RBI directs banks to offer uniform interest rates on deposits across all branches
In order to ensure fairness, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that banks will have to offer uniform interest rates on deposits across all branches, without discrimination for similar amounts deposited by customers on the same day. Also, according to the RBI's revised instructions on interest rates on Rupee bulk deposits and disclosure of interest rates on deposits, the interest rates payable on deposits must be strictly as per the schedule of interest rates disclosed in advance on websites of respective banks
The RBI said ‘The interest rates offered on deposits, including bulk deposits, shall be uniform across all branches and for all customers and there shall be no discrimination in the matter of interest paid on the deposits, between one deposit and another deposit of similar amount, accepted on the same date, at any of its offices.’ Further, the central bank said that banks are required to publish bulk deposit interest rates on their websites at 10:00 am each business day, allowing a grace period of up to 10 minutes.
Moreover, it stated banks will have the freedom to offer a differential interest rate on bulk deposits, by considering the differential run-off rate applicable to deposits or unsecured wholesale funding under the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) framework. The revised instructions, effected through 'Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Interest Rate on Deposits) Second Amendment Directions, 2026', will come into force from October 1, 2026. It said the directions have been issued after considering stakeholders' feedback on draft norms issued in June.
