Key takeaways

  • IDFC FIRST removed forex markup on all its credit cards from 9 September, but most cards stop earning points on international spends from 26 October.
  • Axis Bank moved major airlines into its capped transfer group on 23 September.
  • Several BOBCARD variants lost lifetime-free status on 1 September.
  • Amazon's sale starts 8 October and Flipkart's on 9 October. Apple's iPhone Duo opens for pre-order on 16 October.

September 2026 was busy for Indian credit card users: one of the biggest improvements of the year, a fresh round of cuts, new cards, and the run-up to festive sales. Here's everything that happened, with sources, and what to do about it.

Improvements

IDFC FIRST Bank: zero forex markup on all cards (9 September)

IDFC FIRST Bank removed the forex markup on every credit card it issues, both existing and new, with no spend condition. On ₹1 lakh of international spending that saves about ₹4,130 compared with a typical 3.5% card. The catch: most IDFC FIRST cards stop earning reward points on international transactions from 26 October 2026. Some premium and co-branded cards keep earning. Full story.

Devaluations and new fees

Axis Bank EDGE Miles: transfer groups reshuffled (23 September)

Air India, Flying Blue and Qantas moved into Axis's "Group A" of transfer partners, which has a much lower annual cap. It's reported at 30,000 EDGE Miles on Axis Bank Atlas. That follows April's removal of Accor, Marriott and Qatar Airways. If you hold Atlas, plan your transfers within the cap. See our transfer partners guide.

Bank of Baroda BOBCARD: lifetime-free status removed (1 September)

BOBCARD Easy, Select and Premier now carry joining and annual fees of ₹500–₹1,000, and Eterna moved from lifetime free to first-year free with a ₹2,499 annual fee after that. If you hold one of these cards, ask about a downgrade or fee waiver before your renewal date.

Kotak 811 DreamDifferent (1 September)

Kotak's FD-backed card now has a ₹500 joining fee (including GST) for new applicants from 1 September 2026, according to Kotak's product page. There's still no annual fee.

New launches

  • Bandhan Bank credit cards: Bandhan Bank launched its first credit card portfolio with Mastercard, with a fully digital application.
  • Amazon Pay Kotak Business Credit Card (9 September): for sole proprietors, with 5% cashback for Prime members on Amazon Business purchases.

More in our 2026 launches roundup.

Shopping and festive season

  • Amazon Great Indian Festival starts 8 October, with a 10% instant discount on SBI credit and debit cards and EMI, and early deals already live. Card guide.
  • Flipkart Big Billion Days opens to everyone on 9 October, with early access from midnight on 8 October and up to 10% off on Axis and ICICI cards. Card guide.
  • Diwali falls on 8 November, with Dhanteras on 6 November. Our Diwali card guide.

Apple launches

  • iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max went on sale in India on 18 September from ₹1,64,900 and ₹1,79,900, with up to ₹7,000 instant cashback on select Amex, Axis and ICICI cards. Details.
  • iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable, costs ₹2,99,900–₹4,49,900 in India. Pre-orders open on 16 October and availability starts on 23 October. Details.

Reminders from earlier in the year

  • RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026 has been in force since 1 July. Card complaints can now get up to ₹30 lakh for consequential loss. How to use it.
  • Axis Bank (28 August): Priority Pass no longer works at domestic lounges, DCC charges went up, and gift card purchases stopped earning rewards.

What to do this month

  1. Travelling abroad soon? An IDFC FIRST card is now zero-forex. Use it before 26 October if you want points on international spends too.
  2. Axis Atlas holders: check your Group A transfer cap before transferring miles.
  3. BOBCARD holders: ask for a fee waiver or downgrade before renewal.
  4. Before the sales: check which cards get the bank discount and use our sale calculator to compare real prices.

Every change is also recorded on our credit card changes log, and you can sign up for email alerts below.

Coming up in October and November 2026

  • 1 October: Axis Bank SELECT milestones count only reward-eligible spends. Insurance and rent are excluded.
  • 8–9 October: Amazon and Flipkart festive sales begin.
  • 16 October: iPhone Duo pre-orders open in India, with availability on 23 October.
  • 26 October: most IDFC FIRST cards stop earning reward points on international spends.
  • 1 November: Axis MY ZONE, SELECT and Privilege movie offers need ₹25,000 of spend over three months.
  • 6–8 November: Dhanteras and Diwali.

FAQs

What were the biggest credit card changes in September 2026?

IDFC FIRST Bank removing forex markup on all its cards, Axis Bank reshuffling EDGE Miles transfer partners, and BOBCARD variants losing lifetime-free status.

Where can I see all credit card changes in 2026?

Our credit card changes log lists every notable change with its date and source, and our 2026 devaluations guide explains the biggest ones.

When do the October 2026 festive sales start?

Amazon Great Indian Festival starts on 8 October and Flipkart Big Billion Days opens to everyone on 9 October.

Do IDFC FIRST cards still earn rewards abroad?

Until 26 October 2026, yes. After that, most IDFC FIRST cards stop earning reward points on international transactions, though they keep zero forex markup. Some premium and co-branded cards keep earning.

Sources

About the author

Deepak

Founder & Editor, CardPicker

Deepak founded CardPicker and writes and fact-checks its credit card guides, comparisons and news.

✓ Fact-checked 26 September 2026Prices, dates and card terms in this article were checked against issuer websites, official pages and news reports listed under Sources. Card figures come from our database, which is re-verified regularly. Offers change often, so confirm on the issuer's site before you buy or apply. Spotted an error? Tell us.