State Bank of India (SBI) has officially announced a revision to its Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) charges, effective from February 15, 2026. While digital banking has been mostly free, the new rules introduce tiered service fees for higher-value transfers made via Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, and the YONO app.
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If you frequently transfer large sums, here is the essential breakdown of what changes and how to stay exempt.
1. Online IMPS vs. Branch IMPS: The New Rates
The biggest shift is for Online Transfers above ₹25,000, which were previously free. Branch-level charges remain the same as the existing framework.
| Transaction Amount | Online IMPS Fee (YONO/Net Banking) | Branch IMPS Fee (Offline) |
| Up to ₹1,000 | Free | Free |
| ₹1,001 to ₹10,000 | Free | ₹2 + GST |
| ₹10,001 to ₹25,000 | Free | ₹4 + GST |
| ₹25,001 to ₹1 Lakh | ₹2 + GST | ₹4 + GST |
| ₹1 Lakh to ₹2 Lakh | ₹6 + GST | ₹12 + GST |
| ₹2 Lakh to ₹5 Lakh | ₹10 + GST | ₹20 + GST |
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2. Who is Exempt? (The “Free” List)
Not everyone will pay these fees. SBI has waived the revised charges for specific “Premium” and “Salary” account holders. If your account falls under these codes, your IMPS remains free regardless of the amount:
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Defence & Government: DSP (Defence), PMSP (Paramilitary), ICGSP (Coast Guard), CGSP (Central Govt), PSP (Police), and RSP (Railways).
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Family Accounts: Shaurya Family Pension Accounts and SBI Rishtey Family Savings Accounts.
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Corporate: Select Corporate Salary Packages (CSP).
3. Key Limits & Security Reminders
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Daily Limit: The maximum you can transfer via IMPS remains ₹5 Lakh per day.
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Irreversibility: IMPS is a real-time, 24/7 service. Once you hit “Submit,” the transaction cannot be reversed. Always double-check the beneficiary’s Account Number and IFSC code.
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Beneficiary Activation: New beneficiaries added via Net Banking typically take 4 hours to activate if added between 6 AM and 8 PM.
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How to Avoid the New Charges
If you are not an exempt account holder, you can still avoid these fees by choosing alternative transfer methods:
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UPI (Unified Payments Interface): Still Free for most transactions up to ₹1 Lakh (or ₹5 Lakh for specific categories like hospitals/education).
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NEFT/RTGS: Often free for online users, though they may not be as “instant” as IMPS during non-banking hours.
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Small Transfers: Keep your online IMPS transactions below ₹25,000 to maintain the zero-fee benefit….
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