Axis Bank Prepaid Meal Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The Axis Bank Meal Card is a reloadable corporate prepaid card issued by Axis Bank on the RuPay network, specifically designed to streamline the payment of employee meal allowances for organizations. Falling under the corporate meal and perk card category, its primary value proposition lies in replacing traditional paper meal vouchers with a secure, cost-effective, and operationally efficient electronic payment solution. The card is tailored for tax-efficient employee benefits and can be used at RuPay-enabled food and beverage outlets across India.

Prepaid Card Variant & KYC Tiers

• Reloadable Status: The card is fully reloadable by the employer corporate as and when needed, subject to defined limit ceilings.
• Card Network: Issued on the RuPay payment network.
• Issuance Type: Distributed exclusively through corporate employers for their employees; direct retail purchase is not available.
• KYC & Documentation Requirements: Application processes require corporate verification, an application form, and standard documentation including an Aadhaar consent declaration form.

Balance & Transaction Limits

• Maximum Balance Limit: The total card balance cannot exceed ₹1,00,000 at any given time.
• Monthly Loading Limit: Maximum loading allowed per month is ₹10,000.
• Financial Year Loading Limit: Total amount loaded in a financial year is capped at ₹1,00,000.
• POS & Online Transaction Limit: Usage is allowed up to ₹1,00,000 or the available card balance (whichever is lower) for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Monthly Spend Limit: Total debits from the card in a single calendar month cannot exceed ₹1,00,000.
• ATM Cash Withdrawal Eligibility: Cash withdrawals are strictly prohibited at all ATMs.

Fees and Charges

• Card Validity: 5 years.
• Issuance Fee: ₹100.
• Annual Fee: ₹100 per year.
• Money Loading Fee: ₹10 per load transaction.
• Card Replacement Fee: ₹100 per reissuance.
• Physical PIN Request Fee: ₹50.
• ATM Cash Withdrawal Fee (On-us & Off-us): Not Applicable (Cash withdrawals are disabled).
• On-us Non-Financial ATM Transactions (Balance inquiry, mini statement, PIN reset at Axis Bank ATMs): Nil.
• Off-us Non-Financial ATM Transactions (Other bank ATMs): Free for the first 5 transactions per month; ₹10 per transaction thereafter.
• Tax Applicability: All listed fees and charges are exclusive of GST.

Rewards, Offers & Partner Perks

• Axis eDGE Rewards Base Earn Rate: Earn 1 eDGE Reward Point for every ₹200 spent at eligible merchant outlets.
• Excluded Categories for Reward Points: No points are earned on Charities, Mutual Funds, Telecom, Education, Utilities, Government/Insurance, Public Sector Life Insurance, Foreign Currency Purchase, Post Office, Fuel, and Transportation.
• Redemption Options: Points can be redeemed via the eDGE Loyalty Rewards Catalogue across 500+ reward and offer choices.
• Partner Perks: Access to exclusive promotional deals, such as special dining offers on Zomato.
• Insurance Coverage Benefits:
• Personal Accident Insurance cover up to ₹2,00,000.
• Air Accident Insurance cover up to ₹1,00,00,000 (1 Crore).
• Price Protection cover up to ₹50,000.
• Purchase Protection cover up to ₹50,000.
• Baggage Loss / Checked-in Baggage Loss & Baggage Delay cover up to $500 USD.

How to Apply & Load Money

How to Apply

• The Axis Bank Meal Card is available exclusively to corporate organizations for distribution to their staff; individual consumers cannot apply directly for themselves.
• Corporates can initiate the process by visiting any Axis Bank branch or requesting support online at axis.bank.in/support.

How to Activate Card & Set PIN

• Via Customer Portal:

1. Visit the Axis Bank Prepaid Customer Portal (prepaid-customer.axis.bank.in/customerportal).
2. Register using the card number or packet reference number, expiry date, and registered mobile number.
3. Create a Username and Password, then log in.
4. Select 'Green PIN', enter a new 4-digit PIN, and validate with the OTP sent to the registered mobile number.

