ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa vs Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card: Which is Better in 2026?
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In short: ICICI Coral has the lower annual fee (₹500 vs ₹20,000); ICICI Coral includes 1 airport lounge visit a quarter, ICICI Times Black unlimited domestic & international lounge access; ICICI Times Black has the lower forex markup (1.49% vs 3.5%).
| Key facts | ICICI Coral | ICICI Times Black |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹500 | ₹20,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹500 | ₹20,000 |
| Annual fee waived | On ₹1.5 lakh annual spend | On ₹25 lakh annual spend |
| Lounge access | 1 airport lounge visit a quarter | Unlimited domestic & international lounge access |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 1.49% |
From issuer benefit data, checked 22 Oct 2026. Rewards, milestones and welcome benefits are in the full table below.
The ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa and the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card both offer distinct benefits catering to different user needs. Coral is a low-fee card with basic rewards and limited lounge access, while Times Black is a premium card with extensive lounge privileges, higher reward rates, and luxury welcome benefits. Your choice depends on your spending habits, travel frequency, and willingness to pay higher fees for premium perks.
Comparison notes and quick badges use AI, grounded in the benefit data shown in the table. Confirm details on each issuer’s site.
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| Feature | ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa | Times Black Icici Bank Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | ICICI Bank | ICICI Bank |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
| Joining fee | Joining Fee of Rs.500 | Joining Fee of Rs.20000 |
| Annual / renewal fee | Annual Fee of Rs.500 | Annual Fee of Rs.20000 |
| Annual fee waiver | Spend Rs.150000 For Waiver of Annual Fee | Spend Rs.25 lakh For Annual Fees Waiver |
| Reward rate (headline) | Earn 2 Reward Points per Rs.100 | 2% Reward Points on Domestic Transactions |
| Lounge — domestic | 1 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access Per Quarter | Enjoy Unlimited Complimentary Lounge Visits in India |
| Lounge — international | — | Enjoy Unlimited Complimentary International Lounge Visits |
| Welcome benefit | — | EaseMyTrip Complimentary gift voucher worth Rs.10000 |
| Milestone benefit | Earn 2000 Reward Points on Spend of Rs.2 Lakhs | — |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.50% - Foreign Currency Transactions | 1.49% - Foreign Currency Transactions |
Which is better for rewards?
The Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card clearly leads in rewards with higher points accrual rates, including 2% on domestic transactions and accelerated points on hotels and flights. It also covers a wider range of categories like education, government payments, insurance, and utilities. In contrast, the ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa offers modest rewards primarily focused on grocery, departmental stores, insurance, and utilities with lower points per spend and caps. Thus, Times Black is better suited for maximizing rewards, especially for premium spenders.
Which is better for travel?
Times Black offers superior travel benefits with unlimited complimentary lounge access both domestically and internationally, along with luxury airport transfers and concierge services. Coral provides only one complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter and no international lounge access or concierge. For frequent travelers or those valuing premium airport experiences, Times Black is the better option. Coral suits occasional travelers who want some lounge access without high fees.
Which has lower effective cost?
The ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa is significantly more affordable with a joining and annual fee of Rs.500 each, waivable on Rs.1.5 lakh annual spend. Times Black charges a steep Rs.20,000 joining and annual fee, waived only on Rs.25 lakh annual spend. For users with moderate spending or those new to credit cards, Coral offers a low-cost entry. Times Black's high fees are justified if you can leverage its premium benefits and meet the high waiver threshold.
Welcome and Milestone Benefits
Times Black offers substantial welcome vouchers worth over Rs. 25,000 across travel, lifestyle, and beauty categories, plus multiple milestone rewards including luxury airport transfers and vouchers on high spends. Coral has no welcome benefits and a single milestone reward of 2000 points on Rs. 2 lakh spend, making Times Black more rewarding for milestone achievers.
Foreign Exchange Markup
Times Black has a lower forex markup fee of 1.49% compared to Coral's 3.5%, making it more cost-effective for international transactions. This is an important consideration for users who spend on foreign currency transactions frequently.
Who should pick ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa?
Consider ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa if you prefer a low-fee credit card with decent rewards on groceries and utilities, occasional lounge access, and a simpler fee waiver condition. It is suitable for beginners or moderate spenders who want basic benefits without a heavy annual fee commitment.
Who should pick Times Black Icici Bank Credit Card?
Consider Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card if you are a frequent traveler or a high spender who can utilize unlimited domestic and international lounge access, concierge services, and accelerated rewards on travel and lifestyle categories. This card is ideal if you can justify the high joining and annual fees through premium benefits and welcome vouchers.
Frequently Asked Questions
ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card Visa charges Rs.500 joining and annual fees, waived on Rs.1.5 lakh spend. Times Black has Rs.20,000 joining and annual fees, waived on Rs.25 lakh annual spend.
Times Black provides unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge visits, while Coral offers only one complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter and no international lounge access.
Times Black offers multiple welcome vouchers worth over Rs. 25,000 including travel and lifestyle vouchers. Coral does not provide any welcome benefits.
Times Black charges a forex markup of 1.49%, which is lower than Coral's 3.5%, making Times Black more economical for foreign currency spending.
Times Black offers higher reward rates including 2% on domestic spends and accelerated points on flights and hotels, whereas Coral offers 2 reward points per Rs.100 mainly on groceries and departmental stores with some category caps.
Times Black provides 24/7 concierge services, while Coral does not offer any concierge benefits.