State Bank of India (SBI) has reduced key lending benchmarks and tweaked select fixed deposit rates after the RBI’s latest repo rate cut. Here’s what changes from December 15, 2025—and what it means for EMIs and FD returns.
Updated: December 13, 2025
State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest lender, has announced a fresh round of rate revisions that will make many loans cheaper—while slightly trimming returns on select fixed deposit (FD) tenures. The changes, which take effect Monday, December 15, 2025 , come soon after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the policy repo rate earlier this month, pushing banks to pass on at least part of the lower funding cost to borrowers. [1]
For borrowers, the headline is clear: SBI’s external benchmark-linked lending rates have been reduced by up to 25 basis points (bps) , which can translate into lower equated monthly instalments (EMIs)—especially for loans linked to external benchmarks. For depositors, the impact is narrower: SBI has cut rates only for certain buckets, including the popular 2–3 year deposit range and the bank’s 444-day “Amrit Vrishti” special tenor scheme. [2]
Below is a detailed breakdown of what’s changing, why it matters, and what borrowers and depositors should check next.
What’s changing: SBI lending rates cut across key benchmarks (effective Dec 15, 2025)
SBI’s latest move focuses on benchmark rates —the reference rates that determine how floating-rate loans are priced (after adding spreads like credit risk premium and bank spread, depending on the product and borrower profile).
1) External Benchmark Linked Rate (EBLR) and Repo Linked Lending Rate (RLLR)
SBI’s website shows the following revisions effective December 15, 2025 :
- EBLR: from 8.15% + CRP + BSP to 7.90% + CRP + BSP ( down 25 bps )
- RLLR: from 7.75% + CRP to 7.50% + CRP ( down 25 bps ) [3]
Why this matters: Loans linked to external benchmarks (like repo-linked structures) typically transmit policy rate changes faster than legacy benchmarks—although your actual rate changes still depends on your reset rules and the spread you carry.
2) MCLR reduced by 5 bps across tenors
SBI has also trimmed its Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR) by 5 bps across key tenors. SBI’s posted tenor-wise MCLR (effective December 15, 2025) is:
- Overnight: 7.90% → 7.85%
- One Month: 7.90% → 7.85%
- Three Months: 8.30% → 8.25%
- Six Months: 8.65% → 8.60%
- One Year: 8.75% → 8.70%
- Two Years: 8.80% → 8.75%
- Three Years: 8.85% → 8.80% [4]
Why this matters: Many older floating-rate loans—especially certain corporate facilities and some retail products—may still reference MCLR . Even a 5 bps change can reduce interest costs, but the pass-through may be smaller than repo-linked reductions.
3) Base Rate and BPLR also revised
SBI has updated other legacy reference rates too:
- Base Rate: revised to 9.90% pa (effective December 15, 2025)
- Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR): revised to 14.65% pa (effective December 15, 2025) [5]
These benchmarks matter mainly for certain older loan contracts still tied to base rate/BPLR frameworks.
What’s changing: SBI FD rates revised for select tenors (effective Dec 15, 2025)
On the deposit side, SBI has not announced a broad-based cut across all maturities. Instead, the bank has targeted a few specific buckets—suggesting it is balancing lower policy rates with ongoing competition for deposits.
1) Retail domestic term deposits (below ₹3 crore): 2–3 years reduced by 5 bps
For retail domestic term deposits below ₹3 crore , SBI’s website shows:
- 2 years to <3 years (general):6.45% → 6.40%
- 2 years to <3 years (senior citizens):6.95% → 6.90% [6]
Other standard maturity buckets shown on SBI’s deposit page remain unchanged in this revision. [7]
2) “Amrit Vrishti” (444 days) scheme reduced
SBI has also revised the rate on its 444-day special tenor FD scheme , “Amrit Vrishti”:
- Amrit Vrishti (444 days):6.60% → 6.45% (effective December 15, 2025) [8]
SBI notes that senior and super senior citizens continue to be eligible for additional benefits as per the scheme rules. [9]
3) A reminder for senior citizens: the “SBI We-care” premium continues (as shown)
SBI’s deposit page also highlights that the additional premium of 50 bps under “SBI We-care” applies in the 5 years to up to 10 years bucket (as displayed on the SBI site). [10]
Why SBI is cutting rates now: RBI’s December repo rate cut is feeding through
SBI’s changes follow the RBI’s move earlier this month, when the central bank cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25% —the latest step in a broader easing cycle in 2025. Reuters reported the RBI also paired the rate cut with measures aimed at supporting liquidity conditions. [11]
In plain terms: when the RBI reduces the policy rate, banks’ marginal cost of funds can fall over time—creating room to lower lending rates. But banks also have to protect their margins and manage deposit mobilization, which is why deposit rate cuts often happen selectively or with a lag.
