SBI Card PRIME vs Axis Bank Select: Vouchers and Lounges or Steady Points

SBI Card PRIME is the better value for most households: its ₹2,999 fee goes away at ₹3 lakh of yearly spend, it pays 2.5% in points on dining, grocery, department stores and movies, and ₹50,000 of spends a quarter earns a ₹1,000 Pizza Hut voucher, up to ₹4,000 a year. Axis Bank Select earns more on spends outside those categories and carries more international lounge visits and BigBasket and Swiggy offers, but its ₹3,000 fee is waived only at ₹8 lakh of spend, unless you hold a Burgundy account.

By Ramesh Kulkarni · Content Writer Updated 5 November 2026 Reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts

In short

PRIME wins for grocery and dining households that cross ₹3 lakh a year, while Select suits Burgundy customers, frequent flyers abroad and people who use its BigBasket and Swiggy codes every month.

Best for

PRIME: families spending ₹25,000 or more a month, much of it on dining and groceries
Select: Axis Burgundy account holders, who pay no fee
Select: travellers who want up to 12 Priority Pass visits abroad a year

Skip it if

You spend under ₹3 lakh a year: both fees then cost about ₹3,540 with GST
You need a card on UPI and choose Select: Axis does not list a RuPay version

Highlights

PRIME: ₹2,999 + GST, renewal waived on ₹3 lakh of spends in the previous year
Select: ₹3,000 + GST, waived on ₹8 lakh in the previous anniversary year; nil for Burgundy
PRIME: 10 points per ₹100 on dining, departmental stores, grocery and movies, 2.5% at 25 paise
Select: 10 EDGE points per ₹200 on most spends, 1% at 20 paise, doubled on retail up to ₹20,000 a month
PRIME: 8 domestic and 4 Priority Pass lounge visits a year with no spend condition stated

