5 Smart Ways To Maximise Credit Card Rewards In 2025

Credit cards are more than just a convenient payment method—they are a powerful tool for savvy spenders who know how to use them effectively. With the right strategy, you can turn everyday expenses into valuable rewards like cashback, travel perks, and exclusive discounts.

Here are five secrets from SBI Card to becoming a smart spender and maximising credit card rewards in 2025:

Lifestyle-based Spends

The key to maximising rewards lies in picking a credit card that aligns with your spending habits. If you are a globetrotter, then opt for co-branded airline or hotel cards that offer travel miles like the KrisFlyer SBI Card in association with Singapore Airlines. If you are a daily commuter, then look for credit cards with fuel surcharge waivers or cashback on travel expenses like the BPCL SBI Card OCTANE which gives 7.25% value back and accelerated Reward points equivalent to 6.25% + 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions up to ?4000.  If you are a shopaholic, then credit cards with high cashback or points on online purchases will be your best bet.

Category-based Spends

Most credit cards offer higher reward rates for specific categories, such as dining, groceries, or entertainment. Identify where you spend the most and use a credit card that provides maximum points or cashback in those categories. Some credit cards like SimplyCLICK SBI Card offers 10x rewards on online spends with exclusive partners.

Leverage Gift Vouchers

Many premium credit cards offer reward points as welcome gifts when you meet specific spending thresholds within the first few months. For example, Super Premium credit card AURUM offers 40,000 reward points as welcome gifts to the cardholders.

Plan your big purchases, such as home appliances, gadgets, or travel bookings, around the initial period to unlock the full potential of these rewards. Premium credit card SBI Card Elite offers 5,000 reward points, while SBI Card Miles Elite offers Rs 5,000 as travel credits.

Redeem Rewards

Rewards can lose value if not redeemed on time, so it’s crucial to use your points or cashback balance well in time. Use mobile apps or online dashboards provided by your credit card issuer to track rewards easily. In 2025, many credit cards offer dynamic redemption options like paying bills and more, so explore all available avenues to maximise benefits.

Avoid Charges and Fees

While you make the most of credit card rewards and cashbacks, it is equally important to be disciplined and make your payments on time, to avoid related aspects such as late payment charges. Keep an eye on annual fees; ensure that the rewards and benefits outweigh these costs. Many companies waive off the credit card renewal fee, if you meet certain spending requirements.

Smart spending isn’t just about earning rewards—it’s about maintaining financial health while enjoying the perks of a well-thought-out credit card strategy. By selecting the right credit card, leveraging bonuses, optimising spending categories, tracking rewards, and managing fees, you can turn your credit card into a powerful financial ally.

Union Bank of India To Host “The Human Potential Conclave - IGNITE 2025”

Union Bank of India announces the inaugural edition of “Human Potential Conclave - IGNITE 2025”, a prestigious gathering of HR and Training Heads from Banks across India. This two-day conclave will take place at the Union Bank Learning Academy & Knowledge Centre in Bengaluru on 17th and 18th January 2025.

Union Bank of India takes pride in being a pioneer in the industry, as it hosts the first-ever HR conclave of its kind. The conclave aims to bring together eminent leaders from the Banking and Financial sectors to discuss emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in human resources. The event will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, providing a unique platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Shri Nagaraju Maddirala, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, will deliver the keynote address at the conclave.

The HR conclave will be attended by representatives from Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Private Banks and Training institutions further emphasizing the Bank's dedication to fostering growth, development, and collaboration in the Banking sector.

