India’s leading credit-card issuer, SBI Card, has announced a revision to its fee structure effective November 1, 2025. Under the new rules, a 1 percent transaction fee will be levied on wallet top-ups exceeding ₹1,000 and on education-related payments made via third-party applications.
According to the company’s communication to customers, cardholders who use their SBI Card to load digital wallets offered by payment-aggregator apps will face this new charge once the top-up amount crosses the ₹1,000 threshold.
For example, a ₹2,000 wallet load using an SBI credit card would now attract an additional ₹20 fee.
On the education-payment front, the issuer clarified that the 1 percent fee will apply to transactions made to schools, colleges, or other educational institutions through third-party apps and payment aggregators.
However, payments made directly to the institution’s official website or through point-of-sale (POS) terminals located on campus will continue to remain exempt from the surcharge.
SBI Card described the revision as part of its effort to better align transaction costs with the evolving nature of digital payments and to reflect the operational complexity of processing wallet-top-ups and intermediary app transactions.
Industry observers said the move likely stems from the increased costs and risk factors associated with handling payments through external digital platforms.
While the 1 percent charge may appear small, analysts believe it marks an important shift in how credit-card companies are managing payment-channel economics.
For consumers, it could influence how they make digital payments — particularly for those who frequently top up wallets or use apps to pay educational fees.
Financial advisors note that paying fees directly through the institution’s official site or in smaller wallet increments could help users avoid the new charge.
SBI Card also confirmed that all other existing charges will remain unchanged.
This includes fees related to cash or cheque payments, dishonour of payments, cash advances, late payments, and card replacements.
The company stated that it continues to periodically review its fee structure to ensure transparency and compliance with prevailing regulatory guidelines.
The move comes amid a sharp rise in digital-payment activity across India, as consumers increasingly use cards and mobile applications for day-to-day transactions.
With credit-card usage expanding rapidly and wallet ecosystems growing in volume, issuers are reassessing cost frameworks to ensure sustainable operations.
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