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New RBI Rules for FDs: Uniform Rates & Bulk Deposit Transparency from Oct 1, 2026
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News18•23-09-2026, 10:00
New RBI Rules for FDs: Uniform Rates & Bulk Deposit Transparency from Oct 1, 2026
- •The RBI has issued updated deposit regulations effective October 1, 2026, aimed at protecting savers and eliminating branch-level rate discrepancies.
- •Banks must offer identical interest rates across all branches for fixed deposits of the same amount and tenure booked on the same day.
- •This new framework ensures uniform rates, preventing arbitrary branch-specific negotiations and guaranteeing every customer receives identical returns for equal deposits.
- •Fixed deposits exceeding Rs 3 crore qualify as bulk deposits under the revised directions.
- •Lenders must publish their daily bulk deposit rate cards on their official websites by 10:00 AM every morning, with a 10-minute grace period until 10:10 AM.
Key Questions Answered
Under the updated RBI framework effective October 1, 2026, banks must provide uniform interest rates across all their branches for fixed deposits of the same amount and tenure booked on the same day. This rule prevents branch-level rate discrepancies and arbitrary negotiations.
Fixed deposits exceeding Rs 3 crore are classified as bulk deposits according to the revised regulatory directions. Lenders are given flexibility based on liquidity risk to set varying rates for these large capital deposits.
Lenders are required to publish their daily bulk deposit rate cards on their official websites by 10:00 AM every morning. The regulator provides a strict 10-minute grace period allowing banks to post these rates until 10:10 AM.
