SBI Card Introduces 1% Fees on High-Value Transportation and Fuel Transactions From December 1, 2026

SBI Card has announced new charges on high-value transportation and fuel transactions for its credit cardholders, effective December 1, 2026. The card issuer has published notices on its website, and cardholders have also received email communications regarding the changes.

Under the revised terms, a 1% fee will apply to eligible transportation transactions exceeding ₹30,000, while fuel transactions will attract a 1% fee if the total fuel spends in a billing cycle exceed ₹50,000. These changes apply to all SBI Credit Cards, including Flipkart SBI and BPCL Octane.

1% Fee on Transportation Transactions Above ₹30,000

Effective December 1, 2026, SBI Card will levy a 1% fee on transportation transactions exceeding ₹30,000. The charges will apply to transactions identified under the following Merchant Category Codes (MCCs):

• MCC 4111: Local and suburban commuter passenger transportation
• MCC 4784: Tolls and bridge fees
• MCC 4131: Bus lines

The fee applies to eligible transportation transactions exceeding the specified threshold.

1% Fee on Fuel Spends Above ₹50,000

SBI Card will also introduce a 1% fee if the total fuel transactions in a billing cycle exceed ₹50,000. The fee will be charged on the total fuel spend for that billing cycle, not just the amount exceeding ₹50,000.

The charges will apply to transactions identified under the following MCCs:

• MCC 5172: Petroleum and petroleum products
• MCC 5541: Service stations
• MCC 5542: Automated fuel dispensers
• MCC 5983: Fuel dealers

Bottom Line

While the sudden announcement may have come as a surprise to some cardholders, these changes are primarily relevant to those with high transportation or fuel expenses. They may particularly affect users who rely on their credit cards for business or commercial transactions.

Most cardholders using their cards for regular personal expenses and not for manufactured spends are unlikely to be affected by these changes. Both changes will come into effect on December 1, 2026. SBI Card users with high transportation or fuel expenses should review the revised fee structure to understand how it may affect their credit card usage.