Banks Get Freedom to Set Own Deposit Conversion Policies
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/408 · issued 20 Apr 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows banks to set their own policies for converting term, daily, or recurring deposits into new term deposits, replacing the earlier mandatory no-penalty rule. This gives lenders more flexibility for asset-liability management.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks can now make their own rules for changing a fixed deposit (a deposit that stays for a set time), daily deposit (money you can add or take out anytime), or recurring deposit (small regular savings) into a new fixed deposit.
Before, banks had to let customers change deposits without any penalty (extra charge) if the new deposit stayed longer than the old one's remaining time. Now, that rule is gone.
Banks can now decide if they want to charge a penalty or add restrictions when customers change deposits, to help manage their own money flow (asset-liability management).
This change started right away from April 20, 2010, and applies to all scheduled commercial banks except Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
How it plays out — a real example
A deposits officer in Indore, Priya, sees a customer who wants to convert a 1-year recurring deposit into a new 2-year fixed deposit. Under the old rule, Priya had to allow this without any penalty. Now, her bank's new policy lets her charge a small penalty for early conversion, which helps the bank keep better control over its cash needs. Priya explains the new charge to the customer, who agrees because the new deposit offers a higher interest rate.
What changed
Previously, banks were required to allow conversion of deposits without any penalty if the reinvested deposit stayed longer than the original remaining period. Now, RBI has removed that mandate and permitted banks to formulate their own internal policies for such conversions, effective immediately.
What it means for you
Banks can now design deposit conversion rules that suit their liquidity and ALM needs, potentially imposing penalties or restrictions where earlier they couldn't. This could lead to more differentiated product offerings and better control over deposit tenors, but may also reduce customer flexibility if banks choose stricter terms.
What you must do
Review and update your bank's internal policy on conversion of term, daily, and recurring deposits into new term deposits.
Ensure the new policy is compliant with any remaining regulatory guidelines and is communicated clearly to all branches.
Assess the impact on customer experience and competitive positioning before finalizing the policy.
Train staff on the revised conversion rules to avoid customer confusion or disputes.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Deposit operations teams, Asset-liability management (ALM) departments, Retail and wholesale banking customers with term deposits
❓ Common questions
Does this circular remove all restrictions on deposit conversion penalties?
Yes, it permits banks to set their own policies, effectively removing the earlier mandatory no-penalty rule for conversions where the reinvested deposit stays longer than the original remaining period.
When did this change take effect?
The circular was issued on April 20, 2010, and the permission to formulate own policies was effective immediately from that date.
Are regional rural banks (RRBs) covered by this circular?
No, the circular explicitly excludes RRBs from its scope.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/408
DBOD. No. Dir. BC. 91/13.03.00/2009-2010
April 20, 2010
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(excluding RRBs)
Dear Sir
Conversion of term deposits, daily deposits or
recurring deposits for reinvestment in term deposits
Please refer to paragraph 104 of the Monetary Policy Statement 2010-11 announced by Governor on April 20, 2010 (extract enclosed).
2. In terms of extant guidelines, as stipulated at paragraph 2.12 of the Master Circular dated July 1, 2009 on 'Interest Rates on Rupee Deposits held in Domestic, Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) and Non-Resident (External) (NRE) Accounts', banks should allow conversion of term deposits, daily deposits or recurring deposits to enable depositors to immediately reinvest the amount lying in the aforesaid deposits with the same bank in another term deposit. Banks are required to pay interest in respect of such term deposits without reducing the interest by way of penalty, provided that the deposit remains with the bank after reinvestment for a period longer than the remaining period of the original contract.
3. On a review of the extant regulatory norms, and in order to facilitate better asset-liability management (ALM), it has been decided to permit banks to formulate their own policies towards conversion of deposits with immediate effect.
Yours faithfully
( P Vijaya Bhaskar )
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Encl: as above
EXTRACT
Reserve Bank of India
Monetary Policy Statement 2010-11
Conversion of Term Deposits,
Daily Deposits or Recurring Deposits for Reinvestment in Term Deposits
104. As per extant guidelines, banks should allow conversion of term deposits, daily deposits or recurring deposits to enable depositors to immediately reinvest the amount lying in the aforesaid deposits with the same bank in another term deposit. Banks are required to pay interest in respect of such term deposits without reducing the interest by way of penalty, provided that the deposit remains with the bank after reinvestment for a period longer than the remaining period of the original contract. On a review of the extant regulatory norms and in order to facilitate better asset-liability management (ALM), it is proposed to permit banks to formulate their own policies towards conversion of deposits.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/408 · issued 20 Apr 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Ensure the new policy is compliant with any remaining regulatory guidelines and is communicated clearly to all branches.
📜 Compliance
Review and update your bank's internal policy on conversion of term, daily, and recurring deposits into new term deposits.
Assess the impact on customer experience and competitive positioning before finalizing the policy.
Train staff on the revised conversion rules to avoid customer confusion or disputes.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Deposit operations teams, Asset-liability management (ALM) departments, Retail and wholesale banking customers with term deposits), your first concrete step on “Banks Get Freedom to Set Own Deposit Conversion Policies” is: “Review and update your bank's internal policy on conversion of term, daily, and recurring deposits into new term deposits.” (RBI issued this 20 Apr 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/408 -- Banks Get Freedom to Set Own Deposit Conversion Policies
Issued: 20 Apr 2010
Action required: Review and update your bank's internal policy on conversion of term, daily, and recurring deposits into new term deposits.
Action required: Ensure the new policy is compliant with any remaining regulatory guidelines and is communicated clearly to all branches.
Action required: Assess the impact on customer experience and competitive positioning before finalizing the policy.
Action required: Train staff on the revised conversion rules to avoid customer confusion or disputes.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5606&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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