Master Circular Interest Rates on Rupee Deposits – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks - RBI - Reserve Bank of India
Master Circular Interest Rates on Rupee Deposits – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
RBI/2013-14/26 July 1, 2013 The Chief Executive Officers of Dear Sir, Master Circular Please refer to our Master Circular UBD.BPD (PCB) MC.No.11/13.01.000/2012-13 dated July 2, 2012 on the captioned subject (available at RBI website www.rbi.org.in). The enclosed Master Circular consolidates and updates all the instructions/guidelines on the subject issued up to June 30, 2013 and mentioned in the Appendix. Yours faithfully, (A.K.Bera) Encl: As above Master Circular
In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 21 and 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India, being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, has issued directives that no primary (urban) co-operative bank shall pay interest on rupee deposits of money accepted by it or renewed by it, except in accordance with rates as specified in the Annex 1 & 2,subject to the conditions specified in the paragraphs below.
3. RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON CURRENT ACCOUNTS Primary (urban) co-operative banks may, at their discretion, pay interest at a rate not exceeding half per cent per annum on current accounts. As the discretionary provisions generally lead to increase in cost of such deposits, banks are encouraged not to pay interest on current accounts. Interest on current account balances, wherever paid, shall be calculated on a daily product basis and paid on quarterly or longer rests. 4A Rate of Interest Payable on Savings Deposits 4.1 Banks should pay interest on domestic savings deposits at the rates specified in the Annex 1 to this Circular. 4.2 With effect from November 25, 2011, the interest rate on saving bank deposit for resident Indian has been deregulated. Accordingly, banks are free to determine, their savings bank deposit interest rate, subject to the following two conditions: -
4.2.1 The interest rates applicable on the domestic savings deposit will be determined on the basis of end-of-day balance in the account. Accordingly, while calculating interest on domestic savings bank deposits, banks are required to apply the uniform rate set by them on end-of-day balance up to ` 1 lakh and for any end-of day balance exceeding ` 1 lakh, banks may apply the differential rate(s) as fixed by them. Urban Co-operative Banks may ensure that prior approval of the Board /Asset Liability Management Committee (if powers are delegated by the Board) may be obtained by a bank while fixing interest rates on such deposits. 4.3 Interest on balances in savings bank accounts should be calculated on a daily product basis. 4.4 Such interest should be paid at quarterly or longer rests. 4.5 Banks may continue to credit the interest to the savings bank accounts frozen by enforcement authorities on a regular basis. 4B Interest on Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts and Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposits Banks should pay interest on NRO accounts and NRE deposits at the rates specified in Annex 1 & 2 respectively. With effect from December 28, 2011, the interest rates on NRE Deposits and NRO Deposit Accounts have been 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 NRE Deposit accounts and savings deposits under NRO Accounts. However, interest rates offered by banks on NRE and NRO deposits cannot be higher than those offered by them on comparable domestic rupee deposits. 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. Banks should closely monitor their external liability arising on account of such deregulation and ensure asset-liability compatibility from systemic risk point of view. Note: Non-Resident Ordinary (Rupee) [NRO]/Non-Resident (External) [NRE] deposits may be accepted only by such banks as have been specifically authorised by Reserve Bank of India in this regard. 5. INTEREST PAYABLE ON TERM DEPOSITS 5(A) INTEREST RATES ON TERM DEPOSITS OF NOT LESS THAN 15 DAYS (7 DAYS IN THE CASE OF A TERM DEPOSIT OF RS.15 LAKH & ABOVE AND 1 YEAR IN CASE OF NR DEPOSIT) Banks should pay interest at the rates specified in Annex 1 & 2 of this Circular. Banks are free to offer floating rate of interest at their discretion, clearly linked to an anchor rate for domestic term deposits and with an upper cap as indicated in Annex 2 of this Master Circular for NRE deposits. Prior approval of the Board of Directors should be obtained for fixing interest rates of various maturities. 