SBI Changes ATM Rules From October 1: Salary Account Holders to Get Only 5 Free Transactions; Check All Update

State Bank of India (SBI) is set to change the ATM transaction rules for its salary account customers from October 1, 2026. The country's largest lender will reduce the number of free transactions available to these customers when they use ATMs operated by other banks.

SBI Revises ATM Rules for Salary Account Holders From October 1

Under the revised rules, SBI salary package account holders will be allowed only five free transactions per month at other-bank ATMs, compared with the earlier limit of 10 transactions. The new limit will cover both cash withdrawals and non-financial services such as balance enquiries and mini statement requests.

SBI Salary Account Customers Get Five Free Other-Bank ATM Transactions

From October 1, salary account holders will receive a maximum of five free transactions every month at ATMs and Automated Deposit cum Withdrawal Machines (ADWMs) operated by other banks or financial institutions.

SBI has also removed the metro and non-metro classification for these transactions. As a result, the five-transaction limit will apply uniformly across the country.

This means a customer using an ATM belonging to another bank will need to keep track of every transaction made during the month, irrespective of whether it involves withdrawing cash or simply checking an account balance.

Transaction Free Transactions Per Month Charges Beyond Free Limit

Free other-bank ATM transactions: Five per month.

Cash withdrawal beyond the free limit: Rs 23 plus GST per transaction.

Non-financial transaction beyond the limit: Rs 11 plus GST per transaction.

SBI ATM transactions: Customers will continue to receive benefits applicable to their respective salary account category.

Metro and non-metro distinction: The separate classification has been removed for salary account holders using other-bank ATMs.

One of the important aspects of the revised policy is that customers cannot treat balance enquiries separately from cash withdrawals.

For example, if an SBI salary account holder checks their balance three times at another bank's ATM and makes three cash withdrawals during the same month, the total number of transactions will reach six. Since the free limit is five, the customer may have to pay the applicable charge for the additional transaction.

Therefore, customers who regularly use another bank's ATM for checking balances or printing mini statements could exhaust their free transaction quota sooner than expected.

What Happens After SBI Free Transaction Limit Is Exhausted

Once an SBI salary package account holder crosses the five free transactions permitted at other-bank ATMs, additional charges will apply.

Customers will have to pay Rs 23 plus GST for every additional cash withdrawal. Meanwhile, non-financial transactions beyond the prescribed limit will attract a charge of Rs 11 plus GST.

Although these charges may appear relatively small for an individual transaction, the total cost can increase for customers who frequently make small cash withdrawals or repeatedly use ATMs for services such as balance checks.

SBI Customers With Regular Savings Accounts

The revised rule is mainly aimed at SBI salary package account holders. Customers holding regular SBI savings accounts will continue under the existing transaction rules applicable to their account category.

For such customers, the five free transaction limit at ATMs across centres remains applicable under the existing structure. Once the permitted limit is crossed, additional cash withdrawals will attract a charge of Rs 23 plus GST, while non-financial transactions will cost Rs 11 plus GST.

Customers should therefore confirm whether their account falls under an SBI salary package or a regular savings account, as the benefits and transaction limits may differ.