Head-to-head · 🇮🇳 India

Kotak White Reserve vs SBI ELITE

Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.

IN
Premium
Kotak Mahindra Bank
Kotak White Reserve
VISA
Wins 5 of 10
IN
Premium
SBI Card
SBI ELITE
Wins 3 of 10
Verdict

Kotak White Reserve wins 5-3. Premium dining + travel without breaking the ₹3K-fee tier. SBI ELITE is still the right call if mid-premium sbi card with strong club benefits..

Side-by-side

CriterionKotak White ReserveSBI ELITE
Annual fee
₹3,000
·
₹4,999
Joining fee
₹3,000
·
₹4,999
Top reward rate
4% (dining)
·
2% (general)
Base reward rate
·
1.5%
2%
Forex markup
=
1.99%
=
1.99%
Welcome bonus
=
5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite
=
5,000 bonus reward points + ₹5,000 e-gift voucher
Fee waiver threshold
₹600,000 / yr
·
₹1,000,000 / yr
Min income
·
₹1,800,000
₹600,000
Min credit score
·
780
770
Editorial rating
4.6/5
·
4.4/5

Benefits compared

Kotak White Reserve

  • 4 reward points/₹100 on dining + travel
  • 6 international Priority Pass visits/year
  • 24 domestic lounge visits/year (DragonPass)
  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite included
  • 1.99% forex markup

SBI ELITE

  • 2 reward points per ₹100
  • Free movie tickets (BookMyShow) up to ₹6K/year
  • 6 international + 8 domestic lounge visits/year
  • Club Vistara Silver + Trident Privilege Red
  • Milestone benefits at ₹3L, ₹4L, ₹5L

FAQ

Kotak White Reserve vs SBI ELITE: which is better?

Kotak White Reserve wins on more dimensions (5 vs 3). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.

Can I get both?

Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Kotak White Reserve for its best categories, SBI ELITE for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.

Which one has the better welcome bonus?

Kotak White Reserve: 5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite. SBI ELITE: 5,000 bonus reward points + ₹5,000 e-gift voucher.