Bandhan Bank Shares Climb After Credit Card Launch

Bandhan Bank shares rose as much as 4% on September 8 following the lender’s entry into the credit card market. A day earlier, the bank partnered with Mastercard to introduce four new cards—Sparks, Ignite, Flare and Lumina—designed for different customer segments and spending habits. Sparks targets everyday shoppers with rewards on grocery and apparel purchases. Ignite focuses on travel benefits, including international airport lounge access. Flare offers travel perks along with golf privileges and dining rewards. Lumina, the premium card, provides higher rewards on international spends, an Oberoi gift voucher, concierge services and airport meet-and-greet facilities. All four cards run on the Mastercard network. Customers can apply online through a digital-first process or at bank branches. Managing Director and CEO Partha Pratim Sengupta described the launch as a key step in Bandhan Bank’s evolution into a universal bank, noting the cards cater to everyone from Gen Z and emerging affluent customers to frequent travellers and premium lifestyle seekers. Mastercard’s India and South Asia President Gautam Aggarwal highlighted the partnership’s alignment with India’s fast-growing digital payments landscape. Bandhan Bank, which started operations in 2015, serves more than 3.2 crore customers across over 6,400 outlets.