Side by side

Every term from the banks' own pages, last verified 5 November 2026.
Term	SBI Card PRIME	Axis Bank Select Credit Card
Bank	SBI Card	Axis Bank
Joining fee	₹2,999 + GST	₹3,000 + GST
Annual fee and waiver	₹2,999 + GST. Renewal fee waived on annual spends of Rs. 3 lakhs (MITC: in the preceding year)	₹3,000 + GST. Annual fee waived on spends of INR 8 lakh in the preceding card anniversary year; insurance, rent, fuel, education, utilities and telecom, government, wallet, gold and gift card spends (and EMI conversions, cash, reversals, fees) do not count. Nil fees for Burgundy account holders.
Base reward	2 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on all other retail spends, except fuel (about 0.5% value)	10 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200 spent (about 1% value)
Best category	Birthday spends: about 5% value	Retail shopping: department stores, grocery stores, clothing and accessory stores: about 2% value
Lounges	Domestic: 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits a year (max 2 per quarter); from 10 Jan 2026 only at the lounges in SBI Card's 'Set B' list International: 4 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per calendar year outside India (max 2 per quarter); Priority Pass membership complimentary	Domestic: 2 complimentary visits per quarter at select domestic airport lounges (card must be swiped; Priority Pass not valid at Indian domestic lounges from 28 Aug 2026) International: Priority Pass membership with 6 complimentary international lounge visits per anniversary year, plus 6 more on INR 3 lakh spends in that year (up to 12)
Forex markup	3.5% of the amount	3.5% of the amount
Network	Visa, Mastercard, American Express, RuPay	Not stated by the bank
Published minimum income	Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not...	₹50,000 a month
Status	Taking applications	Taking applications
Add-on card fee	Nil	Nil
Earned as	Reward Points	EDGE REWARD Points
Higher-reward categories	Dining, departmental stores, grocery, movies: 10 Reward Points per Rs. 100, about 2.5% value (capping of 7500 Reward Points per calendar month; then 2 RP per Rs.100, calendar month) Birthday spends: 20 Reward Points per Rs. 100, about 5% value (Reward Points capped at 2,000 per calendar year; no other accelerated points in the birthday window, ₹2,000, calendar year) Utility bill payments by Standing Instruction registered on SBI Card platforms: 20 Reward Points per Rs. 100, about 5% value (capping of 3,000 Reward Points per month; new Autopay registrations on SBI Card platforms discontinued from 1 Apr 2021, only older SIs keep running, ₹3,000, month)	Retail shopping: department stores, grocery stores, clothing and accessory stores: 2X: 20 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200, about 2% value (2X on cumulative transactions up to INR 20,000 per month; above that 10 points per INR 200, ₹20,000, month)
No rewards on	Fuel (MCC 5172, 5541, 5542, 5983) e-Wallet loads (MCC 6540, 6541) Rent since 1 Apr 2024 Government transactions since 1 Jun 2024 Digital gaming since 1 Dec 2024 Balance transfer, cash advance, fees and charges EMI conversions (points forfeited)	Insurance Rent Fuel Education Utilities and telecom Wallet Gold and jewellery Government services Gift cards Bridge fees, road fees and tolls EMI-converted transactions (points debited)
Value of a point	Statement credit (pay card bill): 4 Reward Points = Re. 1	EDGE REWARDS catalogue: Axis states the 10,000-point welcome benefit is 'worth ₹2000' (INR 0.20 a point).
Redemption fee	Rs. 99 + taxes on physical products, statement credit and physically sent vouchers (MITC)	INR 99 per redemption (card page: 'Reward Redemption fee Rs. 99')
Expiry	24 months	EDGE REWARD Points expire 3 years from allotment, or after 365 days without account activity; forfeiture 30 days after closure or MAD overdue 90+ days.
Welcome benefits	Welcome e-Gift voucher worth Rs. 3,000 (Yatra, Hush Puppies/Bata, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop) after annual fee is paid; usable within 6 months	10,000 EDGE REWARD Points (worth INR 2,000) on the first transaction within 30 days of issuance; not for lifetime-free cards or Burgundy account holders
Milestone benefits	Pizza Hut e-voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on quarterly spends of Rs. 50,000 e-Gift voucher worth Rs. 7,000 from Yatra.com / Pantaloons on annual spends of Rs. 5 lakh Renewal fee waived on annual spends of Rs. 3 lakh	5,000 EDGE REWARD Points on spends of INR 3 lakh in a card anniversary year On INR 3 lakh anniversary-year spends: 6 extra international lounge visits, 6 extra golf rounds, and Priority Pass renewal for the next year (from 1 Oct 2026 excluded categories do not count) Annual fee waiver on INR 8 lakh spends
Fuel surcharge waiver	1% waiver on every transaction between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000 at all petrol pumps in India; max Rs. 250 per month, per statement cycle	1% fuel surcharge refund at all fuel stations in India on transactions of INR 400 to INR 4,000; maximum INR 400 per statement cycle; no points on fuel
Insurance cover	Fraud liability cover up to Rs. 1,00,000 (T&C). Complimentary air accident cover of Rs. 50 lakh discontinued from 15 July 2025.	Purchase protection up to INR 1 lakh; cumulative cover up to USD 500 for loss of travel documents, delay of checked-in baggage and loss of checked-in baggage
Interest on unpaid balances	Up to 3.75% a month (45% a year)	Up to 3.75% a month (55.55% a year)
Late payment fee	Nil up to Rs.100; Rs.100 (Rs.100-500); Rs.500 (Rs.500-1,000); Rs.750 (Rs.1,000-10,000); Rs.950 (Rs.10,000-25,000); Rs.1,100 (Rs.25,000-50,000); Rs.1,300 (above Rs.50,000) of outstanding amount due; plus Rs.100 additional if MAD is missed two consecutive cycles (continues each cycle until MAD is cleared). Taxes extra.	Nil if total payment due is up to INR 500; INR 500 for INR 501 to 5,000; INR 750 for INR 5,001 to 10,000; INR 1,200 for INR 10,001 to 50,000; INR 1,300 if greater than INR 50,000; additional INR 100 if Minimum Amount Due is missed for two consecutive cycles, every cycle until MAD is cleared (MITC; INR 1,300 slab effective 28 Aug 2026)
Cash withdrawal	2.5% of transaction amount, minimum Rs.500, at domestic and international ATMs; finance charges from the date of withdrawal (no free credit period); max Rs.15,000 cash per day at ATMs (MCC 6011), within cash limit.	2.5% of the amount (minimum INR 500); interest at 3.75% per month from the date of withdrawal
Age (salaried)	21 years or above (minimum). Maximum age stated as 60 years in one place and 70 years in another on SBI Card's listing page	18 to 70 years
Income (salaried)	Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not publish it for this card	Net income of at least INR 6 lakh per annum
Income (self-employed)	Stable income; minimum not published for this card	Net income of at least INR 6 lakh per annum (page does not split by employment type)
Documents	PAN card (for digital KYC) Copy of Aadhaar card with first 8 digits masked, or any valid government address proof (for digital KYC) Income documents such as salary slip or income tax return may be required, depending on card eligibility and SBI Card policy	PAN card photocopy Income proof: latest payslip, Form 16 or IT return Residence proof: driving licence, electricity bill or landline telephone bill
Last verified	5 November 2026	5 November 2026

