SBI Cashback vs Kotak White Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
SBI Cashback wins 7-1. Pure online cashback, 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions. Kotak White Reserve is still the right call if ultra-premium kotak card; rewards come from milestone white pass value, not a per-spend rate..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Cashback | Kotak White Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹999 | · ₹12,500 |
| Joining fee | ₹999 | · ₹12,500 |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · Milestone |
| Base reward rate | 1% | · Milestone |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | 2% |
| Welcome bonus | No welcome bonus, value lives in the cashback rate | · N/A |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · ₹1,000,000 / yr |
| Min income | = ₹360,000 | = Not verified |
| Min credit score | 750 | · N/A |
| Editorial rating | = 4.6/5 | = 4.6/5 |
Benefits compared
SBI Cashback
- 5% cashback on ALL online spends (not just listed merchants), capped ₹4,000 per statement cycle (₹2,000 online + ₹2,000 offline sub-caps, effective 1 Apr 2026)
- 1% cashback on offline spends
- Auto-credited within 2 days of statement
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
Kotak White Reserve
- Milestone White Pass rewards, up to ₹2.5 lakh value per year
- Club Marriott membership (up to 25% off dining in India, up to 20% across Asia Pacific)
- 2% forex markup
- Annual fee waived at ₹10 lakh annual spend
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs Kotak White Reserve: which is better?
SBI Cashback wins on more dimensions (7 vs 1). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern, see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use SBI Cashback for online shopping, Kotak White Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
SBI Cashback: No welcome bonus, value lives in the cashback rate. Kotak White Reserve doesn't list a welcome bonus.