AU Altura Credit Card

About AU Altura Credit Card

Are you looking for your first credit card but want to avoid heavy annual fees? The AU Altura Credit Card is a entry-level powerhouse designed for those who want to start their credit journey without breaking the bank. While most premium cards focus on expensive airport lounges, this card understands the needs of the everyday Indian commuter by offering rare railway lounge access at a price point that is almost negligible.

This card works great for salaried professionals or small business owners earning around ₹30,000 per month. If you spend roughly ₹7,000 to ₹10,000 monthly on basic retail needs, you can effectively use this card for free. With a joining fee of just ₹199, which is easily reversible, it offers a straightforward way to build your credit score while getting rewarded for your regular shopping.

What sets it apart:

• Unbeatable Value: Unlike the SBI SimplySAVE which charges ₹499, the AU Altura costs just ₹199 and offers similar utility.
• Commuter Friendly: It provides 2 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter, a feature usually reserved for much more expensive cards.
• Easy Waivers: Spend just ₹10,000 within the first 90 days to get your joining fee back, making the entry cost zero.

Quick check: To qualify for this card, you need to be between 21 and 60 years old with a minimum monthly income of ₹25,000. A credit score (CRIF) of 725 or higher will significantly improve your approval chances.

Let's break down why this card deserves a spot in your wallet:

Key Benefits and Features of the AU Altura Credit Card

The AU Altura is built on the Mastercard network and focuses on providing value where it matters most for a budget-conscious user. Here is a detailed look at the rewards, savings, and lifestyle perks you can expect.

Welcome Bonus and Cashback

When you get your new AU Altura card, you can get a quick headstart on savings. If you spend a minimum of ₹2,500 on retail purchases within the first 60 days of setting up your card, you receive a 5% cashback. This is capped at ₹150, which essentially offsets most of your first-year joining fee right away. Just remember that you must make at least one transaction of ₹100 within the first 30 days to keep your reward eligibility active.

Railway Lounge Access

This is perhaps the most surprising benefit for a card in this price bracket. You get 2 complimentary railway lounge visits every calendar quarter. Over a year, that is 8 free visits. If you are someone who frequently travels for work or visits family via train, these lounges provide a comfortable, air-conditioned space to wait, away from the platform rush. This feature alone provides value far exceeding the annual fee.

Reward Point System

For every retail spend you make, you earn reward points that you can later use for various options. The conversion rate is simple: 1 reward point equals ₹0.25. You can redeem these points through the AU Bank rewards portal for merchandise, vouchers, or other options. However, be aware of the exclusions. Transactions like rent payments, fuel, insurance, and utility bills do not earn reward points. To maximize your earnings, use this card specifically for shopping at clothing stores, electronics, and general retail outlets.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

Even though fuel spends do not earn reward points, you still save at the pump. When you spend between ₹400 and ₹5,000 at any fuel station in India, the 1% fuel surcharge is waived. You can save up to ₹100 per statement cycle. For a person spending ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 on petrol monthly, this covers the annual cost of the card in just two months.

Fees and Smart Waivers

The AU Altura is designed to be a "zero-cost" card if you use it regularly. The joining fee is ₹199, but the bank will waive this if you spend ₹10,000 within 90 days of card activation. For the second year onwards, the annual fee is also ₹199. You can get this waived by spending ₹80,000 or more in the previous year. This averages out to about ₹6,667 per month, a very achievable target for most working professionals.

How to Apply for the AU Altura Credit Card

The application process for the AU Altura is digital and straightforward. Follow these steps to get your card:

1. Check Your Eligibility: Ensure you are between 21-60 years of age and earn at least ₹3.6 LPA (though ₹5 LPA is recommended for better approval).
2. Visit the Official Portal: Go to the AU Small Finance Bank website or use a trusted partner link to start your application.
3. Enter Personal Details: Provide your mobile number, PAN card details, and current residential pin code.
4. Complete Video KYC: Once your application is shortlisted, a bank representative will guide you through a video KYC process. Keep your original PAN card and a blank paper with a pen ready for your signature.
5. Verification: The bank will verify your income documents and physical address.
6. Card Issuance: After successful verification, your AU Altura card will be dispatched to your registered address within 7-10 working days.
7. Activation: Once you receive the card, generate your PIN via the AU 0101 app and make a transaction of at least ₹100 within 30 days to activate all benefits.

