Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs TMB Titanium Credit Card: Comparison Analysis (2026)

Before applying for Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs TMB Titanium Credit Card, consider the full-year picture for 2026: fees paid, rewards earned, and benefits actually used. Times Black ICICI Credit Card (from ICICI Bank), TMB Titanium Credit Card (from Tamilnad Mercantile Bank) may suit different cardholder profiles. TMB Titanium Credit Card has the lower annual fee, making it the lighter-cost option for long-term ownership. TMB Titanium Credit Card leads on the listed reward rate, while Times Black ICICI Credit Card may still suit a different spending pattern.

Fee structures represent a fundamental differentiator in this head-to-head analysis. Specifically, Times Black ICICI Credit Card charges an initial Nil joining fee with an annual renewal charge of ₹ 20,000. In comparison, TMB Titanium Credit Card charges an initial Nil joining fee with an annual renewal charge of ₹ 250. In India, annual membership charges attract a mandatory 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST), making spend-based fee waiver criteria essential to consider for long-term ownership. Here, Times Black ICICI Credit Card offers annual fee waiver by achieving annual retail spend milestones. Meanwhile, TMB Titanium Credit Card offers annual fee waiver by achieving annual retail spend milestones. Factoring in introductory welcome offers—which often offset the first-year joining fee through instant partner vouchers or reward points—helps identify which card yields positive net value right from activation.

Analyzing earning rates and category perks separates marketing highlights from daily practical utility. Across everyday retail merchant spends, Times Black ICICI Credit Card features 2% on domestic, 2.5% on international (Reward Points) and offers Unlimited complimentary Domestic and International airport lounge access. On the other hand, TMB Titanium Credit Card features 0 reward points per ₹100 (Points) and offers No complimentary lounge access. Beyond core reward rates, cardholders must assess merchant exclusions—such as fuel surcharge waivers, rent payments, educational fee transactions, utility bill payments, and prepaid wallet reloads—where earn rates may be capped or excluded entirely. Furthermore, for frequent travelers, evaluating whether airport lounge visits carry minimum quarterly spend conditions ensures access is readily available during flight layovers.

CardsGuruji's listed score guidance for Times Black ICICI Credit Card is 750+; it is not an issuer requirement. CardsGuruji's listed score guidance for TMB Titanium Credit Card is 700+; it is not an issuer requirement. Issuers independently assess applications using their current criteria and the applicant's financial profile; no score guarantees approval. In summary, if your spending is heavily centered on partner merchant ecosystems or zero-maintenance lifetime-free utility, prioritize the card with minimal fees; conversely, if your annual spends easily cross waiver thresholds and you prioritize travel comfort and milestone perks, opt for the card offering superior premium rewards. Review the summary breakdown below for a comprehensive side-by-side comparison.

Side-by-side comparison matrix across annual fees, spend waivers, reward rates, lounge perks, and card details in India (2026).

Key Metric Times Black ICICI Credit Card TMB Titanium Credit Card
Issuing Bank ICICI Bank Tamilnad Mercantile Bank
Joining Fee Nil joining fee Nil joining fee
Annual Renewal Fee ₹ 20,000 ₹ 250
Fee Waiver Milestone Annual retail spend milestone Annual retail spend milestone
Reward Mechanism 2% on domestic, 2.5% on international 0 reward points per ₹100
Welcome Gift / Bonus Welcome stack worth over ₹25,000 (includes ₹10,000 EaseMyTrip/Lohono voucher, ₹10,000 Atlys/OneVasco Visa benefits, Zomato Gold, and Toni&Guy/Interflora vouchers). Zero joining fee for the first year
Airport Lounge Access Unlimited complimentary Domestic and International airport lounge access No complimentary access
Min. Recommended CIBIL 750+ (editorial guidance) 700+ (editorial guidance)
Card Network Visa Visa, Mastercard
Scroll horizontally to compare cards2 Cards
Feature / Attribute
Times Black ICICI Credit Card
Times Black ICICI Credit Card
TMB Titanium Credit Card
TMB Titanium Credit Card
Fees & Charges