What it means for borrowers: when will your EMI actually fall?
The practical benefit depends on which benchmark your loan is linked to and when your rate resets .
If your loan is linked to EBLR/RLLR (external benchmarks)
- The benchmark reduction is 25 bps on SBI’s posted EBLR and RLLR. [12]
- Your effective rate is typically benchmark plus a spread (like CRP/BSP).
- Many borrowers see changes at the next reset date (monthly/quarterly/annual, depending on the product terms).
If your loan is linked to MCLR
- The reduction is 5 bps across major tenors. [13]
- Savings may be smaller compared to repo-linked loans, but can still help—especially on large outstanding balances.
Quick EMI illustration (simple example)
If a borrower has a ₹50 lakh home loan for 20 years , and the interest rate falls by 25 bps (for example, from 8.50% to 8.25% ), the EMI would drop by roughly ₹788 per month (illustrative calculation). If that lower rate stayed for the entire term (rates usually don’t), total interest paid could be lower by about ₹1.89 lakh .
(This is an illustration only; your exact savings depend on your outstanding principal, spread, reset frequency, and whether the bank passes through the full change to your contracted rate.)
What it means for FD investors: impact is modest—but timing matters
Because SBI has trimmed deposit rates mainly in a couple of places, the real-world impact for most depositors is incremental , not dramatic.
Two quick illustrations:
- 2–3 year FD cut (5 bps): On a ₹50 lakh deposit held for 2.5 years, a 5 bps reduction could mean roughly ₹6,250 less interest (before compounding/tax considerations).
- 444-day Amrit Vrishti cut (15 bps): We have ₹10 lakh deposit for 444 days, a 15 bps reduction could mean roughly ₹1,825 less interest.
The larger question for depositors is strategic: if the interest-rate cycle is trending down, locking in rates earlier can matter more than small incremental changes—especially for retirees and conservative savers who rely on predictable interest income.
Also, as a safety reminder, bank deposits in India are insured by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) up to ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank (including principal and interest), a point often cited in consumer-focused coverage of FD safety. [14]
Other current developments on Dec 13, 2025: IOB also cuts lending rates
SBI isn’t the only public sector bank moving today. Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) also announced lending rate reductions effective December 15, 2025 , including a cut in its repo-linked benchmark (reported as RLLR moving from 8.35% to 8.10% , a 25 bps reduction) along with an MCLR trim across select tenors. [15]
This reinforces the broader story: RBI’s easing cycle is continuing to transmit through the system, and more banks may recalibrate both lending and deposit rates as competition and liquidity conditions evolve.
What to do next: a quick checklist for SBI customers
Borrowers
- Check your loan benchmark: Is it EBLR/RLLR, MCLR, or something else?
- Find your reset date: That’s when your rate/EMI may change.
- Look at your spread (CRP/BSP): The benchmark fell, but your spread determines your final rate.
- If you’re shopping for a new loan: Compare effective rates, processing fees, and reset terms—headline benchmark cuts don’t always mean the lowest total cost.
Deposit holders
- Confirm the exact tenure you want: SBI’s cut is targeted; other buckets may be unchanged.
- Review premature withdrawal penalties before locking long tenors. SBI publishes penalty guidance on its interest-rate pages. [16]
- Consider laddering: splitting into multiple maturities can reduce reinvestment risk in a falling-rate cycle.
Bottom line
As of December 13, 2025 , SBI has moved decisively to pass through the RBI’s latest easing by reducing EBLR and RLLR by 25 bps and trimming MCLR by 5 bps across tenors, effective December 15 . At the same time, it has nudged down FD rates only for select maturities—most notably the 2–3 year bucket and the 444-day Amrit Vrishti scheme—signalling a careful balancing act between supporting borrowers and managing deposit costs. [17]
If you want, I can also rewrite this into a shorter Google Discover-style version (tighter lead, fewer numbers, more explainer tone) while keeping the same facts.
References
1. sbi.bank.in, 2. sbi.bank.in, 3. sbi.bank.in, 4. sbi.bank.in, 5. sbi.bank.in, 6. sbi.bank.in, 7. sbi.bank.in, 8. sbi.bank.in, 9. sbi.bank.in, 10. sbi.bank.in, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. sbi.bank.in, 13. sbi.bank.in, 14. www.financialexpress.com, 15. www.outlookbusiness.com, 16. sbi.bank.in, 17. sbi.bank.in
