Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
6 Min
20 Sep 2025
Union Bank of India Minimum Balance – Updated Charges & Rules
Key Highlights
- Union Bank of India Minimum Balance requirements are different for different accounts and branches..
- Penalties are not maintaining the minimum balance and chequebook status. Chequebook accounts face higher charges (e.g., up to ₹100 + GST for larger shortfalls), while non-chequebook accounts are charged less.
- MAB is calculated by adding daily closing balances and dividing by the days in the month/quarter.
The Union Bank of India Minimum Balance require the customers to maintain a minimum average balance in their accounts. It varies by account type and location, with penalties applied if the balance is not up to the set limit.
For Example, Rajeev, a freelance designer in Lucknow, had no clue about Union Bank of India Minimum Balance (MAB) rules. His account required a ₹1,000 MAB. Here’s how his balance looked in May (31 days):
- Day 1–10: ₹0/day= ₹0
- Day 11–20: ₹2,000/day= ₹20,000
- Day 21–31: ₹1,500/day= ₹16,500
- Total = ₹0 + ₹20,000 + ₹16,500 = ₹36,500
- MAB = ₹36,500 ÷ 31 = ₹1,177.41
Boom! Even with 10 days at zero balance, he avoided penalties all thanks to smart fund management. Isn’t that interesting?
So, it’s not about keeping money in your account every single day, but about maintaining a good average by the end of the month.
Sounds simple, right? Let’s understand how Union Bank’s minimum balance rules work, and how you can avoid penalties just like Rajeev did!
What Is Minimum Balance?
Understanding minimum balance with the help of an example
Ravi, a school teacher in Bhopal, opened a savings account with Union Bank of India minimum balance and enjoyed using internet banking and ATMs. However, he was surprised when ₹118 was deducted from his account.
At the branch, he learned the deduction was a penalty for not maintaining the Union of India Minimum Average Balance (MAB).
His urban branch required a ₹5,000 MAB, but due to a family emergency, his balance dropped to ₹2,000 for several days, lowering his average and triggering the penalty fee.
Why Do Banks Set a Minimum Balance?
Banks require customers to maintain a minimum balance for practical and financial reasons. This helps them manage costs while also ensuring customer accounts remain active.
- To cover operational costs (ATM, staff, digital banking)
- To ensure regular fund inflow and account activity.
- To promote savings discipline
Union Bank of India Minimum balance rules are not just restrictions; they help banks stay efficient and encourage financial discipline among account holders.
Types of Minimum Balance
Different banks use various methods to calculate balance requirements. Knowing the type applied to your account helps you avoid unnecessary penalties.
- Minimum Average Balance (MAB): average maintained over a month/quarter
- Minimum Daily Balance: balance required every single day
- Zero Balance Account: no balance required at all
By understanding the type of minimum balance, customers can select the right account type that fits their lifestyle and spending habits.
Example Table
The minimum balance varies based on account type and location. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Whether in cities or villages, maintaining the required balance helps avoid charges. Opting for zero-balance accounts is a practical choice for those who prefer flexibility.
Union Bank Of India Minimum Balance Requirement By Account Type:
Let’s say Neha, a college student in Jaipur, opened a Union Bank of India Minimum Balance student savings account (SBZER). Unlike her father’s regular urban account that requires a ₹1,000 minimum balance with a cheque book, Neha’s student account had no minimum balance requirement.
She once kept only ₹50 for two months and wasn’t charged any fee. However, her father had ₹400 instead of ₹1,000 in his account and was charged ₹100 + GST for not maintaining the Average Quarterly Balance (AQB).
The table below shows the minimum balance requirements in the Union Bank of India Minimum Balance:
Customers with student, digital, or pensioner savings accounts can use the benefits as per zero AQB requirements. For others, maintaining AQB avoids penalty charges that vary by branch and facility type.
Union Bank Of India Minimum Balance Non-Maintenance Charges:
Union Bank applies penalties based on the shortfall in AQB. The charges are different for accounts with and without chequebooks. The table below gives you a summary of the charges applied for every account type.
Accounts with chequebooks face slightly higher penalties compared to non-chequebook accounts. Minor shortfalls can lead to lower fees, while larger shortfalls lead to higher charges.
Do you know that charges are based on how much the AQB falls short and not the absolute balance? Also, GST (currently 18%) is added to the said charges.
Important Notes
- These rates are based on the service charge document dated June 1, 2016 and may have changed.
- For the latest and most accurate details, check the official Union Bank of India Minimum Balance website or visit a branch.
Let’s understand it with the help of an example:
Sohan, a shopkeeper in Pune, had a Union Bank savings account with a chequebook. He was supposed to maintain an Average Quarterly Balance (AQB) of ₹1,000, but kept only ₹400 on average.
