I am planning to buy Niyo card but I am not sure which one to get - what is the difference between Niyo global SBM and Niyo global DCB
Sir, can you tell the official website of Niyo DCB, from where I can get complete information about it?
Hey there! ![]()
Welcome to the Niyo Community!
Great to hear you’re considering getting a Niyo card for your travels!
Both the Niyo Global SBM and Niyo Global DCB cards are built to help you spend smart while exploring the world
— with zero forex markup, rewards, and other travel-friendly benefits.
If you’re unsure which one to go for, here’s a detailed and simple breakdown to help you make the best choice based on your needs:
What’s Common Between Both
No matter which card you choose — SBM or DCB — you’ll get access to:
- Zero forex markup: You won’t pay any extra charges for currency conversion on international swipes, ATM withdrawals, or online spends in foreign currencies.
- Free international lounge access: 1 free airport lounge pass per quarter on doing ₹50,000+ international spends.
- Niyo Coins: Earn coins on spends, ATM charges are reversed as coins, and you can redeem them in the app.
- 3 free international ATM withdrawals per quarter.
- Smart app features: Lock/unlock card, check live forex rates, access travel insurance, apply for visas, and even book flights & hotels.
- Interest on savings/FD: You can earn up to 7.50% p.a. depending on the card and account.
Option 1: Niyo Global DCB (Debit Card)
- Card Type: Debit card linked to a DCB savings account.
- Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC): ₹499 + GST per year
→ Waived if you maintain a ₹5,000 average quarterly balance. - TCS (Tax Collected at Source):
→ 0% TCS up to ₹10 lakh per financial year
→ 20% TCS on spends above ₹10 lakh (refundable via ITR) - Interest on savings: Up to 7.50% p.a. on your DCB savings balance.
- Tap‑and‑pay enabled: Especially helpful for public transport abroad (like metro in Singapore, UK, etc.)
- No credit support: Only lets you spend what’s in your account (no hotel/car rental pre-auths).
Option 2: Niyo Global SBM (Debit + Secured Credit)
When you go with Niyo Global SBM, you actually get access to two cards:
- A Debit Card linked to your SBM savings account.
- An optional Secured Credit Card, backed by a fixed deposit with SBM.
Niyo Global SBM Debit Card
- AMC: ₹423 + GST annually
→ Waived if you maintain ₹5,000 average balance in the 3 months before your account anniversary. - TCS:
→ 0% TCS up to ₹10 lakh/year
→ 20% beyond ₹10 lakh under LRS (refundable via ITR) - Interest on savings: Up to 7.50% p.a.
- Tap‑and‑pay not supported for transport abroad.
- No pre-authorisation support or credit building.
- Works like a regular savings-linked debit card.
Niyo Global SBM Secured Credit Card (FD-Backed)
- AMC: ₹0 — no annual charges.
- TCS: Not applicable — since it’s a credit card, it doesn’t fall under LRS, so no TCS, even if you spend above ₹10L/year.
- Credit period: Interest-free for up to 45 days.
- Interest on FD: Up to 7.50% p.a., depending on the deposit term.
- Credit interest (on unpaid dues): 3.5% per month if the bill is unpaid.
- Supports pre-authorisations — great for hotel bookings, car rentals, or travel deposits.
- Helps build your credit score — ideal if you’re looking to strengthen your financial profile.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | DCB Debit | SBM Debit | SBM Credit (FD-backed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card Type | Debit (Savings) | Debit (Savings) | Secured Credit (FD) |
| AMC | ₹499 (waived*) | ₹423 + GST (waived*) | ₹0 |
| TCS beyond ₹10L/year | |||
| Interest Earned | Up to 7.5% p.a. | Up to 7.5% p.a. | Up to 7.5% p.a. on FD |
| Tap-to-pay (Transport) | |||
| Pre-authorisations | |||
| Builds Credit Score |
So… Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Niyo DCB Debit if:
- You want a simple debit card that works abroad without fuss.
- You travel to places where tap‑and‑pay for transport is useful.
- You plan to spend under ₹10L/year internationally.
