Credit card changes in June: From airport lounge access rules to extra fees on fuel transactions

Credit card issuers revise their rules often, changing the fees applicable to transactions and updating their rewards programs, among other things. These credit card changes directly affect the customers as many rely on the card for their daily expenses and have a pre-planned budget, which gets altered due to these changes.

From June 1, 2025, many credit card changes came into effect, from additional charges on fuel and utility payments and revised foreign markup.

Let’s take a look at the major changes introduced by some credit card companies:

HDFC Bank lounge access rule

Starting from June 10, 2025, HDFC Bank has changed the rules for its lounge access to encourage more spending from its cards. The bank has introduced spending thresholds for lounge access instead of its complimentary accesses offered previously.

Cardholders must spend a minimum of ₹50,000 in a calendar quarter to be eligible for lounge access vouchers. Once the cardholders cross the minimum threshold, they will receive the vouchers through SMS and email.

American Express Gold

American Express has announced some card devaluations, which reduce the benefits enjoyed by users. The bank has stopped offering Membership Rewards on its Gold Charge Card, effective June 12, 2025.

“Effective 12 June 2025, you will not earn Membership Rewards® points on Fuel payments via Gold Charge card. Fuel includes petrol, diesel and CNG from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs),” according to the website.

Kotak Mahindra Bank

Kotak Mahindra Bank has introduced many changes that came into effect on June 1, 2025. The key changes include:

• New upper limits on reward points earned on several spending categories, including utility bill payments, fuel, rent, insurance premiums, rent, etc.

• A 1% transaction fee would be applicable on rent and education regardless of the amount spent. Additionally, a 1% fee would be charged on utility, wallet loads, online gaming, and fuel after crossing the spending thresholds in a statement cycle.

• A 1% fee would also be applied on fuel payments after a cardholder exceeds the total fuel spending limit within a statement cycle. This fee does not apply to certain Kotak cards: White Reserve Credit Cards, Kotak Solitaire, Kotak Infinite, Kotak Signature, IndianOil Kotak Credit Cards, or Myntra Kotak Credit Cards.

• Reward point redemption values have also been reduced across many Kotak cards.

YES Bank KIWI Credit Card

The YES Bank has announced changes in its KIWI credit card which came into effect on June 1, 2025. The bank has revised its redemption processes and cashback accrual, aimed at encouraging higher spending amounts.

Previously, a 2% cashback for members and 1.5% for non-members on all transactions was applicable with flexible redemption options. Now, cashback will only be awarded on transactions that are in the multiples of ₹100. Further, a minimum of 500 KIWI points (equal to ₹125) would be required for redemption, and redemptions are only allowed in multiples of ₹500.

Axis Bank

Axis Bank has changed some terms for its Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card and REWARDS Credit Card, effective from June 20.

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit cardholders will have more cashback benefits on Myntra purchases. However, the users will lose their complimentary airport lounge access. This is crucial for frequent travelers.

For REWARDS Credit cardholders, the bank has updated the reward system. Not all purchases would now be counted for earning reward points. Further, the annual fee waiver criteria have also been changed.

These changes are often notified through the credit card issuer’s website. Users must stay on top of the revisions to plan their budgets accordingly. Further, users are advised to check the terms and conditions of their bank or credit card and monitor their spending regularly. This may help the customers to choose a card that suits their needs the best.