Will Money Start Being Deducted from Your Account on January 1st? Airtel and Other Banks Implement New Rules!

Banking and Digital Payment Rules: The new year is going to be expensive for ordinary consumers in the country's banking and digital payment system. The scope of free services is shrinking, and several new charges related to ATMs, credit cards, and digital wallets are going to be implemented, which will directly impact your wallet.

Banking and Digital Payment Rules: A major change is coming to the country's banking and digital payment sector. Banks are now limiting their free services and increasing the charges for various facilities. From withdrawing money from ATMs to using credit cards, customers may now have to pay extra at every step. In the coming year, major institutions like ICICI Bank and Airtel Payments Bank are preparing to implement new service charges.

ICICI Bank Credit Card and Wallet Transactions to Become More Expensive

ICICI, a leading private sector bank, has updated its charge list, which will be effective from January 15, 2026. Now, if you use your credit card on gaming apps, you will have to pay a 2% fee on the transaction value. In addition, loading more than Rs 5,000 into third-party wallets like Paytm or MobiKwik will incur an additional 1% charge. The bank has also increased the fee for depositing cash bills at the branch from Rs 100 to Rs 150.

Stricter Conditions for Entertainment and Reward Points

There's bad news for movie buffs too. From February 1, 2026, the free movie offers available through BookMyShow will be discontinued or limited. Now, the benefit of free movie tickets will only be available to customers who have spent at least Rs 25,000 in the previous quarter. Not only that, but to earn reward points on premium cards like Rubix and Sapphiro, it has now been made mandatory to make a minimum purchase of Rs 20,000 every month. Airtel Payments Bank to Charge Annual Fee for Wallet Services

Using digital wallets is no longer free. Airtel Payments Bank has decided to impose an annual maintenance charge of Rs 75 (plus GST) on its wallet users starting January 1st. If a user's wallet does not have sufficient balance, the bank will deduct the existing balance, and the remaining amount will be automatically debited when funds are deposited in the future. This move reflects the changing trends in the digital wallet market, where companies are now starting to charge for maintenance.

The Changing Landscape of Digital Wallets: The End of Free Services

The journey of digital wallets in India began in 2004 with Oxygen Wallet and gained momentum with Paytm in 2010. Initially, these services were completely free, but the scenario has now changed. Since 2021, MobiKwik has started charging for inactive wallets, and other companies have also started levying service charges of up to 1.5% for KYC verification and loading money via cards. This indicates that the cost of digital transactions will now have to be borne by the consumers.

Transformation of Rural Banks: One Nation, One Identity

The central government has taken a historic step to empower rural banking. Now, all 28 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in the country will have a single identity. The Ministry of Finance and NABARD have jointly released a new 'unified logo' for these banks. The logo features a rising flame with three levels, symbolizing development, knowledge, and rural empowerment. The hand symbol within the logo represents customer protection and trust.

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