Best USD FCNR Rates for Sept 2026

An FCNR(B) — Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) — account is a fixed deposit that NRIs, PIOs and OCIs hold in India in a foreign currency such as US dollars. You deposit and receive your money in the same currency, so there is no rupee-conversion or exchange-rate risk.

NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) and OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India) can open an FCNR(B) deposit. Resident Indians cannot. Indian students studying abroad, and citizens deputed overseas by the government or a PSU, are also treated as non-residents for this purpose.

Most banks offer FCNR(B) deposits in major currencies — US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and New Zealand Dollar (NZD). The exact list varies, so check the currencies bank offers before booking.

FCNR(B) deposits have a minimum tenure of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years. Under the RBI's special swap window, open until 30 September 2026, the higher interest rates apply only to fresh deposits with a 3-to-5-year tenure.

The minimum FCNR(B) deposit is small and set per currency — for example, around USD 500 or its equivalent at many banks — and there is no maximum limit. Bank may set its own floor, so confirm the minimum for your chosen currency before you remit funds.

As of mid-2026, top USD FCNR(B) rates have climbed to around 7-7.5% for 3-5 year tenures, driven by the RBI's swap window. Rates differ across banks, currencies and tenures and change frequently, so compare the latest live rates on vikalp before you book.

On 8 June 2026, the RBI opened a special dollar-rupee swap window and lifted the rate ceiling on 3-5 year FCNR(B) deposits until 30 September 2026. By absorbing banks' currency hedging cost and waiving CRR and SLR, it let banks raise rates from 3-4% to over 7%.

The RBI's special FCNR(B) swap facility covers fresh deposits booked up to 30 September 2026. The rate you lock in stays fixed for the full tenure even after that date, but new deposits booked afterwards are expected to fall back toward the 3-4% range.

No. The FCNR(B) interest rate is fixed at the time of booking and cannot change mid-tenure. A 3-year deposit booked at 7% earns 7% for all three years, regardless of how market rates or the rupee move afterwards. This makes your return fully predictable.

FCNR(B) interest is calculated on a 360-day year and compounded every 180 days, with interest added to the principal each half-year. For 1-year deposits, simple interest usually applies. Rates are based on international benchmarks like SOFR, plus a bank-set spread, within RBI guidelines.

No. Interest earned on FCNR(B) deposits is fully exempt from Indian income tax under Section 10(15)(iv)(fa) for as long as you hold NRI or RNOR status. No TDS is deducted. However, the same interest may still be taxable in your country of residence.

Yes. FCNR(B) interest is tax-free in India, and most GCC countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain — levy no personal income tax. So for many Gulf-based NRIs, the interest is genuinely tax-free at both ends. Confirm your local position with a tax adviser.

Usually yes. While FCNR(B) interest is exempt in India, the US, UK, Canada and Australia tax your worldwide income, so the interest is taxable at home. US residents may also need FBAR and FATCA reporting. Factor in home-country tax before comparing the headline rate.

Deposits of 3-5 years booked under the RBI's 2026 swap window carry a mandatory 1-year lock-in, during which no premature withdrawal is allowed. Standard 1-to-3-year FCNR deposits outside the scheme have no such lock-in, but earn no interest if withdrawn within the first year.

No interest is paid if you withdraw within the first year. After that, penalties vary — some banks charge around 1%, while certain swap-window deposits carry higher tiered penalties of up to 4%. Interest is paid only for the period held.

No. Because an FCNR(B) deposit stays in foreign currency throughout, rupee depreciation or appreciation does not change your principal or interest. If you deposit US$50,000, you receive US$50,000 plus interest at maturity — regardless of where the rupee is. This currency protection is FCNR's main appeal.

Yes. Most banks offer a loan or overdraft against your FCNR(B) deposit — in rupees or foreign currency — typically up to 80-90% of the deposit value, without breaking it. For swap-window deposits, the overdraft is usually available only after the 1-year lock-in. Terms vary by bank.

No. FCNR(B) deposits do not offer monthly or quarterly interest payouts due to foreign-currency regulations. Interest is compounded half-yearly and paid at maturity, or on a half-yearly basis for some deposits. If you need regular income, discuss alternatives such as an NRE deposit with your bank.

An FCNR(B) deposit can be held jointly with another NRI, PIO or OCI. You may also add a resident close relative as a joint holder, but only on a 'Former or Survivor' basis — the resident can operate it as your mandate holder only during your lifetime.

You can fund an FCNR(B) deposit through an inward foreign-currency remittance from abroad (SWIFT), or by transferring from an existing NRE or FCNR account at any bank in India. During a visit to India you may also deposit foreign-currency notes or cheques, subject to bank rules.

Yes. Both the principal and the interest in an FCNR(B) deposit are fully and freely repatriable in the same foreign currency, with no annual cap. You can move the funds to any overseas account at maturity or after premature closure, without Form 15CA/CB for this repatriation.

No. Like any fixed deposit, an FCNR(B) deposit cannot be topped up once created — open a fresh deposit to invest more. You also cannot change the tenure mid-way; you would need to close and rebook it, subject to the applicable premature-withdrawal rules.

FCNR(B) deposits with scheduled banks are covered by DICGC insurance up to ₹5 lakh per depositor, per bank, covering principal and interest together. For amounts above this, safety rests on the bank's financial strength — so weigh a high rate against the bank's profile rather than chasing rate alone.

If your status changes from NRI to resident, you can continue holding the FCNR(B) deposit until maturity at the contracted rate. Interest usually stays tax-exempt while you hold RNOR status (typically 2-3 years after return). Confirm your residential status each year before assuming the exemption still applies.