Annual Fee

Recurring yearly card fee

₹ 20,000

₹ 250

Joining Fee

Initial fee charged upon approval

—

—

Annual Fee Waiver

Spend milestone to waive annual charges

Standard terms applyStandard terms apply

Foreign Currency Markup

Markup fee on overseas and foreign currency transactions

1.49% + GSTLow Forex Markup
3.5% + GST

Interest Rate (APR)

Finance charges on revolving balances

3.67% per month (44.0% annually)2% per month
Rewards & Cashback

Reward Rate

Earn rate on card spend

2% on domestic, 2.5% on international

0 reward points per ₹100

Reward Currency

Form of reward: direct cashback, reward points, or air miles

Reward PointsPoints

Welcome / Activation Gift

Introductory vouchers, reward points, or perks

Welcome stack worth over ₹25,000 (includes ₹10,000 EaseMyTrip/Lohono voucher, ₹10,000 Atlys/OneVasco Visa benefits, Zomato Gold, and Toni&Guy/Interflora vouchers).
Zero joining fee for the first year

Points Expiry

Validity period of earned reward points

36 monthsStandard (2–3 years)
Travel & Lifestyle Privileges

Airport Lounge Access

Domestic & international airport lounge visits

Unlimited complimentary Domestic and International airport lounge access
Not Included

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

1% fuel surcharge waiver across petrol pumps in India

1% Waiver (Standard) 1% Waiver (Standard)
Eligibility & Card Specs

Editorial Credit Score Guidance

CardsGuruji guidance only; this is not an issuer requirement or approval guarantee

750+

Excellent (editorial)

700+

Good (editorial)

Payment Network

Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, or American Express

VisaVisa, Mastercard
Editorial Verdict: Pros & Cons

Standout Advantages (Pros)

Key features that make this card worth having

  • Exceptional tiered milestone program unlocking up to ₹70,000 in extra value
  • Welcome and renewal benefit stacks effectively offset the massive ₹20,000 fee
  • Unlimited lounge access (both domestic and international) for frequent flyers
  • Low forex markup (1.49%) combined with a 2.5% reward rate on international spending
  • Earns rewards on typically excluded categories like utilities and insurance (up to a cap)
  • Zero joining fee
  • Interest-free credit period
  • Contactless payment support

Points to Consider (Cons)

Limitations, spending conditions, or exclusions

  • Extremely high joining and annual fee of ₹20,000 + GST
  • Very high annual fee waiver threshold (₹25 Lakhs)
  • Cashback redemption value is poor (₹0.40) compared to voucher value (₹1.00)
  • Only beneficial if you are a high-spending user who naturally crosses ₹10L+ annually
  • No rewards points
  • Annual fee applies from year 2
Detailed Cardholder Benefits

All Included Perks

Full list of features and rewards cataloged from the bank

  • Unlimited complimentary Domestic and International airport lounge access
  • Milestone 1 (₹2L Spend): ₹10,000 Klook voucher for international travel experiences
  • Milestone 2 (₹5L Spend): Luxury airport transfers (BLADE / Avis) worth ₹10,000
  • Milestone 3 (₹10L Spend): Tata CLiQ Luxury gift card worth ₹10,000
  • +4 more benefits
  • Interest-free credit up to 45 days
  • Contactless EMV technology
  • Personalized photo on card
  • Flexible credit limits

Explore more side-by-side comparisons for each card in this matchup.

FAQs About Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs TMB Titanium Credit Card in India (2026)

Detailed answers to common questions regarding fees, rewards, waiver milestones, and eligibility for Times Black ICICI Credit Card and TMB Titanium Credit Card.

