New Delhi, June 1 – Leading private sector banks, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, have announced a hike in various charges related to credit card usage and banking services, effective from July 1. The banks have issued official notifications informing their customers about the revised fee structures.
As per agency report, HDFC Bank has introduced new charges specifically targeting credit card transactions related to online gaming, digital wallet top-ups, and utility payments. According to the notification, if a customer spends more than Rs 10,000 in a month on skill-based gaming platforms such as Dream11, RummyCulture, Junglee Games, or MPL, a 1 percent fee will be levied on the total amount spent under this category. This fee will be capped at a maximum of Rs 4,999 per month. Additionally, such gaming transactions will no longer earn reward points.
Similarly, if a customer loads more than Rs 10,000 in a month to third-party digital wallets like Paytm, Mobikwik, Freecharge, or Ola Money using their HDFC credit card, a 1 percent fee will apply on the entire amount. This too will be capped at Rs 4,999 per month. For utility bill payments, a 1 percent fee will be charged if the monthly total exceeds Rs 50,000, subject to the same maximum monthly limit.
The bank has clarified that insurance payments will not be classified as utility payments and hence will not attract additional charges. HDFC has also revised the maximum chargeable amount for rent payments, fuel transactions, and education-related payments. The maximum charge for these categories will now be limited to Rs 4,999 per transaction. While the 1 percent fee on rent payments remains unchanged, fuel transactions exceeding Rs 15,000 will now incur a 1 percent fee. However, education payments made directly through official college or school websites or their card terminals will remain exempt from any charges.
Meanwhile, ICICI Bank has updated several of its service charges affecting transactions such as cash and cheque deposits, demand drafts, and pay orders. Customers will now be charged Rs 2 per Rs 1,000 transacted, with a minimum charge of Rs 50 and a maximum of Rs 15,000. Previously, the bank charged Rs 50 for amounts up to Rs 10,000, and Rs 5 per Rs 1,000 beyond that threshold.
ATM charges have also been revised. Beyond the first three free ATM transactions on other banks’ machines, ICICI will now charge Rs 23 for financial transactions and Rs 8.5 for non-financial ones. Earlier, the fee for financial ATM transactions was Rs 21.
In addition, the annual fee for ICICI Bank’s debit cards will rise from Rs 200 to Rs 300. The changes are expected to impact a wide range of customers and highlight a broader trend among banks to reassess their fee structures in response to evolving customer behavior and operational costs.
