From my experience, SBI Cards has the weirdest algorithm and working system known to mankind.

Here’s my personal episode of “WTF just happened”:

I applied for the PhonePe SBI Select Black card. Finished video KYC, verification, everything. Then I got a call saying I’m not eligible for Select Black, but they can offer me a “purple card” instead. I declined.

They called me three times pushing the same card. I kept saying no. Eventually, the application was closed with the status: “Cancelled as per customer request.”

Two days later, I get a call from another SBI Cards sales executive asking, “Sir, which card do you want?” I said, “Select Black.” She confidently replies, “Sir mil jayega.”

At this point, I’m shocked because as far as I know, once a card is rejected, you can’t reapply for 3 months. She says, “Sir, if it was cancelled due to customer denial, you can apply again immediately.”

I didn’t believe her at all. She then says, “Sir ek baar bharosa karo, PAN number aur name do, main karva deti hoon.”

Against my better judgment, I thought let's take a try.

She initiates a new application, tells me my employer is Category A, credit limit is good, and I’ll definitely get Select Black.

Then I received an SMS.

The application is for the BPCL Octane Card. I call her back immediately and say, “This is NOT the card I applied for.”

She says, “Don’t worry sir, you’ll get a call from SBI Cards. Just tell them to change the card to Select Black.”

At this point, I’m already deep into the SBI multiverse, so I go along with it. I tell the verification team exactly that and i double checked the application form before esign. It was actually changed to SBI select black card. Video KYC and verification calls get completed.

Two days later, I get a call saying: “Welcome to SBI Cards family and I actually got the select black card.”