PaisaOrbit Figures collected from public bank sources, September 2026. Requirements vary by account type and can change with notice — confirm with your bank before assuming a figure applies to your account.
| Bank | Rural | Semi-Urban | Urban / Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBI | ₹0 — all SBI savings accounts are zero-balance | ||
| HDFC Bank | ₹2,500 | — | ₹10,000 (regular savings; varies ₹0-₹3,00,000 by account type/branch) |
| ICICI Bank | ₹2,500 | ₹7,500 | ₹15,000 (for accounts opened on/after 1 Aug 2026) |
What happens if you fall short
Most banks charge a non-maintenance penalty proportional to the shortfall, often capped — e.g. ICICI Bank caps this at ₹500 or 6% of the shortfall, whichever is lower. Some account variants (student, salary, senior citizen, Jan Dhan/basic savings) are exempt from minimum balance rules entirely regardless of the parent bank's general policy.
Zero-balance options
Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts (BSBDA) and most salary accounts carry no minimum balance requirement by regulation, across all banks — worth asking about if maintaining a minimum balance is the deciding factor in choosing an account.