Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Kotak Mahindra Bank to Implement SMS Alert Charges from December
Imagine your bank sends you text messages to let you know what's happening with your money, like when you spend something or get paid.
Kotak Mahindra Bank is going to start charging a little bit of money for these messages.
If you get more than 30 messages in a month, you'll have to pay about 15 paisa for each extra message.
But don't worry, there are ways to not pay!
If you keep at least ₹10,000 in your savings or salary account, or if your salary is regularly deposited into your account, you probably won't have to pay.
Some special customers, like those with private banking accounts, won't have to pay at all.
This new rule starts in December.
Kotak Mahindra Bank will charge customers for SMS alerts starting in December.
The charge will be INR 0.15 per SMS for alerts exceeding 30 per month.
Alerts include UPI/NEFT/RTGS/IMPS transfers, ATM withdrawals, cash transactions, cheque deposits, and debit/credit card usage.
Private banking customers and non-resident accounts are among those exempted from the charges.
Customers can avoid charges by maintaining a combined balance of ₹10,000 or more, or through regular salary credits.
- Who
- Kotak Mahindra Bank
- What
- Announced revised charges for SMS alerts, implementing a fee of INR 0.15 per SMS for alerts exceeding 30 per month.
- When
- From December
- Where
- India (implied by currency and bank name)
- Why
- To cover operational costs associated with sending SMS alerts.
Customer Concerns
Bank's Rationale
Cost of SMS Alerts
Customer Concerns
Customers may find the new charge of INR 0.15 per SMS for alerts exceeding 30 per month to be an additional financial burden.
Bank's Rationale
The bank is introducing a nominal charge for SMS alerts to cover operational costs, with provisions for customers to avoid these charges.
Avoiding Charges
Customer Concerns
Some customers may find it difficult to maintain the required average balance or may not be eligible for exemptions, leading to unavoidable charges.
Bank's Rationale
Customers can avoid charges by maintaining a minimum combined balance of ₹10,000, or through specific account types and regular salary credits.
- Bank
- Kotak Mahindra Bank
- New Charge
- INR 0.15 per SMS alert
- Effective Date
- December (Year not specified, but implied to be the upcoming December)
- Threshold
- More than 30 SMS alerts per month
- Exemptions
- Private banking customers, non-resident accounts, and specific account types
- How to Avoid Charges
- Maintain a combined balance of ₹10,000 or more (including Monthly Average Balance and Term Deposits), or regular salary credits.