Why has ICICI Bank randomly done a Total Freeze on my Account?

[dvader]

My ICICI Bank account too met with same fate on 15th Feb 2025, reason - regulatory/other reasons and account went into frozen status. Met with branch official today, outright I was asked to give an application to close the account (amount available in my account will get credited to my another bank's account). It may take 7 to 10 days, let see.

Do you have a current account or saving account?

 

[akiratoriyama]

Only rbi ombudsman bamboo can possibly do anything

 

[iamjeetendra]

Do you have a current account or saving account?

It is a Saving Account, almost 16 years old.

 

[iamjeetendra]

Latest update I met the bm and they are not taking risks at the moment to unfreeze the accounts..what's crazy was there are 100s of accounts already frozen with similar reasons and he explained how internal monitoring has been changed by their bank in the last 1yr and how strict they have become due to lot of cyber cases which are involving the banks in multiple cases too .so if at all they observe something abnormal they are outright freezing and closing the accounts..my family has many current accounts in the same branch so I had a meeting for more than 30mins to unfreeze the same..finally he said he will try his best but don't keep hopes up and asked me to write the letter to have a better chance..a lot more was discussed regarding these freezes..anyway i advise you guys to keep a minimal balance in the bank no matter which bank it is..you are always at risk..good luck guys

Bhai Ji, What is the latest update, did your account got closed and available money returned to you or unfreezing process is started? Kindly update if possible!

 

[boyella]

Bhai Ji, What is the latest update, did your account got closed and available money returned to you or unfreezing process is started? Kindly update if possible!

I finally got my account unfreezed. I have like 2 more current accounts in the same branch so I have good relationship with manager and staff..so after lot of discussion I wrote a letter saying I am unaware the rules regarding the transaction limits. Then branch manager called me today saying that backend team said the bank manager to go and visit me at my adress and get a clarification regarding the transactions. He called me to come and meet me at my home but I was out of station so I said i can meet on Monday he said he just wanted to know that address is legit and also once again asked about the transactions..i told him again all i did was normal transactions..he said he will try to convince the backend team to remove the freeze or else only option was to close the bank account and u will receive the funds in 3-5 weaks or months..i don't remember the time frame exactly.. luckily I got a mail 1 hour ago aaying freeze was removed..so basically it all depends on the manger..if he is willing to go far for you then he can try to unfreeze or else on default most managers are not willing to take any risk so they are asking to close the accounts.. basically their internal system sucks..Bm himself said there are 100s of accounts facing these issues regularly bank is acting very strict these days..so do as less Transactions as you can in a savings account..

 

[iamjeetendra]

I finally got my account unfreezed. I have like 2 more current accounts in the same branch so I have good relationship with manager and staff..so after lot of discussion I wrote a letter saying I am unaware the rules regarding the transaction limits. Then branch manager called me today saying that backend team said the bank manager to go and visit me at my adress and get a clarification regarding the transactions. He called me to come and meet me at my home but I was out of station so I said i can meet on Monday he said he just wanted to know that address is legit and also once again asked about the transactions..i told him again all i did was normal transactions..he said he will try to convince the backend team to remove the freeze or else only option was to close the bank account and u will receive the funds in 3-5 weaks or months..i don't remember the time frame exactly.. luckily I got a mail 1 hour ago aaying freeze was removed..so basically it all depends on the manger..if he is willing to go far for you then he can try to unfreeze or else on default most managers are not willing to take any risk so they are asking to close the accounts.. basically their internal system sucks..Bm himself said there are 100s of accounts facing these issues regularly bank is acting very strict these days..so do as less Transactions as you can in a savings account..

Thank you for the update Bhai Ji, In my case, I am being told to wait for 7-10 days for account closure, no hope for unfreezing, and yes, I have disabled my UPI service, good day 🙏