HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, has announced an important rule change that will take effect across the country from April 1.
The decision mainly affects customers who withdraw cash from ATMs using Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Earlier, withdrawing cash from an ATM using UPI did not count toward the monthly free ATM transaction limit. Now that rule has changed.
From April 1 onward, UPI-based ATM withdrawals will be included in the monthly free ATM transaction limit.
If customers exceed the free limit, they will have to pay charges for additional withdrawals.
How Many Free ATM Withdrawals Are Allowed?
For customers who have a savings account with HDFC Bank, the bank allows five free ATM transactions per month when using HDFC Bank ATMs.
Customers from other banks also get a limited number of free withdrawals:
Metro cities: 3 free ATM transactions per month
Non-metro cities: 5 free ATM transactions per month
Once this limit is crossed, customers will have to pay a fee for every additional transaction.
What Charges Will Apply After the Limit?
After the free transaction limit is used up, cash withdrawals from HDFC Bank ATMs will cost ₹23 per transaction plus applicable taxes starting April 1.
Earlier, UPI withdrawals were not counted in this limit, but now they will be treated the same as regular ATM withdrawals.
Charges for Using ATMs Outside India
HDFC Bank also charges specific fees when customers use their debit cards at international ATMs.
For the non-managed segment:
Balance enquiry: ₹25 + applicable taxes
Cash withdrawal: ₹125 + taxes + 3.5% cross-currency markup
For the managed segment:
Balance enquiry: ₹15 + applicable taxes
Cash withdrawal: ₹110 + taxes + 3.5% cross-currency markup
These charges apply whenever customers use their cards at ATMs outside India.
Accounts That Offer Unlimited Free ATM Transactions
Some current account types with HDFC Bank offer unlimited free ATM withdrawals at HDFC Bank ATMs.
These include accounts such as Biz Lite+, Biz Pro+, Biz Ultra+, Biz Elite+, Flexi, Plus, Active, Ascent, Max Advantage, Max, Professional, Ecom, Apex, Ultima, Merchant Advantage, Supreme Current Account, Startup Current Account, SmartUpMax, SmartUp Growth, and Giga Current Account.
Customers holding these accounts can continue making unlimited ATM transactions without worrying about monthly limits.
Understanding these updated rules can help customers manage their withdrawals better and avoid unnecessary ATM charges.