Shoppers Stop Ltd Delivered Strong Q3 Performance, Driven By Premiumization And Other KPI’s

Highlights

Q3 Sales Rs 1311 Cr +9%, EBITDA Rs 262 Cr +20%, PAT Rs 49Cr +37% (GAAP)

Consistent improvement in Operational KPI’s ATV +6%, ASP+4% and IPT +2%

Premium categories contribution continues to improve @ 64%, +9% YoY and +5% Like for Like

First Citizen contributed 83%, + 411bps with Repeat sales 69%, + 267bps with 11.5M Members

Added 16 Stores during the quarter; 1 Department, 9 INTUNE, and 6 Beauty

Value Fashion INTUNE reported Rs.63 Crs Sales has 59 stores across 25 cities

Capex investments of Rs 53 Crs for Q3 and Rs 141 Crs YTD

Shoppers Stop Ltd. a leading department store with premier fashion and beauty brands, has declared its results for the quarter ended 31st December 2024.

Management Comments:

Commenting on the Q3FY25 results, Mr. Kavindra Mishra, MD and CEO of Shoppers Stop Ltd, emphasized the company's resilience in a challenging economic environment. Commenting on the Q3 FY25 financial results, he said, “We ended Q3 with a fairly positive note and the growth trajectory of the business heading in the right direction. We have delivered healthy volume-led revenue growth of 9% and LFL growth of 4%, despite higher inflation and decline in consumer spending. We had taken number of initiatives during the quarter such as “India Weds with Shoppers Stop”, “Gifts of Love”, “Winter Magic Campaign” and “ShowStoppers”, “Singles Day” in Beauty, etc.

These initiatives led to increase in premiumization, and our premium categories contributed 64% of our total revenue. We have improved every KPI’s during the quarter. Our strategic focus is to make Private Brands profitable. I am extremely pleased to say that Private Brands generated healthy margin growth, driven by lower markdown and obsolescence. The Beauty category continues to grow, Sales grew +3%, led by a Fragrance +14%. Our flagship store at Inorbit Malad, Mumbai, has been fully renovated and is now operational, featuring premium product offerings and enhanced customer experiences.

Performance of strategic pillars in Q3FY25:

First Citizen –First Citizen Members contributed 83% to our sales, of which 69% were repeat and the balance 14% from new members. Our Premium Black Card members contributed 17% to our sales with an increase of +28% YoY. This is the highest contribution since we launched Black Card, a few years back. Customer engagement activities continued with 40+ Black Card experiences organized across 26 cities and 160+ experiences across the stores. The “Big Fab Sale” (EOSS) Preview personalized campaigns had 2.5X response Vs regular campaigns.

Beauty – Beauty had Sales of Rs 268 Cr, +3% YoY, led by Fragrance 14%. Our customer engagement activities led the growth with 200K+ makeovers, 259 Master Classes and 9 beauty Soirée events. We opened 6 stores during the quarter including 3 boutique stores of “Armani” and our “First Fragrance Only” Store. We also launched a new Private Brand “JOYOLOGY” across 45+ Shoppers Stop stores and Ecom portals. “JOYOLOGY” is a bold, independent brand redefining beauty with innovation, inclusivity, and joyful self-expression.

Beauty Distribution – Global SS Beauty Brands Limited, our 100% subsidiary continue to outperform with Rs 78 Cr sales during the quarter with +26% YoY growth and Rs 169 Crs YTD, demonstrating improving quarterly trend.

Private Brands – With a focus on driving profitable growth, Private Brands sales was at Rs 186 Cr, contributing 12% to overall sales and 18% in the Apparel segment. Overall margin improved with higher Intake Margin and optimized markdowns.

INTUNE – As at Q3 end, we have launched 59 Intune stores across 25 cities. INTUNE generated sales of Rs 63 Cr in Q3 and year to date Rs 138 Crs. We are planning to open another 26 stores in Q4.  Store openings in Delhi-NCR were delayed due to regulatory restrictions.

Store Expansion – We launched 16 stores in this quarter, including 9 INTUNE, 6 SS Beauty stores, and 1 Department Store. The total capex spend was Rs 53 Crs. We are planning to add 26 INTUNE and 6 Department stores during Q4 this year.

PNB Urges Its Customers To Update KYC By 23.01.2025

In adherence to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, Punjab National Bank (PNB), nation’s leading public sector bank, urges its customers to update their “Know Your Customer” (KYC) information by 23.01.2025 to ensure smooth functioning of their accounts. This is applicable only for those customers whose accounts were due for KYC updation as of 30.09.2024.

