Key takeaways

  • Swiggy HDFC was replaced by Swiggy BLCK (₹1,000 fee, 10% on Swiggy) and ORNGE (₹500, 5%).
  • HSBC Live+ was upgraded in July 2026: 10% on more categories, capped at ₹1,200 a month.
  • Bandhan Bank launched its first credit cards in September 2026.
  • Wait for independent reviews before applying for brand-new cards.

Not every change in 2026 was a cut. Here are the notable new cards and upgrades this year, most recent first.

Bandhan Bank credit cards (September 2026)

Bandhan Bank launched its first credit card portfolio in partnership with Mastercard, with a fully digital application process. If you already bank with Bandhan, it may be one of the easiest cards for you to get. Wait for independent reviews of the reward structure before choosing it over established cards.

Amazon Pay Kotak Business Credit Card (September 2026)

Aimed at sole proprietors, this card reportedly offers 5% cashback for Prime members on Amazon Business purchases. For personal Amazon spending, Amazon Pay ICICI Bank remains the lifetime free benchmark.

HSBC Live+ upgrade (July 2026)

Not a new card, but a meaningful upgrade. HSBC Live+ moved to Visa Infinite. Its 10% cashback now covers dining, food delivery, groceries, shopping and utilities up to ₹1,200 a month, and the forex markup is 1.99%. For our "balanced spender" profile it is now the top-ranked card in our database, at about ₹15,840 a year.

CheQ AU LED Credit Card (April 2026)

A novelty card from CheQ and AU Small Finance Bank with an NFC-powered LED that lights up when you tap to pay. It reportedly costs ₹499 a year plus a ₹999 one-time LED fee. Fun, but choose it for the design, not the rewards.

Swiggy BLCK and ORNGE HDFC Bank cards (March 2026)

HDFC Bank and Swiggy replaced the popular Swiggy HDFC card with two variants:

  • Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank: ₹1,000 fee, 10% on Swiggy (capped at ₹1,500 a month) and 5% on online categories (capped at ₹1,500).
  • Swiggy ORNGE HDFC Bank: ₹500 fee, 5% on Swiggy and online, with a combined ₹1,500 monthly cap.

If you spend more than about ₹5,000 a month on Swiggy, BLCK usually covers its higher fee. Compare BLCK vs ORNGE →

Swiggy BLCK vs ORNGE: which to pick

For a household spending ₹6,000 a month on Swiggy and ₹8,000 online, BLCK's 10% Swiggy rate usually beats ORNGE even after the higher fee. For lighter Swiggy users, ORNGE's ₹500 fee (waived at ₹1.5 lakh a year) is easier to justify. Estimated yearly value for our "foodie" profile: BLCK about ₹15,840, ORNGE about ₹11,040. Full comparison.

What to check before applying for a new card

  1. Read the MITC for fees, caps and exclusions. Launch marketing often shows only the best rates.
  2. Look for caps. Most new cards cap their headline rewards monthly.
  3. Wait a month or two for real-world reviews on how rewards post and how the app works.
  4. Compare with established cards using our credit card finder.
  5. Avoid multiple applications at once. Each creates a hard enquiry on your credit report.

Other 2026 improvements

  • IDFC FIRST (September): zero forex markup on all credit cards. Details.
  • Amazon Pay Kotak Business (September): for sole proprietors buying on Amazon Business.

Every launch and change is logged with its source on our changes page, and the monthly summary is in our September 2026 roundup.

How existing Swiggy HDFC cardholders are affected

New applications for the original Swiggy HDFC card closed in February 2026, and HDFC launched BLCK and ORNGE in March. Existing holders were reported to be migrated to one of the new variants. If that's you, check which variant you've been moved to, and its fee, in your HDFC app. If ORNGE's lower fee suits your spending better, ask the bank whether you can switch.

What we look for in a new card

  • A genuinely new benefit, not just a relaunch of an old card with a higher fee.
  • Clear, published caps and exclusions in the MITC.
  • A realistic reward rate after caps for typical spending.
  • A fee waiver threshold that ordinary users can reach.

We add new cards to our database once terms are published and verified, so they appear in the finder and comparisons.

FAQs

What happened to the Swiggy HDFC Bank credit card?

In 2026 it was replaced by two variants: Swiggy BLCK (₹1,000 fee, 10% on Swiggy) and Swiggy ORNGE (₹500 fee, 5% on Swiggy). New applications for the original card were closed.

Which new credit card of 2026 is best?

It depends on your spending. HSBC Live+ (upgraded) is strong for dining, groceries and bills, and Swiggy BLCK for heavy Swiggy users. Use our finder to compare for your spends.

Should I apply for a card as soon as it launches?

It's usually better to wait for independent reviews and read the MITC, unless there's a limited-time welcome offer you genuinely value.

Will CardPicker add Bandhan Bank credit cards?

Once full terms are published and verified, we'll add notable new cards to our database and comparisons.

What is the CheQ AU LED credit card?

A card from CheQ and AU Small Finance Bank with an NFC-powered LED, reportedly costing ₹499 a year plus a ₹999 one-time LED fee.

Is the Amazon Pay Kotak Business card for individuals?

It's aimed at sole proprietors buying on Amazon Business. For personal Amazon spending, Amazon Pay ICICI remains the lifetime free option.

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.