Lien Amounts are placed by SBI on your account against Virtual Cards, loans taken against term deposits, unpaid or overdue EMIs, or any tax liability that is still unpaid. These lien amounts can show up due to technical errors too.  

Have you ever checked your account balance and found that it was lower than the actuals? You check and find a LIEN being placed on some amount from your account?  

‘What is a Lien? ‘, ‘Why is it placed on your account?’, & ‘How can you remove it?’ 

A Lien is a hold or freeze on a certain amount in your account towards a liability you owe to the bank. It could be for a loan or credit facility, virtual cards, on purchase of shares, and so on.  

The amount placed under lien is not accessible to the account holder, meaning, they are unable to use it for any transaction, or withdraw it through an ATM.  

How to Check if Your SBI Account Has a Lien? 

  • Customers generally get a notification, either via SMS or email, when SBI Bank places a lien on a certain amount.  

  • Customers can also see the Lien details under their account summary on netbanking or SBI YONO app.  

  • When you login to your SBI Netbanking portal or the SBI YONO App and go to account summary, you will see the header – ‘Lien Amount’ and the amount that has been placed under Lien.  

Learn More About SBI Savings Accounts! 

Types of Liens in SBI Accounts 

Liens can pop up in your account for several reasons, some more confusing than others. Let’s break them down: 

  1. ASBA Orders: ASBA – Application Supported By Blocked Amount is an application process for IPOs where your bid amount is blocked or placed under lien under the order is executed. This ensures that your order for the IPO is processed at the right time. If you have applied for an IPO using this method, that particular amount will be placed under lien.  

  2. Virtual Cards: A Virtual Card is a pre-paid card you can create to gift someone. And the amount you create the card for is placed under lien. These cards are valid for 48hrs and if not used within that time, they automatically expire.  

  3. Loans on Term Deposits: SBI Customers can take a loan against their SBI Fixed Deposits/Term Deposits. And for such loan amounts, a lien is placed on the FD to avoid premature withdrawal of the FD.  

  4. Unpaid EMIs: When loan EMIs are overdue, the bank can place a lien on the outstanding EMI amounts.  

  5. Cheques Clearance Issues: When you have issued a cheque to a third party and the clearance is taking time or facing any issues, SBI may place a lien on the cheque amount until the issue is resolved.  

  6. Tax Liability Overdue: SBI can also place a lien on your account upon the request of authorities like the Income Tax Dept. for tax liabilities that have been overdue.  

  7. Technical Glitches: Sometimes, it’s just a simple plain system error! Though very rare, they are not impossible.  

How to Clear Lien Amount in SBI?  

Once you have identified the reason for the lien, you can easily resolve the issue and get the lien removed.  

  1. ASBA Orders: These are to ensure that your bid goes through successfully. If you don’t want the order, just cancel the ASBA order and the lien will be automatically removed.  

  2. Virtual Cards: This amount is allocated for the virtual card. If for some reason you want the lien amount released, just cancel the virtual card before 48 hours. Or, you can leave the card unused and the lien will be automatically removed at the expiration of 48hrs.  

  3. Loans on FDs: This lien is to protect the bank’s interest in the FD. The lien will be removed once the loan has been paid off. If you want it removed earlier, you can close the loan earlier.  

  4. Cheque Clearance Issues: For this one, you might have to visit the branch to resolve the issue with the cheque clearance. You can also call SBI Customer Care to find out more details before visiting the branch.  

  5. Unpaid EMIs: You just have to pay the outstanding EMIs and the lien will be removed. If you have difficult in repaying loans, you can consider Debt Consolidation loans or Home Equity loans to secure more funding.  

  6. Tax Liabilities: This lien will be removed when you settle your dues with the Income Tax department. 

  7. Technical Issues: You can contact the SBI Customer Care number or visit your branch to get this issue resolved.  

What are the Documents Required to Remove Lien on my SBI Account?  

For virtual cards, ASBA orders and loans on FDs, the liens will be removed once you cancel the orders/accounts. Just in case, keep the account closure confirmation ready. 

  1. For Loan Closure: Keep your loan closure statement and NOC handy.  

  2. Cheque Clearance Issues: There may not be any specific documents for this case. However, you can request the official to send out an official email for your records.  

  3. Tax Liability: You just need the tax payment receipt in case it’s requested.  

How to Send a Lien Removal Request to SBI 

Customers can use SBI Netbanking login and send out a request for Lien removal.  

  1. Login to SBI Netbanking with your credentials.  

  2. On the top menu bar, click on Requests > Others > Remove Lien. 

  3. You have the option to enter remarks and then hit submit.  

Or, you can walk in to your nearest SBI Branch and talk to the Branch Manager to resolve the issue.  

Click here for a list of all SBI Branches and find the nearest one to you.  

How Long Does SBI Take to Remove Lien? 

Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to resolve the lien issue, SBI usually takes 24-48 hours to remove the lien. In rare cases, it might take up to 7 working days. 

Can I Use the Lien Amount for my personal use? 

No. The lien amount is frozen and can’t be withdrawn or used for any retail transactions until the issue is resolved. You can neither withdraw it from an ATM or use it for merchant/POS or online transactions.  

Whom should I Contact for Lien-Related Issues? 

The best option is to contact your Branch Manager for quick resolution. You can also call the customer care for more details -  

  • Call SBI customer care at 1800 112 211 or 1800 425 3800. 

  • Send an email to customer.care@sbi.co.in. 

  • Send a grievance redressal email: cms.sbi@sbi.co.in. 

  • If you’ve exhausted all options, the RBI Banking Ombudsman can get the issue resolved. 

How to check and remove Lien Amount on my SBI Account – FAQs:  

1. What is a lien amount in SBI? 
It’s a hold or freeze on a certain amount in your bank account that can’t be used until the reason behind it is resolved. It is a temporary hold and will be released once the issue is cleared. 

2. How do I check if my SBI account has a lien? 
Customers can check for Lien amount on their SBI Account from the Account summary page, which can be accessed through Netbanking or the SBI YONO app.  

3. Can I withdraw the lien amount from SBI? 
No, the lien amount cannot be used for any transactions. You cannot withdraw it at an ATM either.  

4. How do I remove a lien from my SBI account? 
The lien on your SBI Account will be released once the related issue is resolved. You need to understand the reason for the lien and take necessary action to clear them. You can also contact your branch manager for assistance.  

5. How long does SBI take to remove a lien? 
SBI usually removes the lien within 24-48 hours of issue resolution. In some cases, it may take up to 7 days. 

 

Disclaimer: This page includes information that has been compiled from many sources and is only offered for informational purposes. Since this type of data might change over time, we cannot guarantee that the information supplied or included within it is accurate. It is anticipated that the user would confirm with the relevant source prior to taking any choices or action.