Private sector lender YES Bank has announced a revision in its fee structure for salary and defense-related accounts, along with merchant current accounts.
The new charges will be effective from October 1, 2025. These changes will impact customers with Smart Salary, YES Vijay, Defense Pension, Agniveer, and Merchant accounts.
Smart Salary Accounts
Under the revised rules:
Smart Salary Advantage account holders will now receive a RuPay debit card with a joining fee of ₹199.
For Smart Salary Exclusive and higher variants, Engage or Explore debit cards will be issued.
Joining and renewal fees for debit cards will be waived only if the account maintains a monthly salary credit or average monthly balance (AMB) of ₹10,000.
ATM Charges (Other Banks):
3 free transactions/month in metro cities
5 free transactions/month in non-metros
After that: ₹23 per financial transaction and ₹10 per non-financial transaction.
International Usage:
Cash withdrawal: ₹150
Balance inquiry: ₹20
Penalty Charges:
Cheque return: ₹500 (first time), ₹750 (afterward)
ECS return: ₹550 (first time), ₹600 (afterward)
Though salary accounts are treated as zero-balance accounts, if no salary is credited for three consecutive months, they may be converted to regular savings accounts with non-maintenance charges up to ₹750.
YES Vijay Accounts
Account holders will get Element and Engage debit cards free of charge.
Cash transactions at branches or bulk note acceptors will be free up to ₹1 lakh or 2 transactions per month.
Beyond this: ₹4.5 per ₹1,000 (minimum ₹150)
Penalty Charges:
Cheque return (insufficient balance): ₹350 (first time), ₹750 (afterward)
ECS return: ₹500 (first time), ₹550 (afterward)
Defense & Pension Accounts
No changes for these accounts:
Continue to enjoy unlimited free transactions
Free NEFT/RTGS (inward and outward)
Free digital banking and ATM services
Merchant Account Fee Changes (Also Effective October 1)
Merchant Easy Account:
Free cash deposit limit: 12 times the previous month’s AMB, capped at ₹1.5 crore
AMB requirement: ₹25,000
Deposit beyond free limit: ₹4 per ₹1,000 (minimum ₹50)
Merchant Prime Account:
Free cash deposit limit: 15 times the previous month’s AMB, capped at ₹5 crore
AMB requirement: ₹50,000
Same extra deposit charge applies: ₹4 per ₹1,000 (minimum ₹50)
Small Denomination Notes:
Free up to ₹10,000/month
Above this: 2% charge
Coin Deposits:
Free up to ₹1,000
Above this: 5% charge
If merchants complete the required transaction value through POS, QR, or Soundbox, they will be exempted from AMB penalties. Otherwise, a penalty of ₹250 to ₹500 will be applied for shortfalls.
Transaction and Service Charges
RTGS, NEFT, and intra-bank transfers: Free
First 5 IMPS transactions: Free
After that: ₹2.5 to ₹15 per transaction
Checkbook: Free up to 100 pages, then ₹2 per page
Annual Debit Card Fee (Element Business): ₹349
International ATM withdrawal: ₹150
Balance inquiry: ₹20
Non-YES Bank ATM usage:
3 free transactions in metros, 4 in non-metros
After that: ₹23 (financial), ₹10 (non-financial)
Other Charges:
Cheque and ECS return: ₹750 each
Technical cheque return: ₹50
Outstation cheque collection: ₹100
Printed account statement: ₹100
Account closure: ₹500 to ₹750
SMS alerts, emails, and most digital banking services will continue to be free.
