How can I redeem the reward points for SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card?

I’ve been using my SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card for a while now, and I’ve accumulated a decent amount of reward points. I’m curious about how I can redeem them and if there are any catches I should be aware of when it comes to getting the most value out of those points. What are the best redemption options and how does the process work?

I remember being excited to redeem my SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card reward points, thinking I’d get some cool freebies. But then I realized there are a few things you should know before cashing them in. First, 1 reward point is worth ₹0.25 when redeemed, so 2,000 points equal ₹500—not bad, especially if you maximize the 10X rewards on dining, groceries, and movies.

Now, the redemption process is pretty straightforward. You can redeem points through SBI Card’s website or mobile app, and there are a few ways to use them:

  1. Gift vouchers – SBI has a catalog where you can exchange points for shopping, travel, and dining vouchers. I found Amazon and Flipkart gift cards there, which made it easy to use the rewards for something practical.
  2. Statement credit – If you just want to reduce your bill, you can redeem points for cashback, though SBI charges ₹99 + GST per redemption, which kind of eats into the value.
  3. Merchandise – SBI has an online rewards store where you can buy gadgets, home appliances, and more using your points. Honestly, I found that most items were overpriced compared to just buying them online with cash.
  4. Flight and hotel bookings – If you travel often, you can use points for booking flights and hotels via SBI’s rewards portal, though I noticed the value isn’t always the best compared to direct discounts on travel websites.

One thing to remember: reward points expire after 2 years, so if you don’t redeem them, you might lose out. I once let some of my points expire because I kept forgetting to use them, which was a complete waste. My suggestion? If you rack up a good number of points, redeem them for statement credit or gift vouchers—that’s usually the best way to get actual value. Just watch out for that ₹99 redemption fee every time you cash in your points, because it can take a small bite out of your savings.