New Delhi : ICICI Bank customers will now have to maintain a significantly higher minimum average balance (MAB) in their savings accounts. The private sector lender has increased the minimum balance requirement fivefold, making it the highest among domestic banks.
Effective August 1, 2025, savings account holders in metro and urban areas will be required to maintain a minimum of ₹50,000, up from the earlier ₹10,000. For semi-urban branches, the MAB is set at ₹25,000, while for rural branches, it remains at ₹10,000.
Failure to maintain the required balance may attract penalties. ICICI Bank’s move contrasts sharply with State Bank of India (SBI), which in 2020 removed the minimum balance requirement altogether. Most other banks currently keep their savings account MAB between ₹2,000 and ₹10,000, depending on the branch category.
This hike makes ICICI Bank the first domestic lender to impose such a steep minimum balance requirement for metro customers, a decision that could impact millions of account holders nationwide.
