SBI Cashback vs AU Bank Zenith
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
SBI Cashback wins 6-3. Pure online cashback — 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions. AU Bank Zenith is still the right call if underrated mid-premium — punches above its fee tier..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Cashback | AU Bank Zenith |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹999 | · ₹7,500 |
| Joining fee | ₹999 | · ₹7,500 |
| Top reward rate | · 5% (shopping) | 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 2% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | 2% |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend | = 7,500 reward points + Vistara Premium Economy ticket |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · ₹800,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹1,200,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 780 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
SBI Cashback
- 5% cashback on ALL online spends (not just listed merchants) — capped ₹5,000/month
- 1% cashback on offline spends
- Auto-credited within 2 days of statement
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
AU Bank Zenith
- 10 ZenPoints per ₹100 on travel + dining
- 2 ZenPoints per ₹100 on general spend
- 8 complimentary international lounge visits per quarter
- 12 complimentary domestic lounge visits / year
- Annual milestone: free domestic flight at ₹6L spend
- 4 free golf rounds/quarter at 250+ courses
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs AU Bank Zenith: which is better?
SBI Cashback wins on more dimensions (6 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 SBI Cashback for online shopping, AU Bank Zenith for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
SBI Cashback: Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend. AU Bank Zenith: 7,500 reward points + Vistara Premium Economy ticket.