• Via Axis Bank ATM:

1. Insert the card in an Axis Bank ATM, go to 'Other Transactions' > 'Set Pin' > 'Generate OTP'.
2. Enter Date of Birth (YYYYMMDD format), card expiry date, and registered mobile number to receive a 4-digit OTP.
3. Re-insert the card, go to 'Other Transactions' > 'Set Pin' > 'Set PIN using OTP'.
4. Enter the received OTP and set a new 4-digit PIN.

How to Enable Online (E-commerce) Spending

• Log in to the Customer Portal (axis.bank.in > Login > Cards > Prepaid Cards).
• Navigate to 'Manage Card Usage' and switch on E-commerce transactions.

How to Load Money

• Loading is managed directly and exclusively by the employer corporate through institutional funding channels as per allowance schedules.

Prepaid Card Review

• Target Audience: Best suited for corporate employees receiving structured tax-free meal allowances and organizations looking to automate operational disbursement.

• Pros:

• High operational convenience over paper meal coupons with seamless corporate funding.

• Comprehensive complimentary insurance bundle (Accident, Air Accident, Purchase Protection, Baggage).

• Generates Axis eDGE reward points on daily food purchases.

• Strong fraud protection via instant card locking through portal, SMS, or phone helpline.

• Cons:

• Restricted strictly to food and non-alcoholic beverage merchant categories.

• No ATM cash withdrawal option available.

• Multiple ongoing fees (Issuance fee, annual fee, loading charge, replacement charge).

• Tight monthly load limit relative to total card capacity.

Important Product Details

• Positives:

• Wide acceptance across all RuPay-enabled restaurants, fast food outlets, supermarkets, bakeries, grocery shops, and specialty food stores.

• Multi-channel balance checking and digital statement generation.

• Complete digital control over transaction types via the online prepaid portal.

• Built-in emergency support and rapid card hotlisting features.

• Negatives:

• Strict merchant category lock (decline at non-food merchants).

• Monthly loading cap of ₹10,000 restricts large bulk payouts.

• Loading fee of ₹10 applies per credit instance.

• Variant Availability: RuPay network variant.

Refund & Card Closure Terms

• Card Expiry Handling: Upon card expiry, the physical card must be handed back to the nearest Axis Bank branch.
• Balance Refund Rules: If the card holds an unspent balance of ₹100 or more at expiry, the remaining funds will be refunded back to the original corporate purchaser via an equivalent payment instrument, net of applicable bank processing charges.
• Lost Card Replacement & Transfer: If a card is reported lost/stolen and hotlisted, any remaining balance (after deducting the card replacement fee) will be seamlessly migrated to a newly issued card.

Other Details

• Merchant Categories Allowed: Eateries, restaurants, fast food joints, bakeries, dairy shops, grocery stores, supermarkets, meat markets, convenience stores, and confectionery outlets.

• Balance & Mini Statement Checking Methods:

• Axis Bank ATM: Insert card > Select 'Card Balance' or 'Mini Statement' > Enter PIN.

• Online Customer Portal: Visit axis.bank.in > Login > Cards > Prepaid Cards > Enter Username & Password > View Balance or E-statement.

• Phone Banking: Enquiries available via Axis Bank customer helpline.

• Emergency Card Blocking Options:

• SMS: Send BLOCKCARD to 5676782 (NRI users send to +919717000002).

• Phone Helpline: Call 24-hour emergency number +91-22-67987700 or customer care at 1860-419-5555 / 1860-500-5555.

• Online: Log in to Internet Banking / Customer Portal > Cards > Prepaid Cards > Select 'Block Card' or 'Card Lock'.

• Email: Write to prepaidcard.support@axis.bank.in with the card number and registered mobile number if expired/lost.

• Legal & Regulatory Terms Summary: Cardholders are bound by Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI) codes, bank security protocols, and standard Axis Bank Prepaid Card terms and conditions.