The ₹3,000 question

Both cards sit in the same bracket, roughly ₹3,000 a year plus GST, and both are the step up people takes after an entry card. SBI Card PRIME is a category card: it pays its best rate on dining, departmental stores, grocery and movies, and throw in vouchers and a fixed set of lounge visits. Axis Bank Select is a broader points card with a higher base rate, more Priority Pass visits and a bundle of app offers.

The verdict. For most families who spend ₹25,000 a month or more on one card, PRIME returns more, mainly because its fee is waived at ₹3 lakh a year and Select's only at ₹8 lakh. Select comes out ahead for Burgundy customers who pay no fee, for people who will use the BigBasket and Swiggy codes every month, and for anyone wanting a lot of lounge visits abroad.

Who each card suits

PRIME: households where restaurant bills, supermarket runs and department store shopping is the bulk of the month. SBI Card offers it on Visa, Mastercard, American Express and RuPay, and the RuPay one can be linked to UPI.
Select: earners with ₹6 lakh or more of net income a year whose spending is spread wide, who fly abroad a few times a year, or who already bank with Axis as Burgundy customers.

What changed recently

PRIME lost its ₹50 lakh air accident cover on 15 July 2025, and from 10 January 2026 its domestic lounge visits work only at the lounges on SBI Card's "Set B" list, 30 of them. Since 1 April 2026 its points become bill credit only in blocks of 4,000. Earlier, in 2024, rent, government payments and digital gaming stopped earning.

Select's list is more longer. The domestic lounge visits needs ₹50,000 of spends in the previous 3 months since 1 May 2024. Interest rose to 3.75% a month from 3.6% on 20 December 2024. On 28 August 2026 the currency conversion fee went to 3.5% from 1.5% and Priority Pass stopped working at Indian domestic lounges. From 1 October 2026 excluded categories don't count toward the ₹3 lakh milestone, from 1 November 2026 the District movie offer needs ₹25,000 of spends in 3 months, and from 15 November 2026 linked memberships renew only with your explicit consent. Both cards are active.

Fees, waivers and charges

The sticker price is the same within a rupee. PRIME costs ₹2,999 plus GST, which is ₹3,538.82 (₹2,999 plus ₹539.82), and Select costs ₹3,000 plus GST, ₹3,540 (₹3,000 plus ₹540). Add-on cards is free on both. The real gap is the waiver.

Charge	SBI Card PRIME	Axis Bank Select
Joining and annual fee	₹2,999 + GST each	₹3,000 + GST each; nil for Burgundy
Renewal waiver	₹3 lakh of spends in the preceding year	₹8 lakh in the preceding anniversary year
Welcome	₹3,000 e-gift voucher after the fee is paid	10,000 points, worth ₹2,000, on the first transaction within 30 days
Interest	3.75% a month, shown as 45% a year	3.75% a month, shown as 55.55% a year
Cash advance	2.5%, minimum ₹500	2.5%, minimum ₹500
Over-limit	2.5%, minimum ₹600, with consent	2.5%, minimum ₹500
Forex and currency conversion	3.5%	3.5%
Reward redemption	₹99 + taxes	₹99; ₹199 per transfer to a partner

How hard is each waiver?

