Current Affairs - Banking

ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest private lender, faced widespread criticism after it sharply raised the minimum average balance (MAB) for new urban savings account holders from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000. This move drew heavy backlash from customers and financial experts, as the hike was seen as disproportionate compared to other banks like SBI, which has removed MAB requirements altogether. Responding swiftly, ICICI Bank revised the policy, lowering the urban MAB to ₹15,000, while also reducing thresholds in semi-urban areas. The revision highlights how customer feedback and market competition play a decisive role in shaping banking policies, balancing profitability with inclusivity.

Bank of Baroda has introduced international UPI services via its bob इ Pay app, making cross-border digital payments more accessible for both resident Indians and NRIs. The new features include UPI Global Acceptance, foreign inward remittances, and dedicated UPI access for NRI account holders. Customers can now make payments to merchants abroad, receive money from Singapore in real-time, and NRIs can link their NRE/NRO accounts to use UPI seamlessly. With a daily transaction limit of ₹1,00,000, the initiative strengthens Bank of Baroda’s role in digital banking innovation while aligning with India’s push for global adoption of UPI services.

IDFC FIRST Bank has introduced RemitFIRST2India, a zero-fee digital remittance platform designed for Non-Resident Indians to send money to India quickly, securely, and transparently. Launched in partnership with SingX, the service currently operates from Singapore and Hong Kong, offering competitive forex rates, real-time transaction tracking, and fully digital, paperless transfers to any bank account in India. Existing NRI customers can access it directly through the bank’s mobile app, while new users benefit from simple online onboarding. This initiative aligns with IDFC FIRST Bank’s customer-first approach, digital innovation leadership, and commitment to ethical, socially responsible, and inclusive banking practices.

Axis Bank has introduced the ‘Lock FD’ feature as a proactive measure to safeguard customers from digital banking fraud. This feature prevents the premature closure of fixed deposits through online channels, allowing closure only via in-person visits to a branch with proper identity verification. By blocking digital closure requests and requiring branch-based verification, the initiative significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised fund withdrawals, even if digital credentials are compromised. Customers can activate ‘Lock FD’ through the Axis Bank mobile app or by visiting a branch, thereby adding a strong human and procedural layer of protection to their savings.

ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest private sector lender, has announced a significant hike in its Minimum Average Balance (MAB) requirements for metro, urban, semi-urban, and rural branches, effective August 2025. This revision marks the first such steep increase among private banks, with metro and urban branches seeing the MAB raised from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000, semi-urban from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000, and rural from ₹2,500 to ₹10,000. The policy also introduces stricter penalties for non-maintenance and revised cash transaction limits. This move has sparked discussions on the rising banking cost burden, especially when many public sector banks are reducing or waiving similar charges.