No Credit Score? Top FD-Backed RuPay Credit Cards for Beginners

I personally switched to a RuPay credit card after using Visa, MasterCard, and Amex for almost a decade. In this post, I’ll help you choose a good UPI RuPay credit card that’s easier for a beginner to get, and I’ll also explain why I made the switch to RuPay, even though it’s primarily used in India.

The Evolution of UPI That Led to the RuPay Credit Card

India has made huge progress in online payments, while other countries still rely on older methods like card swipe machines. But in India, these are often unnecessary. UPI has truly changed the game. Now, whether offline or online, almost all merchants accept UPI because it only requires a mobile phone to send and receive payments—there’s no need to buy a Point-of-Sale (POS) or card swipe machine, or pay for its maintenance.

When almost all merchants started accepting UPI, people were primarily paying through their savings bank accounts, which created a need for credit cards in this space. However, Visa and MasterCard, being foreign entities, were not very flexible in integrating a new payment network like UPI. To address this, the government introduced the RuPay Credit Card, designed specifically to cater to Indian needs and made fully customizable for local users.

RuPay Credit Card Is Now a Necessity

When the RuPay Credit Card was launched, its main purpose was to enable people to use credit instead of their bank accounts for UPI transactions, while also helping them track and analyze their monthly spending. These credit cards charge some fees from merchants and, in return, share a part of their earnings with the customers. This is why some merchants initially kept it disabled to avoid transaction fees, but as the number of RuPay Credit Card users grows, most merchants are now accepting it.

Beginners Without a Credit Score Can Apply for RuPay Credit Cards

As a complete beginner, you might wonder how to get a RuPay credit card without any credit history. Your options may be limited, but the following cards are almost guaranteed for approval. I’ve personally tested a few of them, and they are very simple to apply for. None of the cards listed below are sponsored or affiliated as of today’s date.

There are mainly two types of RuPay credit cards that a beginner can apply for: bank account-based and FD-backed RuPay credit cards. In this post, we will discuss both types. You won’t find any good cashback credit cards here, because for those, you need a strong credit history, which I explained in my previous post: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Your First Credit Score in India with No Previous History & From 0 to Good Credit Score: My Journey to Building Credit History

FD-Backed RuPay Credit Cards – No Credit Score Needed

1. IDFC FIRST RuPay Credit Card

The RuPay Credit Card from IDFC FIRST Bank is a secured, FD-backed, RuPay card tailored for first-time credit users, including those with limited or no credit history. It combines UPI convenience, cashback, and FD returns—all via a digital-first experience.

• Virtual FD-backed RuPay card, beginner-friendly.
• There are multiple variants available, you can check and choose as per your need
• Annual fee starting from ₹199 + Gst, (I prefer lifetime free)
• Minimum FD: ₹2,000, Earns interest on FD (Upto 7% p.a.).
• Credit limit: Up to 90% of FD.
• Cashback: Check their website for exact information.
• I have used this personally, and so has one of my friends. The entire process is online. You can click “Apply” on the IDFC FIRST Bank credit card website, provide some basic information, and it will ask you to open a fixed deposit. Soon after, they conduct a video KYC, and your card is activated shortly after approval.
• Official Link 🔗 (Non Sponsored)

2. Kredit.Pe RuPay Credit Card

The Kredit.Pe RuPay Credit Card is an FD-backed, lifetime free card that’s beginner-friendly and designed to help you start building credit.

• FD-backed, lifetime free RuPay card.
• Minimum FD: ₹2,000.
• Cashback: Check their website for exact information.
• Fully digital application process.
• Provides exclusive brand discounts, beginner-friendly, helps build credit history.
• I haven’t used this personally, but I’ve seen many positive reviews. It provides an SBM-backed RuPay credit card, so your FD amount is secured and RBI-approved. You can apply through the mobile application, making the process seamless and easy.
• Official Link 🔗 (Non Sponsored)

3. SBM ZET Credit Card

The SBM ZET Credit Card is an FD-backed, lifetime-free RuPay credit card powered by ZET (a credit-builder platform) in collaboration with SBM Bank India, designed to help users build or improve their credit score—without requiring income proof or prior credit history.