5.1 Banks are free to fix interest rates on domestic term deposits. 5.2 The banks may at their discretion, reduce the minimum tenor of domestic/NRO term deposits even below Rs 15 lakh from 15 days to 7 days. 5.3 The banks are required to offer uniform rates on deposits below Rs.15 lakh for the same maturity. 5.4 In case of deposits of Rs 15 lakh and above banks may discriminate in the matter of rate of interest between one deposit and another, accepted on the same date and for the same maturity, on the basis of the size of deposit. 5.5 Banks are advised to put in place a Board approved transparent policy on pricing of liabilities. The Board /Asset Liability Management Committee (ALCO) should ensure that the variation in interest rates on single term deposits of ` 15 lakh and above and other term deposits (i.e. deposits less than ` 15 lakh) is minimal for corresponding maturities. 5.6 Banks are required to disclose in advance the schedule of interest rates payable on deposits including deposits on which differential rate of interest will be paid by the banks. Interest rates paid by a bank should be as per the schedule and the same shall not be subject to negotiation between the bank and the depositor for domestic deposits. 5.7 Banks are required to review their interest rate structure on domestic term deposits of different maturities and take appropriate action to make them comparable with the rates offered by the commercial banks. (B) METHOD OF CALCULATION OF INTEREST ON TERM DEPOSITS Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) code for banking practice is issued by IBA for uniform adoption by the Member Banks. Code is intended to promote good banking practices by setting out minimum standards which member banks will follow in their dealings with customers. IBA, for the purpose of calculation of interest on domestic term deposit, have prescribed that on deposits repayable in less than three months or where the terminal quarter is incomplete, interest should be paid proportionately for the actual number of days reckoning the year at 365 days. It has been reported to us that some of the banks are adopting the model of reckoning the year at 366 days/ 365 days in Leap Year and in other years respectively. While banks are free to adopt their methodology, they should provide information to their depositors about the manner of calculation of interest appropriately while accepting the deposits and display the same at their branches. 6. Additional Interest Payable 6.1 To Non-Staff Depositors (i) A primary (urban) co-operative bank may, at its discretion, allow additional interest at a rate not exceeding 1% per annum on all local rupee (domestic) savings deposits, as well as on savings accounts opened by resident depositor(s) which become ordinary non-resident accounts (NRO) on the depositor(s) going abroad. (ii) While the banks have been permitted to offer, at their discretion, additional interest not exceeding 1% and 0.5% per annum on the saving bank deposits and current account deposits respectively, the discretionary provisions generally lead to increase in the cost of deposits. The banks should, therefore, endeavour:
6.2 To Bank's Staff and their Exclusive Associations A bank may, at its discretion allow additional interest at a rate not exceeding one per cent per annum over and above the rate of interest stipulated in the Annex 1 & 2 and the additional interest payable/paid as per paragraph 6.1: (A) In respect of a savings or a term deposit account opened in the name of
Provided that - the bank shall obtain a declaration from the depositor concerned, that the monies deposited or which may, from time to time, be deposited into such account, shall be monies belonging to the depositor as stated in Clauses (i) to (iii) above. Provided further that - (a) in the case of employees taken on deputation from another bank, the bank from which they are deputed may allow additional interest in respect of the savings or term deposit account opened with it, during the same period of deputation; (b) in the case of persons taken on deputation for a fixed duration, or on a contract of a fixed duration, the benefit shall cease to accrue on the expiry of the term of deputation or contract, as the case may be; (B) Payment of additional interest shall be subject to the following conditions, namely: (i) The additional interest shall be payable only so long as the person continues to be eligible for the same and in case of his ceasing to be so eligible, till the maturity of the deposit, in the case of a term deposit account. (ii) In the case of employees taken over pursuant to the scheme of amalgamation, the additional interest shall be allowed only if the interest at the contractual rate together with the additional interest does not exceed the rate which could have been allowed if such employees were originally employed by the bank. (c) Bank employees' federations in which bank employees are not direct members shall not be eligible for additional interest. 