NOB-Bharat news: It is known that some banks have recently waived the penalty fee imposed for not maintaining a minimum balance in savings accounts. It is known that some banks have recently waived the penalty fee imposed for not maintaining a minimum balance in savings accounts. But private sector giant ICICI has given a different shock to its customers. It has increased the minimum average balance in savings accounts. ICICI Bank has said that this increase will affect all customers of metro, urban, semi-urban and rural branches. This provision will be applicable to customers opening savings accounts after August 1, 2025. It will not apply to existing customers. According to the changed rules, ICICI Savings Account holders in metro and urban areas will have to maintain an average balance of at least Rs 50,000. Earlier, this limit was up to Rs. 10,000. Now it has been increased five times. Furthermore, the minimum average balance for semi-urban customers has been increased from Rs. 5,000 to Rs 25,000. For rural customers, it has been increased from Rs. 2,500 to Rs 10,000. ICICI has revealed that customers should keep this in mind, as according to the new rules, charges will have to be paid if there is no minimum balance. It is noteworthy that this is the highest minimum average balance requirement currently followed by domestic banks on savings accounts. HDFC is implementing a maximum minimum cash requirement of Rs. 10,000 (in metro/urban cities). However, in Axis Bank, this amount is Rs. 12,000 (metro/urban). It is known that banks charge a certain amount of charges from their customers if they do not have a minimum balance. Meanwhile, some banks are providing relief to their customers by exempting them from these charges. The largest public sector bank, SBI, lifted this penalty fee provision in 2020 itself, while recently Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, and Canara Bank have also removed these charges.