Bank Rules 2025: It changed in 2025 which means minimum balance rules have also modified for all the major banks of India for different accounts and on different bases at different locations. Here, it is a brief comparison of SBI, ICICI, HDFC, and others which you can refer to for avoiding unnecessary deductions.
1. State Bank of India (SBI)
Most zero balance type of savings accounts are SBI accounts in the Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) category. However, the general maintenance of monthly average balances (MAB) required in the following categories:
Rural areas- ₹1,000
Semi-urban- ₹2,000
Urban and Metro- ₹3,000
Penalty- ₹10-15 + GST depending on location
2. ICICI Bank
Minimum balance is based on account type and city tier. For example:
Regular savings account: ₹10,000 in metro/urban areas
Silver savings: ₹5,000
Gold/wealth accounts: ₹50,000+ or relationship-based balances
Penalty: ₹100-₹500 + GST
3. HDFC Bank
Regular Savings Account: urban areas: ₹10,000
Semi-Urban: ₹5,000
In rural areas: ₹2,500
BSBDA/Jan Dhan accounts: No minimum
Penalty: ₹150-₹600 + GST (based on shortfall)
4. Axis Bank
Minimum Balance Requirement: 12,000 INR for metro cities
Semi-Urban: 5,000 INR
Rural- 2,500 INR
Penalty: 5-10 INR per day of shortfall
5. Kotak Mahindra Bank
Digital zero-balance accounts offer 811
Regular Savings: a minimum balance of ₹10,000
Penalty: ₹100-500
ALSO READ: ICICI Bank New Rules: Higher Minimum Balance for New Accounts
Why is it important?
Minimum bank account balance: it requires that account holders keep at least this baseline amount to keep the account alive and avoid earning penalties. For banks, this helps to manage operational costs and maintain liquidity. For customers, maintaining the required balance prevents non-maintenance charges, preserves account privileges like free ATM usage, cheque books, and digital banking services, and reflects financial discipline. If you know and follow the minimum balance rules, you’ll avoid unwarranted charges and ensure smooth, uninterrupted banking.
So many banks do offer zero-balance digital accounts, but traditional accounts still live out the age of strict minimum average balance rules. Check always what type of account you have and what values are required not to be penalized by the year 2025.
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