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ICICI Bank’s steep hike in minimum balance requirements and subsequent U-turn raise questions about whether these rules can and should endure.

High returns, RBI-regulated comfort, and easy withdrawals drew investors in. Now, with repayments drying up, the fintech platform, its NBFC partner, and the regulator are pointing fingers—leaving customers to chase their own money.
The RBI’s unusually harsh order raises deeper questions about management credibility—and whether investors should take assurances at face value.
The beleaguered lender outperformed larger rivals—and itself—on several metrics in FY26, but one-offs and a still weak retail engine keep its investors on edge.