SBI is a public sector bank, and large or old dues with public sector banks sometimes come under a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme the bank announces for a period. This guide covers how to ask SBI about settlement in writing, why SBI credit cards follow a different complaint route, and SBI's published complaint timelines. SBI decides any settlement under its own policy; there is no fixed percentage.
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SBI is a public sector bank. Large or old dues with public sector banks sometimes come under a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme the bank announces for a period. Ask your branch in writing whether any OTS scheme currently applies to your account. Do not rely on scheme names shared on WhatsApp or by agents.
SBI credit cards are issued by SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd, a separate company from the bank. Complaints about an SBI credit card go to SBI Card's own grievance channels, not to an SBI branch.
Before asking SBI Card to settle: ask whether your card dues can be converted into EMIs. This costs interest but avoids a "settled" remark on your credit report. If you do ask for settlement, get the written offer first, pay only to the card account through official channels, and collect the closure or settlement letter and confirm the card is closed. For HDFC Bank cards, see the HDFC Bank guide.
SBI's own policy says it should fix your complaint within 20 days. It should give a final answer within 30 days. (Source: SBI's Customer Rights, Grievance Redressal and Compensation Policy, version 6.0, March 2026.) The policy names the General Manager (Customer Experience), CEED, Corporate Centre, Mumbai as Principal Nodal Officer. Check the current PDF before relying on these details.
No reply in 30 days, or a reply you don't accept? You can complain to the RBI Ombudsman. See the full complaint steps.
The RBI rules on recovery calls and the checks before you pay are the same for every bank. See help with recovery pressure, the RBI Ombudsman complaint guide and the settlement letter checklist.
Write to SBI explaining why you cannot pay, with proof. The bank checks your case under its own board-approved policy, as RBI's June 2023 rules allow. If it agrees, get the settlement letter first, pay only into the bank's official account, and then ask for a no-dues letter.
SBI, like other banks, can agree compromise settlements under its own board-approved policy, following RBI's June 2023 framework. Whether an offer is made, and on what terms, is SBI's decision for each account. Ask your branch or loan servicing unit in writing.
SBI credit cards are issued by SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd, a separate company from the bank. Use SBI Card's own grievance channels for card complaints, not an SBI branch.
First complain to the bank. If it does not reply within 30 days, or you do not accept its reply, you can complain free at cms.rbi.org.in within 90 days of the end of that period or the bank's last reply, whichever is later — if your lender is covered by RB-IOS 2026 (housing finance companies and smaller NBFCs are not). Complaints filed before 1 July 2026 stay under the 2021 scheme. See our [RBI Ombudsman complaint guide](/blog/rbi-ombudsman-complaint-guide).
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