Best Salary Account Benefits for 3L+ pm Range

[bhavyakjain]

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently moved to a new job and am planning to upgrade/shift my salary account. There’s no bank tie-up, so I’m free to choose any bank.

My current salary account is **HDFC Preferred**, but the benefits have been underwhelming — minimal debit card perks and no meaningful LTF credit card approvals in the last 2 years.

I also hold savings accounts with **SBI** and **IDFC First**.

**Salary bracket:** 3L+ in-hand per month

**Looking for:**

* A salary account with good debit + credit card benefits
* Zero minimum balance
* Better chances for good LTF credit cards

Would appreciate recommendations from anyone in a similar bracket or with experience across different banks.
Thanks!

 

[HumorSimpson]

ICICI -> to get Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card. Search this forum.

Big No to the following:
idfc, axis

 

[aayusharyan]

ICICI -> to get Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card. Search this forum.

Big No to the following:
idfc, axis

Bhai, that has been updated to 5L/mo now... #MoyeMoye
Maybe Infinia still?

 

[bhavyakjain]

Bhai, that has been updated to 5L/mo now... #MoyeMoye
Maybe Infinia still?

Last 2 years
Hdfc has not even given me millennia credit card ltf
Sad life

 

[aayusharyan]

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently moved to a new job and am planning to upgrade/shift my salary account. There’s no bank tie-up, so I’m free to choose any bank.

My current salary account is **HDFC Preferred**, but the benefits have been underwhelming — minimal debit card perks and no meaningful LTF credit card approvals in the last 2 years.

I also hold savings accounts with **SBI** and **IDFC First**.

**Salary bracket:** 3L+ in-hand per month

**Looking for:**

* A salary account with good debit + credit card benefits
* Zero minimum balance
* Better chances for good LTF credit cards

Would appreciate recommendations from anyone in a similar bracket or with experience across different banks.
Thanks!

If you are starting and want to become a hoarder. Get SBI And HSBC first... They don't give becaose of OVL later....

 

[bhavyakjain]

If you are starting and want to become a hoarder. Get SBI And HSBC first... They don't give becaose of OVL later....

I have sbi cashback & sbi phonepe select black already
No hsbc card yet
And true, I am almost on verge of overleverged due to high icici card limit

 

[bhavyakjain]

ICICI -> to get Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card. Search this forum.

Big No to the following:
idfc, axis

How do I get icici credit card ltf ?
Will I have to negotiate at account opening time M
I am not good at negotiation

Is Axis burgundy not good ?

 

[HumorSimpson]

How do I get icici credit card ltf ?
Will I have to negotiate at account opening time M
I am not good at negotiation

Is Axis burgundy not good ?

ICICI -> @BVC
nothing is good in axis with frequent devaluations.

 

[bhavyakjain]

ICICI -> @BVC
nothing is good in axis with frequent devaluations.

I am also considering hsbc due to many recommendation

No branch in my tier 3 city
Wanting premium credit card ltf, is there possibility for that ?

 

[Rishabh]

Axis Burgundy can be one option - if you can bargain for LTF Magnus Burgundy; decent card options...

And also free Axis Direct demat account without any annual fees, etc. and reduced brokerage upto 10paisa.

 

[bhavyakjain]

ICICI -> @BVC

@BVC canu help with icici perks

 

[imdjay]

Bhai, that has been updated to 5L/mo now... #MoyeMoye
Maybe Infinia still?

Both can be issued on ~3L salary. It's just that nobody wants to help easily.

 

[bhavyakjain]

Both can be issued on ~3L salary. It's just that nobody wants to help easily.

Will it be LTF ?

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

@BVC canu help with icici perks

Axis can offer Burgundy
ICICI can offer Wealth Management
HDFC can give HDFC Imperia Banking

But unfortunately none can offer super premium cards LTF from their portfolio. HSBC I guess can be done, as you mentioned you are from Tier 3 it's not possible.

You can negotiate for HDFC Regalia Gold or ICICI Emeralde PVC but depends on RM/BM willing to help. Paid RG or Paid HDFC DCBM can be possible on discussing.

 

[imdjay]

Will it be LTF ?

Not in this decade.

 

[magnusfan]

ICICI for EPM
Or
HSBC

 

[Kabir_1112]

Here in the banking sector the word premium is chargeable 😉😉😉
The higher tier you go, the more you pay.
It would be better to apply for mid range cards which could be LTF based on usage.

 

[ashiquetvr]

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently moved to a new job and am planning to upgrade/shift my salary account. There’s no bank tie-up, so I’m free to choose any bank.

My current salary account is **HDFC Preferred**, but the benefits have been underwhelming — minimal debit card perks and no meaningful LTF credit card approvals in the last 2 years.

I also hold savings accounts with **SBI** and **IDFC First**.

**Salary bracket:** 3L+ in-hand per month

**Looking for:**

* A salary account with good debit + credit card benefits
* Zero minimum balance
* Better chances for good LTF credit cards

Would appreciate recommendations from anyone in a similar bracket or with experience across different banks.
Thanks!

HSBC Premier would be a good option. Premier credit card can be held with 0 charges with a premier salary account. Their debit card gives 5% cashback on most purchases...

 

[infinia_finally]

Will it be LTF ?

Super premium credit cards need not be LTF as long as you can extract value out of them.

That's my biggest learning from this forum.

HDFC Imperia is overrated. Not much benefits in daily use. Or too little free stuff, which even if paid, could be ignored.

Infinia is a different thing. You need tenacity, good RM or BM and luck even after high salary.

But some perks you can check. E.g. my company has tie up with HDFC. This is not super advertised info, but got to know later. Within salary account, HDFC designates company name. And based on mine, for exchange rate, they give IBR - 5paisa
Big deal for large amounts. Beats every other avenue.
While Imperia gives published rate + 8paisa

So look for these hidden tie ups of your company name with banks

 

[HumorSimpson]

Super premium credit cards need not be LTF as long as you can extract value out of them.

That's my biggest learning from this forum.

HDFC Imperia is overrated. Not much benefits in daily use. Or too little free stuff, which even if paid, could be ignored.

Infinia is a different thing. You need tenacity, good RM or BM and luck even after high salary.

But some perks you can check. E.g. my company has tie up with HDFC. This is not super advertised info, but got to know later. Within salary account, HDFC designates company name. And based on mine, for exchange rate, they give IBR - 5paisa
Big deal for large amounts. Beats every other avenue.
While Imperia gives published rate + 8paisa

So look for these hidden tie ups of your company name with banks

Well said. Adding to this, the OP stays in a tier 3 city, I doubt whether he can extract value from these Prem cards 🎴