RBI Exempts Fresh FCNR(B) Deposits of 3-5 Years Tenor from CRR and SLR for Regional Rural Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2026-27/106 · issued 08 Jun 2026 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI exempts fresh FCNR(B) deposits of 3-5 years tenor (including renewals) from CRR and SLR for Regional Rural Banks, for deposits mobilized from June 8, 2026 to September 30, 2026. CRR exemption starts from reporting fortnight beginning July 1, 2026.
The rule, in the simplest words
Regional Rural Banks (small banks in villages) can get new foreign money deposits (FCNR(B)) that last 3 to 5 years without keeping any reserve (CRR/SLR) with RBI.
This special rule works only for deposits taken between June 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026.
The reserve exemption starts from the two-week period beginning July 1, 2026.
The exemption lasts as long as the bank keeps the deposit in its books.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Priya, sees a customer wanting to deposit $10,000 for 4 years in FCNR(B). She knows that from June 8 to September 30, 2026, her bank doesn't have to set aside any cash or government bonds for this deposit, so she happily accepts it and uses the full amount to give more loans.
What changed
Fresh FCNR(B) deposits of minimum 3 years and maximum 5 years tenor mobilized (including renewals) by Regional Rural Banks from June 8, 2026 to September 30, 2026 are exempt from CRR and SLR
CRR exemption applies from reporting fortnight beginning July 1, 2026
Exemption on reserves maintenance is available for original deposit amounts till such time deposits are held in bank books
What it means for you
Regional Rural Banks can mobilize fresh FCNR(B) dollar funds without maintaining CRR and SLR for the original deposit amounts
Exemption applies to deposits mobilized between June 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026
Banks must maintain CRR and SLR for other deposits as per existing directions
What you must do
Mobilize fresh FCNR(B) dollar funds of 3-5 years tenor between June 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026
Include deposits renewed upon maturity
Comply with RBI's FCNR(B) guidelines and other CRR/SLR requirements
Who it affects
Regional Rural Banks
❓ Common questions
What is the exemption period for fresh FCNR(B) deposits?
Deposits mobilized between June 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026 are exempt. CRR exemption starts from the reporting fortnight beginning July 1, 2026.
What deposits are exempt from CRR and SLR?
Fresh FCNR(B) deposits of minimum 3 years and maximum 5 years tenor mobilized (including renewals) by Regional Rural Banks from June 8, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2026-27/106
DOR.RET.REC.88/12.01.001/2026-27
June 08, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Second Amendment Directions, 2026
Please refer to the Governor’s Statement dated June 5, 2026 , wherein it has been decided to introduce a US Dollar-Rupee swap facility for fresh Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR (B)] dollar funds, mobilised for a minimum tenor of three years and maximum tenor of five years.
2. In this connection, please refer to the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 (Updated as on January 22, 2026). It has been decided that fresh FCNR (B) deposits of minimum tenor of three years and maximum tenor of five years mobilized (including deposits that are renewed upon maturity) by the banks from the date of this Amendment Directions till September 30, 2026 will be exempted from maintenance of CRR and SLR.
3. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and pursuant to Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and Sections 18 and 24 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949, as amended from time to time, and all other provisions / laws enabling the Reserve Bank of India in this regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby, issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter specified.
4. These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Second Amendment Directions, 2026.
5. The provisions shall come into force with immediate effect.
6. These Amendment Directions modify the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 as under:
i. In paragraph 20, the sub-paragraph “5. Fresh FCNR (B) deposits of minimum tenor of three years and maximum tenor of five years mobilized (including deposits that are renewed upon maturity) by the banks between June 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026 are exempt from maintenance of CRR from the reporting fortnight beginning July 1, 2026 (i.e., based on the NDTL computation as on June 15, 2026) and subsequent fortnights thereafter. The exemption on reserves maintenance is available for the original deposit amounts till such time the deposits are held in the bank books” shall be inserted.
ii. In paragraph 28(5), the words ‘paragraphs 20 (3) and 20 (4)’ shall be substituted with ‘paragraphs 20 (3), (4) and (5)’.
iii. In item VIII of the Annex A to Form A,
the words “Circular dated July 06" shall be substituted with words “[Para 20(4)]" in item VIII.5 and VIII.6.
the item VIII.7 shall be renumbered as item VIII.8.
the words “FCNR (B) – 2026 [Para 20(5)]” shall be inserted as item VIII.7.
Yours faithfully,
(Manoranjan Padhy)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2026-27/106 · issued 08 Jun 2026. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Regional Rural Banks), your first concrete step on “RBI Exempts Fresh FCNR(B) Deposits of 3-5 Years Tenor from CRR and SLR for Regional Rural Banks” is: “Mobilize fresh FCNR(B) dollar funds of 3-5 years tenor between June 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026” (RBI issued this 08 Jun 2026).
Circular: RBI/2026-27/106 -- RBI Exempts Fresh FCNR(B) Deposits of 3-5 Years Tenor from CRR and SLR for Regional Rural Banks
Issued: 08 Jun 2026
Action required: Mobilize fresh FCNR(B) dollar funds of 3-5 years tenor between June 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026
Action required: Include deposits renewed upon maturity
Action required: Comply with RBI's FCNR(B) guidelines and other CRR/SLR requirements
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
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 02 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=13475&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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