rewards card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card or HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card?
City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card and HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card?
City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹499, while HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹500. City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend. HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card or HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card?
City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card offers a base reward rate of 0.16666666666666669% with accelerated rewards on Dining and Movies. HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card offers 0.2666666666666667% base rewards with bonuses on Grocery and Utility Bills. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card and HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card and HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card or HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card?
For beginners, City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹499. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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