Credit Card Rewards Reset: Issuers Tighten Benefits from April 2026

• Axis Bank, YES Bank, and SBI Card are revising credit card rewards, fees, and access benefits from April 2026.
• Changes include tighter cashback caps, revised fee thresholds, and reduced airport lounge access, signaling a 'reset' in card economics.
• Issuers are cutting rewards due to rising payout costs, increased low-yield transactions, and competition from alternative payment modes like UPI.
• Rewards are becoming more conditional with caps, exclusions, and higher spend thresholds, prioritizing profitability for lenders.
• Users should recalculate returns, reassess card relevance, use multiple cards strategically, and redeem rewards regularly to optimize value.