ICICI Bank Rule Change: ICICI Bank, the second largest private sector bank in the country, has recently changed the rule related to minimum balance in savings account and it has become effective from August 1.
If you are planning to open your account in ICICI Bank, then it is important to know about a big change made by the bank recently. While changing the rules, ICICI Bank has increased the minimum amount or minimum average amount limit in the savings account. ICICI Bank has increased it five times and now it is necessary to keep at least Rs 50,000 in the account instead of Rs 10,000. Along with this, many other rules have also been changed. Let us understand in the format of questions and answers…
Question- Has the MAB rule been implemented?
Answer- Yes, the change of increasing the minimum balance limit in savings account by 5 times by ICICI Bank has been made effective from August 1.
Question: Can RBI reverse ICICI Bank’s minimum balance decision?
Answer: When RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra was questioned about ICICI Bank’s minimum balance of Rs 50,000, he said that the decision regarding minimum balance is within the jurisdiction of the bank, the central bank i.e. RBI cannot do anything in this. He said, ‘The Reserve Bank of India has left the task of setting the minimum balance limit to the banks. Some banks have fixed it at Rs 10,000, some at Rs 2,000 and some have removed it completely.’
Question- Is the rule same from metro to rural?
Answer- The bank has made this change for all customers in metro, urban and rural areas and has increased the previously fixed MAB limit. Now account holders in metro and urban branches will have to keep at least Rs 50,000 instead of Rs 10,000 in their savings account. Whereas in semi-urban branches, this has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000. However, rural customers will now have to keep Rs 10,000 in their account instead of the earlier Rs 2,500.
Question- Will the rules apply to all accounts?
Answer- No, the bank has clearly stated that these changes related to the minimum amount balance are being implemented only on those accounts which have been opened from the date of implementation of this change. This means that customers opening new accounts from August 1, 2025 will have to keep this much amount in their savings account. However, this has become the most difficult standard among domestic banks.
Question- Will it affect existing customers as well?
Answer- As stated, the revised rules regarding minimum balance amount will be applicable only on new accounts opened from August 1, 2025. For existing customers, the previous terms and conditions of their current account will continue, unless the bank separately informs about these changes.
Question- What will happen to salary account holders?
Answer- This rule change will not have any effect on salary account holders of ICICI Bank. Because, salary accounts are usually zero-balance accounts, that is, there is no need to maintain any minimum balance in them.
Question- What will happen if the minimum balance is not maintained?
Answer- A penalty will be imposed. While changing the rules, the bank has said that if a customer fails to maintain the required minimum balance in the account, then 6 percent of the minimum balance or Rs 500, whichever is less, will be charged. However, some customers have also been exempted from this fee, which includes family banking account holders and pensioners’ accounts.
A look at other changes in ICICI Bank:
Other updates have also been issued by the bank, which include charges after the free transaction limit is exhausted and debit card charges. Under this, in six metros Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, customers get three free transactions from Non ICICI Bank ATMs, after which a charge of Rs 23 will be paid for every transaction and Rs 8.5 for balance check. In other cities a maximum of 5 free transactions are allowed. At the same time, a charge of Rs 125 per transaction is applicable on withdrawal from international ATMs and 3.5% charge is applicable on currency exchange.
Apart from this, the annual charge for ICICI Bank Debit Card will be Rs 300, while for customers in rural areas it will be Rs 150. The card replacement fee is Rs 300. A charge of Rs 100 will have to be paid by the bank for getting monthly statement in the branch or through phone banking, while internet banking customers will be able to withdraw it for free.
