IDFC FIRST WOW! Black Credit Card Review 2026: FD-Backed, 0% Forex
IDFC FIRST Bank · Secured (FD-backed) card · Mastercard World
TL;DR
WOW! Black is a secured card: you open or link an IDFC FIRST fixed deposit of at least ₹20,000, and the card gets a credit limit of at least the FD value. No income proof or credit history is needed. It earns 4 points per ₹150, has zero forex markup and adds bonus points on hotel and flight bookings in the IDFC FIRST app. The ₹750 + GST fee is waived at ₹1.5 lakh annual spend.
Pros & cons
- No income proof or credit history needed
- 0% forex markup
- Bonus points of 16.7% of spend on hotels and 10% on flights booked in the IDFC FIRST app
- Interest-free cash withdrawals for up to 45 days at domestic and international ATMs
- Mastercard World acceptance
- A fixed deposit of at least ₹20,000 is mandatory
- ₹750 + GST fee unless you spend ₹1.5 lakh a year
- Points earn only on spends up to your credit limit each cycle
- Lounge access is limited and spend-linked
- ₹0.50 travel redemption is capped at 1 lakh points a month and 2 lakh a year
Fees
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining / annual fee | ₹750 + GST, waived on ₹1.5 lakh annual spend |
| Forex markup | 0% |
| Fixed deposit | Minimum ₹20,000; credit limit at least 100% of the FD |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on ₹200–₹5,000 transactions, capped at ₹200 per statement cycle |
Rewards
| Spend | Points per ₹150 |
|---|---|
| Online, offline and international | 4 |
| UPI above ₹2,000 per transaction | 3 |
| UPI up to ₹2,000 | 1 |
| Utilities, insurance, railways, FASTag | 1 |
| Fuel, EMI, cash withdrawals | Nil |
| Hotels booked in the IDFC FIRST app | Base + bonus points equal to 16.7% of spend |
| Flights booked in the IDFC FIRST app | Base + bonus points equal to 10% of spend |
Points are worth ₹0.50 on travel bookings in the IDFC FIRST app and ₹0.25 on other redemptions. At ₹0.50 a point, the hotel bonus works out to roughly 8% back and the flight bonus to about 5%.
Other benefits
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits a year (1 a quarter), unlocked by spending ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month
- Golf: 4 rounds and 12 lessons a year
- Interest-free cash withdrawals for up to 45 days
Eligibility and how to apply
- Age 18 to 80; Indian citizen with a current and permanent address
- Open or link an IDFC FIRST fixed deposit of at least ₹20,000
- Documents: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof — no income documents needed
Verdict
WOW! Black is a strong pick for anyone building credit or travelling abroad without income proof: zero forex, solid travel bonuses in the IDFC app and Mastercard acceptance. The trade-off against the lifetime-free WOW! card is the ₹750 fee, which you can waive at ₹1.5 lakh of yearly spend.
FAQ
Is a fixed deposit required for WOW! Black?
Yes. The card is issued only against an IDFC FIRST fixed deposit of at least ₹20,000.
What is the forex markup?
0%.
How do UPI spends earn?
3 points per ₹150 on UPI payments above ₹2,000, and 1 point per ₹150 below that.
Which spends do not earn points?
Fuel, EMI transactions and cash withdrawals. Utilities, insurance, railways and FASTag earn only 1 point per ₹150.