If you use an SBI credit card for fuel purchases, toll payments, or travel-related expenses (such as bus or metro fares), you may face an additional financial burden starting December 1, 2026. SBI Card issued a notice on its website on October 27, 2026, detailing two new charges, and has now begun informing customers via email as well.

**Changes regarding fuel (petrol/diesel) purchases**
If your total fuel expenditure on your card within a single billing cycle exceeds ₹50,000, a 1% fee will be levied on the entire fuel spend. It is important to note that this fee applies to the total amount, not just the portion exceeding ₹50,000. For example, if you spend ₹60,000 on fuel in a given month, the 1% fee (amounting to ₹600) will be charged on the full ₹60,000, rather than just on the ₹10,000 that exceeds the threshold. If your total fuel expenditure is ₹50,000 or less, no fee will be charged.

**Changes regarding travel payments**
If any single transportation-related payment exceeds ₹30,000, a 1% fee will be applied to that specific transaction. For instance, if you make a travel-related payment of ₹35,000 in a single instance, a fee of ₹350 will be charged. In this case, the rule applies to each transaction, not to the total monthly expenditure.

**Which payments are covered?**
The bank has defined these categories based on Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). The MCCs designated for travel-related expenses are 4111, 4784, and 4131. Generally, these codes are used for local and commuter transport services—such as metro or local trains—toll and bridge fees (including FASTag payments), and bus services.

MCC codes 5172, 5541, 5542, and 5983 have been designated for fuel-related transactions, covering petrol pumps, fuel dispensers, and fuel dealers. The notice does not make specific mention of airline or railway tickets. The bank has also clarified that MCC codes are determined by the card networks and may be subject to change without prior individual notification to customers.

Who will be most affected?
The impact will be most significant for those who use their cards for large-volume fuel purchases—such as businesses, fleet operators, and transport or taxi service providers—as well as those who make large, one-time recharges for FASTag. Average customers whose monthly fuel expenditure is less than ₹50,000 will remain unaffected.

What should customers do?
Keep track of your monthly fuel expenses and be mindful of your billing cycle dates. If necessary, consider breaking down large travel-related payments into smaller installments of less than ₹30,000. For any queries, you may contact the SBI Card helpline at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02 (prefixed with your local STD code).

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