HDFC Bank has followed State Bank of India in trimming fixed deposit (FD) interest rates on select maturities for deposits below Rs 3 crore. The updated
rates came into effect from December 17, 2025, according to information published on the bank’s official website. The move signals a broader shift in deposit pricing across major lenders as monetary policy eases. The reduction in HDFC Bank’s FD rates comes shortly after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a 25 basis point cut in the repo rate in the December MPC meeting, bringing it down to 5.25 per cent. Following this policy adjustment, several banks have begun recalibrating their deposit offerings. SBI was among the first to act, lowering interest rates on multiple FD tenures, and HDFC Bank has now taken a similar step. Tenures Affected By The Rate Cut HDFC Bank has reduced interest rates on fixed deposits with maturities ranging from 18 months to less than 21 months. The cut amounts to 15 basis points for both general customers and senior citizens. As a result, the rate for general citizens has been brought down from 6.6 per cent to 6.45 per cent, while senior citizens now earn 6.6 per cent instead of the earlier 7.1 per cent on these tenures. Apart from this specific reduction, the bank continues to offer a wide range of rates across short-term, medium-term, and long-term deposits, depending on the tenor selected. Updated FD Rates For General Customers For deposits under Rs 3 crore, HDFC Bank’s FD interest rates now start at 2.75 per cent for very short tenures of 7 to 29 days. Returns gradually increase with longer durations, reaching 6.45 per cent for multiple buckets between 18 months and nearly three years. For longer commitments, rates ease slightly, with deposits between five years and ten years earning 6.15 per cent per annum. These rates apply to standard fixed deposits and are subject to change based on future policy actions and market conditions. Senior Citizen FD Rates Remain Higher Senior citizens continue to receive preferential rates across all tenures. Short-term deposits begin at 3.25 per cent, while medium-term deposits of around one year offer up to 6.75 per cent. Even after the recent reduction, senior citizens can earn close to 6.95 per cent on deposits ranging from 18 months to almost three years, with long-term deposits of five to ten years fetching 6.65 per cent. TDS Rules On FD Interest Income Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) applies when the total interest earned on fixed and recurring deposits exceeds Rs 50,000 in a financial year, or Rs 1 lakh for senior citizens. Customers who are eligible for exemption must submit Form 15G or 15H either online or at a branch within the first week of the new financial year, and whenever a new deposit is opened. As stated on the HDFC Bank website, “Fixed deposits booked with the monthly or the quarterly interest payout option, TDS recovery will happen by default from the linked current / savings account. Please visit the nearest branch/contact RM for clarification.”
