Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

About Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

Are you still paying your electricity and mobile bills without getting anything back? The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card changes that by putting real money back into your pocket every time you spend.

This card is a powerhouse for monthly expenses. It offers a massive 5% cashback on utility bills and recharges when paid via Google Pay. If you spend ₹10,000 a month on bills and daily commutes, you could easily see over ₹5,000 in savings every year. There are no complicated point systems to track. The money simply shows up in your account.

Designed for professionals and young earners with a minimum monthly income of ₹25,000, the ACE card focuses on where most people spend their money: food, travel, and home utilities. It is a straightforward tool for anyone who wants their credit card to work as hard as they do.

What makes the ACE card stand out:

• 5% cashback on utility bills, which is significantly higher than the industry average of 1-2%.
• 4% cashback on popular apps like Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola.
• 1.5% flat cashback on almost all other spends, beating the standard 1% offered by most entry-level cards.

Quick check: To qualify for this card, you need to be between 18 and 70 years old with a credit score (CRIF) of 720 or higher.

Let's look at how this card can maximize your monthly savings:

Key Benefits and Features of the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card is built for high-frequency, everyday transactions. Unlike cards that give you points that expire or are hard to use, this card gives you direct cashback. Here is a breakdown of how you earn:

High-Value Cashback on Daily Essentials

The biggest draw of the ACE card is the 5% cashback on bill payments. This includes electricity, water, gas, LPG, broadband, DTH, and mobile recharges. To get this rate, you must make the payment through Google Pay using your ACE card on an Android device. Note that the accelerated cashback (the 5% and 4% categories combined) is capped at ₹500 per monthly statement. This means you get the maximum benefit on spends up to ₹10,000 to ₹12,500 in these categories.

Lifestyle and Dining Rewards

If you frequently order food or use cabs, this card offers a steady 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola. This applies whether you book through the app or the website for food delivery. It makes the ACE card an excellent companion for urban commuters and foodies who want to shave a bit off their daily expenses.

Flat Cashback on Other Spends

For everything else, you earn a flat 1.5% cashback. This is one of the highest base rates for an entry-level card in India. Whether you are shopping for clothes, electronics, or groceries at a physical store, you earn more than the typical 1% offered by competitors. There is no minimum transaction required to start earning. You get cashback starting from your very first eligible spend.

Airport Lounge Access

While many budget cards have removed lounge benefits, the Axis ACE card still offers 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar year. This is a great perk for occasional domestic travelers, providing a comfortable space to wait for flights at select airports across India.

Fees and Annual Waiver

The card comes with a joining fee of ₹499, which is charged at the time of issuance. The annual fee is also ₹499 starting from the second year. However, if you spend ₹2 lakh or more in a year, this annual fee is waived. Given the 1.5% base rate and 5% utility rate, reaching this milestone is quite achievable for most regular users, making the card effectively free.

Redemption Made Simple

You do not need to log into a portal to redeem your earnings. The cashback is auto-credited directly to your credit card account in the next billing cycle. This happens 3 days before your statement is generated. It is a zero-hassle process that ensures you actually use the rewards you earn.

Usage Exclusions

To plan your spending, keep in mind that certain transactions do not earn cashback. These include fuel purchases, EMI transactions, wallet loads, cash advances, rental payments, gold or jewelry purchases, insurance premiums, and educational services. Additionally, payments for card fees or outstanding balances do not qualify for rewards.

How to Apply for the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

The application process for the Axis ACE card is digital and straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Check Your Eligibility: Ensure you meet the minimum monthly income of ₹25,000 (₹3 LPA annually) and have a CRIF score of at least 720.
2. Visit the Portal: Go to the Axis Bank official website or open the Google Pay app to see if you have a pre-approved offer.
3. Fill the Application: Enter your personal details, including your PAN, employment type, and contact information.
4. Verify Income: If you are salaried, keep your last 3 months' salary slips ready. If self-employed, you will need your latest ITR showing an income of at least ₹3 LPA.
5. Complete KYC: A bank representative will contact you for a video KYC or a physical document pickup to verify your identity.
6. Card Issuance: Once the bank verifies your documents and credit history, the card is dispatched within 7-10 working days.

