New Delhi: ICICI bank became the first bank in India to introduce a premium credit card with the launch if it's Visa Signature Credit Card. ICICI Bank Visa Signature Credit Card, as it is known, raises the bar on the current premium credit cards available in the Indian market.

This pricey little piece of plastic will be available only to a very privileged section of the Indian populace.

The exclusive credit card brings Signature benefits to the card members. The ICICI Bank Visa Signature Card offers a Rs. 3 Crore air travel insurance and exclusive benefits valued in excess of Rs. 50,000, which include an attractive Tag Heuer watch or travel vouchers for your dream destination. However, all this has a price tag. This credit card has a joining fee of Rs. 25,000/- and Rs. 2,500 levied, as annual fees each year thereafter.

Commenting on the launch, Mr V. Vaidyanathan, Executive Director, ICICI Bank said, "The ICICI Bank Visa Signature Credit Card is recognition of our customer's evolving needs. It is the first truly global offering for the Indian international traveller."

Mr V. Vaidyanathan an alumni of the Birla Institute of Technology, and also a graduate and alumni of the Harvard Business School, joined ICICI Bank in 2000 with over 10 years of experience with Citibank India's consumer business. He has been responsible for setting up the retail finance business, which has been a thrust area for ICICI Bank.

The ICICI Bank Visa Signature Card has some very powerful benefits:

• A joining bonanza of a Tag Heuer watch or travel vouchers from www.makemytrip.com
• The experiential travel offers vary from flying a fighter jet right off a top-secret air base to watching the Emperor Penguins in Antarctica, exclusively for the globe-trotting Indian.
• International Airport Lounge Access
• Comprehensive air travel insurance of Rs. 3 crore
• Access to exclusive events and experiences, designed specifically with the Visa Signature lifestyle in mind.
• Cardholders can quickly and easily secure reservations for hard to-reserve tables at popular restaurants, even during peak times.
• A round-the-clock, complimentary concierge service, which provides assistance with business, personal travel and restaurant reservations, gift arrangements, event tickets, home and business services, and more.
• Upgrades, discounts, and special offers from many of the world's top retail merchants, travel providers, hotels and resorts
• Excellent reward program, which gives 5 reward points on every Rs 100 spent on international retail transactions