State Bank of India will reduce the number of free monthly ATM transactions available to Salary Package Account holders when they use SBI debit cards at other
banks’ ATMs. The revised rule will come into effect from October 1, 2026.
At present, these customers can make 10 free transactions every month at other banks’ ATMs and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines, or ADWMs. From October, that number will fall to five. The limit will apply across all centres in India.
What changes for SBI salary account holders?
The five free transactions will include both financial and non-financial use.
That means a cash withdrawal will count. So will other ATM activity that does not involve taking out cash. Once the five free transactions are used up, charges will start applying.
For cash withdrawals beyond the free limit, SBI will continue to charge ₹23 plus GST per transaction.
For non-financial transactions after the monthly limit is crossed, the charge will remain ₹11 plus GST.
So, the charges themselves are not being increased. The bigger change is that customers will reach the paid transaction limit much sooner.
For someone who regularly uses another bank’s ATM near home or office, this could mean keeping a closer count of monthly transactions. Five visits can get used up faster than it sounds.
Who will be affected?
The revised rule applies specifically to SBI Salary Package Accounts.
SBI said in its public notice, “The number of monthly free transactions and applicable Service Charges for accounts other than Salary Package Accounts shall remain unchanged.”
There is no change in the existing free transaction limit or charges for SBI debit card holders using SBI’s own ATMs or ADWMs.
Cardless cash withdrawals remain free
SBI has separately clarified that cardless cash withdrawal rules will remain unchanged.
Unlimited free cardless cash withdrawal transactions will continue at SBI ATMs and ADWMs, and at other banks’ ATMs and ADWMs, until further notice.
The October 1 change is therefore limited to debit card transactions made by Salary Package Account holders at other banks’ machines.
