Archive · 21 Aug 2026
RBI’s New Bulk FD Rules Bring Changes From October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India is changing some rules for bank fixed deposits.
The changes begin on October 1, 2026.
They mainly apply to bulk deposits above Rs 3 crore.
Banks must publish their bulk-deposit interest rates on their websites by 10:10 a.m.
each business day.
Banks must charge the same rate across branches and customers for deposits of similar amounts accepted on the same day.
However, banks can still offer different rates for some bulk deposits under specified liquidity rules.
The new rules do not tell banks to increase or decrease their rates.
People opening or renewing an FD should check the bank’s latest rate schedule first.
They should also keep the rate schedule and deposit receipt as records.
Revised fixed-deposit rules will apply to all covered banks from October 1, 2026.
Banks must publish bulk-deposit interest rates on their websites by 10:10 a.m. each business day.
Interest rates must be uniform across branches and customers for comparable deposits accepted on the same date.
Banks may offer different rates on bulk deposits based on applicable Liquidity Coverage Ratio run-off rates.
Depositors should check and retain the latest rate schedule and deposit receipt before opening or renewing an FD.
- Who
- The Reserve Bank of India, banks covered by the directions, and fixed-deposit customers.
- What
- The RBI has issued revised rules on interest-rate disclosure and pricing for fixed deposits, including bulk deposits above Rs 3 crore.
- When
- The rules take effect on October 1, 2026; the notification is dated July 30, 2026.
- Where
- The rules apply to covered banks and require rate disclosures on their websites.
- Why
- To improve transparency and consistency in how banks disclose and apply deposit interest rates while allowing flexibility for bulk-deposit pricing.
- Effective date
- October 1, 2026
- Bulk-deposit threshold
- More than Rs 3 crore
- Rate-disclosure deadline
- Bulk-deposit rates must be posted by 10:10 a.m. on each business day, with a 10:00 a.m. disclosure time and a 10-minute grace period.
- Rate consistency
- Rates must be uniform across branches and customers for deposits of similar amounts accepted on the same date.
- Covered banks
- Commercial, small finance, regional rural, payment, local area, and urban cooperative banks.
- Differential bulk rates
- Banks may offer different bulk-deposit rates based on applicable run-off rates under the Liquidity Coverage Ratio framework.
- Depositor action
- Customers should check the latest published rate schedule and retain it along with the deposit receipt.