Axis Bank customers holding select domestic and Non-Resident Indian (NRI) savings accounts will have to adjust to a revised fee structure from December 1, 2026. The changes cover several banking services, including free cash transactions, minimum balance penalties, cheque return charges and reward points. The private sector lender is also modifying the Total Relationship Value (TRV) criteria for customers belonging to certain premium savings account categories. These revisions could increase banking expenses for some account holders, particularly those who frequently use cash services or fail to maintain the prescribed balance.
The updated rules will apply to specified savings account variants across domestic and NRI categories. Here is a breakdown of the and how the new charges compare with the existing structure.
Axis Bank Reduces Free Cash Transaction Limit
Customers holding domestic and NRI EASY ACCESS and equivalent savings accounts, along with KRISHI and SAHAJ accounts, will see a reduction in their monthly free cash transaction allowance.
Under the current arrangement, account holders can complete up to four cash transactions without paying additional charges. Alternatively, they can transact up to Rs 1 lakh for free, with whichever limit is reached first determining when charges become applicable.
From December 1, the number of permitted free transactions will come down to three. The Rs 1 lakh transaction threshold will remain unchanged, meaning customers will be charged once they exceed either of the revised limits.
Axis Bank Changes Minimum Balance Penalty
The bank is retaining its existing method of calculating charges for customers who fail to maintain the prescribed Average Monthly Balance (AMB). The monthly penalty will continue to be 6 per cent of the shortfall, but the maximum amount payable will increase for certain account categories.
For domestic EASY ACCESS and equivalent accounts, the existing maximum charges are Rs 600 for metro and urban branches, Rs 300 for semi-urban branches and Rs 150 for rural branches.
Under the revised schedule, the maximum penalty for semi-urban and rural account holders will increase to Rs 600, bringing it in line with the metro and urban limit.
NRI EASY ACCESS and equivalent account holders will also face a higher maximum penalty. The charge for semi-urban and rural locations will increase from Rs 300 to Rs 600. For metro and urban branches, the existing Rs 600 cap will remain unchanged.
However, salaried customers will continue to remain exempt from these minimum balance charges.
EDGE REWARD Points To Be Discontinued For Select Accounts
Axis Bank is also withdrawing its EDGE REWARD points programme for customers holding certain savings accounts.
From December 1, Burgundy, PRIORITY, PRESTIGE, PRIME NRI and EASY NRI account holders will no longer accumulate reward points under the existing EDGE REWARDS programme, as specified in the revised fee structure.
The change will affect customers who currently receive benefits through the bank’s rewards-based programme.
Axis Bank Increases Total Relationship Value Requirement
Customers with select premium savings accounts will also have to meet a higher Total Relationship Value (TRV) requirement.
The revised criteria will cover domestic and NRI PRIME, PRESTIGE, PRIORITY, SAMPANN, ADVANTAGE, ARISE Women’s and Burgundy account categories.
At present, the applicable TRV requirement stands at 75 per cent of the prescribed level. Under the new framework, customers will have to maintain the full prescribed amount, taking the requirement to 100 per cent.
This means account holders in the affected categories may need to maintain a higher relationship value with the bank to continue meeting the applicable account criteria.
Axis Bank Increases Outward Cheque Return Charges
The cost of an outward cheque return is also set to rise across several domestic and NRI savings account categories.
The revised charges will cover EASY ACCESS and equivalent accounts, ADVANTAGE, ARISE Women’s, SAMPANN, KRISHI, SAHAJ, TASC, PRIME, LIBERTY, PRESTIGE, PRIORITY and Burgundy accounts.
Currently, customers are charged Rs 50 for the first outward cheque return. Each subsequent return attracts a fee of Rs 100.
From December 1, the bank will introduce a uniform charge of Rs 200 for every outward cheque return. This represents a higher fee for both the first and subsequent instances of cheque returns.
Among the other changes, select NRI premium account holders will face a significant increase in deliverable return fees.
For NRI Burgundy, PRIORITY, PRESTIGE and PRIME savings accounts, the charge will rise from Rs 50 to Rs 500 per return.
The revised fee represents an increase of Rs 450, taking the cost to 10 times the existing amount.