Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card: Comparison Analysis (2026)

The useful distinction here is simple: For Times Black ICICI Credit Card, the joining fee is Nil and the recurring annual renewal fee is ₹ 20,000. In contrast, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card charges a joining fee of Nil and an annual fee of ₹ 1,999. In India, annual membership charges for both cards are subject to 18% Goods & Services Tax (GST).

Spend-based waivers let you reverse annual renewal charges. For Times Black ICICI Credit Card, the annual fee is waived by reaching the annual milestone retail spend. For Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card, you can get the fee reversed by reaching the annual milestone retail spend. Check your average monthly transactions to confirm which milestone you can reach naturally without overspending.

For a practical 2026 decision, Times Black ICICI Credit Card offers 2% on domestic, 2.5% on international, with Earn 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on domestic transactions (including Utilities, Insurance, Education, & Government payments, which are capped at 5,000 RP/month). Earn 2.5 Reward Points per ₹100 on international transactions. Up to 12X points on iShop by ICICI. 1 Reward Point = ₹1 for vouchers, or ₹0.40 for cashback.. Meanwhile, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card delivers 1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver, with Cashback is credited as statement credit; no cap on total cashback per month. Earn 1.25% on all spends and an additional 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases.. If you want hassle-free monthly statement discounts, direct cashback is best; if you plan to redeem for flight tickets or hotel stays, reward point systems often offer higher multiplier returns.

Looking specifically at Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card, For airport lounge access, Times Black ICICI Credit Card offers Unlimited complimentary Domestic and International airport lounge access, while Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card does not include complimentary airport lounge visits. Always verify whether either card requires minimum calendar-quarter spends (typically ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 in the preceding quarter) to unlock complimentary access vouchers.

From a cardholder's perspective, Times Black ICICI Credit Card features: "Welcome stack worth over ₹25,000 (includes ₹10,000 EaseMyTrip/Lohono voucher, ₹10,000 Atlys/OneVasco Visa benefits, Zomato Gold, and Toni&Guy/Interflora vouchers).". Meanwhile, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card provides: "No intro offer". These introductory gifts help recoup first-year joining costs right away.

The useful distinction here is simple: CardsGuruji's score guidance for Times Black ICICI Credit Card is 750+; CardsGuruji's score guidance for Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card is 650+. This is editorial guidance, not an issuer requirement. Each bank independently evaluates income, employment, existing obligations, repayment history and other criteria; check the current issuer terms, and remember that no score guarantees approval.

Yes, holding both cards simultaneously can be a powerful two-card wallet strategy if they serve complementary spend categories (for example, using one card for online shopping and groceries, and the other for utility bills, travel, or fuel). If both cards are issued by different banks, each bank grants an independent credit limit, which increases your overall available credit and helps lower your credit utilization ratio.

For a practical 2026 decision, Both Times Black ICICI Credit Card and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card standardly offer a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 at petrol stations nationwide (subject to monthly waiver caps). However, categories like rent payments, wallet reloads, cash withdrawals, and government utility bills are often excluded from earning points or carry separate processing surcharges.

Looking specifically at Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card, Choose Times Black ICICI Credit Card if your spending aligns with its primary reward partner ecosystem, you can comfortably achieve its fee waiver milestone, and its fee structure (₹ 20,000) fits your budget. Select Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card if you will actively use its unique perks (1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver) and lounge access privileges (secondary travel perks). You can apply for either card online with paperless digital KYC verification.