December 22, 2025 · 10 mins read
Santosh Kumar
Credit cards in India are not just about convenience anymore; they’re about building financial history, managing your finances, and getting rewards. But for numerous beginner pupils, homemakers, freelance workers, and those with little credit history, getting approved for a conventional credit card can be an obstacle. Banks usually require evidence of income, job security, and a healthy credit history before granting a traditional card. Fortunately, there’s an inroad for just about anyone – secured credit cards backed by FDs. These let you get a credit card against a fixed deposit, and some products now begin at surprisingly low sums.
In recent years, banks and fintech platforms in India have been expanding low-interest FD credit card options to make credit more accessible and 2000-rupee FD secured credit card, is one of the most accessible ways to start your credit journey.
An FD-backed credit card, or secured credit card, is a credit card issued against a fixed deposit you put down with the issuing bank. The FD acts as collateral. Since the bank knows it can make up for your default from your deposit, they’ll approve the card with far looser credit history requirements than with standard unsecured cards. The credit limit for such cards is usually a certain percentage of the FD value, usually up to 90%, sometimes even 100%.
Also Read: How to Get a Credit Card with Just a ₹2,000 FD in India
The concept that you need to amass thousands just for a credit card can be scary. Conventional FD-backed cards frequently require deposits of ₹10,000, ₹20,000, or above prior to card issuance. But by issuing cards from as low a deposit as ₹2,000, banks and fintechs are enabling individuals to access the formal credit world at a low financial barrier to entry. This is great for students, young professionals, and others who need to establish or repair credit without spending big.
The best 2000 FD credit card products also tend to come with simplified eligibility criteria. As the FD itself mitigates the risk for the bank, there is generally no need for income proof. Approval is typically rapid and paperwork light — great for the novice.
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As of 2026, the secured card market is booming. Of these, there’s one card product that keeps the deposit low at about ₹2,000 – the SBM Bank India Step Up Credit Card, generally offered through aggregators.
The SBM Bank (India) Step Up Credit Card has been highlighted in industry discussions as a secured credit card that can be issued against a minimal fixed deposit of around ₹2,000. It could provide credit limits up to 90% of the FD amount and fundamental features like reward points or interest-free grace periods; however, the exact rewards and benefits are subject to the programme offering during application.
So ₹2,000-level choices do exist — they’re just less common and generally more basic in features than cards backed by bigger FDs. That said, these cards represent some of the lowest entry-point secured cards available in India and are ideal for first-time credit card users.
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While the ₹2,000 FD option is perhaps the lowest threshold available, there are other low FD credit card options that might be accessible if you can commit a little more, such as ₹5,000 or slightly higher. These products offer a wider range of functionality, superior advantages, and often incentives, which can render them simpler to suggest after you’re at ease with fundamental operation.
For example, fintech partnerships like the Supercard by super. money (issued in partnership with banks such as Utkarsh Small Finance Bank) allows secured credit cards backed by FDs as low as ₹90 in some marketing contexts. These are usually bare-bones cards with tiny credit limits but fantastic availability for novices.
Secured cards with a still-modest FD requirement (often starting around ₹5,000) offer virtual and UPI-enabled options that make regular spending comfortable — especially if you want to blend online payments with offline convenience. These cards can provide low cashback or reward rates for UPI transactions, also aiding you in cultivating a good credit history with routine usage. A few banks, like IDFC FIRST Bank, etc., also provide secured credit cards that may require marginally higher FDs (say ₹5,000) but with better reward structures, and these are decent alternatives for those who can bump up the deposit amount slightly.
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One interesting trend in the secured card space has been enabled by fintechsters such as ZET. The ZET Credit Card emerged from a collaboration between ZET and SBM Bank (India), aimed at enabling more users to access credit while building a strong credit score. The collaboration also mirrors an industry-wide ambition to extend financial inclusion and assist clients in attaining 750+ credit scores with judicious use of FD-backed cards.
The ZET Credit Card is, of course, not the smallest FD requirement product, but it is indicative of how the landscape is changing. By employing data-led onboarding and educating first-time credit users on prudent use, platforms like ZET simplify the path from modest secured cards to classic ones with premium benefits as time passes.
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The key benefit of a secured credit card — regardless of whether you open one against ₹2,000 or more — is its credit-building potential. Most FD-backed credit cards report to credit bureaus such as CIBIL. Which also means each timely payment adds good to your score.
A healthy repayment record, low credit utilisation (usually under 30% of the available limit), and regular account activity can build up your credit profile over time.
A 2000-rupee FD secured credit card opens doors for individuals who otherwise find credit cards out of reach. The advantages are availability, little paperwork, qualification without income verification, and a soft approach to learning to use credit. For those with no credit, it can be a life-saving first step.
But the disadvantages are clear as well. Lower FD involves very small credit limits and minimal rewards or perks. These are simple transaction devices, not lifestyle or travel products. If your spending requirements are high or you desire lucrative rewards, you might have to look at secured cards with higher FD thresholds or unsecured alternatives down the line.
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To apply for a secured credit card with a low FD amount is usually easy. If you are seeking the best 2000 FD credit card, you would typically:
1: Choose a card product that supports a low FD amount, such as the Step Up Credit Card with
2: SBM Bank or other accessible fintech-backed offerings.
3: Fulfill KYC formalities online or at a branch.
4: Open the required FD in your name with the issuing bank.
5: Fill out any paperwork the bank demands.
6: Await approval and card delivery.
Most secured credit cards (even very low FD ones) don’t require income documentation, and since the deposit lowers risk for the issuer, approval is often quicker than with traditional cards.
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Once you have your secured card, it’s how you use it that counts. In this case, it’s simply good advice to pay your bills on time each month and attempt to pay off the balance in full wherever feasible. Maintaining a balance can lead to high interest fees, negating the goal of trend-setting your credit score.
Maintaining low credit utilisation safeguards your credit score. If you have a card secured by a ₹2,000 FD and your limit is near that, don’t try to top more than a slice of it at once. Responsible use starts with discipline and awareness.
And after a few months of responsible use, many issuers will assess your credit activity and provide you with a credit limit increase or upgrade path to unsecured cards. That’s particularly true if your credit score goes up and you have a history of paying on time.
Platforms such as ZET can assist with providing guidance on when you could be eligible for superior cards and how to prime yourself for this shift.
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So, what does the FD-backed credit cards scene look like in India in 2026? The emergence of the best 2000 FD credit card options makes it possible for individuals with limited financial history to start building credit early. Though not as generous as cards secured with larger deposits, these low FD alternatives offer a reasonable gateway into the credit space.
By selecting the right card, using it responsibly, and steadily growing your financial habits, you can upgrade from a basic secured credit card to more lucrative, unsecured credit products. A ₹2,000 FD secured card isn’t simply a card–it’s an opportunity to get confident, get credit, and get in charge of your financial destiny.
Yes. Some credit offerings, like the SBM Bank India Step Up Credit Card, can be availed with an F.D. as low as ₹ 2,000, thus providing easy access to credit.
Perks such as no income verification for approval, credit building, basic purchases, and occasionally small perks or a grace period.
Absolutely. Responsible use and timely repayments are reported to credit bureaus, which can help bolster your credit profile and qualify you for unsecured cards.
Yes. Your FD sits there, untouched and still accruing interest, even doubling as collateral for your credit card.
A few secured cards have no annual fee, and some charge small fees. But still, check with the issuer before you apply.
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