To discourage cash transactions, HDFC Bank & others begin minimum levy of Rs 150 on cash deposits & withdrawals

Highlights:

1. The new cash transaction charges would apply to savings as well as salary accounts with effect from March 1 this year 

2. HDFC Bank would also cap the third party cash transactions at Rs 25,000 per day while it has withdrawn cash handling charges with effect from March 1

3. According to ICICI Bank website, there will be no charge for first four transactions a month at branches in home city while Rs 5 per thousand rupees would be charged thereafter subject to a minimum of Rs 150 in the same month 

4. At Axis Bank, the first five transactions or Rs 10 lakh of cash deposits or withdrawals would be free and charged at Rs 5 per thousand rupees or Rs 150, whichever is higher 

To discourage cash transactions and boost the digital payments, homegrown banks like HDFC Bank and others have started charging a minimum amount of Rs 150 per transaction for cash deposits and withdrawals beyond four free transactions in a month, PTI reported. 

The new cash transaction charges would apply to savings as well as salary accounts with effect from March 1 this year, cited HDFC Bank in a circular.

Besides, the bank would also cap the third party cash transactions at Rs 25,000 per day while cash handling charges would be withdrawn with effect from March 1, the circular noted.

For senior citizen, kids and minor account holders, HDFC Bank will keep the third party cash transaction limit at Rs 25,000 per day but their accounts will not be charged.

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According to PTI news report, in case of several banks, including ICICI Bank and Axis Bank, these charges came into effect early in January this year and are same as they were before the demonetisation move announced on November 8, while there is an increase in such fees in case of some others, including HDFC Bank, from March 1 onwards.

These charges are for cash transactions in the branches, and not through ATMs. 

The move was seen in some quarters as aimed at discouraging cash transactions and furthering the digital payment drive. 

For the basic no-frills accounts, maximum four cash withdrawals would continue to remain free and there would be no fees for cash deposits. 

According to details on ICICI Bank website, there will be no charge for first four transactions a month at branches in home city while Rs 5 per thousand rupees would be charged thereafter subject to a minimum of Rs 150 in the same month, cited the PTI report.

The third party limit would be Rs 50,000 per day. For non-home branches, ICICI Bank would not charge anything for first cash withdrawal of a calendar month and Rs 5 per thousand rupees thereafter subject to a minimum of Rs 150. 

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For anywhere cash deposit, ICICI Bank would charge Rs 5 per thousand rupees (subject to a minimum of 150) at branches, while deposit at Cash Acceptance Machine would be free of charge for first cash deposit of a calendar month and Rs 5 per thousand thereafter. 

ATM intercharge charges have also been re-introduced. At Axis Bank, the first five transactions or Rs 10 lakh of cash deposits or withdrawals would be free and charged at Rs 5 per thousand rupees or Rs 150, whichever is higher. 

It could not be ascertained whether the public sector banks have also begun imposing such charges. 

When contacted, a senior official said there has been no directive from the government to the banks regarding levy of such charges, PTI reported. 

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