• FD-backed card to build/improve credit score.
• Minimum FD: ₹5,000; credit limit up to 90% of FD.
• 45-day interest-free period on UPI transactions.
• Earns up to 7% p.a. interest on FD.
• Cashback: Check their website for exact information.
• Exclusive discounts on Amazon Prime, Zomato, Flipkart.
• Easy application through ZET app.
• I’ve added this to my top three list because of its popularity and positive reviews across discussion forums. It’s beginner-friendly, backed by SBM, and comes with its own app for scanning and paying via UPI. It also provides expense categories if you want to track your spending.
• Official Link 🔗 (Non Sponsored)

4. SBM Credilio RuPay Credit Card

The SBM Credilio RuPay Credit Card is a lifetime-free, FD-backed secured card issued via SBM Bank India with Credilio. It’s designed to help beginners build credit without income proof or credit history.

• FD-backed, beginner-friendly RuPay card.
• Minimum FD: ₹5,000; credit limit up to 90% of FD.
• Zero joining fees.
• Up to 10X rewards on UPI transactions.
• Application via Credilio platform is simple.
• Helps build credit history while earning rewards.
• I’ve included this in the list because there are very few FD-backed credit cards available. If you don’t want to apply for the top three cards, you can give this one a try. Please do your own research before applying for this card or the next one on the list.
• Official Link 🔗 (Non Sponsored)

5. Rupicard RuPay Credit Card

The Rupicard RuPay Credit Card is an FD-backed, lifetime-free secured credit card issued via SBM Bank India, designed especially for beginners—no credit history or income proof needed.

• FD-backed card with flexible credit limit (start from ₹5,000 FD).
• 45-day interest-free credit period.
• Instant cash withdrawal options.
• Flexible FD top-up to increase credit limit.
• Ideal for users wanting more control over credit usage.
• I’ve heard about this from a friend who uses it, but I couldn’t find many credible reviews. That’s why it’s at the bottom of my list. If you have experience with it, please let me know in the comments, and I’ll consider updating its ranking. For now, I recommend checking out our top three credit cards first, then considering this one.
• Official Link 🔗 (Non Sponsored)

6. Roar Bank RuPay Credit Card

The Roar Bank RuPay Credit Card (by Unity Small Finance Bank) is a lifetime free, digital-first card that combines a savings account, UPI, and credit into one seamless experience.

• Minimum FD: Not required
• Cashback: Up to 20% on selected categories (choose 2 categories per month)
• Application: 100% digital via the Roar Bank mobile app (instant virtual card + physical card delivered)
• Perks: Combines savings + credit in one, supports UPI payments, up to 62 days interest-free period, starter limit option for beginners, app-based money management features
• Credit Limit: Up to ₹1,50,000 (based on eligibility)
• I’ve noticed positive feedback about this card, mainly because it’s lifetime free and offers up to 20% cashback. It’s beginner-friendly since there’s no FD requirement, and the app-based process makes it easy to apply and manage. That said, it’s still quite new and doesn’t have many reviews available yet, so I’d recommend doing your own research before applying.
• Official Link 🔗 (Non-Sponsored)

Bank Account-Based RuPay Credit Cards – No Credit Score Needed

I would suggest that if your goal is to get a free RuPay credit card from a reputed bank rather than a small finance bank, it’s best to check with your bank directly. You can do this via net banking, the mobile app, or by calling the credit card customer care of the bank where you hold your savings account.

I’ve seen many advertisements lately about banks offering free RuPay credit cards just by opening a bank account. Some of these offers include:

• Kotak 811 Savings Bank – RuPay credit card
• YES Bank – Free RuPay credit card
• Axis Bank – Variant of a free RuPay credit card
• HDFC Bank – Virtual RuPay credit card
• ICICI Bank – RuPay credit card offer

All these banks offer RuPay credit cards to selected customers and don’t require a minimum credit score. They usually check your eligibility based on your banking relationship and account activity/spends.

Remember: You can get a RuPay credit card without a credit score, but this type of card usually doesn’t offer great cashback. Only people with a good credit score can apply for some of the best credit cards available. However, there’s no harm in getting one as a beginner—it helps you build your credit score, and later you can upgrade to a better card. Must read: How to Check Your Credit Score in India for Free in 2025

I will cover the top cashback RuPay credit cards in my upcoming post. You can subscribe to our newsletter to get weekly alerts directly in your email. Also Do check our post on : Best credit cards for Beginners with no credit history in India 2025 (excluding RuPay cards)

See you next time 👋

RuPay credit cards are perfect for beginners with no credit history. Start with a bank account-based or FD-backed card to build your credit, get comfortable with UPI payments, and later upgrade to cards with better rewards.

Don’t forget to share in the comments if you know of another card that should be on our list. We’ll be happy to add it after reviewing feedback and user experiences online.