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The Credit Card Rewards Behaviour Survey 2025, conducted by SaveSage between February and March this year, gathered responses from over 5,000 credit card holders across nine major cities.
According to the survey, 60% of the credit card users are unaware of premium perks like airport lounge access, travel insurance, and golf privileges.
A staggering 70 per cent of Indian credit card users are failing to optimise the benefits available through their cards, leading to substantial missed savings, according to a survey by a credit card rewards and loyalty optimisation platform SaveSage.
The Credit Card Rewards Behaviour Survey 2025, conducted by SaveSage between February and March this year, gathered responses from over 5,000 credit card holders across nine major cities. The findings come at a time when India has more than 109 million active credit cards (as per RBI data, February 2025), and credit-based spending is on the rise.
The survey highlights several gaps in how consumers engage with credit card benefits, pointing to fragmented information, lack of awareness, and complex redemption systems as key barriers.
Key Highlights from the Survey
- 50% of users struggle to redeem their rewards effectively, often opting for basic cashback instead of more valuable options like travel perks, merchandise, or partner deals.
- 50% allow their reward points to expire—mostly due to a lack of tracking or awareness.
- 60% are unaware of premium perks like airport lounge access, travel insurance, golf privileges, or concierge services that often come with no extra cost.
- Despite the benefits, 55% of daily transactions are still made using UPI or cash, suggesting credit cards are not fully utilised.
- 60% of users depend on social media influencers for advice on credit cards, raising concerns over the credibility of financial guidance.
- 65% are open to switching their primary credit card for better benefits, signalling an appetite for more tailored and high-value offerings.
“The findings from this survey validate what we’ve long believed – that most Indians are leaving real money on the table simply because they don’t have the tools or knowledge to optimise their credit card rewards,” said Ashish Lath, Chief Saver at SaveSage. “Our mission is to help every user unlock the full potential of their credit cards and loyalty programmes whether it’s through our AI assistant Savvy or personalised recommendations.”