PRIME's ₹3 lakh is ₹25,000 a month (₹3,00,000 divided by 12). Select's ₹8 lakh is about ₹66,667 a month (₹8,00,000 divided by 12), and Axis don't count insurance, rent, fuel, education, utilities and telecom, government, wallet, gold or gift card spends toward it. For a typical salaried family that is a very far target. Burgundy account holders skip the question completely, though if the Burgundy status ends, the ₹3,000 plus GST fee comes back.

In year one the welcome benefits soften the fee. PRIME's ₹3,000 voucher covers the fee but not the ₹539.82 of GST, and it has to be used within 6 months on Yatra, Hush Puppies or Bata, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion or Shoppers Stop. Select's 10,000 points are worth ₹2,000, leaving ₹1,540 of the ₹3,540 uncovered.

Interest and late fees

Both charge 3.75% a month. SBI Card prints that as 45% a year while Axis prints 55.55%, but the monthly rate you is charged is the same. Late fees differ by slab: on ₹4,000 due PRIME charges ₹750 and Select ₹500, on ₹8,000 due both charge ₹750, and on ₹30,000 due PRIME charges ₹1,100 and Select ₹1,200. Both add ₹100 a cycle once the minimum is missed two cycles in a row.

Category fees

Rent: PRIME takes a flat ₹199 plus taxes, Select 1% plus GST. On ₹25,000 of rent that's ₹234.82 against ₹295 (₹250 plus ₹45).
Utilities: PRIME charges 1% only above ₹50,000 a cycle; Select from ₹25,000.
Wallets: PRIME charge 1% on every load above ₹1,000; Select 1% on ₹10,000 or more a cycle.
Fuel and transport: Select charges 1% on fuel of ₹50,000 or more a cycle. PRIME's 1% on fuel above ₹50,000 a cycle starts on 1 December 2026, along with 1% on transport transactions above ₹30,000.
Paying cash at a branch: ₹250 at SBI, ₹175 at Axis.

Earning, caps, and three households worked through

PRIME's points

The base is 2 Reward Points per ₹100, which is 0.5% at 25 paise a point. Dining, departmental stores, grocery and movies earn 10 per ₹100, so 2.5%, up to 7,500 points a calendar month; after that those spends falls back to 2. To hit that cap you would need ₹75,000 of category spends in a month (7,500 divided by 10, times ₹100). Birthday spends earns 20 per ₹100 up to 2,000 points a year, and grocery at Metro Cash and Carry, Flipkart Wholesale and Walmart don't get the 10.

Four points pay ₹1 of the bill, but only in blocks of 4,000 points and up to 60,000 a month since 1 April 2026, with ₹99 plus taxes, ₹116.82, per redemption. Points gets expired after 24 months. Quarterly spends of ₹50,000 bring a ₹1,000 Pizza Hut e-voucher, and ₹5 lakh in a year brings a ₹7,000 Yatra or Pantaloons e-gift voucher.

Select's points

Select give 10 EDGE REWARD Points per ₹200 on most spends. Axis values its 10,000-point welcome at ₹2,000, so a point is 20 paise and the base is 1%. Department stores, grocery stores and clothing stores earn 2X, 20 per ₹200 or 2%, on the first ₹20,000 a month, and the normal 10 above it. Points last 3 years, or lapse after 365 days with no activity. Spending ₹3 lakh in an anniversary year adds 5,000 points (₹1,000) plus extra lounge and golf benefits.

The list of what earns nothing is more wide on Select. Utilities and telecom, insurance, education, gold and jewellery, gift cards and tolls earn zero on Select, while PRIME still gives 2 per ₹100 on most of those. Both skips rent, fuel, wallet loads, government payments and EMI conversions.

