Delhi, 7:50 PM IST – State Bank of India (SBI) is trending across news platforms today after customers began noticing higher charges on ATM withdrawals and balance checks. The revision is not brand new, but the timing matters. Monday banking activity, early-month withdrawals, and visible SMS alerts have pushed this everyday banking change into public focus.
SBI serves more than 52 crore (520 million) customers. When a bank of this size tweaks even a small fee, the impact spreads fast.
What has changed for SBI customers
From 1 December 2025, SBI revised charges that apply after free monthly limits are exhausted at non-SBI ATMs:
- Cash withdrawal at non-SBI ATM: ₹23 + GST
(earlier ₹21 + GST) - Balance enquiry / mini statement: ₹11 + GST
(earlier ₹10 + GST)
Free limits remain unchanged:
- Savings accounts: 5 free non-SBI ATM transactions per month
- Salary accounts: 10 free non-SBI ATM transactions per month
- Current accounts: no free non-SBI ATM transactions
Transactions at SBI ATMs continue as per existing free limits.
Why is it trending today
January is a high-usage month for ATMs. Salary credits, bill payments, and cash planning happen early. On Monday, 12 January 2026, many users crossed their free limits sooner than expected, and the revised charges showed up clearly in transaction messages. That visibility — not the size of the hike — is what pushed the topic into today’s trending list.
Why a ₹1–₹2 increase matters
For an individual user, paying ₹2 extra may feel minor. But SBI processes crores of ATM transactions every month. When even a fraction of those transactions fall outside free limits, a ₹1–₹2 increase can turn into hundreds of crores in annual fee income. At this scale, small numbers carry serious financial weight and help offset rising costs like cash handling, ATM upkeep, and interchange fees.
A neutral comparison with real numbers
Looking at other major PSU banks helps put SBI’s move in context:
- Punjab National Bank (PNB):
At PNB ATMs, customers typically get 5 free transactions per month. Beyond that, withdrawals are charged at around ₹10 + GST. At other banks’ ATMs, charges usually rise to ₹23 + GST per cash withdrawal and ₹11 + GST for non-financial transactions after free limits, depending on metro or non-metro location. - Canara Bank:
At Canara Bank ATMs, general customers get 6 free transactions per month, with withdrawals charged at ₹20 + GST beyond the limit and balance enquiries at ₹5 + GST. At other banks’ ATMs, post-limit charges are commonly ₹23 + GST for withdrawals and ₹11 + GST for balance checks.
This shows SBI’s revised pricing now sits broadly in line with the prevailing PSU bank range rather than being an outlier.
What SBI has officially indicated
As reported once by Moneycontrol, SBI linked the revision to higher interchange charges. The cost banks pay each other when customers use another bank’s ATM, along with overall operating expenses.
What customers can do
- Use mobile banking or missed-call services for balance checks
- Withdraw larger amounts fewer times
- Prefer SBI ATMs where available
- Track monthly free transaction usage
The takeaway
This update is less about discouraging cash and more about pricing discipline at scale. For customers, understanding how and when charges apply is the simplest way to avoid small deductions that quietly add up — a lesson many are learning today as this story trends nationwide.
