What is an NRI Account?
An NRI, or Non-Residential Indian, is an individual who resides outside India for at least 120 days in a year and has spent less than 365 days in India over the last four years. An individual is immediately classified as an NRI upon leaving India to seek employment abroad. For NRIs looking to invest in India, it is mandatory to open an NRI account. They have the option to select between an NRE (Non-Resident External) account and an NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) account, depending on their financial needs and objectives.
NRE Savings Account
An NRE Savings Account is a specialized savings vehicle designed for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), enabling them to remit their overseas earnings back to India with ease.
Key features of the best NRE Account include:
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Currency: The account is maintained in Indian Rupees (INR).
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Account Types: Options include Current, Savings, Recurring Deposit, and Fixed Deposit accounts.
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Eligibility: NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) can open an NRE account, subject to fulfilling criteria set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
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Joint Accounts: An NRE account can be jointly held, provided the other account holder is also an NRI.
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Deposit Sources: Funds deposited must originate from abroad, as income earned within India is not permissible.
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Withdrawals: Account holders can withdraw in the local currency of their residence, which may lead to value fluctuations due to exchange rates.
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Fund Transfers: Transferring funds between NRE accounts, or to NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts, is straightforward.
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Tax Benefits: The balance and interest earned in the NRE account are not subject to Indian tax.
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Investment Opportunities: The NRE account serves as a gateway for NRIs to invest in Indian markets and assets.
Best NRE Account for NRIs in 2025
Name of the Bank |
NRE Deposit Interest rates below Rs. 2 crores |
Minimum Balance Requirement |
1 year |
2 years |
3 years |
5 years |
Axis Bank |
6.75% |
7.20% |
7.00% |
7.00% |
Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 25,000, depending on the account type |
Bank of Baroda |
6.75% |
6.75% |
7.05% |
6.50% |
Rs. 50,000 average quarterly balance |
Bank of India |
6.00% |
6.75% |
6.50% |
6.00% |
Minimum Balance: Rs. 200 per quarter |
Canara Bank |
6.90% |
6.85% |
6.80% |
6.70% |
Rs. 1 lakh |
Citibank |
6.75% |
7.20% |
7.00% |
7.00% |
Rs. 80,000 |
DBS Bank |
6.25% |
5.75% |
5.00% |
5.00% |
Rs. 5,00,000 |
HDFC Bank |
6.60% |
7.00% |
7.00% |
7.00% |
Rs. 10,000 (Urban and Metro city branch) Rs. 5,000 (Rural city branch) |
ICICI Bank |
6.70% |
7.00% |
7.00% |
6.90% |
Rs. 10,000 |
Kotak Mahindra Bank |
7.10% |
7.00% |
6.50% |
6.20% |
Rs. 10,000 |
RBL Bank |
7.00% |
7.50% |
7.10% |
7.00% |
Rs. 50,000 |
SBM Bank |
7.05% |
7.30% |
7.40% |
7.75% |
0 Balance |
State Bank of India |
6.80% |
7.00% |
6.50% |
6.50% |
Rs. 1,00,000 (Urban and Metro city branch) Rs. 50,000 (Rural city branch) |
YES Bank |
7.50% |
7.25% |
7.25% |
7.00% |
Rs. 10,000 |
Disclaimer: Policybazaar does not endorse, rate, or recommend any particular company or product. The investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder.
NRE Savings Account Benefits
NRE Savings Account Advantages for NRIs:
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Transfer funds efficiently with competitive rates.
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Interest earned is tax-free in India.
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Mobile and internet banking options for convenient access.
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Option for joint accounts with other NRIs.
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Subject to currency fluctuation risks.
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Widely available across Indian banks.
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Interest rates and minimum balance requirements differ by bank.
Key Features of NRO Account Saving Banks
Here are some of the main benefits of the best NRE (Non-Resident External) Savings account:
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Axis Bank NRE Account
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The average minimum balance required for an NRE savings account with Axis Bank is Rs. 10,000l.
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The rate of interest for NRE savings accounts is competitive, allowing NRIs to earn tax-free interest in India.
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NRIs are free to repatriate both the principal and the interest earned on their NRE account without any upper limit.
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Bank of Baroda NRE Account
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The average minimum balance for an NRE account is Rs. 1,000, making it accessible for NRIs with varying financial capabilities.
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The interest earned on NRE accounts with the Bank of Baroda is tax-free in India.
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Offers convenient net banking facilities for global access.
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Citi Bank NRE Account
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The minimum balance requirement for a Citi Bank NRE savings account is Rs. 2,00,000.
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NRIs can enjoy competitive interest rates on their savings, with the interest being not taxable in India.
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Provides secure net banking facilities for easy international transactions.
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DBS Bank NRE Account
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An NRE account with DBS Bank requires a minimum balance of Rs. 5,00,000.
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The interest rates are attractive, and the interest earned is exempt from tax in India.
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The option for a joint NRE account is available, with the other account holder also being an NRI.
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HDFC Bank NRE Account
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The minimum balance requirement for an NRE account with HDFC Bank is Rs. 10,000.
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Offers competitive interest rates on the NRE savings account, with the benefit of tax-free interest in India.
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The net banking facility ensures smooth banking operations for NRIs across the globe.
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ICICI Bank NRE Account
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An NRI needs to maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 10,000 in their NRE account.
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The interest rates are attractive, and NRIs can enjoy tax-free interest on their deposits.
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Provides a simple and secure online platform for money transfers internationally.
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Kotak Mahindra Bank NRE Account
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The minimum balance for an NRE account is Rs. 10,000, making it easily maintainable for NRIs.
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Interest earned on NRE accounts is not only competitive but also not taxable in India.
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24/7 phone banking services are available for NRIs to manage their accounts conveniently.
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RBL Bank NRE Account
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An NRI must maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 50,000 in their RBL Bank NRE account.
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The interest rates are competitive, and the interest income is exempt from Indian taxes.
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Net banking facilities are provided for easy account operation from anywhere in the world.
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State Bank of India NRE Account
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The minimum balance requirement for an NRE account with SBI is Rs. 1,00,000.
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The interest rates are competitive, with the advantage of the interest being tax-free in India.
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The account can be opened either jointly with another NRI or as an individual account.
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Yes Bank NRE Account
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An NRI needs to maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 10,000 in their Yes Bank NRE account.
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Offers a good rate of interest, which is not subject to tax in India.
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The net banking facility simplifies the RTGS or NEFT payment process for global transactions.