SBI Credit Card Charges From December 1 will include a new 1% fee on certain high-value fuel and transportation transactions.
SBI Card announced the changes in a notice dated October 27, 2026, with the revised charges scheduled to take effect from December 1.
The new rules introduce two different spending thresholds. Fuel purchases will be assessed based on total spending during a billing cycle, while eligible transportation payments will be assessed transaction by transaction.
Customers who regularly make large payments using SBI credit cards should review the revised conditions before the changes take effect.
 SBI Credit Card Charges From December 1: What Changes?
The revised rules cover two categories of spending: fuel and specified transportation transactions.
The applicable fee is 1%, but the threshold and calculation method differ for each category.
For fuel, the new fee applies when the total eligible fuel transactions in a billing cycle exceed Rs 50,000.
Once the threshold is crossed, the 1% fee applies to the entire eligible fuel spend, not just the amount above Rs 50,000.
For transportation, the fee applies to each eligible transaction exceeding Rs 30,000. The limit is not based on the combined transportation spending across the billing cycle.
New 1% Fee on Fuel Transactions Above Rs 50,000
From December 1, SBI Card will charge a 1% fee if the total amount of eligible fuel transactions exceeds Rs 50,000 during a billing cycle.
For example, if a cardholder spends Rs 60,000 on eligible fuel purchases during one billing cycle, the 1% fee would amount to Rs 600.
The calculation applies to the entire Rs 60,000 rather than only the Rs 10,000 above the threshold.
If eligible fuel spending remains at Rs 50,000 or below, the newly announced fee will not apply under this rule.
The fuel transactions are identified through Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) 5172, 5541, 5542 and 5983.
These codes cover specified fuel dealers, petrol pumps and related fuel transactions.
The merchant category assigned to a transaction determines whether it falls within the policy.
 Transportation Payments Above Rs 30,000 Will Attract a Fee
The transportation rule works differently. A 1% fee will apply to each eligible transportation transaction exceeding Rs 30,000.
For example, a qualifying transportation payment of Rs 35,000 would attract a fee of Rs 350.
The threshold applies to the individual payment, not the total transportation spending accumulated during the billing cycle.
SBI Card has identified transportation transactions through MCCs 4111, 4784 and 4131.
These generally relate to local and suburban commuter transport, toll and bridge fees, and bus services.
Customers making large toll or FASTag payments should check the merchant category used for the transaction.
The new notice does not establish that every type of travel expense, including all airline and railway ticket purchases, will attract the fee.
Applicability depends on the transaction’s merchant category code.
Who Will Be Affected by the SBI Card Fee Changes?
The changes are particularly relevant to customers whose spending crosses the specified limits.
Businesses, fleet operators and people purchasing large amounts of fuel through an SBI credit card may need to monitor their spending more closely.
Customers making high-value transportation payments, including certain toll-related transactions, should also check whether an individual payment exceeds Rs 30,000.
For instance, a cardholder whose eligible fuel spending totals Rs 45,000 in a billing cycle would remain below the new fuel threshold.
However, a cardholder spending Rs 55,000 on eligible fuel purchases would cross the limit, making the 1% fee applicable to the total eligible fuel spending.
The issuer has also stated that merchant category codes are determined by payment network partners and may change.
Customers should therefore check their statements and transaction classifications rather than relying solely on the description displayed by a merchant.
How SBI Credit Cardholders Can Prepare Before December 1
Cardholders can prepare by reviewing their billing-cycle dates, tracking eligible fuel purchases and checking the value of individual transportation transactions.
Those who use their cards for business or fleet expenses may find it particularly useful to monitor spending throughout each cycle.
Customers should also review the official SBI Card notice and the terms applicable to their particular card.
The announcement describes the new thresholds, but cardholders should confirm any product-specific details and applicable taxes directly with SBI Card.
The new charges are scheduled to begin on December 1, 2026.
Understanding the difference between the fuel spending threshold and the individual transportation transaction limit can help customers estimate whether the revised fees may affect their expenses.
