Customers with savings or salary accounts at the State Bank of India (SBI) should be aware of upcoming significant changes to ATM operating rules, which will take effect on October 1, 2026, and increase customer expenses.
According to information updated on the bank's website, increased charges for cash withdrawals will be introduced for holders of savings accounts and salary recipients at SBI.
Starting October 1, new tariffs will apply to Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts opened through branches. Although customers will retain the ability to make four free monthly withdrawals, after these four free transactions, each withdrawal via an ATM will incur a charge of 15 rupees plus GST.
This new fee applies only if cash is withdrawn more than four times in one month. Therefore, customers who regularly use ATMs should carefully monitor the number of transactions made.
For example, after completing four ATM transactions, the fifth transaction will be subject to a charge of 15 rupees plus GST, and all subsequent transactions will also carry the corresponding fee.
Regarding SBI salary accounts, the bank plans to halve the monthly limit of free transactions. Starting October 1, 2026, holders of salary accounts at the State Bank of India will be able to perform only five transactions per month using a debit card at ATMs of other banks and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines (ADWMs). Previously, this limit was ten free transactions.
When analyzing the changes to SBI ATM rules, it is noted that while the State Bank has reduced the cash withdrawal limit for salary account holders, it clarified that these five free transactions include both financial and non-financial operations. In simpler terms, this includes not only cash withdrawal but also checking the account balance or printing a mini-statement via the ATM.
If a withdrawal is made after exhausting the free ATM limit, a fee of 23 rupees plus GST will be charged for the sixth cash withdrawal in a month. For non-financial transactions, a fee of 11 rupees plus GST will be charged after the free limit is used.