Technology

If you plan to buy AC, you may have to pay higher prices… This service of SBI is also becoming expensive

By Samira Vishwas

New Delhi. There are two such news which may disturb you a bit. If you are planning to buy a Room Air Conditioner, then you may have to pay a higher price in the future. At the same time, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) through mobile app or internet banking is going to be expensive for crores of customers of State Bank.

According to a report by brokerage firm Equirus, AC prices are likely to increase by 7–8 per cent due to the new star-rating rules coming into effect from January 2026 and persistent commodity inflation.

    • Prices of new models likely to increase
    The report says that after the implementation of the new rules, companies will increase the prices of their new models. Apart from this, there may be another increase in prices during April-May 2026, which will set a new level of prices in the entire industry and the pressure on the profits of companies will reduce to some extent.

    From a consumer perspective, this means that the new star-rated models will be more expensive than before. Due to this apprehension, buying trend has already started appearing in the market. According to reports, dealers and customers are stocking up on a large number of old star-rated models in December so that purchases can be made before the new rules come into effect.

    The report also highlights the ups and downs of the Indian room air conditioner industry in the last two years. While the industry had recorded a strong growth of about 40 percent in the calendar year 2024, 2025 remained challenging for the industry. Inclement weather, disruptions related to GST transition, excess stock in the channel and aggressive customer support schemes led to volatile demand and pressure on profits.

    Sending money through IMPS will be expensive
    Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) through mobile app or internet banking is going to be expensive for crores of customers of State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank. From February 15, charges will have to be paid for sending excess amount through IMPS.

    Till now this service was free in most cases. The bank has made it clear that sending money online through IMPS up to Rs 25,000 will be absolutely free as before, which will not affect the common customers much, but there will be a charge for sending money more than that.

    According to the new rules of the bank, a fee will have to be paid for sending more than Rs 25,000 through online channel. As the amount increases, the fee will also increase. For sending Rs 25 thousand to Rs 1 lakh through IMPS, a fee of Rs 2 and GST will have to be paid on top of that.

    Similarly, on Rs 1 to 2 lakh, six per cent service charge and additional GST will be levied. At the same time, if an amount of Rs 2 to 5 lakh is transferred through IMPS, Rs 10 fee and GST will have to be paid. If the customer does IMPS from the branch then charges are already being levied there which will continue in future also.

    The bank said that salary account and pension account holders will continue to be exempted from IMPS charges, which include many special accounts including Shaurya Family Pension Account.

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