SBI says charge on cash withdrawals to stay in zero-balance accounts

SBI said it has retained charges on cash withdrawals over and above four free withdrawals per month in accordance with RBI regulations.
State Bank of India
State Bank of India
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The State Bank of India (SBI), on Thursday, said that the bank has retained charges on cash withdrawals over and above four free withdrawals per month but has stopped recovering charges in such accounts on all digital transactions with respect to zero-balance accounts or Basic Savings Deposit Accounts (BSBD). The country’s largest bank issued the clarification in response to a study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Bombay), which claimed that excessive charges have been imposed by SBI and other banks in the country.

The Reserve Bank of India, in August 2012, had mandated that banks are free to levy reasonable charges in BSBD accounts beyond four free transactions. The availment of such additional services shall be at the option of the customers, it had said.

In view of the regulations, the SBI introduced charges for debit transactions beyond four free transactions in BSBD accounts with effect from June 15, 2016 with prior intimation to the customers.

In August 2020, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), however, advised banks to refund the charges collected, if any, on or after January 1, 2020 on transactions carried out using the digital mode and not to impose charges on future transactions carried out through such modes.

The objective is also to encourage BSBD account holders including PMJDY account holders to adopt digital payment through the prescribed modes vis-a-vis the cash transactions.

In terms of CBDT directives, the SBI refunded the charges recovered in respect of all the digital transactions to the BSBD customers with effect from January 1, 2020 to September 14, 2020. Additionally, SBI has stopped recovering charges in such accounts on all digital transactions from September 15, 2020, while retaining charges on cash withdrawals.

The bank has also waived fees levied on SMS services and on maintenance of monthly average balance to all its Savings Bank account holders while promoting financial inclusion in the country.

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