HDFC Bank has increased the dining earn rate on the HDFC Regalia Credit Card from 4 reward points to 6 reward points per ₹150 spent at restaurants, effective May 1, 2026. The change is meaningful because each reward point is worth ₹0.50, which lifts the effective return on dining from 1.33% to 2%. Existing Regalia cardholders are auto-enrolled into the revised structure, so there is no form to fill, no promo code to enter, and no opt-in step required.
Under the new structure, a ₹15,000 restaurant bill will now earn 600 reward points instead of 400 reward points. At ₹0.50 per point, that is ₹300 in value versus ₹200 earlier. HDFC Bank has kept the annual fee unchanged at ₹2,500, and the fee waiver threshold remains ₹3 lakh annual spend. That means the card’s overall economics improve without changing the cost of holding it, which is important for users who already clear the waiver threshold through regular spending.
The biggest winners are existing HDFC Regalia cardholders who frequently spend on dining and want a straightforward rewards card without moving to a premium annual-fee tier. Against competing cards such as SBI Card Elite, which is currently being devalued on lounge access, and ICICI Sapphiro, which is typically positioned more for lifestyle benefits than dining earn rates, Regalia now looks stronger for restaurant-heavy spenders. The change is net positive because it improves a core category without affecting the fee or the spend waiver rule.
If you already hold the HDFC Regalia Credit Card, you do not need to do anything to activate the new dining rate. The revised earn rate applies automatically from May 1, 2026. However, cardholders should still check whether restaurant transactions are correctly coded as dining, because only eligible merchant category codes will qualify for the 6 points per ₹150 rate. Also watch the ₹2,500 annual fee and the ₹3 lakh waiver threshold if you are close to renewal. New applicants should verify whether the same earn structure is reflected in the latest card terms before applying through the official HDFC Bank Regalia card page.