SBI Card will introduce a 1% fee on eligible fuel and transportation transactions from December 1, 2026. The fee will apply if total fuel spending exceeds ₹50,000 in a billing cycle or an individual eligible transportation transaction exceeds ₹30,000.
SBI Card will introduce a 1% fee on certain fuel and transportation transactions from December 1, 2026, according to notices published on its official website on October 27. The card issuer has also started informing customers about the changes through email.
The revised charges will apply to transactions identified under specified Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). While the fuel fee will depend on total spending during a billing cycle, the transportation fee will apply to individual transactions exceeding ₹30,000.
What changes for fuel transactions?
SBI Card will charge a 1% fee if the total value of eligible fuel transactions exceeds ₹50,000 during a billing cycle. The fee will apply to the entire eligible fuel expenditure and not just the amount exceeding the threshold.
For example, if a cardholder spends ₹60,000 on eligible fuel transactions during a billing cycle, the additional fee will be ₹600, calculated at 1% of the total expenditure. Customers whose eligible fuel spending remains at ₹50,000 or below will not attract this fee under the announced rule.
The fuel transactions covered by the revised charges are identified under Merchant Category Codes 5172, 5541, 5542 and 5983. These codes cover petroleum and petroleum products, service stations, automated fuel dispensers and fuel dealers.
The applicability of the charge will depend on the MCC assigned to each transaction.
What changes for transportation payments?
SBI Card will charge 1% of the transaction amount on eligible transportation payments exceeding ₹30,000 from December 1, 2026. Unlike the fuel fee, the transportation charge will apply to each individual transaction rather than the combined spending during a billing cycle.
For example, a single eligible transportation payment of ₹35,000 will attract a fee of ₹350. Transactions worth ₹30,000 or less will not attract the additional charge under the announced rule.
The transportation transactions covered by the revised charges are identified under MCCs 4111, 4784 and 4131. These codes cover local and suburban commuter passenger transport, tolls and bridge fees, and bus services.
The notice does not separately specify whether airline or railway ticket purchases will attract the new charge. Customers should check the MCC assigned to a transaction rather than assume that all travel-related payments are covered.
Can SBI Card change the merchant category codes?
SBI Card has cautioned that Merchant Category Codes are defined by payment network partners and may change at their discretion.
According to the card issuer’s notice, changes to these codes will be implemented based on communication from the networks, without requiring separate intimation to customers.
The applicability of the charges will therefore depend on the MCC assigned to a transaction. Customers should not assume that every payment associated with fuel or transportation will necessarily attract the fee.
Who will be affected by the new SBI Card charges?
The revised charges are likely to have a greater impact on customers with high fuel expenditure or large individual transportation payments. Fleet operators, businesses that purchase substantial quantities of fuel and taxi or transport operators using SBI credit cards should review their spending against the new thresholds.
Customers making large FASTag payments should also check the applicable transaction category, particularly when individual payments exceed ₹30,000.
For other cardholders, the key thresholds to remember are ₹50,000 in total eligible fuel spending during a billing cycle and ₹30,000 for an individual eligible transportation transaction.
What should SBI Card customers know?
Customers should monitor their eligible fuel expenditure during each billing cycle and check the value of individual transportation transactions to understand whether the additional fee will apply.
Those who regularly make large transportation payments can check whether alternative payment arrangements are available. Customers should also review the terms applicable to their transactions before making changes to their payment methods.
For clarification on the revised charges, SBI Card customers can contact the customer care helpline at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02, with the local STD code where required. The new charges will take effect on December 1, 2026.