HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/272

Savings Bank Deposit Rate Deregulation for RRBs

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/272 · issued 23 Nov 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI deregulated savings bank deposit interest rates for Regional Rural Banks effective October 25, 2011. Banks can now set their own rates on resident savings deposits, with uniform rates on balances up to ₹1 lakh and optional differential rates above that threshold.

What changed

RBI removed the administered savings bank deposit rate, allowing RRBs to determine their own interest rates. A uniform rate must apply to deposits up to ₹1 lakh, while differential rates are permitted for amounts exceeding ₹1 lakh, provided no discrimination among similar deposits. The deregulation applies only to resident Indian depositors; NRE and NRO savings account rates remain regulated at 4% per annum.

What it means for you

RRBs gain pricing flexibility to compete for savings deposits, potentially improving margins or attracting more deposits. However, the uniform rate requirement on smaller balances caps differentiation for the bulk of retail savers. Banks must carefully calibrate rates to balance profitability and customer retention, while ensuring compliance with non-discrimination rules for larger deposits.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

Regional Rural Banks, Resident savings account holders, RRB treasury and product teams, Compliance departments of RRBs

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Can we offer different savings rates to different customers?

Only for deposits above ₹1 lakh, and only if the deposits are of similar amount and accepted on the same date at any office. For deposits up to ₹1 lakh, the rate must be uniform across all customers.

Does this deregulation apply to NRE/NRO savings accounts?

No. The deregulation is only for resident Indian savings deposits. NRE and NRO savings account rates continue to be regulated at 4% per annum until further review.

When did this change take effect?

The deregulation and guidelines became effective from October 25, 2011, as announced in the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1408: RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.33/03.05.33/2011-12 — "Deregulation of Savings Bank Deposit Interest Rate - Guidelines" dated November 23, 2011”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/272A RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.33/ 03.05.33/2011-12 November 23, 2011 All Regional Rural Banks Dear Sir, Deregulation of Savings Bank Deposit Interest Rate - Guidelines Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.68/03.05.33/2010-11 dated May 3, 2011 . 2. As indicated in the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy announced on October 25, 2011 , it has been decided to deregulate the savings bank deposit interest rate with immediate effect. Accordingly, the following Guidelines will be effective from October 25, 2011: Banks are free to determine their savings bank deposit interest rate, subject to the following two conditions: First, each bank will have to offer a uniform interest rate on savings bank deposits up to Rs.1 lakh, irrespective of the amount in the account within this limit. Second, for savings bank deposits over Rs.1 lakh, a bank may provide differential rates of interest, if it so chooses, subject to the condition that banks will not discriminate in the matter of interest paid on such deposits, between one deposit and another of similar amount, accepted on the same date, at any of its offices. 3. The above revised Guidelines would be applicable to savings bank deposits of resident Indians only. 4. Interest rate on Non-Resident (External) Accounts Scheme and Ordinary Non-Resident Deposit under savings account, which has been prescribed at 4 per cent per annum at present, will continue to be regulated until further review. 5. An amending directive RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.Dir.No.27/03.05.33/2011-12 dated October 25, 2011 is enclosed . 6. Please acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned. Yours faithfully, (C.D.Srinivasan) Chief General Manager Encl: As above RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.Dir.No.27/03.05.33/2011-12 October 25, 2011 Deregulation of Savings Bank Deposit Interest Rate In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and in partial modification of its directive RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.67/03.05.33/2010-11 dated May 3, 2011 , the Reserve Bank of India, being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby directs that banks are free to determine their savings bank deposit interest rate for resident Indians only with immediate effect subject to two conditions. First, each bank will have to offer a uniform interest rate on savings bank deposits up to Rs.1 lakh, irrespective of the amount in the account within this limit. Second, for savings bank deposits over Rs.1 lakh, a bank may provide differential rates of interest, if it so chooses, subject to the condition that banks will not discriminate in the matter of interest paid on such deposits, between one deposit and another of similar amount, accepted on the same date, at any of its offices. (V.K.Sharma) Executive Director
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/272 · issued 23 Nov 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6835&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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