The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is bringing new rules for bulk fixed deposits from October 1, 2026. The changes are aimed at making interest rates on large deposits more transparent and consistent across banks.
Under the revised framework, banks will have to publish the interest rates applicable to bulk deposits on their websites every business day. The rates must be disclosed at 10:00 am, with a 10-minute grace period, meaning the latest disclosure can be made by 10:10 am.
What Is the New RBI Rule for Bulk FDs?
The revised RBI directions state that interest rates for bulk deposits must be disclosed on a bank’s website every business day at 10:00 am, with the permitted grace period extending up to 10:10 am.
The interest rates offered on deposits are also required to be uniform across the bank’s branches and for customers placing similar deposits on the same date. This is intended to bring greater consistency to the way bulk deposit rates are offered.
The new directions will come into effect from October 1, 2026.
What Counts as a Bulk Deposit?
Under the revised framework, deposits of ₹3 crore and above fall under the bulk deposit category.
This means individuals, companies and other organisations planning to invest ₹3 crore or more in an FD will need to check the applicable bulk deposit rate published by the bank before making the deposit.
For large investors, the daily rate disclosure will make it easier to know the rate available for the day instead of relying only on information received through individual banking channels.
How Will the New Rule Benefit Large Depositors?
One of the major changes is that banks will have to maintain uniformity in the interest rates offered for similar deposits accepted on the same date across their branches.
The daily publication of rates should also make it easier for large depositors to compare the rates offered by different banks before committing a substantial amount of money.
As the rates will be available on the bank’s website, investors can check the applicable rate directly before booking a bulk FD.
Will Small FD Investors Be Affected?
The new rules are primarily relevant to bulk deposits of ₹3 crore and above. Therefore, customers investing smaller amounts such as ₹1 lakh, ₹2 lakh or ₹5 lakh in regular fixed deposits do not need to follow the daily bulk-deposit rate updates.
For ordinary retail FDs, customers will continue to look at the applicable rates offered by their bank for the relevant deposit category.
What Should Large FD Investors Do?
Anyone planning to invest ₹3 crore or more in a fixed deposit after October 1, 2026, should check the bank’s official website for the latest bulk deposit interest rate on the relevant business day.
It may also be useful to keep a record or screenshot of the rate displayed on the bank’s website when making the investment for future reference.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on the RBI’s revised deposit-interest-rate directions applicable from October 1, 2026. Interest rates and banking terms can vary by deposit type and prevailing regulations. Investors should check the latest information directly on their bank’s official website and refer to the applicable RBI guidelines before making a large fixed-deposit investment.