In a startling revelation, it was learnt that some banks are going to charge customers for even paying their own credit card bills at a bank branch. Starting June 1, 2008, ICICI Bank card holders would need to pay Rs 100 to make credit card payments in cash at ICICI Bank branches. However, ICICI is not the only one charging its customers; Standard Chartered Bank has already been levying a charge of Rs 99 since March 2006.

But why pay charges to even pay your bank the due cash? Bankers say they are trying to reduce the burden on short-staffed branches.

Sachin Khandelwal, head of the cards group at ICICI Bank, said, "We are discouraging our customers from depositing cash as there is a transaction cost. About Rs 100 is what is typically charged and it's not specific to cards. It's a cash deposit charge."

He says to avoid the charge; card holders can drop their cheques in a drop-box or do an ECS (electronic clearing service) or auto debit to pay their credit card dues.

Referring to the charge, R L Prasad, general manager, credit cards and personal loans, Standard Chartered Bank, says that payments made at branch counters are an added facility that the bank provides and hence is in its right to collect certain money for the same. He adds, "This is a service charge for providing teller facility for making cash payments. Customers are informed of this and all other charges at the time of applying for the card through the most important document (MID)," Prasad said.