SBI Card will levy an additional 1% charge on fuel spends exceeding Rs 50,000 in a billing cycle, and Rs 30,000 on transport spends in a single payment, from December 1, 2026.

SBI's new rules from December 1 will impose an extra 1% charge on petrol, diesel, metro, and train payments.

If you use an SBI credit card to fill petrol, pay toll or make travel payments like bus-metro, then from December 1, 2026, some specific transactions may put a little more burden on your pocket.

SBI Card issued a notice on its website on October 27, 2026, detailing two new charges and has now begun informing customers via email. Therefore, it's important to understand these rules before using your card.

What changed on petrol and diesel

If your card's total fuel expenditure exceeds ₹50,000 in a single billing cycle, a 1% fee will be levied on the entire fuel expenditure. It's important to note that the fee applies to the entire amount, not just the amount above ₹50,000.

For example, if you fill up petrol worth ₹60,000 in a month, you'll have to pay 1% of the entire ₹60,000, or ₹600, not ₹10,000. If the expense is ₹50,000 or less, there's no fee.

What changed on travel payments

If a single transportation payment exceeds ₹30,000, a 1% fee will be charged. For example, if you make a single travel payment of ₹35,000, a fee of ₹350 will be deducted. This rule applies to each transaction, not the total monthly expenditure.

Which payments will this apply to?

The bank uses a Merchant Category Code (MCC). Travel codes are MCC 4111, 4784, and 4131. These codes are typically used for local and commuter transport, such as metro-local trains, toll and bridge fee payments, such as Fastag, and bus services. Fuel codes are MCC 5172, 5541, 5542, and 5983, which are associated with petrol pumps, fuel dispensers, and fuel dealers.

There's no specific mention of airline or railway tickets yet. The bank also stated that MCC cards are network-determined and may change without prior notice to customers.

Which people are most affected?

Those most affected will be those who purchase large amounts of fuel with cards for their businesses or fleets, taxi drivers, or those who recharge large amounts with Fastags. Average customers whose monthly fuel expenses are less than ₹50,000 will see no impact.

What should customers do?

Keep track of your monthly fuel expenses and remember the billing cycle date. If you need to make large travel payments, consider making instalments of less than ₹30,000. For any questions, call the SBI Card helpline at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02 (add local STD code).