Following the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision to cut the repo rate by 50 basis points, several major public sector banks have reduced their lending rates. The move aims to stimulate credit growth and support economic activity amid ongoing challenges. Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, and UCO Bank have all reduced their repo-linked lending rates (RLLR) by 50 basis points, with effective dates ranging from June 6 to June 9, 2025. These reductions bring their RLLR rates down to between 8.15% and 8.35%.
In addition to the public sector banks, private sector lender HDFC Bank has also reduced its Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) by 10 basis points across various tenures, effective June 7, 2025. This adjustment brings down the overnight and one-month MCLR rates to 8.9%. The RBI’s repo rate cut directly impacts floating-rate loans, which must be reset in line with the benchmark repo rate as per RBI regulations. Existing borrowers with floating-rate loans will automatically benefit from lower interest rates.
However, new borrowers may not receive the full benefit of the rate cut, as banks are expected to modify the spreads they charge over the repo rate to maintain profitability. For example, Bank of Baroda’s home loan rates for new borrowers now start at 8%, which is higher than the rates offered by some public sector banks prior to the RBI rate cut. Several public sector banks, including Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, and Union Bank of India, were offering home loans at rates as low as 7.85% for loans up to Rs 30 lakh.
The rate cuts are expected to make borrowing cheaper for consumers and businesses, which could help stimulate economic growth. However, to preserve profitability, lenders are also expected to reduce returns on fixed deposits (FDs), making them less attractive to savers in the near term. The RBI’s repo rate reduction and the subsequent adjustments by banks reflect ongoing efforts to balance credit availability, profitability, and competitive pressures in the Indian banking sector.
Overall, the rate cuts are a positive development for borrowers, but may have a negative impact on savers. The Indian banking sector is expected to continue to evolve in response to the RBI’s monetary policy decisions, with lenders adjusting their rates and products to maintain profitability and competitiveness. The ultimate goal of the rate cuts is to spur economic growth by making borrowing cheaper, which could have a positive impact on the broader economy.