Stop a Minimum Balance Charge: SBP Says Regular Accounts Need None
SBP rules say regular current and saving accounts are free, open with Rs 100 and carry no minimum balance. See who pays nothing and how to reverse a charge.
Short answer: SBP's framework says regular current and saving accounts must be free of charge, need no more than Rs 100 to open, and carry no condition to keep a minimum balance. If your bank deducts a minimum balance penalty or a maintenance fee on such an account, ask it in writing to reverse the charge.
You open an account with a small deposit. A few months later the balance is lower than you expected. The statement shows a deduction with a short code next to it. Many account holders never ask what it was.
We read the State Bank of Pakistan's Business Conduct and Fair Treatment of Consumers Regulatory Framework on 11 October 2026. This guide explains the account rules in section 3.2.1 of that framework, how to spot a charge that should not be there, and how to get it back.
SBP says regular accounts must be free of charge
Section 3.2.1 says that opening and maintaining regular current and saving accounts must be free of charge, must need an initial deposit of at most Rs 100, and must have no condition of keeping a minimum balance. The expenses of a card or cheque book are separate.
The framework took effect on 17 October 2025 through BPRD Circular No. 04. It pulled earlier SBP consumer rules into one document. It applies to banks, microfinance banks and development finance institutions. A footnote to the deposit amount adds that expenses can be over and above the deposit.
| Account rule | What SBP says |
|---|---|
| Opening and maintenance | Free of charge for regular current and saving accounts |
| Initial deposit | Minimum Rs 100 |
| No initial deposit | Freelancers, Zakat beneficiaries, students, government salary and pension accounts |
| Minimum balance | No condition of maintaining one |
| Account closure | No charge when you ask to close |
| Refusal to open | Reasons must be recorded and told to you in writing or digitally |
| Open, activate, decline or close | Within 2 working days of complete documents |
Some customers need no opening deposit at all
The framework lists freelancers, Zakat beneficiaries, students and government or semi-government employees opening accounts for salary and pension as customers who need no initial deposit. The same applies to family pension accounts of widows and children of deceased employees.
If you are in one of these groups and a branch asks for a deposit, point to section 3.2.1 of the framework. For freelancers, the digital route is described in how to open a freelancer digital account.
The framework also lists minimum balance as a term to disclose
The same framework tells banks to disclose "minimum balance requirement" in their terms and conditions. That sits in section 2.3. It does not cancel the rule above. Read the two together: regular accounts have no such condition, but other products may.
We could not find a definition of "regular" in the framework, so we cannot say for every product where the line falls. Premium or special accounts, term deposits and some packaged accounts may have their own conditions, and the bank must disclose them before you sign. Where a source contradicts itself, take the safer reading and ask the bank which product you hold.
How to challenge a minimum balance charge in five steps
Find the charge on your statement, ask your bank which product and which clause it relies on, and request a reversal in writing. If the bank does not reply, lodge a complaint with SBP through Sunwai. Keep every reference number.
- Download your statement and mark the deduction with its date and amount.
- Ask for the bank's Key Facts Statement or schedule of charges for your account. The framework requires it in branches, on the website and in e-banking channels.
- Write to the bank's complaint unit, quote section 3.2.1, and ask for the charge to be reversed.
- Ask for a tracking number by SMS or email. SBP says banks must acknowledge a complaint within 48 hours.
- If the bank refuses or does not reply, file on the SBP Sunwai portal.
The time limits for each stage are in the bank complaint deadlines. If the bank rejects you, the Banking Mohtasib is the second forum.
Dormant accounts also protect you from most fees
The framework says that when an account is marked dormant, only charges for services you chose may be deducted. A bank also may not renew a card or charge a card fee on a dormant account until it is reactivated.
If you left an account unused and find a balance eaten by fees, raise it under section 2.5.1 and section 3.2.2. The steps to wake an account up are in how to reactivate a dormant bank account. To close one instead, see how to close a bank account properly, which the framework says must carry no charge.
Common questions
Can a bank charge me for keeping a regular account open in Pakistan?
No. SBP's framework says opening and maintaining regular current and saving accounts must be free of charge. Charges for services you choose, such as a cheque book or SMS alerts, are separate.
Is there a minimum balance I must keep in a savings account?
For regular current and saving accounts, SBP says there must be no condition of maintaining a minimum balance. Other products may have one, and the bank must tell you before you open the account.
How much money do I need to open an account?
The framework says a minimum of Rs 100 as an initial deposit. Freelancers, Zakat beneficiaries, students and government salary or pension accounts need none, and e-money institutions need none either.
Can a bank refuse to open my account?
Only if you do not meet the requirements. SBP says the reasons for a refusal must be recorded and given to you in writing or digitally. Read how a pending application is handled in the 2 working day rule for accounts and wallets.
Can a bank charge me to close my account?
No. The framework says that a bank must close the account at your request, subject to its terms and conditions, and must not apply any charge for closing it. It must confirm the closure within 2 working days.
What if my bank says the minimum balance is in my agreement?
Ask which product and clause it relies on, and ask for the Key Facts Statement. If the agreement is for a regular current or saving account, the SBP rule above applies and you can complain.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read SBP's BPRD Circular No. 04 of 2025 and the Business Conduct and Fair Treatment of Consumers Regulatory Framework, sections 2.3, 2.5, 3.2.1 and 5.1, on sbp.org.pk on 11 October 2026. We did not test any bank's own charges. Check your own bank's schedule of charges, which it must publish, before you complain.
About the author
Technology Journalist & Multimedia Producer
Ahmad Ali is a technology journalist and multimedia producer at Pakistan Era, joining the team in October 2026. He covers consumer technology and digital life for Pakistani readers, combining research with hands-on product testing.
