Banking rules shift gears from april 1

Heads up—the new financial year’s rolling in on April 1, and banks across India are switching up the playbook with changes you’ll feel in your wallet. Free ATM withdrawals are shrinking from five to three a month—cross that line, and you’re hit with Rs 20 to Rs 25 per pop. It’s a nudge to lean on digital payments, but it’ll sting if you’re still cash-heavy.

Minimum balance rules are getting a facelift too—how much you need to keep stashed depends on your account type and where your branch sits, urban or rural. Slip below that mark, and extra charges kick in—banks like SBI and Canara are tightening the screws here. Then there’s the Positive Pay System—any cheque over Rs 50,000 needs electronic verification now, a fraud shield that means more steps before the money moves.

Digital banking’s stepping up—AI chatbots are on deck to help you out, backed by beefier security like two-factor authentication and biometrics. It’s all about smoother, safer transactions, but you’ll need to stay sharp on these updates—penalties lurk if you don’t. India’s banking scene is tilting toward tech and tighter controls, ready or not.