SBI Cashback vs Kotak White Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
SBI Cashback wins 6-2. Pure online cashback — 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions. Kotak White Reserve is still the right call if premium dining + travel without breaking the ₹3k-fee tier..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Cashback | Kotak White Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹999 | · ₹3,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹999 | · ₹3,000 |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 4% (dining) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 1.5% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | 1.99% |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend | = 5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · ₹600,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹1,800,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 780 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.6/5 | = 4.6/5 |
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
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
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs Kotak White Reserve: which is better?
SBI Cashback wins on more dimensions (6 vs 2). 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, Kotak White Reserve 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. Kotak White Reserve: 5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite.