HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card

The HDFC Bank Freedom credit card is among the top credit card offered by HDFC bank. This HDFC credit card comes with an array of features and benefits which includes accelerated reward point benefits, as well, as benefits on other categories such as fuel and shopping.

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Key Highlights of the Freedom Credit Card

The key highlights of the freedom credit card are as follows:

  1. Earn 10X CashPoints on BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy & Uber. Maximum CashPoints capped at 2,500 per month. Convert CashPoints to cashback, flight & hotel bookings, or vouchers. Each CashPoint is valued at Rs.0.15.
  2. Get 1 CashPoint per Rs.150 spent on all other purchases. No rewards on EMI, rent, fuel, wallet loads, government transactions, or prepaid card loads.
  3. Enjoy a 1% waiver on fuel transactions between Rs.400 and Rs.5,000. Maximum waiver of Rs.250 per billing cycle.
  4. Rs.500 annual fee (waived if you spend Rs.50,000+ in a year).
  5. Get 500 CashPoints on paying the membership fee.
  6. Tap & pay up to Rs.5,000 without entering a PIN for quick transactions.
  7. Report a lost card immediately to avoid fraudulent transactions.
  8. Convert high-value purchases into easy monthly EMIs for better financial management.
  9. Redeem CashPoints against statement balance, travel bookings, and select vouchers.Cashback redemption requires a minimum of 3,334 CashPoints (Rs.500 equivalent).

Features and Benefits of the Freedom Credit Card

The following are the major features and benefits of the Freedom Credit Card:

Powerful Reward System

  1. Freedom 10X Rewards: Earn 10X CashPoints on BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy & Uber. Just ensure your purchases are non-EMI and made via their App or Website.
  2. Reward Point Capping: The 10X feature is capped at 2,500 CashPoints per month, but you can earn unlimited standard rewards on eligible transactions.
  3. CashPoints Expiry: Use your CashPoints within two years to make the most of your earnings before they expire.

Exclusive Lifestyle & Travel Perks

  1. Dining Privileges: Get up to 20% off at 2,000+ premium restaurants in select cities via Swiggy Dineout. Enjoy gourmet meals at a discount.
  2. Travel Redemption: Redeem CashPoints for flights and hotel stays via HDFC’s SmartBuy Rewards Portal. Use up to 50% of your points for bookings.
  3. Monthly Redemption Limits: You can redeem up to 50,000 CashPoints per month for travel bookings and cashback.

Smart Financial Benefits

  1. Interest-Free Credit Period: Enjoy up to 50 days of interest-free spending when you clear your total due amount on time.
  2. Minimum Amount Due (MAD) Benefits: Paying at least the MAD ensures no late fees and protects your credit score, though interest applies to the remaining balance.
  3. Easy EMI Facility: Convert large purchases into affordable EMIs with nominal interest rates, helping you manage expenses better.
  4. Smart EMI Conversion: Big-ticket spending? Convert it into manageable monthly payments without hassle.

Fuel & Transaction Perks

  1. Fuel Benefits: Get a 1% surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between Rs.400 and Rs.5,000. Maximum waiver per cycle: Rs.250.
  2. No Rewards on Select Transactions: EMI payments, rent, fuel purchases, wallet loads, government-related transactions, cash advances, and bill payments do not earn CashPoints.

Security & Convenience

  1. Lost Card Protection: Report a lost card immediately and enjoy zero liability on fraudulent transactions.
  2. Secure Contactless Payments: Tap & Pay for transactions up to Rs.5,000 without entering a PIN, making checkouts seamless.
  3. Annual Fee Waiver: Spend Rs.50,000+ in a year to get the Rs.500 annual fee waived.
  4. No Expiry of Existing CashPoints: Any CashPoints you've already earned will remain valid under existing rules.

HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card Limit

The credit limit of the HDFC Freedom card is completely at the discretion of the bank. The bank takes certain factors into consideration before assigning a credit limit. The credit score of the applicant, the credit report is checked along with repayment habits of past and ongoing loans are also taken into consideration.

Eligibility criteria for the Freedom Credit Card

The eligibility criteria for the Freedom Credit Card are as follows:

For Salaried Individuals:

  1. Must be an Indian citizen with a stable income source.
  2. Age requirement: Applicants should be at least 21 years old and not older than 60 years.
  3. Income criteria: A minimum net monthly income of Rs.12,000 is required to be eligible for the card.

For Self-Employed Individuals:

  1. The applicant must be an Indian national running a business or practising a profession.
  2. Age requirement: The minimum age to apply is 21 years, while the maximum allowable age is 65 years.
  3. Income criteria: The applicant must have an annual Income Tax Return (ITR) of more than Rs.6 lakh to qualify.

How to redeem reward points earned on the HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card?