Three households, both cards

Monthly spends from the second year, when the fee depends on the waiver. Points are valued at each bank's own figure: 25 paise for PRIME statement credit, 20 paise for Select. One redemption a year of ₹116.82 is taken off each.

Per year	A: ₹30,000 a month, food-heavy	B: ₹40,000 a month, online and fashion	C: ₹75,000 a month, big spender
Monthly split	₹6,000 dining, ₹10,000 grocery, ₹2,000 clothing, ₹8,000 other, ₹4,000 utilities	₹2,000 dining, ₹4,000 grocery, ₹10,000 clothing, ₹24,000 other online	₹10,000 dining, ₹15,000 grocery, ₹5,000 clothing, ₹40,000 other, ₹5,000 utilities
PRIME points value	₹5,640	₹3,840	₹10,500
PRIME vouchers	₹4,000	₹4,000	₹11,000
PRIME fee	Waived	Waived	Waived
PRIME net	₹9,523.18	₹7,723.18	₹21,383.18
Select points value with milestone	₹5,560	₹7,480	₹11,800
Select fee with GST	₹3,540	₹3,540	Waived
Select net	₹1,903.18	₹3,823.18	₹11,683.18

A. On PRIME, ₹16,000 of dining and grocery earns 1,600 points (160 lots of ₹100 at 10), and ₹14,000 of clothing, other and utilities earns 280 (140 lots at 2), so 1,880 a month and 22,560 a year, worth ₹5,640. Each quarter's ₹90,000 brings the ₹1,000 Pizza Hut voucher, ₹4,000 a year, and ₹3,60,000 clears the waiver. On Select, ₹12,000 of grocery and clothing earns 1,200 (60 lots of ₹200 at 20), dining and other ₹14,000 earns 700, and utilities earns nothing: 1,900 a month, 22,800 a year, ₹4,560, plus the ₹1,000 milestone because the counted spend is ₹3,12,000 (₹26,000 times 12). But ₹3,12,000 is nowhere close to ₹8 lakh, so ₹3,540 goes out.

B. PRIME earns 600 on ₹6,000 of dining and grocery and 680 on the other ₹34,000, so 1,280 a month, 15,360 a year, ₹3,840, plus ₹4,000 of Pizza Hut vouchers. Select earns 1,400 on ₹14,000 of grocery and clothing, 100 on dining and 1,200 on ₹24,000 online, 2,700 a month and 32,400 a year, ₹6,480, plus ₹1,000. Select earns almost double on points here, but the fee swallow most of it.

C. PRIME earns 2,500 on ₹25,000 of dining and grocery and 1,000 on the rest, 3,500 a month, 42,000 a year, ₹10,500, plus ₹4,000 of Pizza Hut and the ₹7,000 voucher at ₹9 lakh a year. Select hits its ₹20,000 retail limit exactly, 2,000 points, then 500 on dining and 2,000 on ₹40,000 other: 4,500 a month, 54,000 a year, ₹10,800, plus ₹1,000. Counted spend is ₹8,40,000 (₹70,000 times 12), so the fee is waived.

Two adjustment can flip this. A Burgundy customer adds ₹3,540 back to Select in A and B. And Select's BigBasket code (₹500 off once a month on ₹2,500 or more) and Swiggy code (₹200 off twice a month on ₹1,000 or more) are worth ₹10,800 a year (₹500 times 12, plus ₹200 times 2 times 12) to someone who uses both every month, more than PRIME's Pizza Hut vouchers.

Lounges, insurance and the extras

Here the two cards takes different approaches. PRIME gives a fixed allowance with no spend condition stated; Select gives more visits but ties some of them to spending.