6.3 To Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Bank A bank may, at its discretion, pay additional interest not exceeding one per cent per annum over and above the rate of interest stipulated in the Annex1 & 2 and the additional interest paid/payable as per paragraph 6.1 on deposits accepted/renewed from Managing Director of the bank; provided he acts as the Chief Executive of the bank drawing regular salary from the bank and he is not eligible to get similar benefit under paragraph 6.2 above. Additional interest on the deposits of Managing Director of the bank as above shall be payable only during the period of his tenure as Managing Director. 6.4 To Senior Citizens (i) Banks, with the permission of their Board, may offer higher rate of interest on the term deposits of any size, to senior citizens. (ii) The scheme of term deposits of senior citizens shall incorporate simplified procedure for automatic transfer of deposits to nominees in the event of the death of the depositor. 7 PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON TERM DEPOSIT MATURING ON SUNDAY/ HOLIDAY/ NON-BUSINESS WORKING DAY In respect of a term deposit maturing for payment on a Sunday or a holiday or a non-business working day, a bank shall pay interest till the next working day at the originally contracted rate, - (i) on the maturity value in the case of reinvestment deposits and recurring deposits, and (ii) on the original principal amount in the case of ordinary term deposit on the basis of 365 days in a year. 8 PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL OF TERM DEPOSIT 8.1 A primary (urban) co-operative bank, on request from the depositor, should allow withdrawal of a term deposit before completion of the period of the deposit agreed upon at the time of making the deposit. Banks are free to determine their own penal interest rates for premature withdrawal of term deposits. 8.2 Banks should ensure that the depositors are made aware of the applicable penal rate along with the deposit rate. 8.3 Banks, at its discretion, may disallow premature withdrawal of large deposits held by entities other than individuals and Hindu Undivided Families. Bank should, however, notify such depositors of its policy of disallowing premature withdrawal in advance, i.e., at the time of accepting such deposits. 8.4 Conversion of NRE deposit into Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Banks) [FCNR (B)] deposit and vice versa before maturity by a bank allowed to maintain FCNR(B) deposits, shall be subject to the penal provision relating to premature withdrawal. 8.5 DEPOSIT SCHEMES WITH LOCK-IN PERIOD It has been brought to notice of the Reserve Bank of India that some banks are offering special term deposit products to customers, in addition to regular term deposits, ranging from 300 days to five years, with the following features:
Before launching new domestic deposit mobilization schemes with the approval of their respective Boards, primary (urban) co-operative banks should ensure that the provisions of Reserve Bank of India’s directives on interest rates on deposits, premature withdrawal of term deposits, sanction of loans/advances against term deposits, etc., issued from time to time, are strictly adhered to. Any violation in this regard will be viewed seriously and may attract penalty under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (As Applicable to Co-operative Societies). It is clarified that the special schemes, with lock-in periods and other features referred to above, which have been floated by some banks, are not in conformity with Reserve Bank of India’s instructions. Banks that have floated such deposit schemes are, therefore, advised to discontinue the schemes with immediate effect and report compliance to Regional Office concerned of Reserve Bank of India. 9. CONVERSION OF A TERM DEPOSIT, A DEPOSIT IN THE FORM OF DAILY DEPOSIT, OR RECURRING DEPOSIT FOR REINVESTMENT IN TERM DEPOSIT In order to facilitate better Asset Liability Management, banks are permitted to formulate their own policies towards conversion of deposits. 10 UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS AND INOPERATIVE/ DORMANT ACCOUNTS Banks should play a more pro-active role in finding the whereabouts of the account holders whose accounts have remained inoperative.
