The Reserve Bank today said it will come out with a discussion paper on deregulation of interest rates on savings account.
“There is a view that we should deregulate the interest rate on savings bank accounts too. We are examining the pros and cons of doing that and will shortly put out a Discussion Paper for eliciting feedback,” RBI Governor D Subbarao said at the Convocation function of Sambalpur University.
At present, RBI only monitors interest rates on NRI deposits and on savings bank accounts, while interest rates both to savers and borrowers now work on the market principle of competition among banks.
“Regulation has both costs and benefits. excessive or inappropriate regulation increases intermediation cost, impedes efficiency and stifles innovation…,” Subbarao said.
Currently, banks pay 3.5 per cent on savings deposit. While the RBI as part of the economic reforms programme deregulated fixed deposit rates, it had not freed the rates which banks pay on savings deposit.
While banks adjust fixed deposit rates keeping in view their asset liability position, they pay 3.5 per cent on savings bank as mandated by the Reserve Bank.
It is indeed a step in the right direction if S.B. A/c interest rates are de-regulated. Because, banks offer attractive schemes for Fixed Deposits, we have put money in FDs. This is possible with de-regulation. Similarly let banks decide what interest rates they can offer on SB deposits. May be they can come-up with some innovative schemes for the benefit of SB A/c holders.