When it comes to credit cards, I try to keep the right ones in my wallet to earn the maximum number of points (to use them later, of course). Here is a quick look at my cards and whether I’m walking the talk. Sharing this also adds a bit to the transparency of my credit card strategy, as I extensively cover credit card rewards.

The cards I hold are divided into three groups. On a daily basis, I carry a card wallet at the back of my phone, which contains the cards I use most frequently. I also have many cards in a wallet, and then many cards just sit in a drawer at home, waiting to be used when needed.

The 3 Cards that are always on my person

• Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card: This card is a joy to use up to INR 15 Lakh annually, with an accelerated reward system for up to INR 2,00,000 for monthly travel bookings. With all my travel, this card is handy in booking tickets directly with the airlines (usually my preferred mode) and paying at checkout at hotels with the 5 EDGEMiles (10 airmiles)/INR 100 on each swipe. Even for usual spending, I earn 2 EDGE Miles (4 airmiles)/INR 100 on each swipe. The card has restricted transfers and taken away some of the perks. This month, I will get charged the INR 5,000 renewal fee for the card, and I will keep it in my wallet. It is a mid-tier card, so it’s not so hard to get for new sign-ups.  [Get the Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card]
• Axis Olympus Credit Card: Old is gold, they say. This card had been left largely untouched over a decade, and I hope it stays under the radar in the years ahead. It has been formally transitioned to the Axis Bank stable. There are no category bonuses, no Gyftr tie-ups, and no kickers. Just a good old 1 Point (4 airmiles)/INR 100 spent domestically and 2 Points (8 airmiles)/INR 100 internationally. Also, it’s my oldest credit line, so I have no reason to consider shutting it down. Axis Bank added some sweeteners, such as Airport Transfers and Concierge Services, to the product.
• HDFC Bank Infinia: The zenith of invite-only in India (not really, but you get where I am coming from). While there have been changes to the card proposition over the years, this card continues to offer 5 Reward Points/INR 150 spent, which can be used at INR 1 value for buying air tickets at Smartbuy or transferable into miles. With frequent offers, HDFC Bank Credit Cards are also helpful for online spending. I hold the PVC version so far, and this card gives 16.6% points for booking travel (via Smartbuy) and grants points for insurance payments. [Get an HDFC Bank Credit Card]

The card is always on my phone.

• HDFC Bank TATA Neu Infinity Credit Card: With UPI on Rupay Credit Cards enabled, I’ve signed up for several cards in the segment. But the Tata Neu Infinity CC is my first and only credit card with UPI. Even for non-Tata brands, one gets 1.5% rewards if one uses the TATA Neu App; for Tata brands spent via Neu, one gets up to 10%. Each Neu coin is worth INR 1 and can be utilised across the Tata Neu universe. It is the default option on my UPI payment scanner of choice now. You can use referral code AJAY499 if you’d like to apply using the Tata Neu app or apply here.

The Cards in my wallet

• American Express Platinum Card: I also use the American Express Platinum Card (Metal) for my high-end spending in India and outside. If I return to India and something goes wrong, Amex will fix it in a jiffy! They can also get stuff done internationally while I’m on the road for business or pleasure. The 3X points help as well. For me, the lounge network outside of India has been beneficial. Over the last quarter, I visited the New York JFK, the Hong Kong lounges of Amex, and the Delhi lounge, a staple. There have been concerns around the reduced customer service, but fortunately, that has not touched me. [Sign up for an American Express Platinum Card Here, with an enhanced referral bonus]
• HDFC Bank Biz Black: This card is excellent for business expenses, and the bank doesn’t ask why I pay taxes with it or spend money on something else. Getting 5X points for taxes (which can be used on SmartBuy or transferred to SQ) is also a great incentive to keep the card. If you are a proprietor, partner, promoter or director at a company, you are eligible for this range of cards. [Sign up for an HDFC Bank Business Credit Card]