As part of the KYC compliance exercise, PNB customers are requested to provide their updated information like identity proof, address proof, recent photo, PAN/Form 60, income proof, mobile number (if not available) or any other KYC information at any branch. It can also be done through PNB ONE/Internet Banking Services (IBS) or registered e-mail/post to their base branch by 23.01.2025. Failure to update KYC details within the stipulated time may result in restrictions on account operations.

For any assistance, customer can visit their nearest PNB branch or check the official website https://www.pnbindia.in/

CAUTION: Please don’t click/download any link/file received from any unverified sources to update your KYC.

NPST Awarded Frost & Sullivan Technology Company Of The Year Award

* Top Banking and UPI Payments Technology Provider Distinguished as Company of the Year

NPST, a leading provider of digital banking and payment processing solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as the Company of the Year in Payments Technology by Frost & Sullivan. This prestigious award highlights NPST's unwavering commitment to innovation, consistent growth, and its transformative role in shaping India’s banking and payments ecosystem.

The Company of the Year award is presented annually by Frost & Sullivan to an organization that demonstrates outstanding technology excellence and delivers superior customer value through groundbreaking innovations. This recognition underscores NPST's leadership in the digital payments sector.

Frost & Sullivan commended NPST for its pioneering solutions, including the Evok Payments Platform-as-a-Service, the Risk Intelligence Decisioning Platform, and PayJoy, the company’s real-time UPI-based consumer credit product. The company’s strategic use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies has further solidified NPST’s position as a PayTech innovator, setting new benchmarks in operational excellence, customer-centricity, and efficiency.

Rahul Agarwal, Associate Director for Growth Advisory at Frost & Sullivan, commented, “NPST exemplifies industry leadership through best practices in growth, innovation, and strategy. With its visionary approach, exceptional execution, and steadfast commitment to innovation, NPST continues to reset industry standards and drive significant growth and transformation.”

Deepak Chand Thakur, CEO and Co-Founder of NPST, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, "Being recognized as a top player in India’s payment technology industry is both a privilege and a responsibility. This award affirms our vision to deliver innovative solutions that empower all players in the financial value chain — banks, payment aggregators, and fintechs — while advancing their digital transformation goals. We are excited to continue expanding our solutions and making a lasting impact on the industry."

About NPST

Founded in 2013, NPST is a PayTech firm listed on the NSE Small and Medium Exchange. A leader in digital banking and payment processing solutions, NPST is dedicated to advancing the digital payments ecosystem by delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to banks, fintechs, and other industry players. The company’s offerings include online and offline transaction processing, banking super apps, fraud prevention, dispute management, and compliance technology.

NPST’s mission is to drive the growth of businesses, individuals, communities, and economies. With over 100 clients and processing more than 60 million transactions daily, NPST continues to make aa significant impact on the digital payments ecosystem. To learn more about NPST and its award-winning solutions,  visit www.npstx.com.

Samsung Leads Sleep Technology With Galaxy Ring Expansion And Samsung Health App Update

* Galaxy Ring’s size and market expansion plus advanced sleep and mindfulness features enhance your sleep health

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that Galaxy Ring is introducing two new larger sizes of 14 and 15, to now range from sizes 5 to 15[1], and will soon be available in 15 additional markets starting in February[2], bringing the total to 53 markets. Starting today, Samsung is also updating the Samsung Health app[3] to provide advanced features that help you achieve a good night’s sleep, going beyond analyzing sleep patterns from the previous night. These updates include the Sleep environment report, Sleep time guidance, and Mindfulness tracker. With this expansion, Samsung is reaffirming its commitment to improving sleep health through innovative technology, ensuring more people can benefit from its cutting-edge solutions.

