If you one of those freelancers who are looking for PayPal Alternatives following the PayPal Restrictions by RBI then this article could be helpful to you. Alternatively you can check out the AXIS Bank Easy Credit Card with Visa for Freelancers & Bloggers.
ICICI Bank India offers you with a Instant Credit Card with a minimum credit limit of Rs 17,000 and without the need of any additional documents. Generally when you apply for a CC you are asked with Bank Statements, Income Tax Returns and also you need to have a minimum Net salary of Rs 20,000 per month or should have a Minimum Gross Annual Business Income of Rs. 250,000.
In this case you need to create a new Fixed Account with the bank against which the bank would issue the Credit Card. The credit limit is around 85% of the total amount you have deposited in the Fixed Account. Read few rules mentioned by the bank.
“Instant Credit Card” shall mean ICICI Bank Instant Credit Card issued by ICICI Bank to the Cardholder against the fixed deposit maintained by the Cardholder with ICICI Bank. In order to be eligible for availing the Instant Credit Card, the Cardholder shall be required to maintain / place a fixed deposit of minimum Rs. 20,000/-amount with ICICI Bank.
The credit limit on the Instant Credit Card shall be eighty five percent (85%) of the fixed deposit amount, subject to minimum credit limit of Rs. 17,000/-and maximum of Rs. 3 lakhs. The said credit limit may be subject to change at the sole discretion of ICICI Bank from time to time and shall be communicated to the Cardholder through such mode and manner as deemed fit by ICICI Bank.
Features of ICICI Bank Instant Gold Credit Card :
- Walk into a branch and walk out with a credit card! Instant issuance against your Fixed Deposit.
- Attractive interest rate of 1.99% p.m.
- Internationally valid credit card with Global Emergency Assistance Services.
- Get information when you need it and where you need it with access to internet banking, mobile alerts and email statements.
- Use the Credit Card to Verify Paypal Account
- Make Purchases from any Online eCommerce Store like eBay.
Just contact your nearest Branch and then ask them for a Instant Credit Card. You can always deposit funds onto your Credit Card Account and then increase the credit limit when you are making Online purchases from eCommerce websites. Also do make a note that these Credit Cards do not have your name printed on them which is the reason you need to apply for another card with the same number but with your name printed on it.
Radha Krishna says
That’s a very good step from the ICICI guys. The HDFC guys literally played with many of my colleagues (even me) for giving the credit card even though our salaries are >30k. But, it’ll be good if ICICI provides the card with a name printed on it by default. (for safety).
Raj Mehta says
I will try ti get this icici instant credit card
Harsh Agrawal says
This is useful specially when PayPal is going away..Most of online marketer would be require to have a credit card..!!
Also you can go for any amount above 20K and you will be getting CC limit of 85% which you can opt for, if you require more limit than 17k…
Amit Bhawani says
Yep just do a deposit of Rs 1,00,000 into the Fixed Account which gives you Interest and you also get a Credit Card with Rs 85,000 credit limit.
Yogesh Patel says
For Online Payment like those of Domain Renewal at GoDaddy through Credit Card, wouldn’t they ask for Name on the Credit Card?
The CC which you are referring to, will not have name printed on it and we need to reapply for a new one if you have 20,000 minimum per month salary.
Amit Bhawani says
The Name is not printed on Instant Credit Card but again it does work as a normal CC. You can contact the branch and they Emboss your name onto the card within 15 minutes. I would suggest not to do that because this way your Card is more secured when its stolen as the other person cannot use the card without any Name.
Simrandeep Singh says
That’s really a good news for most of the bloggers. PayPal is the major source of online transactions. I think I’m going to apply for one from ICICI.
Paras Sharma says
seriously required my axis bank credit card going to expire this month,i have salaried account is with icici bank , nice share !!
Arup Basak says
ICICI bank Balurghat Branch(WB) just returned back me saying they don’t give CC. Their branch doesn’t have that facility. Is that true? How can I contact head office.
Can you provide me ICICI head office(kolkata hq) phone number and email address.
Amit Bhawani says
These are the different addresses of ICICI Bank location in Kolkata –
Address: ICICI Bank Ltd., 223, Bepin Behari, Ganguly Street, Bowbazar, Kolkata- 700012, West Bengal
Address: ICICI Bank Ltd., 28/3/A, Convent Road, Kolkata- 700014, West Bengal
Address: ICICI Bank Ltd.,182,Dharamtolla Street, Lenin Sarani, Esplanade, Kolkata-700013, West Bengal
If their branch does not offer CC then you need to contact other branches or other banks.
Arup Basak says
ICICI told me I have to create account in siliguri or kolkata branch. Both are 400+K.M far.
Chetan Bhawani says
I got mine a few days back! 🙂 It’s a Gold card that I got, and the limit was chosen by me. I was asked whether I wanted a bigger limit like the 30k, 40k where the limits would be 85% of that deposit.