Lounge access

Benefit	SBI Card PRIME	Axis Bank Select
Domestic lounges	8 a year, up to 2 a quarter, at Set B lounges	2 a quarter at select lounges, after ₹50,000 of spends in the last 3 months
International lounges	4 Priority Pass visits a year outside India, up to 2 a quarter	6 Priority Pass visits a year, plus 6 more on ₹3 lakh of spends
Extra visits	Up to USD 27 per visit + taxes	Priority Pass rates, for example USD 35 per guest

For a family that flies domestic a few times a year, PRIME's 8 visits come with fewer strings, since there is no spend test. The catch is the Set B list, so check that your home airport's lounge are on it. Select's domestic visits need ₹50,000 every 3 months, about ₹16,667 a month (₹50,000 divided by 3), which most Select users will cross. Since 28 August 2026 the Priority Pass card does not work at Indian domestic lounges; you swipe the Select card itself. Abroad, Select's up to 12 visits beat PRIME's 4 for anyone who travel often.

Insurance and protection

PRIME: fraud liability cover up to ₹1,00,000. The ₹50 lakh air accident cover is gone since 15 July 2025.
Select: purchase protection up to ₹1 lakh, and a combined cover of up to USD 500 for lost travel documents and delayed or lost checked-in baggage.

Fuel, golf, memberships and offers

Fuel: PRIME refunds the 1% surcharge on fills of ₹500 to ₹4,000, up to ₹250 a statement cycle; Select on ₹400 to ₹4,000, up to ₹400 a cycle. Neither earn points on fuel.
Golf and clubs: Select includes 6 golf rounds a year, with 6 more at ₹3 lakh of spends. PRIME gives a 1-year Club ITC Silver Tier membership.
Food and movies: Select's BigBasket, Swiggy and District offers, worked out in the rewards tab, are its strongest perks. PRIME's equivalent is the quarterly Pizza Hut voucher plus 10 points per ₹100 on movies.
Birthday: PRIME pays 20 points per ₹100 on the day before, the day and the day after your birthday, up to 2,000 points a year, which is ₹500 of value.
UPI: SBI Card lists a RuPay PRIME that links to UPI for merchant payments. Axis does not list Select among its RuPay cards, so it can't be use on UPI.

Who qualifies, and how to apply

Axis is specific about Select; SBI Card is vague about PRIME. That cut both ways: you know where you stand with Axis, but SBI Card's bar might be lower or higher than you think, it don't say.

Rule	SBI Card PRIME	Axis Bank Select
Age	21 and above if salaried, above 25 if self-employed; maximum shown as 60 and as 70	18 to 70
Income	Stable income; no minimum published	Net income of at least ₹6 lakh a year
Credit score	Preferably 750 to 900	Not published for the card
Documents	PAN, Aadhaar with first 8 digits masked or other address proof; income proof if asked	PAN copy, payslip or Form 16 or ITR, residence proof

Reading between the lines

Axis's ₹6 lakh is ₹50,000 a month (₹6,00,000 divided by 12). SBI Card's card finder lists PRIME under the "50 to 99K" monthly income filter, which hint at a similar audience, but SBI Card is clear that the filter is not a stated minimum and it publishes no income figure for any card. SBI Card also says an SBI bank account is not mandatory, though it may improve the chances, and your address must be in a area it serves.

Under the RBI's 2025 card Directions, both banks must assess your own repayment means and take account of the limits you already hold. You get a one-page Key Fact Statement with the form and, if turned down, the specific reasons in writing. Only the bank decide whether to issue a card; an agent can only collect your application.

Ways to apply

PRIME: on SBI Card's website, through its ILA chatbot, by calling 39 02 02 02 with your STD code, or at an SBI branch. SBI fixed deposit holders can also get PRIME Advantage, the secured variant, on SBI's YONO app since 23 September 2026; the MITC lists it at ₹2,999, and SBI Card does not publish the deposit needed.
Select: through Axis's online form (mobile number and PAN or date of birth, then OTP), the Axis Mobile app, or a branch. Burgundy customers should ask for the nil-fee version.

If you aren't sure which side of Axis's ₹6 lakh line you fall, applying for PRIME first is not a shortcut, the bank still checks your means. Applying for one card at a time is the sensible way.

