CIB-CARD-EG-20260802CIB Egypt credit cards start with a confirmed EGP 250 annual fee for Classic, while standard revolving balances are charged at 3.99% per month and most purchase transactions can receive up to 55 interest-free days only when the full statement balance is paid by the due date. The headline rewards are secondary: a cash withdrawal normally costs 4% with a minimum of EGP 40 and starts accruing interest immediately, while a foreign-currency transaction carries a 3% markup.
Commercial International Bank remains an active Egyptian joint-stock bank and the largest private-sector bank in Egypt, supervised by the Central Bank of Egypt. In 2026, CIB lists both unsecured cards based on income and secured cards backed by a CIB deposit or savings balance.
CIB card lineup and annual fees
The core personal cards use different fee, limit and reward structures. The EGP 6,000 net monthly income threshold is the confirmed entry rule for an unsecured personal credit card; premium tiers add a minimum credit limit or CIB customer-segment requirement.
| Card | Annual primary-card fee | Key threshold | Purchase grace period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | EGP 250 | EGP 6,000 net monthly income | Up to 55 days |
| Gold | EGP 300 | EGP 6,000 net monthly income | Up to 55 days |
| Cash Back | EGP 350 | EGP 6,000 net monthly income | Up to 55 days |
| Titanium | EGP 450 | EGP 10,000 minimum card limit | Up to 55 days |
| Platinum | EGP 450 | EGP 30,000 minimum card limit | Up to 55 days |
| Swype | EGP 0 | EGP 6,000 net monthly income; installment-focused card | Up to 40 days |
| CIB noon | EGP 550 | EGP 6,000 net monthly income | Up to 55 days |
| CIB talabat | EGP 600 | EGP 6,000 net monthly income | Up to 55 days |
CIB also lists Heya, World, EXPLORE and World Elite cards for higher limits or customer segments. For those tiers, the fee to use is the amount printed in the current CIB issuance-and-renewal tariff for the customer segment, together with the approved credit limit and supplementary-card charge.
Interest is the largest cost when the balance rolls over
The 55-day figure is a maximum purchase grace period, not a permanent interest-free balance. It works only when the full closing balance is paid by the due date. If only part is paid, CIB calculates purchase interest on the closing balance until the partial payment date and then on the remaining balance.
| Cost rule | Current CIB term | What changes the bill |
|---|---|---|
| Standard purchase interest | 3.99% per month | Applies when the full statement balance is not settled by the due date |
| CIB talabat purchase interest | 4.50% per month | Card-specific revolving rate |
| Late-payment charge | EGP 150 per month | Triggered when the minimum payment is not received by the due date |
| Over-limit charge | EGP 150 per occurrence | Can apply when the balance exceeds the approved limit, including because of bank fees |
| Domestic cash withdrawal | 4% of the amount, minimum EGP 40 | No grace period; interest begins immediately |
| Cash Back card withdrawal | 5% of the amount, minimum EGP 50 | No grace period |
| Foreign-currency markup | 3% | Also applies to EGP-billed transactions processed by a merchant outside Egypt |
A 3.99% monthly rate is about 59.92% over twelve months if compounded before fees; 4.50% monthly is about 69.59%. Those mathematical equivalents are not a substitute for the statement calculation, but they show why a card that looks inexpensive by annual fee can become costly when a balance is carried.
For readers whose priority is spreading a purchase rather than revolving the balance, the Egypt installment-card comparison explains the distinction between a merchant installment plan, an equal-payment plan and ordinary monthly interest.
Cash and foreign purchases need a separate decision
Cash withdrawals do not receive the purchase grace period. The withdrawal fee is charged first, then interest begins from the withdrawal date under the card terms. A customer comparing EGP 10,000 in cash should therefore add at least EGP 400 in withdrawal fee before counting interest; the Cash Back card minimum percentage would make that EGP 500.
