TO provide greater flexibility to banks in mobilizing non-resident
deposits and in view of prevailing market conditions, the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) deregulated interest rates on Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Deposits
and Savings deposits under Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) Accounts with effect from
16 December 2011.
After
the deregulation almost all banks increased their NRE term deposit rates in the
range of 349-628 basis points across various maturities to align with domestic
term deposits. In the post deregulation period up to 20.04.2012, Non-Resident
Indians (NRI) deposit increased by 12.1 per cent (Rs.33,874 crore); and NRO
deposits grew marginally by 1.9 per cent (Rs.1,199 crore). However, Foreign
Currency Non Resident [FCNR(B)] deposit contracted by 3.8 per cent during the
period. Further, with effect from 4 May 2012, RBI raised the interest rate
ceiling on FCNR (B) deposit of banks from 125 basis points above the
corresponding LIBOR/Swap rates to 200 basis points for maturity period of one
year to less than three years, and to 300 basis points for maturity period of 3
to 5 years.
This
information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Mr Namo Narain Meena
in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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