SBI Alert: State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest public sector bank, has issued a warning for its customers.
Due to the rising cases of digital fraud, SBI has shared important information. The bank said there is no need to worry about calls that begin with +91-1600 — these calls are completely safe and authentic.
SBI Explains the Purpose of These Calls
SBI announced on social media that calls from the 1600 series are made only for service or transaction-related purposes. If you receive a call from this number series, you can talk without any concern.
RBI’s New Instructions
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given a new directive to all banks and financial institutions.
From January 2025, they must make customer calls only from numbers starting with 1600xx.
This will help customers identify genuine calls. Meanwhile, numbers starting with 140xx will be used only for marketing and promotions.
Why This Matters
RBI pointed out that mobile numbers are now essential for receiving OTPs, alerts, and account updates. However, scammers are also using them to cheat people. That’s why it’s important to know which numbers are real.
SBI’s Verified Calling Numbers
SBI has published a list of its genuine calling numbers. These are the only numbers used by the bank to reach customers:
1600-01-8000
1600-01-8003
1600-01-8006
1600-11-7012
1600-11-7015
1600-01-8001
1600-01-8004
1600-01-8007
1600-11-7013
1600-00-1351
1600-01-8002
1600-01-8005
1600-11-7011
1600-01-7014
1600-10-0021
What Customers Should Do
SBI advises customers to take calls only from the numbers listed above. Do not respond to unknown or suspicious numbers.
Never share your bank details over the phone. If you feel unsure or uncomfortable, contact your bank directly.
This move by SBI and RBI is an important step to protect customers from digital fraud.
