Minimum Balance charges
On one hand government is providing many reliefs for common man, one of them being that Banks will not charge interest / EMIs for 3 months, on the other hand Banks are charging huge amounts in case of shortage of Average Monthly balance, in current accounts of small businessmen. When there is no economic activity, no flow of incoming funds, how can a middle class businessman be able to maintain the AMB, while all his expenses like salary, rent, insurance and also his personal living expenses are all to be fulfilled.
I have even come across an instance where the balance in the current account was 10,500 in SBI. SBI deducted Rs. 649 as annual account keeping charge in March, thus bringing the available balance Rs. 149 below required AMB of Rs. 10,000. Then they deducted Rs. 590 as Charges for non maintenance of AMB consecutively for March and then April 2020. Poor fellow had to shell out Rs. 1,180 as AMB charges due to shortage of Rs. 149, that to at time of national health crisis and complete lockdown as ordered by GOI.
In my opinion RBI should mandate all banks to reverse all such charges charged during the Lockdown period.
I have even come across an instance where the balance in the current account was 10,500 in SBI. SBI deducted Rs. 649 as annual account keeping charge in March, thus bringing the available balance Rs. 149 below required AMB of Rs. 10,000. Then they deducted Rs. 590 as Charges for non maintenance of AMB consecutively for March and then April 2020. Poor fellow had to shell out Rs. 1,180 as AMB charges due to shortage of Rs. 149, that to at time of national health crisis and complete lockdown as ordered by GOI.
In my opinion RBI should mandate all banks to reverse all such charges charged during the Lockdown period.
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Even ICICI Bank is notorious for deducting such charges and even multiple emails later they don't provide a proper answer and justification to some of these charges .
May 22
I had exactly the same experience as Mr Gautam Poddar's friend. SBI first deducted ₹649 as AMC from my current a/c. And when the AMB went below ₹10,000, they didn't even have the courtesy to inform me. Instead they deducted ₹590 for 2 consecutive months - March and April 2020. This was the period when my business was badly hit due to COVID. I am an international education advisor and couldn't send students abroad despite their admissions. I then talked to the branch manager who refused to consider the facts. His response was nothing can be done. You just have to deposit the balance amount to avoid further deductions every month. Indeed I too hope higher authorities and Local Circle managers are taking note of this and will help the common public. Otherwise what use are these grand announcements of ₹20 lakh crore bonus by the government when they can't even help their senior citizens in times of a crisis.
May 20
In SBI I couldn't maintain minimum balance for three months. It was very less for them to deduct min. Balance charge. So they closed he a/c without even informing me. They don't have any decency to intimate me or give me a chance to deposit money to avoid min balance charge. This a/c is my company a/c & this a/c details are given to all customers. Big bank & big policies. They deserve people like Vijay Mallaya etc. One of the most stupid banks I have seen with rude staff & unethical practices.
May 20
Please know that the SBI is not governed by any rule or law, but by whims and fancies of some individuals. No response or rectification of their mistakes are done, even if such misdeeds are brought to the notices of higher authorities. M/s SBI has inculcated such culture, simply not yesterday OR yestermonth OR yesteryear, but through decades and ,at least half-a century. I hope, this writeup receives the notice of some higher ups, so that the SBI exhibits the minimal moral courage, by filing a defamation suit against me.
May 20
A valid and valuable suggestion. One hears about different banks having different "minimum balance" conditions. One also hears about different banks giving different interest rates for balance in personal accounts. I'm not a banker, but as a layman I wonder whether these rates can be harmonised for all banks.
May 20
