After the Monthly Average Balance (MAB) dispute of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank clarified that it has not changed the rules of minimum balance for any of its accounts. According to the bank, “HDFC bank offers a variety of savings accounts according to customers’ profiles. Each account has different needs of Amb and currently this rule has not been changed for any account.”
The bank said that the amb of regular savings account is ₹ 10,000 and the Amb of Savings Max Account is ₹ 25,000. Some social media posts claimed that HDFC Bank has also changed the rules of minimum balance. The bank has then issued this clarification.
ICICI Bank amended MAB
ICICI Bank, India’s second largest private sector bank, increased the MAB for a new savings account last week. It was ₹ 50,000 in metro and urban branches, ₹ 25,000 in semi-urban and ₹ 10,000 in rural branches. The bank changed the rules following a sharp reaction by customers. Now it has been reduced to ₹ 15,000 in metro and urban branches, ₹ 7,500 in semi-urban and ₹ 2,500 in rural branches.
ICICI Bank said in a statement, “We had implemented new MABs for new savings accounts since August 1, 2025. After the reaction of the customers, they have changed their expectations.”
RBI rule on minimum balance
The minimum balance is based on the simple average of the balance at the end of the month. When the account holder does not keep a fixed minimum balance, the bank charges a penalty.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified that each bank is free to determine its MAB. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said, “RBI has left the right to decide the minimum balance. Some banks keep it ₹ 10,000, some ₹ 2,000 and some have exempted customers. It does not come in the regulatory sector of RBI.”