The Cards in my Drawer

• American Express Gold Card: The Amex Gold Charge Card was the first card I signed up for with Amex, so it still stays in my pocket. The 1,000 bonus MR for six swipes a month helps keep the card, and I also spend on it regularly. You can try this link to sign up for the card for just an INR 1000 annual fee in the first year and get bonus reward points.
• American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card: The American Express MRCC is one of the credit cards from Amex I have held for a long time. It offers a 1,000 bonus MR for four swipes a month worth at least INR 1,500, which I earn. It also provides another 1,000 bonus MR for spending at least INR 20,000 monthly, which I sometimes utilise and mostly do not. You can get the card for just an INR 1000 annual fee in the first year here, along with an enhanced bonus.
• American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card: While the card does not offer special travel perks, it cumulatively offers 40,000 bonus MR points (convertible to vouchers or Amex Travel vouchers) at the milestones of INR 1.9 Lakhs and INR 4 Lakhs. Also, an additional INR 10,000 Taj voucher at the achievement of INR 400,000 spending is a sweet bonus. I use the card only for a few big swipes in a year. The card was offered lifetime free to me as a replacement for the Jet Airways Amex Card. You can get the card here, currently with an enhanced bonus.
• Marriott HDFC Bank Diners Club: The card was launched in 2023. For a small sum of INR 3,000 per annum, I get a free night up to 15,000 points (plus ten elite nights credit) on this card. It’s a good enough reason to keep it in my wallet when I check out of a Marriott Hotel.
• Samsung Axis Bank Infinite Credit Card: I did not want to close the Axis Bank Credit Card slot, so I swapped the Magnus over to the Samsung Axis Bank Infinite Credit Card. It provided 30K EDGE Rewards for spending thrice on the card within 30 days as an activation benefit, 10% cashback on Samsung product purchases and accelerated rewards on spending at BigBasket, 1MG, Urban Company, Myntra and Zomato (and on international transactions).
• Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card: I switched to this card last year, giving up my Axis Bank Miles and More Credit Card, as my travel on Vistara picked up again after a long dry spell. But Axis Bank won’t be able to renew this card anymore since my renewal will be post-March 2025, when renewals are closed. This card helped me gain an additional one-year status on Vistara (Gold Tier), which eventually translates into Air India Gold Tier as well (I already am an Air India Gold Tier member, so it is not helpful for me).
• Club Vistara IDFC First Credit Card: I signed on this card in August 2024, just as it would disappear. This card provides rewards for rent payments and accumulates complimentary tickets. This feature is guaranteed for a year, but we don’t know what will come after. I could also get an upgrade voucher plus a complimentary Vistara/Air India Premium Economy ticket, so it’s not bad for the fee they charged (INR 4,999++).
• IDFC First Bank Mayura Credit Card: I signed up for this card for INR 1000 x 4 cashback on transactions within the first 60 days after the fee payment and the zero forex charges on the card (while still earning rewards). The fee on the card is INR 5,999 ++. The card now offers 5,000 points on signup as an inaugural offer. It’s good to try out for a year, and then we will see if it is worthy of renewal. Apply Here.
• RBL Bank World Safari Card: I received this card from RBL Bank as a replacement for the Zomato co-brand card. It is a great card to keep on you when travelling abroad, with zero foreign exchange fees. That makes it better than debit cards, which I’d have to carry otherwise for zero forex. I use this one for all consumables abroad, such as delis, cabs, and low-ticket items. On the last trip, the Mayura took over from this card for small spending.
• Axis Horizon: I flipped to Citi Premier Miles over a year ago, which transitioned to Axis Horizon. With some significant travel expenses last year, it was good to keep it in the pocket if needed (gets 5 EDGE Miles/INR 100 spent on air travel and 2 EDGE Miles/INR 100 on other spends). The EDGE Miles earned on this card were transferable 1:1, unlike the Atlas 1:2 ratio. The new Axis Bank-branded plastic card will be dispatched now, so I am waiting for that.
• IDFC First Select: This is one of IDFC First’s mid-tier cards, which is helpful because IDFC First participates in all sorts of sales and promotions with big websites such as Amazon many times. Also, the few times I traveled by train, it helped me have access to railway lounges. However, now that will change.
• Yes First Exclusive (Reserv): I’ve had this credit card for a long time, as it is a lifetime free credit card. However, I hardly ever use it, given that I have better cards in my wallet. However, with the new subscription plans launched by Yes Bank, I might flip it back into the wallet sometime soon. For now, the discounts on food orders occasionally are the only things it gets used for.
• EazyDiner IndusInd Bank: The best card to go dining out at the moment with all the discounts it showers on the dinner table, with up to 25% off (INR 1,000) every time you pay via EazyDiner’s PayEazy feature. Since the card is tokenised and saved on my EazyDiner app, there is no need to carry the card all over the place.
• IndusInd Pinnacle Credit Card: IndusInd Bank replaced my IndusInd InterMiles Credit Card (Visa) with an IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card, which I requested they upgrade to the IndusInd Pinnacle Credit Card. The upgrade was approved with an INR 50K spend, not to have to pay the annual fee and make it a lifetime-free card. If you would like to apply via a salesperson, leave your details in the comments, and I will pass you on to an IndusInd salesperson who helps a lot of people with upgrades or sign up of new cards.

I had some other cards lying there unused, mainly the Kotak 6E Rewards Credit Card (which was expected to become useful after the IndiGo BluChip programme was launched), the IndusInd InterMiles Credit Card, and the ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card. I finally cancelled the Kotak IndiGo cobrand card and my only secured card, the Fi card, this quarter. More cards might be cancelled soon. Let us see.

As you can note, I prefer cards that generate transferable reward points over co-brand credit cards. The rewards need to be travel rewards, not retail rewards. The only cards I am awaiting to see for now, are the new Maharaja Club co-brand cards.

What do you think of my portfolio, and where do you think I can optimise it? I’m open to answering any thoughts or questions in the comments section. Please share yours, if you can, in the comments section as well. 

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