M16S / Kotak Mahindra Bank / Kotak Zen Signature Credit Card
mid · rewards, shopping
Kotak Zen Signature Credit Card
The Kotak Zen Signature Credit Card costs Rs 1,500 a year, waived if you spend Rs 1,50,000 in a year. Its base return is 0.83% (5 Zen points per Rs 150). Accelerated earn: 10 Zen points per Rs 150 on apparel, lifestyle, departmental stores and jewellery (by MCC). The forex markup is 3.5%. Lounge visits in India: 2 per calendar quarter. Abroad: 3 per calendar year via Priority Pass. Read from the issuer's own documents on 11 Oct 2026.
- Annual fee
- Rs 1,500+ GST
- Fee waived at
- Rs 1,50,000annual spend
- Base return
- 0.83%
- Forex markup
- 3.5%
- Interest
- 3.75%a month
What changed on this card
- Kotak Zen Signature caps and drops category rewards, Jun 2025
From 1 Jun 2025 Zen points are earned on education and insurance spends up to Rs 70,000, utility up to Rs 50,000 and government up to Rs 40,000 per statement cycle. Wallet load, fuel, rent and online skill based gaming stop earning. These categories no longer count toward milestones. Source: Kotak Mahindra Bank, kotak.bank.in, read 28 Oct 2026
- Kotak Zen Signature cuts cash redemption to Rs 0.20 per point, Jun 2025
From 1 Jun 2025 cash value for redemption falls from Rs 0.25 to Rs 0.20 per Zen Point, with a minimum of 2,000 Zen Points for cash redemption. Redemption against catalogue categories stays at Rs 0.25 per point. Source: Kotak Mahindra Bank, kotak.bank.in, read 28 Oct 2026
- Kotak Zen Signature ties lounge access to Rs 75,000 quarterly spend, Jun 2025
From 1 Jun 2025 two domestic airport lounge visits in a calendar quarter need quarterly spends of Rs 75,000 or more in the previous quarter. Source: Kotak Mahindra Bank, kotak.bank.in, read 28 Oct 2026
- Kotak Zen Signature revises fuel surcharge waiver terms, Jun 2025
From 1 Jun 2025 the 1% fuel surcharge waiver applies to transactions between Rs 500 and Rs 5000, with a maximum waiver of Rs 3,500 in an anniversary year. Source: Kotak Mahindra Bank, kotak.bank.in, read 28 Oct 2026
- Kotak changes minimum amount due to 1% of purchases, Jun 2025
From 1 Jun 2025 Minimum Amount Due is 1% of purchase transactions and cash advances, plus 100% of EMI, fees and charges (including finance or interest charges), taxes and any over limit amount, plus any unpaid prior MAD. The earlier basis was 5% of purchases plus 5% of finance charges. Source: Kotak Mahindra Bank, kotak.bank.in, read 28 Oct 2026
Each change is read from the bank's own notice or terms document, linked above. Every card's changes are on the change log.
Fees
| Joining fee | Rs 1,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | Rs 1,500 |
| Annual spend that waives the fee | Rs 1,50,000 |
| Fee notes | Rs 1,500 joining and annual; annual waived on Rs 1.5 lakh retail spend in a year. A free variant exists without the welcome gift. |
Rewards
| Welcome benefit | 1,500 Zen points after the Rs 1,500 joining fee is paid |
|---|---|
| Reward currency | Zen Points |
| Base earn | 5 Zen points per Rs 150 |
| Base return | 0.83% |
| Point value | 1 Zen point = Rs 0.25 on merchandise and vouchers; Rs 0.20 as cashback |
| Accelerated earn | 10 Zen points per Rs 150 on apparel, lifestyle, departmental stores and jewellery (by MCC) |
| Caps | Accelerated earn capped at 6,500 Zen points per statement cycle. Education and insurance earn on up to Rs 70,000 per cycle, utility up to Rs 50,000, government up to Rs 40,000. |
| Spends that earn nothing | Wallet loads, fuel, rent, railways, online skill-based gaming, EMI conversions, balance transfer |
| Points expiry | 2 years from accrual |
| Milestone benefits | 7,500 Zen points at Rs 3 lakh annual spend and a further 7,500 at Rs 6 lakh |
| Reward notes | base_return_pct = 5 points per Rs 150 x Rs 0.25 = 0.83%; accelerated = 1.67%. |
Travel and perks
| Domestic lounge | 2 per calendar quarter |
|---|---|
| International lounge | 3 per calendar year via Priority Pass |
| Lounge conditions | Domestic needs Rs 75,000 spend in the previous calendar quarter (from 1 Jun 2025). International: primary only; guests and extra visits USD 35. |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on Rs 500-5,000 txns, cap Rs 3,500 per anniversary year; railway surcharge waiver up to Rs 500 |
Charges and eligibility
| Interest per month | 3.75% |
|---|---|
| Late payment fee | By outstanding balance: <=100 nil; 100-500 Rs 100; 500-1,000 Rs 500; 1,000-5,000 Rs 600; 5,000-10,000 Rs 750; 10,000-25,000 Rs 900; 25,000-50,000 Rs 1,100; >50,000 Rs 1,300 |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% min Rs 500 |
| Eligibility | Not stated on issuer page |
| Fine-print notes | Capped and restricted MCCs do not count towards fee waiver or milestones. MITC surcharges: 1% on utility spend above Rs 50,000/cycle, fuel above Rs 35,000/cycle, wallet loads above Rs 10,000/cycle, online gaming above Rs 10,000/cycle, education via third-party apps; rent 1% + GST. |
Questions
- What is the annual fee of the Kotak Zen Signature Credit Card?
- Rs 1,500 a year, before GST. It is waived if you spend Rs 1,50,000 in a year.
- Does the Kotak Zen Signature Credit Card give airport lounge access?
- Yes. In India: 2 per calendar quarter. Outside India: 3 per calendar year via Priority Pass. Conditions: Domestic needs Rs 75,000 spend in the previous calendar quarter (from 1 Jun 2025). International: primary only; guests and extra visits USD 35.
- What is the forex markup on the Kotak Zen Signature Credit Card?
- 3.5% of each foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
- Which spends earn no rewards on the Kotak Zen Signature Credit Card?
- Wallet loads, fuel, rent, railways, online skill-based gaming, EMI conversions, balance transfer