SBI,PNB or BOB Account Holders to Get ₹1 Lakh Direct Deposit? Here’s What You Should Know

SBI, PNB or BOB Account Holders to Get ₹1 Lakh Direct Deposit? Here’s What You Should Know: There is a growing circulation of a claim that starting 1st October, holders of SBI (State Bank of India), PNB (Punjab National Bank), or BOB (Bank of Baroda) accounts will receive a direct credit of ₹1,00,000 (one lakh rupees) into their bank accounts.

This message is doing rounds via social media posts, WhatsApp forwards, and local rumors. Before you get excited (or worried), here’s a detailed look at what is known so far, whether there is any official basis to it, the risks, and how you can verify such claims.

The Claim: What People Are Saying

1. The claim is that starting October 1, the government (or some authority) will deposit ₹1,00,000 directly into every account held at SBI, PNB, or BOB.
2. Many social media posts suggest that this is a new welfare scheme or stimulus measure to help citizens with rising costs.
3. Some versions of the message allege that this is only for existing account holders, or those with certain types of accounts (e.g. savings accounts), or those meeting some eligibility criteria.

Is There Any Official Confirmation?

1. No press release on the official websites of SBI, PNB, or BOB mentions a ₹1 lakh credit to all accounts starting October 1.
2. Government portals or policy announcements have not included any such scheme in their budget or welfare plan documents.
3. News fact-checking agencies and credible media outlets have also flagged similar messages as likely rumors or hoaxes (though I didn’t find a specific fact check for this exact ₹1 lakh claim at the time of writing).

Why These Claims Spread

1. Appeal to wishful thinking: People like to believe in “free money” from the government, especially in tough economic times.
2. Viral messaging: On WhatsApp or social media, sensational claims propagate quickly before verification.
3. Combination with real schemes: Sometimes there are government subsidies or direct benefit transfers (DBTs) already in place, so people confuse or mix them with new rumors.
4. Scam potential: Such messages can be used as hooks for phishing, asking you to click links, provide bank credentials, or pay some “fee” to claim your money.

Risks of Believing or Acting on It

1. Phishing / data theft: The message may include a link asking you to “check eligibility” or “claim your ₹1 lakh” by entering your bank details, OTP, or password. That’s a classic phishing trick.
2. Scams demanding “processing fees”: Some variants may demand a small amount (e.g. ₹100 or ₹500) as a “service fee” to release the funds.
3. Fraudulent calls or messages: After the message, you might receive calls claiming to be bank officials needing verification, which can be part of identity theft.
4. False hope or confusion: Many people might wait or plan based on this false premise, which can lead to disappointment or misjudged financial planning.

How to Verify Such Claims (Before Believing or Sharing)

1. Check official bank websites / notifications: 1)Visit SBI, PNB, BOB official websites. They often post news, circulars, and press releases. 2)Banks will rarely use social media forwards to announce such a major scheme.
2. Look for government announcements: 1)Check the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Home Affairs, or the PMO website. 2)Gazette notifications, official press releases, or parliamentary records are more credible.
3. Consult trusted news sources / fact-checkers: 1)Reputed newspapers or financial news sites often investigate such claims. 2)Fact-check portals like Alt News, Boom, or similar often debunk viral financial rumors.
4. Check RBI / regulatory statements: 1)The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates banking operations; a scheme affecting depositor credits would normally involve its oversight. 2)Check RBI’s website for statements regarding any exceptional deposits.
5. Be wary of links or forms in forwarded messages: 1)Do not click on unfamiliar links, or enter your credentials unless you have confirmed the source is genuine. 2)Official portals use secure domains (e.g. *.gov.in or the official bank domain) and secure SSL.
6. Contact your bank branch or customer service: 1)Visit your branch and check with a bank officer. 2)You can call the official number (from bank’s website) and ask whether the scheme is real.

Why Such a Scheme Would Be Extremely Unusual

1. Huge financial burden: If millions of account holders were eligible, the total cost would run into tens or hundreds of thousands of crores.
2. Eligibility and fairness: Which accounts qualify (active accounts, resident citizens, income limits)? How do you exclude ineligible accounts?
3. Verification and security issues: Ensuring the correct account gets the deposit safely, without fraud or duplication, is extremely complex.
4. Precedent: So far, government welfare or benefit schemes give targeted assistance (e.g. PM Kisan, Ujjwala, etc.), not blanket grants of ₹1 lakh per account.
5. Legal / budget constraints: Such a scheme would need legislative backing, budget allocation, audit mechanisms, and constitutional checks.

If It Were Real What You’d Expect

1. Clear eligibility criteria published in advance
2. Advance notice and press conferences by government
3. Notification in multiple media outlets
4. Bank circulars / customer notices to individual account holders
5. Mechanisms for complaints / redressal if money fails to show up
6. Audit trails / official records showing how many accounts and how much total money is disbursed

What You Should Do Now

1. Do not forward or share: the message without verifying. Forwarding false rumors contributes to confusion.
2. Do not click links or fill forms: that ask for bank account details or OTP based on this message.
3. Monitor your official bank messages or notices: if your bank plans something, they’ll reach you through their proper channels.
4. Watch for credible news reports: if there is a genuine government scheme, mainstream media will cover it thoroughly.
5. Call or visit your bank branch: if you are unsure ask whether they have any plan for this.

Conclusion: SBI,PNB or BOB Account Holders to Get ₹1 Lakh Direct Deposit

At this moment, the claim that ₹1 lakh will be credited to all SBI / PNB / BOB accounts from October 1 is unsupported by any credible source. It appears to be a viral rumor. Always rely on official channels and verification before believing or sharing such financial news. Stay alert, stay safe.