Nisha says
Hello Amit,
What you have delivered is what many freelancers were looking for – Great stuff, on time! Just gave a call to the nearest ICICI branch & got an appointment this afternoon, for I’ll be ordering 7 CC for my buddies who are making a living out of Elance, DP and Freelancer.com, and of course, to pay monthly subscriptions to HostGator and other providers….
My great ‘advice’ to many of my readers were “To Pay 3-6 Month Rent/Subscription charges In Advance” before PayPal put the hook.
Lotsa Thanks
Nisha [Kerala]
Amit Bhawani says
Glad this option helped you out. Do check our another recent article which can help you https://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/paypal-alternatives-indians/
Venkat says
Hi Nisha ,
What is DP?
Is these things (Elance, DP and Freelancer.com) really work? I have not tried even to test them.
btw; How much one can earn? compared to regular salaried job?
Anand Kumar says
Great! I loved this product. But I uses HDFC NetSafe which is awesome and you never need any credit card. just make your payment online by Virtual CC.
venkat says
For how long we can use this CC to make online payments and what we’ve to do when CC limit is over or used by us? does it depend on the amount we desposit?for how many months or years we can use this instant CC .
Amit Bhawani says
Normally these cards are valid for few years though you need to ask ICICI for this info since iam giving information and not selling them. If the limit is crossed pay more money in advance and enjoy more credit limits.
Pradeep says
Hi Amit Ji
from when we can use this instant credit card for any online payments after fixed deposit has done?
Hitesh says
I took Instant Credit Card from ICICI some three years back. I got 17K limit by having fixed deposit of 20K as mentioned here also.
I think this is easiest way to use credit card. But remember it will take atleast another seven days for getting activated your credit card if I am not wrong.
Hitesh says
One more thing, If you want to purchase any item of say 500 USD and as per credit card limit you can expense around 350 USD than just deposit another 8K in your credit card account and you will be able to use it. Just make sure you deposit (through cheque only) few days before your online transaction takes place, allowing them to increase your limit.
Aditya Shirodkar says
Hey even Axis Bank provides this facility you have to create a new fixed deposit of minimum 25000 INR and you get a CC instantly. 🙂
Ganesh Babu says
Do i need to have any account in ICICI to get CC… i don’t have account in ICICI… i have account in Axis Bank, i check axis bank website for such feature and found that they are offering this with the name of easy credit card…
Anand Kumar says
I think a SB/CC account is not essential. You should have an FD with ICICI Bank. If you have relation with Axis Bank than you should continue with them.
Amit Bhawani says
Another alternative is Checking out the options offered by Axis Bank here – https://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/axis-bank-visa-credit-card/
sharmila siva says
this was the great information i got it from your site
Kavya Hari says
Today, almost of the blogger get benefits from the ICICI and its one of the good news for the bloggers. And, I would like to thank amit for written a good article..
Imrit says
Amit, great post, thanks for sharing! I have a few questions though.
1. Due to the fact that these cards don’t have our names, what kind of problems can we run it? Can it be added to our PayPal account? Can it be used for making online purchases using PayPal as a gateway? Can it be used directly without using PayPal as a gateway?
2. If we ask them to issue a card with a name, is there any disadvantage other than the following mentioned by you “I would suggest not to do that because this way your Card is more secured when its stolen as the other person cannot use the card without any Name.”?
ICICI Bank Care says
Hi,
We are sorry 2 hear that you are having prblem in opening an account. Please write to us at care@icicibank.com with your contact details. We will get in touch with you.
Regards,
ICICI Bank Customer Service Team.
Karan Kainth says
While making an online payment what do we mention in the name section. The name printed says INSTANT CREDIT CARD. A little help please….???
prince kapur says
hi amit,
can this card be used for linking paypal account?.
also please let me know how can i receive payments from outside india?
SooRAJ says
Hey Amit,
Thanks a lot for this information. My roommate would be extremely delighted, as this is pretty much his only (and a very good one at that) option now.
I have a query though, if you’re aware of the answer for it: When using this Instant Credit Card, if I make a purchase of a domain name or web hosting account in USD, would I still be charged the currency conversion fee? With my normal credit card, I’m charged that fee.. and it’s pretty high (over 10% if I remember it right).
Zenil Shroff says
Most bank gives CC against FD, i was offered CC without FD from SBI, but upon application they denied stating i dont have landline no., can’t believe these banks still living in 20th century. So after that i made FD with them and my card was instantly issued.
LAFIN says
how many months i should keep money in fixed deposit for getting instant credit card
Raghav says
ICICI is a good step up from, HDFC, but how literally I was in our salaries,> 30k, but with a credit card is played for a number of my colleagues (I) provided. ICICI credit card ready to provide it with a name to that was printed in a good’ll