Credit Card for Low CIBIL Score in India: FD-Backed Options Ranked

If your CIBIL score is below 700, the card you can realistically get is a secured card issued against a fixed deposit. Banks approve these on the deposit rather than your score: Kotak 811 from a ₹10,000 FD, BOBCARD PRIME from ₹15,000 with no income proof, and ICICI's FD card from ₹50,000. Pay the full bill every month for six to twelve months and you should be able to move to a regular card. Here is how each option works, what it costs as of September 2026, and the mistakes that keep people stuck.

Can I get a credit card with a low CIBIL score?

A regular credit card is an unsecured loan, so the bank leans heavily on your score. Most issuers are comfortable at 750 and above, get cautious in the low 700s, and rarely approve an unsecured card below 650, especially if the report shows a settlement or a recent default. Our guide on the CIBIL score needed for a credit card breaks this down band by band.

A secured card changes the question. Your fixed deposit is the collateral, so the bank's risk is covered and the score matters far less. The card is still reported to the credit bureaus like any other card, which is why it is the standard way to rebuild.

One point that confuses many applicants: a score shown as NA or NH is not a low score. CIBIL says it means there is not enough recent credit history to calculate one, for example if you have never borrowed or only hold an add-on card. The same secured cards work for you too, but you are starting from a blank page, not repairing damage.

Best credit cards for a low CIBIL score in India (September 2026)

Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent

The lowest entry point among the major banks. Kotak asks for a fixed deposit of at least ₹10,000 for 181 days, and there is no joining or annual fee. You earn 2 reward points per ₹100 online and 1 per ₹100 elsewhere, with no points on fuel or railway spends, plus a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions of ₹400 to ₹4,000, up to ₹4,500 a year. The weak spot is a 4% forex markup, so keep it for domestic spending.

BOBCARD PRIME

Bank of Baroda's card states guaranteed issuance against an FD of ₹15,000 or more without any income proof, and it is lifetime free. That makes it the cleanest option if you cannot show a salary slip or income tax return. Bank of Baroda does not publish the limit as a percentage of the deposit on its card page, so ask at the branch before you open the FD.

ICICI Bank card against fixed deposit

ICICI needs a larger deposit: at least ₹50,000 for 180 days, set to auto-renew. In return you get a limit of up to 90% of the FD, capped at ₹5 lakh, and only one secured card per customer. It is issued as Instant Platinum, which has no joining or renewal fee, or as Coral, which costs ₹500 + GST a year unless you spend ₹1.5 lakh.

IDFC FIRST WOW

Lifetime free and the only one here with a 0% forex markup, which matters if you study or travel abroad. Rewards are modest: its 4X rate works out to about 0.5% back, since one point is earned per ₹200 at the base rate and each point is worth ₹0.25. Cash withdrawal is allowed up to 100% of the FD value with a ₹199 fee, which you should avoid while rebuilding. Confirm the current minimum deposit on IDFC FIRST's site; we could not verify it on an official page.

How an FD-backed credit card works

You open a fixed deposit, the bank marks a lien on it, and issues a card with a limit linked to the deposit. The FD keeps earning interest, but you cannot break it while the card is open. If you stop paying, the bank can recover the dues from the deposit, and the missed payment is still reported to the bureaus.

A worked example, assuming an ICICI card against a ₹50,000 FD and an FD rate of 6.5% a year (check your bank's current rate):

• Credit limit: up to 90% of ₹50,000 = ₹45,000
• Spend ceiling to keep utilisation under 30%: ₹45,000 × 0.30 = ₹13,500 a month
• FD interest: ₹50,000 × 6.5% = about ₹3,250 a year, or roughly ₹271 a month, before tax

Now compare the cost of carrying a balance. FD-backed cards still charge card interest; Axis Bank, for example, lists 3.4% a month (49.36% a year) for its FD-backed cards. Carry ₹10,000 for one month at 3.4% and you pay ₹340, more than a month of interest on the whole deposit. Pay the full statement every time.

How to apply for a secured credit card: step by step

1. Read your CIBIL report first. You are entitled to one free full report a year. Know whether your score is low because of late payments, a settlement, high utilisation or no history at all.
2. Start with a bank where you already hold an account. KYC is done, and some banks process FD cards faster for existing customers.
3. Open the FD at the required amount and tenure. For example, ₹10,000 for 181 days at Kotak, or ₹50,000 for 180 days on auto-renewal at ICICI.
4. Apply for the card linked to that FD. Keep your PAN and address proof ready. Ask about the limit, fees and interest rate before you sign.
5. Set up auto-debit for the full statement amount. This single step prevents the late payments that caused most low scores in the first place.
6. Use it lightly and regularly. Put one or two fixed bills on it, such as a mobile recharge or an OTT subscription, and stay under 30% of the limit.
7. Review after six months. Check your score, then ask the bank about an unsecured card or apply for an entry-level card.

How long before you can get a regular credit card?

Since 1 July 2026, RBI rules have lenders reporting to credit bureaus as on the 9th, 16th, 23rd and last day of each month, so each on-time payment reaches your report quickly. What takes time is building a pattern. Six to twelve months of clean history on a secured card, with no new late payments elsewhere, is a reasonable point to try for an unsecured card.

When you do, apply once, to the bank most likely to say yes, usually the one holding your FD or salary account. Our ranking of no annual fee cards in India and our guide to the best first credit card for beginners list sensible next steps.

Low CIBIL because of a settlement or default? Fix that first

A secured card adds good history, but it does not remove bad history. If your report shows an account as "settled" or "written off", ask the lender what it would take to convert it to "closed", pay it, and keep the no-dues letter. If an entry is simply wrong, dispute it for free on CIBIL's dispute resolution page. RBI rules require complaints to be resolved within 30 days, after which you are owed ₹100 for each day of delay (RBI circular). Our step-by-step guide on how to improve your CIBIL score covers the rest.

Traps to avoid when your score is low

• Agents promising guaranteed approval for a fee. Banks do not charge for applications through their own channels, and no agent can override a bank's credit check.
• Applying to several banks at once. Each application is a hard enquiry. Three rejections in a month leave you worse off than before.
• Using the secured card up to its limit. A maxed-out card reads as stress even when it is backed by your own money.
• Revolving the balance. Card interest is charged at card rates regardless of the FD, as the example above shows.
• Breaking the FD early elsewhere to fund spending. Plan the deposit as money you will not need for at least a year.