NRE Savings Account for NRIs in 2025

A Non-Resident External Account or NRE Savings Account is a bank account for Non- Resident Indians (NRIs) to manage income earned outside India. It allows NRIs to deposit foreign earnings in Indian currency, offering tax-benefits on interest income and easy fund repatriation. With full access to Indian banking, these accounts are ideal for handling India-based expenses, investments, or savings in INR.

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Disclaimer: # The investment risk in the portfolio is borne by the policyholder. Life insurance is available in this product. The maturity amount of Rs 1 Cr. is for a 30 year old healthy individual investing Rs 10,000/- per month for 30 years, with assumed rates of returns @ 8% p.a. that is not guaranteed and is not the upper or lower limits as the value of your policy depends on a number of factors including future investment performance. In Unit Linked Insurance Plans, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder and the returns are not guaranteed. Maturity Value: ₹1,05,02,174 @ CAGR 8%; ₹50,45,591 @ CAGR 4%. All plans listed here are of insurance companies’ funds.
Lakshit Mahajan
Written By: Lakshit Mahajan
Lakshit Mahajan
Lakshit Mahajan Business Unit Head - NRI Investment
Mr. Lakshit Mahajan is a Business Unit Head of Savings NRI at Policybazaar with 8 years of experience, having graduated from the International Management Institute, New Delhi. Lakshit has vast knowledge and understanding of insurance with his previous stints with Max Life and HDFC Life. He is adept at managing NRI customers from the GCC, USA, UK, UAE, Australia, Singapore, etc. looking to invest in India, providing invaluable advice to individuals and helping them meet their long term financial goals.
Vivek Jain
Reviewed By: Vivek Jain
Vivek Jain
Vivek Jain Head of Savings business
Mr. Vivek Jain is the Business Unit Head for Investment Business at Policybazaar.com. A graduate of the prestigious IIM Calcutta he brings over a decade of invaluable experience to his current role. In his capacity as Business Unit Head, he has been a driving force behind the success of Policybazaar's Investment business. Mr. Jain is recognized for his instrumental role in product innovation within the Savings/Investment domain. His leadership and expertise have been pivotal in scaling up the Investment business, underscoring his significant contributions to Policybazaar.com's growth and success.

What is NRE Savings Account?

An NRE (Non-Resident External) Savings Account is a bank account designed for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to manage their income earned abroad in Indian currency. It facilitates easy money transfers to India while providing tax benefits on interest income.

Key Features of the NRE Savings Account:

Following are some of the key features of NRE Savings Account for NRIs in India:

  • Currency and Repatriation:

    Holds foreign income in Indian Rupees and offers full repatriation of both principal and interest.
  • Tax-Free Interest:

    Interest earned is exempt from Indian income tax.
  • Exchange Rate Benefits:

    Beneficial exchange rates when converting foreign income to INR.
  • Attractive Interest Rates:

    Competitive rates, generally between 3.5% to 7.5% p.a., depending on the bank.
  • Convenience:

    Supports online banking, international debit cards, and easy access to funds.
  • Joint Account Option:

    NRIs can open joint accounts with other NRIs or Indian citizens.
  • Convenient Online Banking:

    Most banks offer easy online access for managing accounts and transactions.
  • Loan Availability:

    NRE account holders can obtain loans against their deposits.
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10 Best NRE Savings Account for NRIs in 2025

Name of the Bank NRE Savings Account Daily Balance NRE Interest Rates Minimum Balance (monthly)

State Bank of India (SBI)

< ₹10 Cr: 2.70%  No Minimum Balance
₹10 Cr. & Above: 3.00%

Punjab National Bank (PNB)

< ₹10 Lakhs: 2.70% ₹10,000 FD (Metro / Urban); ₹5,000 FD (Semi-Urban); ₹2,500 FD (Rural)
₹10 Lakhs to < 100 Cr: 2.75%
₹100 Cr. & Above: 3.00%

HDFC Bank

< 50 Lakhs:  3.00% ₹10,000 FD (Metro / Urban); ₹5,000 FD (Semi-Urban); ₹2,500 FD (Rural)
₹50 Lakhs & Above: 3.50%

ICICI Bank

< 50 Lakhs:  3.00% ₹10,000 
₹50 Lakhs & Above: 3.50%

Axis Bank

< 50 Lakhs:  3.00% ₹10,000 FD (Metro / Urban); ₹5,000 FD (Semi-Urban) 
₹50 Lakhs to < ₹2000 Cr: 3.50%
₹2000 & Above: Overnight MIBOR + 0.70%

YES Bank

Up to ₹1 Lakh: 3.00% ₹10,000
>₹1 Lakh to < ₹5 Lakh: 4.00%
₹5 Lakh to < ₹10 Lakh: 5.00%

