HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/323

RBI Deregulates NRE/NRO Deposit Interest Rates for Urban Co-op Banks

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/323 · issued 28 Dec 2011 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has freed urban co-operative banks to set their own interest rates on NRE savings and term deposits (1 year+) and NRO savings deposits, effective immediately. Rates cannot exceed comparable domestic rupee deposits. Board/ALCO approval is required, and uniform rates must apply across all branches.

What changed

Previously, interest rates on NRE deposits and NRO savings accounts were regulated. Now, banks can determine these rates freely, subject to the cap that they cannot be higher than rates on comparable domestic rupee deposits. This applies to fresh deposits and renewals only.

What it means for you

Urban co-operative banks gain pricing flexibility to compete for non-resident deposits, potentially improving their liability franchise. However, the cap linking NRE/NRO rates to domestic deposit rates prevents aggressive pricing. Banks must monitor external liability and ensure asset-liability compatibility, adding to ALM complexity.

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

All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Treasury and ALM teams, Branch operations handling NRE/NRO accounts, Compliance and risk management departments

❓ 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 NRE deposit rates higher than our domestic term deposit rates?

No. The circular explicitly states that NRE and NRO deposit rates cannot be higher than the rates offered on comparable domestic rupee deposits.

Does this deregulation apply to existing NRE/NRO deposits?

No. The revised rates apply only to fresh deposits and renewals of maturing deposits. Existing deposits continue at their contracted rates.

Do we need board approval for every rate change?

Prior approval of the Board or the Asset Liability Management Committee (if powers are delegated by the Board) is required when fixing interest rates on these deposits.

📜 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 #1386: UBD.BPD.DIR.No.5/13.01.000/2011-12 — "Deregulation of Interest Rates on Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposits and Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts"”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/323 UBD.BPD.(PCB)CIR No. 16/13.01.000/2011-12 December 28,  2011 The Chief Executive Officers All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks Dear Sir/Madam, Deregulation of Interest Rates on Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposits and Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts Please refer to our   circular  UBD.BPD.(PCB)CIR No.12/13.01.000/2011-12 dated November 24, 2011  on Interest Rates on Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposits and paragraph 4 of our circular UBD.BPD.(PCB) CIR. No.13 /13.01.000/2011-12    dated November 25, 2011 on Deregulation of Savings Bank Deposit Interest Rate. 2. With a view to providing greater flexibility to banks in mobilising non-resident deposits and also in view of the prevailing market conditions, it has been decided to deregulate interest rates on Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposits and Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO)  Deposit Accounts (the interest rates on term deposits under Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts are already deregulated). Accordingly, banks are free to determine their interest rates on both savings deposits and term deposits of maturity of one year and above under Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposit accounts and savings deposits under Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts with immediate effect. However, interest rates offered by banks on NRE and NRO deposits cannot be higher than those offered by them on comparable domestic rupee deposits. 3. Prior approval of the Board/Asset Liability Management Committee (if powers are delegated by the Board) may be obtained by  banks while fixing interest rates on such deposits. At any point of time, individual banks should offer uniform rates at all their branches. 4. The revised deposit rates will apply only to fresh deposits and on renewal of maturing deposits. Further, banks should closely monitor their external liability arising on account of such deregulation and ensure asset-liability compatibility from systemic risk point of view. 5. An amending directive UBD.BPD.DIR. No. 5/13.01.000/2011-12 dated December 28, 2011 is enclosed. Yours faithfully, (A.Udgata) Chief General Manager-in-Charge Encl: As above. UBD.BPD.DIR. No.   5  /13.01.000/2011-12 December  28, 2011 Deregulation of Interest Rates on Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposits and Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and in modification of the directive UBD.BPD.DIR.No.2 /13.01.000/2011-12 dated November 23, 2011 on Interest Rates on Non-Resident (External) (NRE) Deposits and in continuation of the directive UBD.BPD.DIR.No.4 /13.01.000/2011-12  dated November 25, 2011 on Deregulation of Savings Bank Deposit Interest Rate, 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 interest rates on both savings deposits and term deposits of maturity of one year and above under Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposit accounts and savings deposits under Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts with immediate effect. However, interest rates offered by banks on NRE and NRO deposits cannot be higher than those offered by them on comparable domestic rupee deposits. ( S. Karuppasamy ) Executive Director
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/323 · issued 28 Dec 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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