Pros and cons

Pros

PRIME: renewal fee waived on ₹3 lakh of yearly spends, far below Select's ₹8 lakh
PRIME: 10 points per ₹100, 2.5%, on dining, departmental stores, grocery and movies
PRIME: ₹1,000 Pizza Hut voucher every quarter with ₹50,000 of spends
Select: 1% base rate at 20 paise a point, twice PRIME's 0.5% on everyday spends
Select: up to 12 Priority Pass visits abroad a year and 6 golf rounds
Select: nil fee for Axis Burgundy account holders

Cons

PRIME: points become bill credit only in blocks of 4,000 since 1 April 2026
PRIME: ₹50 lakh air accident cover withdrawn on 15 July 2025
PRIME: domestic lounges limited to SBI Card's Set B list since 10 January 2026
Select: fee waiver needs ₹8 lakh of counted spends a year
Select: no points on utilities, insurance, education, gold or gift cards
Select: no RuPay version listed, so no UPI payments

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, SBI Card PRIME or Axis Bank Select?

For most households PRIME returns more, because its ₹2,999 + GST fee is waived on ₹3 lakh of yearly spends while Select needs ₹8 lakh, and PRIME pays 2.5% on dining, grocery, departmental stores and movies. Select is better for Axis Burgundy customers, who pay no fee, for frequent international travellers and for people who use its BigBasket and Swiggy offers every month.

How much do I need to spend to avoid the annual fee?

SBI Card waives PRIME's renewal fee when spends in the previous year reach ₹3 lakh, about ₹25,000 a month. Axis waives Select's ₹3,000 + GST fee on ₹8 lakh in the previous anniversary year, about ₹66,667 a month, and does not count insurance, rent, fuel, education, utilities, government, wallet, gold or gift card spends. Burgundy account holders pay nil for Select.

What is a reward point worth on each card?

On PRIME, 4 Reward Points pay ₹1 of your bill, so a point is 25 paise, redeemed in blocks of 4,000 points since 1 April 2026 with a ₹99 + taxes fee. On Select, Axis values its 10,000-point welcome benefit at ₹2,000, so an EDGE REWARD Point is 20 paise, with a ₹99 fee per redemption and points valid for 3 years.

Which card gives more airport lounge visits?

Select gives more international visits: 6 Priority Pass visits a year, plus 6 more on ₹3 lakh of spends. PRIME gives 4 Priority Pass visits a year outside India. Domestically, both offer up to 8 a year, but Select's need ₹50,000 of spends in the previous 3 months, while PRIME states no spend condition and has used SBI Card's Set B lounge list since 10 January 2026.

What income do I need for PRIME and Select?

Axis asks for a net income of at least ₹6 lakh a year for Select and an age of 18 to 70. SBI Card publishes no minimum income for PRIME; it asks for a stable income, prefers a credit score between 750 and 900, and gives a minimum age of 21 for salaried applicants. Either bank can still decline an application.

Can I use these cards on UPI?

PRIME, yes, through its RuPay version, which SBI Card's card finder tags for UPI payments to merchants. Select, no: Axis does not list it among its RuPay credit cards, and only RuPay credit cards can be linked to UPI. UPI on a credit card works for paying merchants only, not for sending money to people.

Sources

SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd: Most Important Terms & Conditions (PDF 'MITC- Common-30OCT26', Ver FY 27, 16); SBI Card PRIME T&C booklet; Shop & Smile Program Terms & Conditions (rewards program T&C for all SBI cards); SBI Card PRIME T&C booklet (fraud liability); SBI Card PRIME product page (page content served from SBI Card's card data file)
Axis Bank: Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC), PDF dated 8 October 2026; Terms & Conditions for Priority Pass membership on Axis Bank Select Credit Card; Revision of SELECT Credit Card Terms and Conditions (effective 28-08-2026, 01-10-2026, 01-11-2026, 15-11-2026); Key Fact Sheet (schedule of charges), last updated 8 October 2026
Business Today: New rules for Axis Bank credit cards valid from December 20

Last verified: 5 November 2026

Written by Ramesh Kulkarni, reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts

BankCreds does not sell cards or take applications. Fees and rewards change; the bank's own terms on the day you apply are what count, and approval is the bank's decision.