State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest public sector bank, has issued an important alert for its customers. Due to the rising number of digital fraud cases in India, SBI has shared a key update.
The bank said that calls starting with +91-1600 are safe and genuine, so there is no need to panic if you receive such calls.
SBI informed through social media that these numbers are only used for service and transaction-related calls. If you get a call from this series, you can speak without worry.
RBI’s New Guideline
In January 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed all banks and financial institutions to make customer calls only using the 1600xx series.
This move aims to help people easily identify real calls and avoid fake ones. Meanwhile, the 140xx series will be used only for marketing and promotional purposes.
RBI also mentioned that mobile numbers play a vital role today—they are used to receive OTPs, alerts, and account-related information. But they are also being misused by fraudsters to scam people.
SBI’s Verified Calling Numbers
SBI has shared a list of its official calling numbers, which it uses to contact customers:
1600-01-8000
1600-01-8003
1600-01-8006
1600-11-7012
1600-11-7015
1600-01-8001
1600-01-8004
1600-01-8007
1600-11-7013
1600-00-1351
1600-01-8002
1600-01-8005
1600-11-7011
1600-01-7014
1600-10-0021
What Should Customers Do?
SBI has advised its customers to respond only to calls from the numbers listed above. Avoid speaking to unknown or suspicious callers. Never share your banking details with anyone.
If you’re unsure about a call, contact the bank directly. This step by SBI and RBI is a strong measure to protect customers from online fraud.
