RBI Deposit Interest Rules will change from October 1, 2026, bringing new requirements for how banks disclose and set interest rates on deposits.
The revised framework is aimed at making deposit-rate information more transparent and ensuring uniform treatment of customers.
The changes will apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, regional rural banks, payment banks, local area banks and urban cooperative banks.
Customers with fixed deposits and other bank deposits should understand what the new rules mean before renewing or opening a deposit.
RBI Deposit Interest Rules change from October 1
Under the revised rules, banks will have to disclose the interest rates applicable to deposits in advance on their websites.
This requirement also covers bulk deposits, giving depositors clearer information before placing their money with a bank.
For bulk deposits, banks will have to publish the applicable interest rates by 10 am on every business day. A grace period of 10 minutes has been allowed, meaning the information should be available no later than 10:10 am.
Interest rates to be uniform across branches
Another important change concerns the treatment of depositors at different branches of the same bank. Banks will have to offer uniform interest rates on deposits of similar amounts accepted on the same date.
This means a bank cannot offer different interest rates to customers at different branches for deposits of the same amount accepted on the same day, subject to the applicable rules.
The move is intended to bring greater consistency in deposit pricing and reduce differences in the rates offered to customers based simply on the branch where the deposit is made.
What changes for bulk deposits?
The revised framework gives banks greater flexibility to offer different interest rates on bulk deposits.
Banks can consider the differential run-off rates applicable to deposits or unsecured wholesale funding under the Liquidity Coverage Ratio framework while pricing such deposits.
Bulk deposits are large-value term deposits.
The revised rules specifically refer to deposits of ₹3 crore and above, meaning this part of the framework is more relevant to large depositors than to ordinary retail FD customers.
Will retail FD investors be affected?
For most retail FD investors, the direct impact of the bulk-deposit provisions is expected to be limited because their deposits are generally below the ₹3-crore threshold.
However, the broader disclosure requirements and uniformity in deposit rates are relevant to customers comparing bank FDs.
The new RBI Deposit Interest Rules do not prescribe that banks must increase or reduce their existing FD interest rates from October 1.
Instead, the changes focus on how banks disclose rates and how certain deposits can be priced.
Customers planning to open or renew an FD after October 1 should therefore check the latest rate card published by their bank.
Comparing the applicable rate, tenure and other terms can help them make an informed decision.