You can redeem reward points through offline or online methods. If you wish to do so offline, you will need to download the rewards redemption form from the HDFC Bank website. The details will need to be filled and sent to the following address:

Rewards Helpdesk,

HDFC Bank Cards Division,

P.O. Box No. 8654,

Thiruvanmiyur, P.O.,

Chennai - 600041.

You can also log in to your Net banking account and redeem your reward points online as well. To do so, here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Log in to your HDFC credit card net banking account.
  2. Click on the 'credit cards' tab.
  3. Register your card and then click on the 'redeem reward points' and select 'continue'.
  4. The website will then redirect you to the rewards redemption page.
  5. Select 'Redeem Reward Points'.
  6. Click on the category of the item you need.
  7. After doing so, choose the points range to check the various products.
  8. You can select the items and add them to the cart for purchase.
  9. After you have chosen the products, click on 'view your shopping cart'.
  10. You will need to read the terms and condition and check the box.
  11. Once done, click on 'redeem'. The redemption order number which is given must be noted down for future references.
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Fees and Charges on the HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card

Type of Charge

Amount

Annual fee

Rs.500

Interest-free period

Up to 50 days

Minimum repayment amount

5% or a minimum of Rs.200

Charges on revolving credit

3.49% per month

Cash advance limit

40% of the credit limit

Late payment charges

  1. Less than equal to Rs.100 - Nil
  2. Rs.101 to Rs.500 - Rs.100
  3. Rs.501 to Rs.1,000 - Rs.500
  4. Rs.1,001 to Rs.5,000 - Rs.600
  5. Rs.5,001 to Rs.10,000 - Rs.750
  6. Rs.10,001 to Rs.25,000 - Rs.900
  7. Rs.25,001 to Rs.50,000 - Rs.1100
  8. More than Rs.50,000 Rs.1300

Additional card fee

Free

Payment return charges

2% of the payment amount subjected to a minimum of Rs.450.

Rewards redemption fee

Rs.99 per redemption request

Charges on over limit account

2.5% of the over limit amount subjected to a minimum of Rs.500

Cash advance charges

2.5% of the amount withdrawn or Rs.500, whichever is higher

Balance transfer processing charges

1% of the balance transfer amount or Rs.250. The higher amount will be taken.

Outstation cheque processing charges

Cheque value of up to Rs.5,000 - Rs.25

Cheque value of more than Rs.5,000 - Rs.50

Cash processing fee

Rs.100

Reissue of a stolen, lost or damaged card

Rs.100

Railway ticket purchase fee

1.8% of the transaction amount + GST

Foreign currency transactions

3.5%

Fuel transaction charges

Rs.250 per statement cycle will be waived off

Documents required for applying for the HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card

  1. Copy of Form 60 and PAN card.
  2. Duly filled application form
  3. Proof of income which can include a copy of your Form 16, latest salary slips or IT returns.
  4. 2 passport-sized coloured photographs.
  5. Address proof which should include PAN card, Passport, Aadhaar card or a copy of your electricity bill.
  6. An identity proof which includes Aadhaar card, PAN card or driving licence.
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FAQs on HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card

  • How secure is the HDFC Freedom card?

    The HDFC Freedom card comes with chip card technology that makes tampering or copying the card impossible. Further, the technology makes it easy to make point of sale (POS) transactions with the card. Users just need to dip the card at chip-enabled POS terminals while they can swipe as usual at non-chip-based terminals.

  • How to redeem accumulated reward points?

    The accumulated reward points can be redeemed for both cash and rewards. You can fill the request form available at the form center and send it to HDFC Chennai address.

    Alternatively, requests can also be made through net banking. The cash redemption option is available under 'Cards > Enquire > Redeem Reward Points > Cash Redemption' in the net banking account.

  • Can I get an add-on card?

    Yes, cardholders can apply for a supplementary card with the Freedom card. The applicants should be either parents, spouse, children or siblings of the primary cardholder. Children and siblings applying for the add-on credit cards should be above 18 years of age.

  • What is the limit of HDFC Freedom credit card?

    The limit of the HDFC Bank Freedom credit card is given at the discretion of the bank. HDFC Bank takes several factors into consideration before assigning the credit limit. Some of the factors are the credit score of the primary applicant, the credit utilisation ratio, along with the repayment habits of past debts.

  • Is HDFC Freedom credit card free?

    No, The HDFC Bank Freedom credit card is not free. It comes with an annual fee of Rs.500. However, if you spend more than Rs.50,000 in a year on your card, the annual fee of Rs.500 is waived off for the next year.

  • How can I make my HDFC freedom card lifetime free?

    No, the HDFC Bank Freedom credit card is not a lifetime free card. The card has an annual fee of Rs.500 which must be paid every year. However, if your annual spends amount to more than Rs.50,000, the annual fee of Rs.500 is waived off and the card, for that year, is free.

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