Heh, here one doesn't need to depend on Debit Cards because only 35% of the population have it (or I think so, at least), and majority of consumers would prefer paying by cash unless the amount is too huge (like, over 10k). I've got a savings account, but the last time I withdrew from the bank was about two months ago (since I only use it for saving up and that's it). So with all this new info your situation baffles me. Still, I'll give you what I know and hopefully you may find something of help.
Over here most big banks like HDFC and ICICI charge too much for initial / minimum deposit (that's Rs. 10,000), even if it's a savings account, while Axis charges half of that amount. Last year I opened at Corporation Bank (which is quite inconvenient, but at least cheap and sufficient for now) with a measly sum of only Rs. 1,000 for initial deposit. Minimum deposit might still be 5k, though. However, because we never felt the need to withdraw any money besides buying an LED monitor for myself my savings didn't even touch the minimum margin and till this date I've never ever been charged a single fee for anything. Neither services nor any fee in general. It was like my money was safe, for free of cost, and with the interests it was like I was getting paid to keep my money with them. Forget about that, I didn't even know there was such a thing as service fees with banks!
There was something my grandfather once told me before he passed away: "Go hungry for a day, but don't make a mistake of going in debt." I never knew what would happen if I was below the minimum margin of deposit, but I didn't care because the only point I saw with banks was to secure my money and nothing else. If going below margin would put me in the Bank's debt, then rather than doing so I'll simply save cash and use that instead.
I know the cash talk wouldn't help you the slightest, but I just put it out there if it could spark something. When the ancient explorers called America A New World they were right -- America's workings are so bizarre it goes over my head, both in good and bad way...
