If you spend abroad or shop on international websites, the Kotak White Reserve Credit Card just became more attractive. Kotak has increased the reward rate on international spends from 4 to 6 reward points per ₹100, and it has also raised domestic airport lounge access to 8 per year. Those are the two changes that matter most for cardholders who want premium travel value.
The card’s annual fee remains ₹10,000 + GST, with a milestone waiver available on ₹10 lakh spend. That means the pricing structure is unchanged even though the benefits have improved. For a premium card, that is exactly the kind of update we like to see: better earning potential and stronger travel access without a fee hike.
The international rewards bump is especially useful for people who regularly pay for overseas travel, subscriptions, or merchant spends that route as international transactions. A jump from 4 to 6 reward points per ₹100 is a meaningful increase, and it makes the card more competitive for globally oriented spenders. The lounge enhancement also helps if you travel within India often enough to care about airport comfort.
This update is interesting because it improves both the earning side and the usage side of the card. Many premium cards do one well and the other poorly. Here, Kotak is trying to make White Reserve more balanced for frequent travelers, especially those who want a card that works both at the airport and on international purchases.
What should we do? If your spending is split between travel and international transactions, White Reserve deserves a fresh look. The improved 6 reward points per ₹100 on international spends and 8 per year lounge access make it more compelling than before. If you already hold the card, this is a good time to lean into those categories; if you are comparing premium cards, add this one to the shortlist.