Galaxy Ring, built for comfort with a lightweight fit and extended battery life, simplifies everyday wellness with a particular emphasis on sleep. Since its global launch in July 2024, Galaxy Ring has expanded to 38 markets, including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, UAE, U.K. and USA. Galaxy Ring will soon be available in 15 additional markets, including Cyprus, Czech, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Taiwan, Vietnam and Zambia. Also, it will be offered in eleven sizes, ranging from 5 to15, including the two newly added larger options and in three colors – Titanium Black, Titanium Silver and Titanium Gold.

In addition to the Galaxy Ring expansion, new updates to the Samsung Health app will provide more personalized and comprehensive health capabilities[4], supporting optimal sleep and goals for a healthier daily life.

* Together with SmartThings, Samsung Health analyzes your sleep environment, assessing factors such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and light intensity in the room. In the morning, you will receive a Sleep environment report[5] advising how to optimize the conditions of your surroundings. You can also leverage SmartThings to automatically adjust room settings to create the ideal sleep environment when you fall asleep, conveniently supporting a restful night’s sleep.

* Sleep time guidance[6] suggests optimal bedtime tailored to unique sleep patterns, habits, and conditions. Going beyond sleep analysis, Samsung Health provides actionable insights for better sleep, recommending the most suitable sleep times based on a combination of your sleep quality and daily routines.

* The new Mindfulness tracker empowers you to improve your mental health and achieve a better night’s sleep. You can monitor your moods and follow Samsung Health’s guides for breathing exercises and meditations, all easily accessible within a single tracker.

New sizes of Galaxy Ring will begin to roll out for purchase starting January 22. Find your perfect fit at home with a free sizing kit from Samsung.com or visit a nearby Samsung store.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, home appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions, and delivering a seamless connected experience through its SmartThings ecosystem and open collaboration with partners. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

IMDb Announces The Most Anticipated Indian Movies Of 2025

* Sikandar is the most anticipated Indian movie of 2025, based on the page views of the hundreds of millions of IMDb customers worldwide

IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities, today unveiled the Most Anticipated Indian Movies of 2025, as determined by the actual page views of the more than 250 million monthly visitors to IMDb worldwide.

A.R. Murugadoss, director of the No. 1 most anticipated Indian movie Sikandar, said, “I’m deeply humbled to see Sikandar topping the IMDb Most Anticipated Indian Movies of 2025 list! Working with Salman Khan has been incredible. His energy and dedication bring Sikandar to life in ways words can't express. Huge thanks to Sajid Nadiadwala for making it happen. Every scene in Sikandar is crafted to leave an indelible mark. I've poured my heart into designing each moment to stay with audiences forever.”

IMDb Most Anticipated Indian Movies of 2025

Sikandar

Toxic

Coolie

Housefull 5

Baaghi 4

The Raja Saab

War 2

L2: Empuraan

Deva

Chhaava

Kannappa

Retro

Thug Life

Jaat

Sky Force

Sitaare Zameen Par

Thama

Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1

Alpha

Thandel

Among the Indian movies with planned releases in 2025, these titles were consistently the most popular with IMDb customers, as determined by the actual page views of the more than 250 million monthly visitors to IMDb worldwide. 

It is noteworthy that among the 20 titles on the list, 11 are Hindi movies, three each are Tamil and Telugu, two are Kannada, and one is a Malayalam movie. Akshay Kumar stars in three movies on the list: Housefull 5 (No. 4), Kannappa (No. 11), and Sky Force (No. 15), and so does Rashmika Mandanna: Sikandar (No. 1), Chhaava (No. 10), and Thama (No. 17). Mohanlal, Prabhas, Pooja Hegde, and Kiara Advani star in two titles each. Five titles on the list are sequels or installments of popular franchises: Housefull 5 (No. 4), Baaghi 4 (No. 5), War 2 (No. 7), Sitaare Zameen Par (No. 16), and Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 (No. 18). 

IMDb customers can add these and other titles to their IMDb Watchlist to receive alerts when they become available. To learn more about the IMDb Most Anticipated Indian Movies of 2025.