A battery protective device that protects against battery damage and semiconductor destruction from overdischarge and overcharge of the battery. Resistance across switching elements is controllable to prevent current leakage through parasitic dipole elements in the integrated circuit. Current is detected with an overdischarge detecting circuit and an overcharge detecting circuit. Direction of the current to/from the battery is detected by discharge overcurrent and charge overcurrent detecting circuits. Switching discharge FETs and charge FETs are enabled as independently controlled, ON-OFF parallel switching elements, interposed in series in the charge/discharge current path of the battery. Only a part of the discharge or charge switching FETs can be turned ON and OFF for accurate current control in accordance with the detected current and its direction.