Minimum Balance Rules & Charges
Bank-wise minimum average balance (MAB) for metro, semi-urban and rural branches, penalty charges, RBI rules, and the 2025 public-bank waivers.
Updated 27 September 2026 · 26 banks trackedWhat you need to know
Most private banks require a monthly average balance (MAB) — typically ₹10,000–₹15,000 in metro branches — and charge a penalty if you fall short. Many public-sector banks have dropped these charges: SBI since March 2020, and Canara Bank, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Central Bank, Indian Bank, Union Bank and IOB (select accounts) during 2025.
Minimum balance by bank
| Bank | Metro / urban | Semi-urban | Rural | Non-maintenance charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Bank of India | Nil (MAB requirement waived since Mar 2020) | Nil | Nil | No minimum-balance non-maintenance charges (waived for all SB accounts, announced 11 Mar 2020) |
| HDFC Bank | ₹10,000 AMB | ₹5,000 AMB | ₹2,500 AQB (or FD of ₹10,000 for 1 yr 1 day) | 6% of shortfall or ₹600, whichever is lower (Regular Savings) |
| ICICI Bank | ₹15,000 (accounts opened from 1 Aug 2025; ₹10,000 for older accounts) | ₹7,500 (new; ₹5,000 older) | ₹2,500 (new) | 6% of MAB shortfall or ₹500, whichever is lower, plus GST |
| Axis Bank | ₹10,000–₹12,000 (Easy Access) | ₹5,000 | ₹2,500 | As per schedule of charges |
| Punjab National Bank | ~₹2,000 (urban, earlier) | — | ~₹500 (earlier) | No penal charges for non-maintenance of MAB across all savings schemes from 1 Jul 2025 |
| Bank of Baroda | ₹2,000 (Baroda Advantage) | ₹1,000 | ₹500 | Waived for all standard savings accounts from 1 Jul 2025 (premium schemes excluded) |
| IDFC FIRST Bank | ₹10,000 or ₹25,000 AMB (by variant) | — | — | 6% of AMB shortfall or ₹500, whichever is lower |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | ₹25,000 AMB or ₹1 lakh relationship value (Everyday+) | ₹5,000 AQB (Sankalp) | ₹2,500 AQB (Sankalp) | As per schedule of charges |
| RBL Bank | — | ₹5,000 (Prime Savings) | ₹2,500 (Prime Savings) | As per schedule of charges |
| YES Bank | ₹10,000 (YES PRO) | — | — | ₹250–₹1,000 depending on variant and shortfall |
| Union Bank of India | — | — | — | Non-maintenance charges waived on general savings accounts from quarter ending Sep 2025 (customised products excluded) |
| Bandhan Bank | ₹2,000 (Standard SB, from 1 Feb 2026; earlier ₹5,000) | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 | As per schedule of charges |
| IndusInd Bank | — | — | — | ₹250–₹900 depending on variant |
| Central Bank of India | — | — | — | Non-maintenance charges waived on savings accounts from 1 Jul 2025 |
| IDBI Bank | ₹10,000 (Advantage SB, per ClearTax) | ₹5,000 | ₹1,000 | 4% per month of shortfall (reported caps ₹50 metro/urban, ₹25 semi-urban, ₹5 rural) |
| Karnataka Bank | — | — | — | As per schedule of charges |
| South Indian Bank | — | — | — | As per schedule of charges |
| Canara Bank | ₹2,000 (nominal; charges waived) | ₹1,000 | ₹500 | No AMB penalty on any savings account from 1 Jun 2025 |
| Standard Chartered Bank | ₹10,000 AMB (SC Digital) | — | — | As per schedule of charges |
| Bank of India | ₹1,000 (SB General) | ₹500 | ₹500 | Reported waived for most account types (date not confirmed) |
| Indian Bank | — | — | — | Minimum-balance charges waived on all savings accounts from 7 Jul 2025 |
| Indian Overseas Bank | ₹1,000 (with cheque) / ₹500 (non-cheque), other branches | ₹500 (cheque) / ₹100 (non-cheque) | ₹500 (cheque) / ₹100 (non-cheque) | Waived for SB-Public accounts from 1 Oct 2025 (premium variants excluded) |
| Federal Bank | — | — | — | As per schedule of charges |
| DBS Bank India | ₹10,000 AMB (digibank Savings) | — | — | Reported as 4% of shortfall, capped at ₹40 |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | — | — | — | As per schedule of charges |
| UCO Bank | ₹1,000 (Saral, with chequebook) | ₹500 | ₹250 | ₹30–₹250 depending on account type |
Figures are for the bank’s regular/entry savings account unless a variant is named. “—” = not published in a comparable form; check the bank’s schedule of charges.
Public-sector banks that waived minimum-balance charges
| Bank | Effective from | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| State Bank of India | 11 Mar 2020 | MAB requirement removed for all savings accounts |
| Canara Bank | 1 Jun 2025 | No AMB penalty on all savings accounts (incl. salary, NRI) |
| Punjab National Bank | 1 Jul 2025 | No penal charges for non-maintenance of MAB across all savings schemes |
| Bank of Baroda | 1 Jul 2025 | Charges waived on all standard savings accounts; premium schemes excluded |
| Central Bank of India | 1 Jul 2025 | Charges waived for non-maintenance of MAB in savings accounts |
| Indian Bank | 7 Jul 2025 | All minimum-balance charges waived on savings accounts |
| Union Bank of India | Quarter ending Sep 2025 | Charges waived on general savings accounts; customised products excluded |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 1 Oct 2025 | Waived for SB-Public accounts only; premium variants excluded |
| Bank of India | Reported (date not confirmed) | Reported removal of AMB penalties for most account types (date not found) |
ICICI Bank’s 2025 change
For savings accounts opened on/after 1 Aug 2025, ICICI initially raised MAB to ₹50,000 metro/urban, ₹25,000 semi-urban, ₹10,000 rural; after backlash it revised this (13 Aug 2025) to ₹15,000 metro/urban, ₹7,500 semi-urban, ₹2,500 rural. Existing accounts keep earlier limits (₹10,000 metro/urban). Penalty: 6% of shortfall or ₹500, whichever lower, plus GST.
RBI rules on minimum-balance charges
- The bank must tell you by SMS/email/letter when your balance falls below the minimum, and give one month to restore it before charging.
- Charges must be proportional to the shortfall (a percentage of the shortfall or slab-based), not a flat heavy fee.
- The penalty must not turn your balance negative.
- Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) and PMJDY accounts have no minimum balance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the monthly average balance?
Sum of each day’s closing balance in the month divided by the number of days.
Can a bank make my balance negative with charges?
No, RBI rules do not allow minimum-balance charges to make the balance negative.
For information and comparison only. Confirm rates, charges and rules with your bank.