Banks collected Rs 7,100 crore as ‘minimum balance’ penalty in 2025-26

Banks collected nearly Rs 7,100 crore in minimum balance penalties during FY26.

Private banks gathered Rs 4,948 crore, a 17% increase from the previous year.

HDFC Bank levied Rs 1,800 crore in charges, followed by Axis Bank (Rs 1,081 crore) and ICICI Bank (Rs 353 crore).

Ten of the 12 public sector banks have discontinued penal charges for non-maintenance of minimum average balance in savings accounts.

PSBs collected Rs 2,137 crore in FY26, down from Rs 2,775 crore in FY25, with State Bank of India collecting Rs 477 crore.