What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
No: the published terms do not establish a monthly fee for all high-balance customers at Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and the Bank of Punjab (BOP). BOP’s July–December 2026 conventional schedule specifies a conditional PKR 700 quarterly charge for BOP KHAAS customers whose quarterly average Priority Fee relationship balance is below PKR 2 million. HBL’s verified Premium and Preferred terms cover January–June 2026 only, while its PKR 40,000 minimum-average condition applies specifically to the Freedom Account.
What the published terms say
There is no single “high-balance account” fee rule that applies across both banks. Charges and benefits depend on the specific product, how the bank defines the balance, the averaging period, and the effective dates of the applicable Schedule of Bank Charges (SOBC).
| Bank and account | Balance test | Published charge or benefit | Effective period and qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOP KHAAS current account | PKR 2 million in Priority Fee relationship balance | PKR 700 quarterly if the quarterly average is below the threshold | BOP conventional SOBC effective July 1–December 31, 2026; KHAAS prerequisites apply. The Bank of Punjab’s official schedule. |
| HBL Premium, conventional | Current account: PKR 2,000,000–4,999,999; savings account: PKR 7,000,000–14,999,999 | Selected services are free or discounted, including the first cheque book, within/intercity cash deposits and withdrawals, a 50% waiver on Master World debit-card issuance/annual fee, and a 50% lifetime locker waiver | Quarterly average assets under management; January–June 2026 terms only. Regular SOBC charges apply to other charges. HBL’s official account and tariff information. |
| HBL Preferred, conventional | Current account: PKR 500,000–1,999,999; savings account: PKR 750,000–2,999,999 | Selected waivers include the first 25-leaf cheque book, cash deposits and withdrawals, a 50% waiver on Master Gold debit-card issuance/annual fee, and a 25% regular locker waiver | Quarterly averages; qualified customers only. January–June 2026 terms only. HBL’s official account and tariff information. |
| HBL Freedom Account | PKR 40,000 monthly average balance | Transaction charges apply for a month if the average balance is below the minimum, according to the prevailing SOBC | Account-specific product-page condition; confirm the current tariff and account documents before relying on a charge amount. HBL Freedom Account. |
These entries are not a like-for-like comparison of monthly fees: the BOP KHAAS charge is quarterly, HBL Premium and Preferred figures describe eligibility and selected benefits during the first half of 2026, and the Freedom Account condition is monthly and product-specific.
When BOP KHAAS customers may pay the charge
BOP’s conventional SOBC for July 1–December 31, 2026 lists “PKR 700 quarterly if quarterly average balance falls below 2M in Priority Fee relationship balance” for BOP KHAAS, subject to the product’s prerequisites. The threshold concerns the Priority Fee relationship balance, not necessarily the balance in one account. Customers should ask BOP how it calculates that relationship balance and which accounts or assets qualify before deciding whether they meet the test.
#1 Best Overall
This charge is conditional and quarterly; it is not a monthly fee imposed on every BOP customer with a high balance. BOP products also have different terms: the same schedule describes BOP SACA as having no monthly average-balance requirement and free account maintenance.
What HBL’s published figures do—and do not—show
HBL’s surfaced conventional SOBC and premium addendum cover January–June 2026. They describe Premium and Preferred eligibility using quarterly average assets under management and list selected waivers or discounts. They do not establish HBL’s applicable second-half 2026 Premium or Preferred thresholds or charges. HBL’s official schedule index is the place to check for a later tariff or addendum: HBL’s account and tariff information.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
The HBL Freedom Account is a separate case. Its product page states a PKR 40,000 monthly average-balance condition and says transaction charges apply for a month when the average is below that minimum, under the prevailing SOBC. The page does not establish a single transaction-charge amount that can safely be applied without checking the current tariff and the customer’s account documents.
How to check whether a charge applies to your account
- Identify the exact account. Check the account name and whether it is conventional or Islamic. Do not apply a Freedom, Premium, Preferred, or KHAAS term to another product.
- Find the tariff for the relevant dates. Use the bank’s official SOBC and any product addendum effective for the period in question. For HBL, do not treat January–June 2026 terms as current October 2026 terms. For BOP, the cited conventional schedule covers July 1–December 31, 2026.
- Confirm how the balance is measured. Establish whether the requirement is a monthly or quarterly average, an account balance or a relationship balance, and which eligible accounts or assets count.
- Check the fee and exemptions. Read the specific charge entry, included-service list, waiver conditions, prerequisites, and applicable FED/PST treatment. A premium relationship may waive selected services without waiving every charge.
- Ask the bank to explain a billed fee. Request the calculation period, balance figure used, tariff entry and effective date, and any tax or addendum applied. A published tariff states a potential charge; it does not prove that a particular customer was billed correctly.
Why an old service-charge circular is not enough
A search result for a 2007 State Bank of Pakistan circular says banks “shall not charge more than Rs.50/- per month” in service charges from regular account holders maintaining a balance below the minimum monthly average balance. That old circular result alone does not establish the rule’s current applicability, scope, or amendments. Do not use it as current legal guidance without checking later SBP requirements and confirming how they apply to the account and charge in question.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
