The country's largest bank State Bank of India (SBI) customers need to keep a certain amount of money in their savings accounts to avoid paying penalty. The bank has prescribed certain average monthly balances (AMB) for savings accounts at its branches. The customers who hold savings accounts at metros or semi-urban branches are required to maintain an average monthly balance of Rs 3,000.  The customers who do not maintain the minimum monthly balance in their accounts have to pay a penalty.

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The customers have to maintain Rs 3,000 balance in metro/urban branches, while in semi-urban branches the amount is Rs 2,000, and  Rs 1,000 in rural branches, according to the information available on SBI website - sbi.co.in. These charges are applicable for non-compliance of this rule for savings accounts.

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However, these charges are not applicable to SBI salary accounts, small savings accounts, basic savings accounts, and bank accounts opened under the government's financial schemes such as Jan Dhan scheme, among others. The bank account holders should visit the official website for details. Many regular savings account holders who do not maintain the minimum balance, end up paying penalty.

Other leading banks such as Punjab National Bank (PNB), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank also charge certain varied amount for non-maintenance of minimum balance. The bank account holders should know the minimum balance norms in their account or they have to pay penalty.