His shortfall was ₹600, so the bank charged him ₹100 + 18% GST, totalling ₹118. Meanwhile, his wife Meena, with a no-chequebook account and a ₹200 shortfall, was charged only ₹20 + GST. That’s when they learned charges vary by shortfall and account type.
How To Check Your Monthly Average Balance In Union Bank Of India?
To know your Monthly Average Balance (MAB) in Union Bank of India, you’ll need to calculate it manually. The MAB is the sum of daily closing balances for a month, divided by the number of days in that month.
Step 1: Get Daily Closing Balances
You can access your daily balances using any of the following methods:
- Net Banking: Log in to Union Bank’s Net Banking, go to “Account Summary” and download the monthly statement.
- Mobile App (Vyom): Open the Vyom App, go to your account, and view the daily balance history.
- SMS: Send UMNS to 09223008486 to get a mini statement.
Step 2: Calculate Your MAB
Let’s say in June (30 days):
- Days 1–10: ₹10,000 daily → 10 × ₹10,000 = ₹1,00,000
- Days 11–20: ₹15,000 daily → 10 × ₹15,000 = ₹1,50,000
- Days 21–30: ₹20,000 daily → 10 × ₹20,000 = ₹2,00,000
Total Closing Balances: ₹1,00,000 + ₹1,50,000 + ₹2,00,000 = ₹4,50,000
MAB = ₹4,50,000 ÷ 30 = ₹15,000
So, your Monthly Average Balance is ₹15,000 for June. Always maintain the required MAB to avoid penalty charges!
How To Avoid Minimum Balance Penalties?
Let’s say Anjali, a marketing executive in Indore, holds a Union Bank of India savings account with a ₹1,000 Minimum Average Balance (MAB) requirement. In June (30 days), she kept ₹0 for the first 10 days due to expenses, ₹2,000 for the next 10 days, and ₹1,500 for the last 10 days.
Let’s calculate her MAB:
- 10 days × ₹0 = ₹0
- 10 days × ₹2,000 = ₹20,000
- 10 days × ₹1,500 = ₹15,000
- Total = ₹35,000 ÷ 30 days = ₹1,167 MAB
Even though her balance was zero for 10 days, her average still exceeded ₹1,000. So, she avoided the penalty! She managed this by setting up an automated transfer of ₹5,000 on the 11th day.
Tips to Avoid Penalties
- Understand MAB: It’s an average. High balances can offset low ones.
- Automate Transfers: Schedule a monthly top-up.
- Use Digital Tools: Enable alerts and track via mobile/online banking.
- Choose the Right Account: Opt for zero-balance or lower-MAB options.
Banks calculate the Monthly Average Balance (MAB) by adding daily closing balances and dividing by the number of days in a month. This helps determine if you’ve maintained the minimum balance required. The table below gives you a summary of how it is done.
This table shows that even if you don’t keep a constant balance daily, banks use the average balance method and charge you penalties.
Conclusion
Maintaining Union Bank of India Minimum Balance or AQB/MAB helps you avoid penalties and keeps accounts active. If you do not have a fixed salary or have an irregular cash flow, choose zero-balance variants. You can also automate monthly bonuses, monitor balances via NetBanking or the Vyom app. You can save a lot on fees and banking hassles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the bank waive AQB penalties for a one-time genuine reason?
Yes, banks sometimes waive fees for genuine hardship if you request and provide proof; escalate to the branch or nodal officer if needed.
Do third-party deposits count toward MAB?
Yes, any credited funds that reflect in the closing balance for the day count toward the MAB, regardless of the payer.
Does maintaining MAB increase the savings interest rate?
No, interest rates on savings are independent of MAB; MAB only affects fee/penalty application and account type eligibility.
How is MAB handled for joint accounts?
MAB is calculated on the joint account’s daily closing balance (not individually), so combined funds determine compliance.
Do incoming salary credits or standing instructions count immediately?
Yes, once credited to your account on that day, salary and standing instruction credits raise the daily closing balance used in MAB.
Can repeated AQB non-maintenance lead to account freezing or closure? Persistent inactivity or unresolved issues can lead banks to mark accounts inoperative or initiate closure procedures; banks normally notify customers first.
How do I dispute a penalty shown on my statement?
Raise a complaint at your branch or via the bank’s grievance portal, keep transaction/statement evidence, and escalate to the bank’s nodal officer or Banking Ombudsman if unresolved.
About the Author
LoansJagat Team
‘Simplify Finance for Everyone.’ This is the common goal of our team, as we try to explain any topic with relatable examples. From personal to business finance, managing EMIs to becoming debt-free, we do extensive research on each and every parameter, so you don’t have to. Scroll up and have a look at what 15+ years of experience in the BFSI sector looks like.
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