Paying beyond disclosed rates to attract deposits not acceptable: Governor

Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday said payment of a higher interest rate than the one already disclosed is “not acceptable” to the central Bank.

He, however, declined to comment specifically on a matter involving HDFC Bank, where the largest private sector lender is alleged to have paid an extra sum to garner a big deposit and showed it as a marketing spend. 

HDFC Bank has denied the allegation, while there have been reports suggesting that many banks resort to such means to garner deposits.

Addressing the customary post-policy review press conference, Malhotra said the RBI permits differential pricing of deposits, whereby senior citizens may get higher interest rates and the tenor of a deposit may also influence the rate a bank offers. 

“They (banks) have to display it. Any differential rate beyond that if someone is giving, is certainly not acceptable,” Malhotra said.

He said competition among banks for garnering deposits is good, but asked the lenders to be “transparent” as they go about mobilising the deposits.

Meanwhile, replying to a question on upper-layer NBFCs, Malhotra said this RBI will shortly come up with updated list. The list, which is already out will continue to be the operational one till new one is put out, Malhotra said.