11 INTEREST PAYABLE ON A DEPOSIT ACCOUNT OF DECEASED DEPOSITOR The criterion for payment of interest on term deposit standing in the name/s of a deceased individual depositor or two or more joint depositors, where one of the depositors has died to be paid to the legal heir/s/representative/s/nominee/s has been left to the discretion of the individual banks, subject to their Board of Directors, laying down a transparent policy in this regard and the customers being notified at the time of acceptance of deposits. The policy should be non-discretionary and non-discriminatory. 12 ROUNDING OFF OF TRANSACTIONS Interest payable on deposits and interest chargeable on advances shall be rounded off to the nearest rupee; i.e., fraction of 50 paise and above shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee and fraction of less than 50 paise shall be ignored. 13 MARGIN ON ADVANCES AGAINST TERM DEPOSITS The decision regarding maintenance of margin on any financial accommodation allowed by the banks against the security of term deposit, has been left to the individual banks, subject to their Board laying down a transparent policy in this regard. 14 ADDITION OR DELETION OF THE NAME(S) OR SPLIT INTO JOINT ACCOUNT HOLDERS A primary (urban) co-operative bank may, at its discretion, and at the request of the joint account holders of a deposit, if any,
Provided that in no case, shall the amount, or duration of the original deposit, undergo change in any manner in case the deposit is a term deposit. 15 TRANSFER/SPLIT UP OF THE DEPOSIT ON THE DEATH OF AN ACCOUNT HOLDER On the death of a depositor, a primary (urban) co-operative bank may allow the deposit to be held in the name/s of one or more legal heirs, or legal representatives, or nominees of the depositor, either jointly in their names, or along with other persons, or separately in their names by splitting up the deposits. 16 PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON ACCOUNTS FROZEN The following procedure may be followed in case of Term Deposits Accounts frozen by the enforcement authorities-
Nothing contained in the directives on interest rates on deposits shall apply to deposits received by a primary (urban) co-operative bank from (i) the institutions permitted to participate in the Call/Notice Money Market both as a lenders and borrowers (ii) from any depositor under Foreign Currency (Non-resident) Account Scheme 18.1 No bank shall – (i) discriminate in the matter of interest paid on deposits, between one deposit and another, accepted on the same date and for the same maturity, whether such deposits are accepted at the same office or at different offices of the bank, except in respect of term deposit schemes specifically meant for senior citizens offering higher and fixed rates of interest as compared to normal deposits of any size and single term deposit of Rs.15 lakh and above on which varying rates of interest may be permitted on the basis of size of deposits. (ii) pay brokerage on deposits in any form to any individual, firm, company, association, institution or any other person except –
(iii) employ/engage any individual, firm, company, association, institution or any other person for collection of deposit or for selling any other deposit linked products on payment of remuneration or fees or commission in any form or manner, except to the extent permitted in sub-clause (a) of clause (ii) above. (iv) launch prize/ lottery/ free trips (in India and/or abroad), etc. oriented deposit mobilisation schemes. (v) resort to unethical practices of raising of resources through agents/third parties to meet the credit needs of the existing/prospective borrowers or to grant loans to the intermediaries based on the consideration of deposit mobilisation. (vi) issue any advertisement/literature soliciting deposits from public highlighting only the compounded yield on term deposits without indicating the actual rate of simple interest offered by bank for the particular period. Simple rate of interest per annum for the period of deposit shall be indicated invariably. (vii) accept deposits from/at the instance of private financiers or unincorporated bodies under any arrangement which provides for either issue of deposit receipt/s favouring client/s of private financiers or giving of an authority by power of attorney, nomination or other-wise, for such clients receiving such deposits on maturity. (viii) grant advances against fixed deposit receipts or other term deposits of other banks. 18.2 Accounts in the Names of Certain Bodies/Organisations (i) No primary (urban) co-operative bank shall open a savings deposit account in the name of Government departments/bodies depending upon budgetary allocations for performance of their functions/ Municipal Corporations or Municipal Committees/ Panchayat Samitis/ State Housing Boards/Water and Sewerage/ Drainage Boards/State Text Book Publishing Corporations/ Societies/Metropolitan Development Authority/State/ District Level Housing Co-operative Societies, etc. or any political party or any trading/business or professional concern, whether such concern is a proprietary or a partnership firm or a company or an association. (ii) The above prohibition at (i) will not apply in the case of the following organisations/agencies:
Master Circular Rate of Interest on Deposits
*Ordinary Non-Resident ( NRO) deposits may be accepted only by such of the banks as have been authorised by Reserve Bank of India in this regard. Master Circular Rate of Interest on Deposits
* Non-Resident (External) Rupee deposits may be accepted only by such of the banks as have been authorised by Reserve Bank of India in this regard. @
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Master Circular List of circulars consolidated in the Master Circular
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