Bank of Baroda

₹ 1 Lakh to < ₹50 Cr: 2.75% No Minimum Balance
₹50 Cr to < ₹200 Cr: 3.00%
₹200 Cr to < ₹500 Cr: 3.05%

Union Bank of India

Up to ₹ 50 Lakhs: 2.75% ₹10,000
> ₹50 Lakh to ₹100 Cr: 2.90%
> ₹100 Cr to ₹500 Cr: 3.10%

HSBC Bank

Up to ₹10 Cr:  2.00% ₹1.5 Lakhs
₹10 Cr & Above: 2.50%

IDFC First Bank

Up to ₹1 Lakh: 3.00% ₹10,000
> ₹1 Lakh to ₹5 Lakhs: 4.00%
> ₹5 Lakhs to ₹50 Cr: 7.00%
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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.

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Difference Between NRE vs NRO vs FCNR Account

Below is the table showing the difference between NRE vs. NRO vs FCNR Accounts: 

Feature NRE (Non-Resident External) NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) FCNR (Foreign Currency Non-Resident)

Purpose

To hold foreign earnings in Indian Rupees. To manage income earned in India. To hold foreign currency deposits.

Currency

Maintained in Indian Rupees. Maintained in Indian Rupees. Maintained in designated foreign currencies.

Deposit Currency

Foreign currency. Indian and foreign currency. Designated foreign currencies.

Taxation

Interest earned is tax-free in India. Interest earned is taxable in India. Interest earned is tax-free in India.

Repatriation

Fully and freely repatriable. Partially repatriable (with limits). Fully and freely repatriable.

Income Source

Foreign income. Indian income. Foreign currency deposits.

Exchange Rate Risk

Subject to exchange rate risk (upon conversion). Generally not applicable (for INR transactions). Protected from exchange rate risk.

Account Type

Savings or term deposit Savings or term deposit Term deposit.

Joint Account

Primarily with other NRIs. Can have resident indian as a joint account holder only in former or survivor mode. Can be held jointly with other NRIs or resident Indians. Primarily with other NRIs. Can have resident indian as a joint account holder only in former or survivor mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a NRE savings account?

    A Non-Resident External (NRE) savings account is a bank account in India for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) to hold income earned outside India. It allows for repatriation of funds and offers tax-free interest.
  • Which NRE bank account is best?

    The best NRE account depends on individual needs, but popular options include accounts from SBI Bank, PNB Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, which offer competitive interest rates and minimal charges.
  • What are the disadvantages of a NRE account?

    Disadvantages of an NRE account include limited withdrawal options, potential foreign exchange risks, and restrictions on local income deposits.
  • Is it illegal for an NRI to have a savings account in India?

    No, it is not illegal for NRIs to have a savings account in India. However, they must open specific accounts like NRE or NRO accounts to comply with regulations.
  • Which account is better, NRE or NRI?

    The term NRI account generally refers to both NRE and NRO accounts. An NRE account is better for income earned abroad due to tax benefits, while an NRO account is suitable for managing income earned in India.
  • Is a NRE account taxable?

    Interest earned on an NRE account is tax-free in India. However, it may be taxable in the NRI’s country of residence.
  • Who is eligible for an NRE account?

    NRIs, including Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin residing outside India, are eligible for a NRE account.

˜Top 5 plans based on annualized premium, for bookings made in the first 6 months of FY 24-25. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. This list of plans listed here comprise of insurance products offered by all the insurance partners of Policybazaar. For a complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website, www.irdai.gov.in
*Past 10 Year annualised returns as on 01-04-2025
*All savings plans are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Tax benefit is subject to changes in tax laws. Standard T&C Apply
^The tax benefits under Section 80C allow a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakhs from the taxable income per year and 10(10D) tax benefits are for investments made up to ₹2.5 Lakhs/ year for policies bought after 1 Feb 2021. Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws.
#The investment risk in the portfolio is borne by the policyholder. Life insurance is available in this product. The maturity amount of Rs 2 Cr. is for a 30 year old healthy individual investing Rs 18,000/- per month for 30 years, with assumed rates of returns @ 8% p.a. that is not guaranteed and is not the upper or lower limits as the value of your policy depends on a number of factors including future investment performance. In Unit Linked Insurance Plans, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder and the returns are not guaranteed. Maturity Value: 1,06,79,507 @ CAGR 4%; 2,12,15,817 @ CAGR 8%. All plans listed here are of insurance companies’ funds. *Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws. All plans listed here are of insurance companies’ funds.
¶Long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax (12.5%) is exempted on annual premiums up to 2.5 lacs.
**Returns are based on past 10 years' fund performance data (Fund Data Source: Value Research).

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