Credit Limit: What to Expect

Credit limits are assigned based on your income, credit score, and banking relationship. For a card like AU Altura, starting limits for salaried individuals with a ₹30,000 income range from ₹30,000 to ₹75,000. Your limit can increase over time if you pay your bills in full and on time for 6-12 consecutive months. AU Bank is known for being generous with limit increases for disciplined users who use a significant portion of their limit but pay it back promptly.

Comparison Table: AU Altura vs. Competitors

To help you decide, we compared the AU Altura with other popular entry-level cards in the Indian market.

If you travel by train frequently, the AU Altura is the clear winner because none of the other cards in this fee bracket offer railway lounge access. However, if your primary goal is high rewards on groceries or online shopping, the SBI or HDFC options might offer better value despite their higher annual fees.

Documents Required for AU Altura Credit Card Application

You'll need to submit the following documents when applying:

For Salaried Applicants

• Identity Proof: PAN Card (mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Utility Bills (not older than 2 months), Rent Agreement, or Property Tax Receipt
• Income Proof: Latest 3 months' salary slips and 6 months' bank statements
• Employment Proof: Office ID card or employment letter

For Self-Employed Applicants

• Identity Proof: PAN Card (mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Utility Bills (not older than 2 months), or Property Documents
• Income Proof: Latest 2 years' ITR with computation of income, 6 months' bank statements, and CA-certified financials
• Business Proof: Business registration certificate, GST registration (if applicable), or Shop Act License

Note: All documents must be self-attested. The bank may request additional documents during verification.

Who Should Get This Card?

Should you get this card? Here's who benefits most:

The Daily Commuter: If you are a young professional living in a city like Mumbai or Delhi and travel to your hometown via train every month, this card is perfect for you. You can use the railway lounges to relax and grab a meal before your journey, saving you ₹300-500 per trip. The annual savings from lounge access alone can reach ₹4,000.

The First-Time User: If you earn ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 and want a card that is easy to manage, AU Altura is a great pick. You don't have to worry about complex reward categories. Use it for your monthly mobile recharges (though they don't earn points, they count toward fee waivers) and retail shopping to build a strong credit history.

The Conservative Spender: If you only plan to spend around ₹7,000 a month on your card, you will easily hit the ₹80,000 annual spend target to waive the fee. This gives you the benefits of a credit card (like fuel waivers and lounges) for absolutely no cost.

You might want to skip this card if:

• You spend more than ₹20,000 monthly, as you could qualify for cards with better reward rates like the AU Vetta or HDFC Millennia.
• You primarily shop online on sites like Amazon or Flipkart, where co-branded cards offer 5% unlimited cashback compared to Altura's much lower reward rate.

BankKaro Expert Review

Based on the card's features, the AU Altura excels at being an entry-level bridge for people who are new to credit. It doesn't pretend to be a luxury card, but it provides a "luxury" perk—railway lounge access—at a very humble price point. This is a smart move by AU Bank to attract the massive demographic of train travelers in India.

The biggest limitation is the reward structure. The exclusion list is quite long, covering everything from rent to utilities. This means you won't earn points on a large portion of your monthly "fixed" expenses. Furthermore, a 0.25% value back is quite low compared to the 1% or 2% offered by some competitors.

Our verdict: Choose this card if you want a low-maintenance, low-cost card that provides free railway lounge access and a simple way to build your CIBIL score. If you are a heavy shopper, look elsewhere. For the average starter, this is a solid, reliable choice that pays for itself through its waivers and lounge perks.

Terms and Conditions

Please keep the following terms in mind before applying for the AU Altura Credit Card:

• The bank may offer a different card variant based on your eligibility; please review the features and benefits of the card offered carefully before submitting your application.
• A minimum transaction of ₹100 within 30 days of card issuance is required to activate the card, failing which you will not be eligible for rewards.
• Fuel surcharge waiver is only applicable on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000.
• Reward points are not earned on "non-rewardable" categories like rent, insurance, and utilities.
• The annual fee waiver is based on retail spends only; cash withdrawals and EMI conversions may not count toward the threshold.