Google Pay Flex SBI Card Unveiled: A Digital Wallet Meets a Rewards Powerhouse

SBI Card and Google Pay have joined forces on a fully digital credit card that pays back in Stars, and the rewards are only part of the story.

The Google Pay Flex SBI Card is here, and CIO Bulletin has been looking closely at what it offers. Launched by SBI Card and Google Pay in July 2026, this fully digital credit card is made for people who already pay for almost everything through their phones.

How the Card Works

Applying is simple. Customers can apply right inside the Google Pay app, with no heavy paperwork. The whole card journey, from applying to managing it, stays inside that same app. The card runs on the RuPay and Visa networks, and it ties into the Flex by Google Pay experience that Google introduced earlier this year. This is also the second Flex card Google Pay has launched with a bank partner in under a year.

So what does a customer actually get? Instead of confusing points, the card gives Stars, and one Star is worth one rupee. That makes the reward easy to understand and easy to use. They can be redeemed instantly on eligible Flex transactions. If a big bill feels heavy, the latest outstanding amount can be converted into EMIs.

Key Details at a Glance

• Joining and renewal fee of ₹499 plus taxes.

• Renewal fee reversed on yearly spends of ₹1,00,000.

• Rewards of up to 18,000 Stars a year.

• Works on both RuPay and Visa networks.

The idea goes beyond simple payments. Sharath Bulusu, Senior Director at Google Pay, said the aim is to make credit “as ubiquitous and accessible as daily UPI payments.” SBI Card, India’s largest pure-play card issuer, brings the banking strength behind it.

The timing is notable. Several UPI apps, including PhonePe, have launched co-branded cards this year, so the race to put credit on every smartphone is heating up. Will SBI Card’s Google Pay tie-up help it win more first-time card users? That is the question the industry will watch. CIO Bulletin will keep tracking how the Google Pay Flex SBI Card performs.

News Source: ScanX, https://scanx.trade/