13 Aug 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): After ICICI Bank, now HDFC Bank has also changed its saving account rules. Starting from August 1, 2025, customers opening new accounts will need to maintain a minimum balance of ₹25,000 at all times in metro, urban, and semi-urban branches. Earlier, this limit was ₹10,000 in urban areas and ₹5,000 in semi-urban areas.
If the balance falls below the specified limit, the bank will charge a monthly fee. Changes have also been made for rural branches — the minimum balance requirement has been increased from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
These new rules will not affect salary accounts and BSBDA (Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account), as these offer zero-balance facilities.
New minimum balance rules for metro and urban areas:
- ICICI Bank earlier had a minimum average monthly balance (MAMB) of ₹10,000, now raised to ₹50,000 — that’s 5 times more balance required for new saving accounts opened after August 1, 2025.
- Existing customers will continue under old rules unless the bank announces changes separately.
- Salary accounts remain unaffected since they allow zero balance.
- BSBDA accounts also remain unaffected as they do not require a minimum balance.
- For semi-urban branches, the minimum balance requirement has been raised from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000.
- For rural branches, the minimum balance requirement has been raised from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
In short, both ICICI and HDFC banks are increasing minimum balance limits significantly for new saving accounts, putting pressure on customers to maintain higher balances.
Summary:
Following ICICI’s move, HDFC Bank raises its minimum balance requirement, affecting customers nationwide and sparking concerns over increased banking costs and financial accessibility.