For foreign spending, the 3% markup is calculated after CIB converts the transaction using the bank transfer rate on the registration or settlement date. The charge can also appear when a foreign merchant bills in EGP through dynamic currency conversion. Before travel, check the current international spending limit for the card and customer segment because the Central Bank of Egypt rules and CIB limits can change independently of the card annual fee.
CIB BONUS earning map — July 2026
Reward value depends on both the card tier and whether the transaction is eligible. Primary and supplementary cards earn under the same tier rule, while the Swype rate depends on the installed transaction tenor.
| Card tier | Base points per EGP 1 | Permanent rule |
|---|---|---|
| Classic, Gold, E-Commerce | 1 | Eligible retail purchases |
| Titanium, Heya | 2 | Eligible retail purchases |
| Platinum | 3 | Eligible retail purchases |
| World | 4 | Eligible retail purchases |
| World Elite or Metal | 5 | Eligible retail purchases |
| Swype 12, 36 or 60 | 1, 2 or 3 | Eligible installed retail transactions |
Points expire 36 months after the month in which they were earned. Redemption begins at 80,000 points; an e-voucher starts at EGP 400, while statement cashback uses fixed conversions such as 160,000 points for EGP 400 and 400,000 points for EGP 1,000.
Eligibility: unsecured income or secured collateral
| Route | Confirmed threshold | Evidence that matters |
|---|---|---|
| Unsecured salaried card | Age 21–65; net income from EGP 6,000 monthly | National ID, recent utility bill and HR letter or salary evidence |
| Self-employed or professional | Income assessment by CIB | Six months of bank statements plus commercial register or professional license where applicable |
| Non-Egyptian resident | Resident eligibility assessment | Passport, Egyptian residence permit and recent address evidence |
| Secured card | Limit can reach up to 95% of eligible pledged value | CIB certificate of deposit, time deposit or savings balance pledged as collateral |
The secured route can suit a customer without regular salary documents, but the pledged deposit remains tied to the credit facility. The approved limit, lien conditions and cost of late payment still matter. CIB reports repayment behavior to the Egyptian credit system, so the Egypt credit-score guide is relevant before treating the limit as additional income.
How CIB BONUS points translate into value
Permanent BONUS earning runs from 1 point per EGP on Classic and Gold to 5 points per EGP on World Elite or Metal. Titanium and Heya earn 2 points, Platinum earns 3 and World earns 4 on eligible retail purchases. Points expire after 36 months, and redemption starts from a balance of 80,000 points.
The cash conversion makes the value easier to judge: 160,000 points convert to EGP 400, while 400,000 points convert to EGP 1,000. That means points should not justify paying interest at 3.99% per month. Cash withdrawals, bank charges, interest, late fees, government and Fawry payments, wallet funding and fuel purchases do not generate BONUS points under the permanent rules.
Which CIB card structure fits the use case?
- Low annual fee and full monthly repayment: Classic or Gold keeps the fixed fee lower while retaining the standard purchase grace period.
- Higher regular retail spend: Titanium or Platinum increases the base BONUS earning rate, but only eligible purchases count.
- Installment-led use: Swype removes the annual primary-card fee and changes the reward rate by installment tenor; it should be compared using the total installment cost.
- Cash need: a credit-card withdrawal is usually the wrong benchmark because the fee and interest begin without a grace period.
- International spend: compare the 3% markup, settlement exchange rate and current international limit, not only lounge or travel features.
A broader profile of the institution, including deposits and customer segments, is available on the CIB Egypt bank page. The card decision itself should be based on the current fee schedule, the approved limit and the first statement showing the due date and minimum payment.
Check the transaction category before counting rewards
A high earn rate does not apply to every amount on the statement. CIB excludes cash withdrawals, bank fees, interest, late-payment charges, government and Fawry payments, wallet funding and fuel purchases from BONUS earning. Utility and telecom earning is capped at 40,000 points per month. The useful calculation is therefore points earned on normal eligible retail spend divided by the annual fee and any interest paid; if interest is charged, the loyalty value is usually overwhelmed by the financing cost.