Savings Account interest calculated on daily balance

As per the RBI Circular dated April 24, 2009 about Savings Account interest calculation, effective 1st April 2010, Savings Account interest will be calculated on daily balances maintained in your account. The Savings Account interest will be paid at half yearly intervals on 30th September and 31st March each year.

Earlier bank’s used to pay interest on the average balance that you would have in your account between the 11th and the end of the month. This seems cheating to me! As everyone clears off all the bills, house EMI, house rent, loan EMI, household shopping etc during the first 10 days of the month as that’s when you have the money! So instead of averaging the balance for the entire month only that part was used when bank’s knew it’s easier to pay less! Only last year the circular was passed, all this while we were earning measly interest amount. 

Another catch here is that bank’s have to pay a interest on 3.5% on a semi annual basis on our balances, that means all the interest rates of Fixed Deposits would have to significantly increase as if it’s not above 3.5% why would you even bother shifting your money from your bank account, as your money even being idle will secure 3.5% interest. 

I used to set up few short duration FD’s with around 2.25% – 2.5% interest  rate in my HDFC and ICICI Bank accounts, not any more! It better give me more than 3.5% for the same duration of 30 days or less, else all my money would get into Mutual Funds.

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