PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS
Bank FD rates in November 2026: compare the tenure, not just the headline
General education for India · Reviewed
Personal finance news · Source check: 11 November 2026. HDFC Bank and IDFC FIRST Bank have retail rate cards effective 4 November. SBI's current retail page still lists its ordinary callable deposit rates effective 15 December 2025. A newer webpage update does not mean every rate changed that day.
This is a dated comparison of three banks, not a live feed or a ranking of every Indian bank. All figures below are annual interest rates for domestic retail deposits below ₹3 crore, with general and eligible resident senior-citizen rates kept separate. They are not savings-account rates, loan rates or effective compounded yields. Confirm the exact product and booking-date rate with the bank.
SBI: standard retail deposits
The ordinary retail card is effective 15 December 2025; the page was last updated 19 October 2026. The October update also covers a separate non-callable product, which is excluded here.
| Deposit term | General, % p.a. | Senior citizen, % p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 7–45 days | 3.05 | 3.55 |
| 46–179 days | 4.90 | 5.40 |
| 180–210 days | 5.65 | 6.15 |
| 211 days to under 1 year | 5.90 | 6.40 |
| 1 year to under 2 years | 6.25 | 6.75 |
| 2 years to under 3 years | 6.40 | 6.90 |
| 3 years to under 5 years | 6.30 | 6.80 |
| 5–10 years | 6.05 | 7.05 |
The 5–10-year senior rate includes SBI We-care's additional premium. Special-tenure and super-senior products have their own conditions and are not additional rates to apply blindly to this table. Source: SBI retail domestic term-deposit rate card.
HDFC Bank: selected retail tenures
These selected bands are effective 4 November 2026. Intermediate and shorter bands are available in the complete card.
| Deposit term | General, % p.a. | Senior citizen, % p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months 1 day to 9 months | 5.65 | 6.15 |
| 9 months 1 day to under 1 year | 5.90 | 6.40 |
| 1 year to under 15 months | 6.25 | 6.75 |
| 15 months to under 18 months | 6.35 | 6.85 |
| 18 months to 2 years | 6.50 | 7.00 |
| 2 years 1 day to 3 years | 6.55 | 7.05 |
| 3 years 1 day to 5 years | 6.60 | 7.20 |
| 5 years 1 day to 10 years | 6.60 | 7.10 |
Adjacent official bands with identical rates have been combined. Exactly three years belongs to the 6.55% general band; three years plus one day belongs to 6.60%. The senior premium is not identical at every tenure. Source: HDFC Bank interest-rate schedule.
IDFC FIRST Bank: selected retail tenures
These selected rates are effective 4 November 2026. The bank's senior-citizen increment in these bands is 0.25 percentage points, rather than an assumed 0.50.
| Deposit term | General, % p.a. | Senior citizen, % p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 91–180 days | 5.00 | 5.25 |
| 181 days to under 1 year | 6.50 | 6.75 |
| 1 year to 370 days | 6.50 | 6.75 |
| 371–499 days | 7.00 | 7.25 |
| 500 days to 2 years | 7.25 | 7.50 |
| 2 years 1 day to 3 years | 7.10 | 7.35 |
| 3 years 1 day to 5 years | 6.75 | 7.00 |
| 5 years 1 day to 10 years | 6.00 | 6.25 |
Tax-saver and green deposits are separate products. Early closure can change the applicable return even where a penalty exemption applies. Source: IDFC FIRST Bank's dated retail-deposit schedule.
Before choosing a deposit
- Match maturity to when you need the money. A higher rate does not compensate for being unable to meet a near-term bill.
- Compare payout frequency, compounding, tax treatment and premature-withdrawal terms. An annual quoted rate is not the same as interest paid monthly or money received after tax.
- Do not assume an existing FD resets when a new card appears. Check its contracted terms and renewal instructions.
- Review concentration across all accounts at the same bank, not each FD separately.
DICGC cover is generally capped at ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank, combining principal and interest held in the same right and capacity. Multiple branches or FDs do not each create a new ₹5 lakh allowance. Accounts at different insured banks are considered separately. Insurance is subject to its rules and is not a promise of instant access during a bank restriction. Source: DICGC deposit-insurance guide.
Planning takeaway: compare an FD with the goal's date, liquidity needs and inflation assumption. This table is an information snapshot, not an instruction to move deposits or a guarantee of the rate available when you book.
General education, not personal investment, insurance, tax or legal advice. Examples are not quotes or promises. Check current rules and seek qualified help where needed.