Launch Date: Announced July 23–24, 2025 
— Kotak Mahindra Bank officially unveiled the Solitaire invite-only credit card, part of its Solitaire ultra-premium banking program.
Key Highlights
- Invitation Only: Eligible for HNI families with ₹75 lakh+ (salaried) or ₹1 crore+ (self-employed) total relationship value.
- No Fees: Zero joining/annual fee while in the Solitaire program—downgrade means ₹25,000 annual fee.
- Huge Credit Limit: Up to ₹8 crore pre-approved across credit products .
- Travel & Lounge Perks: Unlimited domestic & international lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders, plus 10% Air Miles on Kotak Unbox travel.
- Reward Rates: 10% airmiles on travel bookings, 3% on other spends (up to ₹1 lakh per cycle).
- Zero Forex Markup: No foreign transaction fees & just 1% cash withdrawal fee.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Kotak is carving out space in the ultra-premium segment, going head-to-head with HDFC Infinia, Axis Burgundy, and AmEx Platinum.
- It’s part of a broader strategy to shift Kotak’s unsecured credit to 15% of total portfolio—a jump from 10.5% in FY25.
- The Solitaire program includes perks across banking, credit, wealth, and family privileges—aimed at building long-term multi-generational banking relationships.
My Take
This is a bold move — Kotak wasn’t in the super-premium credit card game before. Solitaire comes loaded with perks: elite lounge access, high Air Miles, zero forex fees, and a massive credit window. If they’re serious about personalization and relationship manager support, this could be a strong contender.
But is it enough to lure away users from cards like Infinia or Burgundy? Or will it stay a niche product for super-rich families?