The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced new rules for Fixed Deposits (FDs) and other bank deposits that will come into effect from October 1, 2026.
The changes were introduced through the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Interest Rates on Deposits) Second Amendment Directions, 2026, issued on July 30, 2026.
The new rules aim to make deposit interest rates more transparent and ensure that customers receive fair treatment across all bank branches.
Same FD, Same Interest Rate Across All Branches
One of the biggest changes is for customers with FDs or recurring deposits (RDs) below ₹3 crore.
Under the new rules, all branches of the same bank must offer the same interest rate for deposits of the same amount and tenure on the same day.
Earlier, some bank branches offered higher interest rates than others to attract more customers.
This often led to confusion and unequal treatment for depositors.
From October 1, this practice will no longer be allowed.
The rule will apply to:
Commercial banks
Small Finance Banks
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
Payment Banks
Local Area Banks
Urban Cooperative Banks
The RBI says the move will bring greater transparency and uniformity to the banking system.
Banks Must Publish Interest Rates Every Morning
Another major change is that banks will now have to publish their deposit interest rates on their official websites every day by 10:00 AM.
This means customers can easily check the latest FD and deposit rates online before investing.
The rule is also expected to reduce the chances of private negotiations or different rates being offered to different customers through bank officials.
Banks will be required to honor the interest rates displayed on their websites.
New Rules for Bulk Deposits
The RBI has also clarified the rules for bulk deposits, which are fixed deposits of ₹3 crore or more.
These deposits are generally made by:
Companies
Large businesses
Trusts
High-net-worth individuals (HNIs)
In the past, banks often negotiated interest rates privately with these large depositors.
As a result, different customers depositing similar amounts could receive different rates.
Under the new rules, this practice will change.
Commercial and cooperative banks must now publicly disclose their bulk deposit interest rates every day at 10:00 AM, making the process more transparent and reducing the scope for private negotiations.
What This Means for Customers
For most bank customers, the new RBI rules will make FD investments more transparent and predictable.
You will no longer have to compare interest rates across different branches of the same bank, and checking the latest rates will become much easier through the bank’s official website.
Overall, the changes are designed to ensure fair treatment for all depositors while increasing transparency in how banks set and publish deposit interest rates.
