ICICI HPCL Coral vs Standard Chartered Ultimate
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
ICICI HPCL Coral wins 6-2. Fuel-heavy spenders at HPCL pumps. Standard Chartered Ultimate is still the right call if best general earn-rate at the ₹5k fee tier..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | ICICI HPCL Coral | Standard Chartered Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹199 | · ₹5,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹199 | · ₹5,000 |
| Top reward rate | 5% (fuel) | · 3.3% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 3.3% |
| Forex markup | = 3.5% | = 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = 2,000 PAYBACK points on first transaction | = 6,000 reward points + ₹1,000 voucher |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹50,000 / yr | · ₹1,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹250,000 | · ₹1,500,000 |
| Min credit score | 720 | · 780 |
| Editorial rating | · 4/5 | 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
ICICI HPCL Coral
- 5% cashback on HPCL fuel
- 4% on grocery + dining
- 2.5% on utility bills via DragonPass
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- 2 domestic lounge visits/year
Standard Chartered Ultimate
- 5 reward points per ₹150 (effectively 3.3%)
- 4 complimentary international lounge visits/year
- BookMyShow buy-1-get-1
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Comprehensive travel + purchase insurance
FAQ
›ICICI HPCL Coral vs Standard Chartered Ultimate: which is better?
ICICI HPCL Coral wins on more dimensions (6 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use ICICI HPCL Coral for its best categories, Standard Chartered Ultimate for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
ICICI HPCL Coral: 2,000 PAYBACK points on first transaction. Standard Chartered Ultimate: 6,000 reward points + ₹1,000 voucher.