Managing your credit card smartly is like handling your monthly chai-samosa budget — you need to know exactly where the money is going. Many of us swipe our cards at petrol pumps, online shopping apps, restaurants, or even while booking movie tickets on BookMyShow, but when it comes to checking how much we have spent in a year, things get a little confusing.
Don’t worry, in this article, we at PrkshAdvisors will explain in the simplest way possible how you can check your annual spend on a credit card.
Why Should You Track Annual Credit Card Spend?
Before jumping to the how, let’s understand the why.
- Credit card rewards: Most Indian banks (like HDFC, ICICI, SBI, Axis, etc.) offer benefits such as cashback, milestone vouchers, or free movie tickets after reaching a certain annual spend. Example: Spend ₹1 lakh in a year and get an Amazon voucher worth ₹2,000.
- Fee waivers: Many cards come with an annual fee, but the bank waives it off if you cross a certain spending limit. For instance, your card might say: Annual fee ₹1,000, waived off on spending ₹1,50,000 annually.
- Budgeting & control: Sometimes, swiping the card feels painless, but the bill later hits like a cricket ball on the helmet. Keeping track avoids overspending.
So, checking annual spend isn’t just a boring finance thing — it’s directly linked to saving money and getting more out of your card.
Different Ways to Check Annual Spend on a Credit Card
There are multiple ways you can check your total spending. Let’s go step by step.
1. Mobile Banking App
Almost every bank in India now has a smooth mobile banking app.
- Steps:
- Log in to your bank’s app.
- Go to your credit card section.
- Look for Statements or Spend Summary.
- Select the date range (for example, 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025).
👉 Example: In the HDFC Bank app, there’s an option called “Card Summary” which shows your total spend. Similarly, ICICI and SBI have their own dashboards.
This is the fastest and most convenient way because you can check your yearly spend while sitting at home sipping chai.
2. Net Banking (Internet Banking)
If you’re more comfortable using a laptop or PC, then internet banking works best.
- Steps:
- Log in to your bank’s net banking.
- Select your credit card.
- Go to Statements / Account Summary.
- Apply the filter for custom date range.
This way, you can download a PDF or Excel file and keep a record of your yearly transactions. Very helpful if you like tracking numbers neatly.
3. Monthly Statements (Email/SMS)
Banks send monthly e-statements on email. If you’re old-school and keep these emails safely in a folder, you can add up the spend month by month.
Yes, it’s a little time-consuming, but it works.
👉 Example: You can open your Gmail, type “HDFC Credit Card Statement” in the search bar, and you’ll get all your monthly bills. Just note down the total due or total spend every month, and then sum it up for the year.
4. Customer Care
Sometimes, the easiest way is to just call the customer care number at the back of your credit card.
- Give them your details (after verification).
- Ask them: “Can you please tell me my annual spend from April 2024 till date?”
- They will either tell you directly or guide you where to find it.
This is especially useful if you’re not very comfortable with apps or net banking.
5. Bank Branch Visit
Yes, I know going to the branch feels like a Sunday market rush, but it’s still an option. You can visit your bank branch and request a printout of your annual credit card spend summary.
Smart Tips to Track Your Credit Card Spending
- Set monthly reminders: Use Google Calendar to check your statement once every month.
- Download apps: Some third-party apps (like CRED or Paytm) automatically track spends if you link your card.
- Check milestone benefits: If your bank offers rewards for spending a particular amount annually, keep an eye on how close you are to reaching it. Nothing feels better than getting a free voucher for money you already spent!
- Don’t overspend just for rewards: This is a common trap. If your milestone is ₹1,00,000 but you’ve already spent ₹95,000, think carefully before buying something unnecessary just to cross it.
Indian Example to Relate
Imagine this: Ravi, a salaried guy from Pune, uses his SBI credit card for petrol, Zomato orders, and EMI purchases. At the end of the year, he wonders if he has crossed ₹2 lakh spend to get his fee waived. Instead of guessing, he simply opens the SBI Card app, checks the “Annual Spend Summary,” and relaxes because his annual fee will now be waived.
Simple na? You too can do the same.
Final Thoughts
Tracking your annual spend on a credit card isn’t rocket science. With just a few taps on your banking app or net banking, you can know exactly how much you’ve spent. And trust me, this one habit can save you thousands of rupees every year.
At PrkshAdvisors, we always say: Credit cards are powerful tools — but only when you use them smartly.
So next time you swipe your card at a shopping mall or order biryani on Swiggy, remember to check your annual spend. Who knows, that little tracking might earn you free vouchers, reward points, or even waive your card’s annual fee.