Credit Limit: What to Expect

Axis Bank determines your credit limit based on your individual profile rather than a fixed standard. Factors that influence your limit include your monthly income, existing debts, and your credit score. Applicants with a long-standing relationship with Axis Bank or those with high income and a score above 750 receive higher starting limits. If you start with a lower limit, the bank reviews your account after 6-12 months of disciplined usage for a potential increase.

Comparison Table: ACE vs. Competitors

Choosing the right cashback card depends on where you spend the most. Here is how the Axis ACE compares to other top-tier cashback cards in the market:

If your primary goal is to save on monthly bills and food delivery, the Axis ACE is the clear winner. However, if you do a lot of diverse online shopping across various websites, the SBI Cashback card might offer higher value despite its higher fee. For those who want a simple, no-fee card and shop almost exclusively on Amazon, the ICICI Amazon Pay card is a better fit.

Documents Required for Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Application

You'll need to submit the following documents when applying:

For Salaried Applicants

• Identity Proof: PAN Card (mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Utility Bills (not older than 2 months), Rent Agreement, or Property Tax Receipt
• Income Proof: Latest 3 months' salary slips and 6 months' bank statements
• Employment Proof: Office ID card or employment letter

For Self-Employed Applicants

• Identity Proof: PAN Card (mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Utility Bills (not older than 2 months), or Property Documents
• Income Proof: Latest 2 years' ITR with computation of income, 6 months' bank statements, and CA-certified financials
• Business Proof: Business registration certificate, GST registration (if applicable), or Shop Act License

Note: All documents must be self-attested. The bank may request additional documents during verification.

Who Should Get This Card?

Should you get this card? Here is who benefits most from the Axis ACE:

The "Household Manager" Persona: If you are the person responsible for paying the family's electricity, gas, and internet bills, this card is a must-have. For someone spending ₹15,000 monthly on utilities and recharges via Google Pay, you would earn ₹500 every month. That is ₹6,000 a year back in your pocket, which more than covers the annual fee.

The "Urban Professional" Persona: You earn ₹40,000 a month, order Swiggy three times a week, and take an Ola to work daily. With 4% cashback on these categories and a 1.5% base rate on everything else, your daily lifestyle becomes 4% cheaper without you having to change a single habit.

The "Simple Saver" Persona: You want a card that doesn't require you to browse a rewards catalog or wait for "Big Sale" days. You want the bank to just credit the money you earned back into your statement. This card matches that lifestyle perfectly because the redemption is automatic.

You might want to skip this card if:

• You do not use an Android phone (the 5% utility cashback requires Google Pay, which only supports this feature on Android).
• Your monthly utility bills are very high (over ₹20,000), as the ₹500 cashback cap might limit your total earnings compared to uncapped cards.
• You are looking for premium travel benefits like international lounge access or air mile conversions.

BankKaro Expert Review

In my experience reviewing credit cards, the Axis Bank ACE remains one of the most practical cards for the average Indian consumer. While many banks are devaluing their cards by removing lounge access or lowering reward rates, Axis has kept the ACE card quite competitive.

The biggest strength is the 1.5% base cashback rate. Most cards in the ₹500 fee bracket only offer 1%, so you are already earning 50% more on every regular swipe. The 5% utility rate is the industry gold standard for bill payments. However, the biggest limitation is the ₹500 combined monthly cap on the 5% and 4% categories. If you are a very heavy spender on Swiggy or Zomato, you might hit this cap quickly.

Our verdict: Choose this card if you want a reliable, "set it and forget it" card for your monthly bills and daily commutes. It is arguably the best "first credit card" for someone starting their career with a ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 salary.

Terms and Conditions

Before you apply, please keep these points in mind regarding the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card:

• The bank may offer a different card variant based on your eligibility. Please read the final card details before applying.
• No minimum transaction is required to activate cashback on this card; cashback starts from your first eligible spend.
• Cashback is not applicable on fuel, EMI, jewelry, or wallet load transactions.
• The annual fee waiver of ₹2 lakh is calculated based on spends within a card anniversary year.
• For complete details, refer to the full Terms and Conditions available on the Axis Bank official website.