SBI Card Fees to Change from November 1: In case you are using a credit card of SBI Card, it is very important to check the way you have been using your credit card particularly for education-payments and wallet loads. SBI Card will be making changes that will alter the local transactions from 1 November 2025.
These changes are not small adjustments, but rather they indicate the change in the way payments are made (third-party apps, wallets) and the manner in which card companies are charging the user more for the same service. Reports from multiple trusted financial media outlets confirm the revisions.
Reacting early means you can adjust payment behaviour (for instance: where you pay school fees, how much you load into your wallet) and avoid surprises on your statement.
SBI Card Fees to Change from November 1
1. Fee on education-fee payments via third-party platforms
From 1 Nov 2025, when you pay school, college or tuition fees through certain third-party payment apps (for example, via wallet/aggregator platforms) and the transaction is flagged under certain Merchant Category Codes (MCCs), SBI Card will apply a 1 % fee on the transaction amount.
However: If you make the payment directly on the educational institution’s website/app or at the POS machine of the school/college/university, the fee won’t apply.
2. Fee on wallet-load transactions above ₹1,000
If you load a digital wallet (via your credit card) and the amount is more than ₹1,000, and the load is done through select merchant codes, SBI Card will charge a 1 % fee.
Smaller wallet loads (≤ ₹1,000) via those codes remain unaffected for now but you’ll need to check whether your specific wallet/merchant code is included in the “select” list.
SBI Card to Apply 1% Fee on Education Payments and Wallet Loads from November
Other service charges remain or have been adjusted
Beyond the new 1 % fees, SBI Card has reaffirmed the existing charges (and in some cases adjusted) for services such as:
- Cash payment fee (i.e., paying via cash withdrawal or similar)
- Cheque payment fee
- Payment dishonour fee
- Cash advance fee (domestic & international)
- Card replacement fee (including premium cards)
Late payment charges (if you don’t pay the Minimum Amount Due)
These have been detailed in the revised “Key Fact Statement” or official notices.
Example snapshot of late-payment charges:
If Minimum Amount Due (MAD) outstanding is ₹0–500: no late‐fee
- ₹501–₹1,000: ₹400
- ₹1,001–₹10,000: ₹750
- ₹10,001–₹25,000: ₹950
- ₹25,001–₹50,000: ₹1,100
- Above ₹50,000: ₹1,300
And if you miss MAD for two consecutive billing cycles, an extra ₹100 in addition will apply.
What cardholders should do?
To minimise impact and stay ahead, consider the following steps:
1. Audit your payment habits
Do you pay school/tuition/college fees using your credit card via a third-party wallet or aggregator? If yes, the 1 % fee may apply.
Do you load wallets (via credit card) frequently above ₹1,000? If yes, check the exact merchant code and whether you’ll be charged.
2. Prefer direct payment channels
If possible, make fee payments directly on the educational institution’s official site/app or via POS at the institution these are typically exempt from the new 1 % fee.
For wallet loads: if your load is ≤ ₹1,000 you are safe (for now) under the rule for wallet loads; if larger → evaluate whether alternative payment modes (debit card, bank account) may be better.
3. Check your card’s latest “Key Fact Statement” / terms
On SBI Card’s website there is a “Key Fact Statement” which mentions: “W.e.f 1st Nov 2025, 1% of the transaction amount applicable on Education Payments made through third-party apps”
Keep an eye on merchant category codes (MCCs) which may shift, your transaction may code differently and thus fees may apply unexpectedly. Business Standard flagged this.
4. Budget for increased cost
If you regularly pay large amounts for education via card, a 1 % fee means ₹1,000 on every ₹1,00,000. Over a year this may add up.
Reassess whether credit-card payment is worth it for those transactions or whether you’d prefer bank transfer/debit card.
5. Stay timely with payments to avoid late fees
Changes to late payment charges and service fees means an already expensive credit card becomes costlier if you miss minimum payments.
Paying your Minimum Amount Due (MAD) on time remains the single simplest way to avoid heavy penalties and protect your credit score.
