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Bank News Updated Oct 30, 2026

RBI: Fresh Loan Lending Rate Falls to 8.51% in September

The Reserve Bank of India reported that the weighted average lending rate on fresh rupee loans of scheduled commercial banks dropped to 8.51 per cent in September 2026 from 8.61 per cent in August. Rates on outstanding rupee loans stayed unchanged at 8.96 per cent, while the one-year median MCLR eased to 8.55 per cent in October. On the deposit side, the rate on fresh rupee term deposits declined to 5.61 per cent from 5.67 per cent in August.

Lending rates on fresh bank loans decline to 8.51% in September, deposit rates ease: RBI

New Delhi, October 30

The weighted average lending rate on fresh rupee loans of scheduled commercial banks declined by 10 basis points to 8.51 per cent in September 2026 from 8.61 per cent in August, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India on Friday.

In its release titled "Lending and Deposit Rates of Scheduled Commercial Banks - October 2026," the central bank stated, "The WALR on fresh rupee loans of SCBs declined to 8.51 per cent in September 2026 from 8.61 per cent in August 2026."

However, lending rates on existing loans remained unchanged during the month.

"The weighted average lending rate (WALR) on outstanding rupee loans of SCBs remained unchanged at 8.96 per cent in September 2026 compared to August 2026," the RBI noted.

The central bank also reported a decline in the one-year median Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) of scheduled commercial banks.

"1-Year median Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) of SCBs declined to 8.55 per cent in October 2026 from 8.61 per cent in September 2026," the release stated.

The RBI further highlighted that lending rates did not move uniformly across different sectors.

"The WALR on fresh as well as outstanding rupee loans exhibited a mixed movement across sectors in September 2026," it said.

On the deposit side, the weighted average domestic term deposit rate (WADTDR) on fresh rupee term deposits declined by six basis points to 5.61 per cent in September from 5.67 per cent in August.

"The WADTDR on fresh rupee term deposits of SCBs declined to 5.61 per cent in September 2026 from 5.67 per cent in August 2026," the RBI stated.

Similarly, the weighted average domestic term deposit rate on outstanding rupee term deposits marginally declined by one basis point.

"The weighted average domestic term deposit rate (WADTDR) on outstanding rupee term deposits of SCBs marginally declined to 6.55 per cent in September 2026 from 6.56 per cent in August 2026," the release noted.

The RBI said the data on lending and deposit rates were received during October 2026 from scheduled commercial banks, excluding regional rural banks and small finance banks.

The latest figures showed a decline in lending rates on fresh rupee loans and deposit rates on both fresh and outstanding term deposits, while lending rates on outstanding rupee loans remained unchanged in September.

— ANI

Reader’s Guide · AI-assisted, based only on the report above

What the report makes clear: Fresh bank loan rates and term deposit rates both eased in September, while rates on existing loans stayed flat.

Still open: The report does not yet say which loan sectors saw rates rise or fall, or how these shifts affect individual borrowers.

Another way to look at it: Lower fresh deposit rates may mean smaller returns for savers even as new borrowers pay less.

Do lower lending and deposit rates change your borrowing or savings plans?

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