SBI Card Introduces 1% Fees on Education Payments & Wallet Top Ups from Nov 2025 — What You Must Know

From 1 November 2025, SBI Card will roll out significant changes to its transaction fee rules, especially impacting those who use credit cards for education payments and wallet top-ups. If you often pay tuition fees or recharge wallets using your SBI card, here’s what’s changing and how you can navigate it smartly. What’s Changing? Education Payment Fee (1%) The charge applies only when payments are routed through third-party apps or intermediaries like CRED, Cheq, MobiKwik, etc. Direct payments to schools or colleges via their websites or in person (POS) will not incur this fee. Wallet Load Fee (1%) Over ₹1,000 If you load an e-wallet using your SBI credit card and the amount exceeds ₹1,000, a 1% fee on the transaction will be levied. Why the Change? These revisions seem intended to curb indirect charging routes and reduce abuse of credit card systems for funding third-party wallets. It encourages users to make direct payments, ensuring clearer accountability, and less misuse. How to Avoid or Minimize These Charges Use direct payment methods (school websites, POS) for education fees instead of apps or intermediaries. Keep wallet reloads under ₹1,000 or use alternative funding methods (debit card, bank transfer) when possible. Pay attention to transaction details before confirming, and plan payment routes accordingly. With these changes coming soon, it’s important to adapt your payment habits to avoid surprise costs.