Credit cards are one of the best financial instruments ever made, as they not only allow you to use the privileges it provides but also impart access to short-term funds if the need arises. For years, the credit card industry has changed and many new credit cards with world-class features have been introduced. But some things have remained the same, like the financial position of a person and credit score requirements. This acts as a barrier for individuals with low starting income and students who can not enjoy the privilege of credit cards. Though there are few cards designed for such individuals but the choices are limited and the benefits are also limited.
This is where the Add-on cards come into the picture. The Add-on cards, also known as Additional Cards are issued against the primary credit card. These cards can be issued to the family members of the primary cardholder and the card provides the same benefits and privileges as the primary card. The process to get the Add-on card is very easy and moreover, these are issued without any charge. The HDFC Bank offers Add-on cards for the family members of the primary cardholder so that they can also enjoy the privileges and the benefits. So if you are already holding an HDFC credit card but don’t know how to apply for an add-on card for your family members, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about HDFC Add-on credit cards, their features, eligibility criteria, charges if any, documents requirements, and at last how to apply for Add-on Cards.
The features and Benefits of an Add-on card are similar to that of the primary card. The same privileges and also the same reward rate is shared with the Add-on cardholders. However, they are some things that come with the Add-on cards, which are:
The fees and charges applicable for any HDFC Add-on credit card are similar to the primary card. Therefore all the charges on the card like finance charges, cash advance fees, late payment fees, etc. would be the same as the primary card. However, the Annual charges for the HDFC Add-on cards are completely zero as the HDFC Add-on cards are lifetime free. For example, if you apply for the Add-on HDFC Regalia credit card then the charges for the card would be similar to the primary Regalia card. For better understanding following is the table that summarizes some of the charges applicable on the regalia card, which would also be applicable for the Regalia Add-on card:
| Charges | Amount |
| Charges on Revolving Credit | 3.49% per month (41.88% annually) |
| Cash Advance Fee | 2.5% of the amount withdrawn or Rs. 500 (whichever is higher) |
| Rewards Redemption Fee | Rs. 99 Per redemption |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 2% of the transaction amount |
| Cash Advance Limit | 40% of the Credit Limit |
The Eligibility Criteria to apply for the HDFC Add-on credit card are very basic but also important. Following are some points you must keep in mind before applying for the Add-on card:
– The applicant for the Add-on card must be above 18 years of age.
– The applicant must be related to the primary cardholder.
– The Primary cardholder must maintain a good credit score.
– The applicant must have the consent of the Primary cardholder.
To apply for the HDFC Add-on credit card, the Bank may ask for certain documents that would be required to issue the card. However, if the applicant already has a bank account in HDFC, then the process becomes very easy and the bank may not ask for any document or the requirement for the documents becomes very minimal. But, if the applicant does not have an account in HDFC then the following are some of the documents that are asked for
After ensuring that you are eligible for the Add-on card and preparing the required documents, now is the time to apply for the HDFC Add-on credit card. To apply for the card, the applicant has two ways. The first way is for those applicants who already have a bank account in HDFC Bank and the other way is for those who do not have an account with the Bank.
If the applicant already has a bank account in the HDFC Bank, then they can apply for the Add-on Credit card online on HDFC Netbanking. The process of applying online is very simple and fast via Netbanking:
– Login to NetBanking
– Go to the Cards page
– Search for the Transact and click on it
– Click on request Add-on card
– Follow the instructions and add the details asked.
If the Applicant does not hold any account with the HDFC Bank, then they need to visit the HDFC Branch. But first, you must download the Add-on card application form, print it out, and fill it with all the details asked. Then you need to submit the form to the nearest HDFC branch along with the documents asked by the Bank.
The PIN for the Add-on credit card is sent to the cardholder along with the Add-on card. The PIN for the card will be different from that of the primary card. If you want to change the PIN for your Add-on card, then the process is very simple. Following is the way by which you can change your HDFC Add-on Credit card PIN:
Through ATM:
– Call customer care to get the OTP on your registered mobile number for PIN generation at the ATM.
– Insert your Add-on credit card at the HDFC Bank ATM and choose to Create a new ATM PIN using the OTP option
– Enter the OTP received on your mobile
– Set your 4-digit PIN.
There are many HDFC Credit cards offered by the HDFC Bank that come with the Add-on Credit card facility, following are some of such cards that offer great benefits and must be considered:
Add-on cards is great facility for pimary cardholders as they can provide the benefits of a credit card and also offer financial freedom to their family member. The additional cards are very beneficial for the students and also for youngsters with new job as they have no or little income. With add-on card, cardholders can enjoy the same benefits as the primary card. Also, with more than one card in family, the milestone benefits can also be achieved quickly.
