Here's my response
How to apply:
If you visit an IDFC branch, they usually won’t tell you about the ₹10K variant. And if you insist, they’ll say that it’s not available at the branch—the minimum variant they open is the ₹25K one. This isn’t right, of course, because the bank should let you open the account you want. But this is how IDFC works in practice.
So -
(1) if you’re happy with the ₹10K variant, open the account
online.
(2) If you want the ₹25K variant now and plan to upgrade later (to Classic, Wealth, etc.), open
offline.
(3) If you directly want to open account under Classic, wealth, private etc. programs, with high Initial deposit, open
offline.
(3) If you only want the ₹25K variant and don’t plan to upgrade, then opening
online is also fine.
Difference between Zero Balance and ₹10K Variant:
This is a bit tricky. In my opinion, most “zero balance” accounts are not truly zero balance. Except for Jan Dhan accounts, most will either have a one-time fee or some conditions. For example, Kotak 811 Super charges ₹300 as a subscription fee and requires at least 1 transaction per month (still a good account).
Some accounts won’t charge you upfront, but have hidden charges like SMS fees or penalties on failed transactions. In my view, the only real zero balance accounts are those offered - (1) under special limited-time offers, or (2) special conditions (e.g. IDFC Future First for Students), or (3) those that drop the balance requirement if you meet some condition—e.g., IndusInd Exclusive (which normally needs ₹1L) becomes zero balance if you link it with Indulge or Pinnacle credit card.
I got lucky and got the IDFC ₹10K account with zero balance under a special offer 🙂
Honestly, everyone should keep some money in their account for emergencies or regular use. So I think the ₹10K variant is the best choice—it gives you enough balance for liquidity, and there are no hidden charges, unlike many so-called “zero balance” accounts.
Important:
For both ₹10K and ₹25K variants of IDFC, you need to keep that much in your Savings Account. Fixed deposits won’t count. Please check with the customer care, if anything has changed.
What does “insurance” include?
It usually means lost card protection, personal accident insurance, air accident cover, etc.
You can read this to compare benefits:
👉
https://www.idfcfirstbank.com/finfirst-blogs/savings-account/25k-amb-vs-10k-amb-savings-account
About IDFC credit cards:
No lifetime-free IDFC card matches Axis Atlas. Still, IDFC cards can be useful if you want things like
roadside assistance, which your current cards don’t offer. These cards won’t help you earn points quickly, but the points
don’t expire, so you can slowly build up points and redeem them all at once later. If that sounds useful, you can go for one. If not, you can skip.
Among LTF Rupay options (for UPI linking) - you may consider Axis Super Money Pro, Yes Kiwi, IndusInd Platinum Rupay, or HDFC Tata Neu/ Swiggy Rupay CCs. Among non-rupay LTF options - IndusInd Tiger is a great choice.
Movie Benefits:
Some IDFC cards like Wealth offer “Buy One Get One” movie tickets (up to ₹500) when you book through Paytm Movies. Check the official offer details.
Who can get an IDFC card?
Even non-salaried people can apply. Some cards (like IDFC WOW) are available against FD too. Talk to customer care for more info.