- You don’t need pre-authorisation or credit-building features.
Choose Niyo SBM if:
- You want both a debit and a credit card for flexibility.
- You’d rather avoid TCS altogether — especially if you might spend more than ₹10L.
- You need a card that works for hotel bookings and rentals requiring credit holds.
- You want to build your credit score while earning FD interest.
Ready to Get Started?
To download the Niyo app and explore both options in detail, just hit this link:
Many users go for both cards — one debit and one credit — to cover all bases.
You can also check out the Zero Forex Cards section on the Niyo website and the FAQs for more info.
And of course, if you need help based on your travel plans, just drop your questions here — We’ll be happy to help you out! Cheer! ![]()
Hey @Lovelight919!
Welcome to the Niyo Community!
You can find all the official details about the Niyo Global card powered by DCB Bank on our website:
www.goniyo.com
For direct info, you can also check the Zero Forex Card section here:
https://goniyo.com/zero-forex-card
This page covers everything — from features and benefits to the application process.
If you need help with anything specific, feel free to ask. We’re here to help! Cheers!
I will be travelling to Beijing, China. Which card should I opt? The one from DCB Bank or the one from SBM Bank?
Hi Sugyanendra, @NIYOCOMM20250805WENT
Welcome to the Niyo Community! ![]()
We’re glad to hear you’re interested in our products! You can open both DCB and SBM accounts. Both Niyo DCB and SBM account provides 0 forex debit cards. The Niyo SBM account also offers an optional FD-backed credit card with zero forex markup and no TCS—perfect for international travel. You can even keep a backup card from each account, as both DCB and SBM cards offer 0% forex charges.
We recommend holding both DCB and SBM cards for added convenience during your trips. To explore more, visit www.goniyo.com and refer to the Schedule of Charges (SOC) for both accounts. For any queries, feel free to reach out via in-app support or write to us at global@goniyo.com—we’re happy to help!
Hi,
It says ₹5,000 as Tap and Pay transaction limit allowed in SBM debit card in Niyo Global Website, but here you’ve mentioned SBM debit card doesn’t allow Tap and Pay while travelling abroad in metros train station etc….which is accurate?
Hey @Thirumalesh
Welcome to the Niyo Community! ![]()
We understand your concern. Please allow us some time to review your concern and address it promptly. We truly appreciate your patience and will get back to you with an update at the earliest.
Just a quick note to let you know that the Niyo community is more than a place to get help with your queries. You can stay up-to-date with all the latest announcements from Niyo, and chat about anything Niyo or travel-related—whether it’s your Niyo card, Niyo services, or any other travel topics.
Plus, it’s the perfect spot to connect with fellow travelers! You can ask for advice on travel itineraries, visa info, tips and tricks, flight bookings, and so much more.
And don’t forget to explore the Travel with Niyo category for even more travel content!
We’re always here if you need anything ![]()
Hi,
There’s also another doubt as in the above message it says 425+ GST for DCB bank but in the app when applying for card it says 300+GST.
Which one is accurate?
Hi @Thirumalesh,
Thanks for flagging this! We apologize for the confusion. As per the latest update from DCB Bank, the international ATM withdrawal charges are ₹425 + GST. We’ll pass this to the concerned team and ensure the app is updated at the earliest to avoid any further confusion. We truly appreciate you bringing this to our notice.
Hi @Nith_In
Can you clarify regarding the Tap to Pay question which I asked above with DCB and SBM bank?
Btw @Nith_In
I just noticed that in the app it says for the SBM bank withdrawal fees is 500+GST or 2.5% whichever is higher is this the updated one or 423+GST is the updated one which was mentioned in the above comparison.
Thank you for your valuable time on the call,@Thirumalesh. As discussed, SBM cards now support Tap & Pay transactions while traveling abroad, including metro train stations. The Tap & Pay limit on SBM debit cards has been upgraded from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000. You can increase your Tap & Pay limit to ₹25,000 via the app. Please note that while the overall limit is ₹25,000, a maximum of 5 Tap & Pay transactions are allowed per day, with each transaction not exceeding ₹5,000.
