Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Discover vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Discover
Higher score in this comparison
Where Discover and SBI Card differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | ₹499 |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%Lower | 45% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 2%Lower |
| Credit needed | Good | Excellent |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | 1% cash back on all other purchases; 5% cash back in rotating categories, plus dollar-for-dollar match in first year | Not confirmed |
| Perks | $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access, Pre approval tool that does not impact your credit score, Card Lock in the mobile app, 99% nationwide acceptance (Nilson Report, Feb 2026), Virtual card available before the physical card arrives, if eligible | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Discover scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Discover: 1985 vs 1998.
- APR is lower at Discover: 18.49% to 28.49% vs 45%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at SBI Card: 2% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Discover: 15 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only Discover offers Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
Discover
Discover suits US borrowers who want a personal loan and a cash back card from the same provider, though the rate quoted decides the cost. Loans run $2,500 to $40,000 over 36 to 84 with an origination fee of $0, the card carries an annual fee of $0, and pre-qualification uses a soft prequal check.
SBI Card
SBI Card is a credit card for Indian applicants with excellent credit, and the balance transfer option is the reason to look past its steep borrowing cost. It charges an APR of 45% and an annual fee of INR 499, with help on phone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 8.8Annual fee INR 499 and APR 45% push costs up, with a balance transfer fee of 2% the only relief. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 8.1A 2 month balance transfer window is the whole offer, and phone support adds little. |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 8.9 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Discover: 1. Additional countries for SBI Card: 1.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Discover
90
3% of 3,000
SBI Card
60
2% of 3,000
SBI Card comes out 30 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Pick Discover if, pick SBI Card if
Pick Discover if offer, trust, apr, and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick SBI Card if balance transfer fee matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 109 of 1594 | 52 of 1594 |
| Balance transfer cards | 3 of 32 | 2 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Capital One, N.A. | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | India |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1998 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Loans
| Fact | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | $2,500 to $40,000 | Not confirmed |
| Term | 36 to 84 months | Not confirmed |
| Arrangement fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Credit check | Soft prequal | Not confirmed |
| Funding time | Funds sent as early as the next business day after acceptance | Not confirmed |
| Representative example | $15,000 loan at 11.99% APR for a term of 72 months, you'll pay just $293 per month | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Fixed | Not confirmed |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Not confirmed |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old, valid U.S. SSN, minimum individual or household annual income of $25,000, physical address, active email address | Not confirmed |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Loan types | Personal, Debt consolidation | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Home improvement | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Discover | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%above the median | 45%highest quarter | 11.635 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsabove the median | 2 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 2%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Discover
Pros
- Origination fee $0 on loans, plus free early repayment, so clearing a balance sooner costs nothing extra.
- The card charges an annual fee of $0 and pays cash back on all purchases.
- Bank deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, with stated protection of FDIC up to USD 250,000.
Cons
- Card borrowing is costly: APR runs 18.49% to 28.49% against a site median savings rate of 3%.
- Each balance transfer costs 3%, and the promotional window is 15.
- Built for a single market: it lends as a direct lender from US, so readers elsewhere cannot apply.
SBI Card
Pros
- A balance transfer charges 2% and runs for 2 months, the one lower interest route on the card.
- Card type is credit, and the issuer has been issuing cards since 1998.
- Support runs on phone for anyone who wants to talk a balance down with the issuer.
Cons
- An APR of 45% makes any carried balance costly, and the annual fee of INR 499 ranks 223 out of 312.
- Support runs on phone only, so no written or online help route is listed.
- The credit bar is excellent, and only 5.6% of cards in the credit card comparison ask for as much.
Who each suits
Discover
Who it suits
- US adults with a steady income who need a personal or debt consolidation loan they can clear early.
- People who want a cash back card with an annual fee of $0 and free credit monitoring.
- Card customers who move a balance during the 15 promotional period.
Who should look elsewhere
- UK and euro-area readers who want a local deposit scheme: bunq protects balances with EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
- Anyone preferring a European deposit scheme to a US bank, such as Wise with EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
- Borrowers who want a UK debit card account rather than a loan: Starling Personal Account Debit Card carries FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
SBI Card
Who it suits
- Indian applicants with excellent credit who want to shift an existing card balance onto a lower interest option.
- Borrowers who plan to clear the moved balance inside the 2 month low interest window.
- Cardholders who would rather call phone than work through online self service.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise and bunq, which show annual fees of £0 and €0, suit spending that carries no borrowing cost.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, with an annual fee of $0, suits applicants building a credit record rather than moving a balance.
- bunq, with an annual fee of €0, suits anyone who wants a card without paying for a balance transfer option.
Current offers
Discover
Current offer
Bonus
5% cash back with the Discover it Cash Back Credit Card: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases at gas stations, transportation and drug stores, now-Sept. 30
Must activate the offer; up to $1,500 in purchases per period
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Special 11-month 360 CD rate
11-month CD at the highest available CD rate for consumer accounts; APY fixed on opening, early withdrawal penalty applies, effective as of 9/24/2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Discover
What does a Discover personal loan cost?+
Loans are priced on a fixed rate and come with an origination fee of $0. You can borrow $2,500 to $40,000 over 36 to 84, and the lender covers personal and debt consolidation borrowing. The representative example shows a level monthly payment on a mid-sized loan repaid over a longer term.
Who can apply for a Discover loan?+
Applicants must be adults with a valid US Social Security number, a physical address, an active email address and a minimum annual income. That income floor rules out students and part-time applicants. The lender also runs its own underwriting, so it is a direct lender rather than a broker.
SBI Card
What does SBI Card charge each year?+
The annual fee is INR 499, on a card that is a credit product rather than a charge card. Interest builds only if a balance is carried, so clearing the statement in full avoids the rate. The balance transfer route adds 2% on top, and that fee is the figure to weigh against the annual cost.
What is the APR on an SBI Card?+
The APR is 45%, which is high against the wider credit card set, where the card ranks 128 out of 138. Paying in full each month means the rate is never charged. Anyone planning to carry a balance should treat 45% as the true cost of this card.
Other options to compare
SBI Card
Discover