The State Bank of India (SBI) is set to change the service charge structure for customers holding Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts. The revised rules will come into effect from October 1, 2026, changing how free cash withdrawals are counted for these accounts.
Under the new rules, BSBD account holders will be allowed four free cash withdrawals every month. Once this monthly limit is exhausted, customers will have to pay ₹15 plus GST for every additional cash withdrawal.
Digital Transactions to Be Included in Free Withdrawal Limit
One of the key changes is the way SBI will calculate the four free withdrawals.
Under the revised system, digital transactions such as AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) will also be counted while calculating the monthly withdrawal limit. The four free transactions will cover cash withdrawals through SBI and other bank ATMs, branch channels and eligible digital transaction channels such as AEPS.
This means customers who frequently use different withdrawal channels will need to keep track of their monthly transactions to avoid additional charges.
What Is an SBI BSBD Account?
A Basic Savings Bank Deposit account is designed to provide essential banking services to customers without requiring them to maintain a minimum balance.
The account allows customers to withdraw money through a bank branch by submitting a withdrawal form or through an ATM. SBI also provides a basic RuPay ATM-cum-debit card with the account.
However, the BSBD account does not come with a cheque book facility.
No Minimum Balance Requirement
One of the key features of the BSBD account is that customers are not required to maintain a minimum balance.
The account is primarily aimed at improving access to basic banking services and making banking facilities available to a wider section of customers without the burden of maintaining a fixed balance.
Customers Cannot Hold Another SBI Savings Account
There is also an important eligibility condition for BSBD account holders.
A customer who has a BSBD account with SBI cannot simultaneously maintain another savings bank account with the bank.
If an existing SBI savings account holder opens a BSBD account, the existing savings account must be closed within 30 days.
Basic RuPay Debit Card Facility
SBI provides BSBD account holders with a basic RuPay ATM-cum-debit card without an annual fee.
The facility allows customers to access basic banking services while keeping the account free from minimum-balance requirements.
What Changes From October 1?
For BSBD account holders, the major change is the inclusion of eligible digital transactions in the calculation of the monthly free withdrawal limit.
From October 1, 2026, customers will get:
4 free withdrawals per month
SBI and other bank ATM withdrawals will count towards the limit
Branch-channel withdrawals will count towards the limit
Eligible digital transactions such as AEPS will also be counted
Additional withdrawals beyond the four-transaction limit will attract ₹15 + GST per transaction
The revised structure makes it important for BSBD account holders to monitor how often they withdraw cash or use eligible transaction channels during the month.