The useful distinction here is simple: The better card depends directly on your spending profile: Times Black ICICI Credit Card is generally superior for cardholders seeking Reward Points with an annual fee of ₹ 20,000 and earn rates around 2% on domestic, 2.5% on international. In contrast, TMB Titanium Credit Card is better suited if you want Points with an annual fee of ₹ 250 and benefits of 0 reward points per ₹100. Calculate your expected annual spend across each card's accelerated categories minus membership fees to see which delivers a higher net return.

For Times Black ICICI Credit Card, the joining fee is Nil and the recurring annual renewal fee is ₹ 20,000. In contrast, TMB Titanium Credit Card charges a joining fee of Nil and an annual fee of ₹ 250. In India, annual membership charges for both cards are subject to 18% Goods & Services Tax (GST).

For a practical 2026 decision, Spend-based waivers let you reverse annual renewal charges. For Times Black ICICI Credit Card, the annual fee is waived by reaching the annual milestone retail spend. For TMB Titanium Credit Card, you can get the fee reversed by reaching the annual milestone retail spend. Check your average monthly transactions to confirm which milestone you can reach naturally without overspending.

Looking specifically at Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs TMB Titanium Credit Card, Times Black ICICI Credit Card offers 2% on domestic, 2.5% on international, with Earn 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on domestic transactions (including Utilities, Insurance, Education, & Government payments, which are capped at 5,000 RP/month). Earn 2.5 Reward Points per ₹100 on international transactions. Up to 12X points on iShop by ICICI. 1 Reward Point = ₹1 for vouchers, or ₹0.40 for cashback.. Meanwhile, TMB Titanium Credit Card delivers 0 reward points per ₹100, with Entry-tier card with no standard rewards engine. Benefits include interest-free credit period and contactless payments.. If you want hassle-free monthly statement discounts, direct cashback is best; if you plan to redeem for flight tickets or hotel stays, reward point systems often offer higher multiplier returns.

From a cardholder's perspective, For airport lounge access, Times Black ICICI Credit Card offers Unlimited complimentary Domestic and International airport lounge access, while TMB Titanium Credit Card does not include complimentary airport lounge visits. Always verify whether either card requires minimum calendar-quarter spends (typically ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 in the preceding quarter) to unlock complimentary access vouchers.

The useful distinction here is simple: Times Black ICICI Credit Card features: "Welcome stack worth over ₹25,000 (includes ₹10,000 EaseMyTrip/Lohono voucher, ₹10,000 Atlys/OneVasco Visa benefits, Zomato Gold, and Toni&Guy/Interflora vouchers).". Meanwhile, TMB Titanium Credit Card provides: "Zero joining fee for the first year". These introductory gifts help recoup first-year joining costs right away.

CardsGuruji's score guidance for Times Black ICICI Credit Card is 750+; CardsGuruji's score guidance for TMB Titanium Credit Card is 700+. This is editorial guidance, not an issuer requirement. Each bank independently evaluates income, employment, existing obligations, repayment history and other criteria; check the current issuer terms, and remember that no score guarantees approval.

For a practical 2026 decision, Yes, holding both cards simultaneously can be a powerful two-card wallet strategy if they serve complementary spend categories (for example, using one card for online shopping and groceries, and the other for utility bills, travel, or fuel). If both cards are issued by different banks, each bank grants an independent credit limit, which increases your overall available credit and helps lower your credit utilization ratio.

Looking specifically at Times Black ICICI Credit Card vs TMB Titanium Credit Card, Both Times Black ICICI Credit Card and TMB Titanium Credit Card standardly offer a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 at petrol stations nationwide (subject to monthly waiver caps). However, categories like rent payments, wallet reloads, cash withdrawals, and government utility bills are often excluded from earning points or carry separate processing surcharges.

From a cardholder's perspective, Choose Times Black ICICI Credit Card if your spending aligns with its primary reward partner ecosystem, you can comfortably achieve its fee waiver milestone, and its fee structure (₹ 20,000) fits your budget. Select TMB Titanium Credit Card if you will actively use its unique perks (0 reward points per ₹100) and lounge access privileges (secondary travel perks). You can apply for either card online with paperless digital KYC verification.