NRE vs NRO and FCNR Accounts: Know the Complete Differences

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) often have very different banking and investment needs than those who live in India. This is because the majority of their earnings and assets are usually in international currencies. As a result, NRIs might need an account that can hold and convert their overseas earnings into Indian rupees. There are many NRI account options to choose from depending on their financial goals and needs. An NRI account can be opened at almost every major bank and financial organization in India, such as RBL Bank.

If you’re an NRI looking to open a bank account in India, you have several options available to you. This article covers the three main types of NRI accounts – NRE, NRO, and FCNR – as well as their benefits and drawbacks. Read on to learn more about each account type and make the best choice for your needs.

• NRIs, PIOs (Persons of Indian origin), and OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India)
• Spouse of an Indian Citizen or spouse of PIO
• Indian citizens settled abroad for employment, studies, and business purpose
• Individuals officially deputed abroad by the Government of India or PSUs
• Individuals who held an Indian passport at any point in time
• Individuals whose parents or their grandparents were Citizens of India as per the India Citizen Act 1955

• Non-Resident External (NRE) Savings Account & Fixed Deposit Account
• Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Savings Account & Fixed Deposit Account
• Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) Fixed Deposit Account

NRE accounts are used to deposit or save foreign earnings in Indian currency. NRO accounts are used to manage and save Indian earnings that are made in Indian currency. FCNR accounts can be used to deposit or save foreign currency earnings in any of the currencies that the RBI has approved. Let’s get more into the specifics of each of them.

If you have income in India, a Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account is a valuable savings account. You transfer Income earned in India including dividends, equity returns, pensions, rental income, and any other form of revenue. One may deposit funds in either Indian or foreign currencies into this account. However, only Indian rupees are used for withdrawals. NRO accounts can also be leveraged to invest in Indian securities, shares, mutual funds, etc. This rupee account comes in savings, current, fixed, and recurring deposit account variations.

• Manage your money earned in India from a variety of sources using the NRO account.
• Foreign currency deposited in the NRO account is converted to Indian rupees at the applicable exchange rate.
• You can also repatriate up to $1 million from it each fiscal year.

NRIs can deposit their foreign income in Indian rupees into this bank account. This account, which is denominated in rupees, can be used as a savings account, current account, fixed deposit account, or account for regular deposits. You can open an NRE account on your own or with a partner. However, only another NRI can open a joint account. Only income derived from abroad is eligible for NRE deposits. This account cannot accept deposits of earnings made in India.

• The account permits the transfer of foreign currency to India, allowing you to keep INR in your Indian bank account. The money you deposit in this account is fully repatriable.
• The interest earned on the NRE Savings and Fixed Deposits is tax free.

NRIs may deposit funds into this term in any of the currencies that the RBI accepts. Currently RBL Bank accepts deposits in eight different currencies: USD, GBP, AUD, SGD, CAD, CHF, EUR, and JPY. A term deposit account, not a savings account, is what an FCNR (B) account is. An NRI can deposit money in the currency of their choice using this method. While opening, money can also be transferred from an NRE account to an FCNR (B) account. The currency and tenure affect the interest rate on FCNR (B) accounts. NRIs can earn a fixed rate of interest on this account until maturity.

• As a holder of an FCNR account, you can maintain your deposits in different currencies.
• The terms of these deposits can range from one year to five years.
• The amount you deposit and the interest earned are fully refundable.
• The FCNR account allows automatic renewal of deposits at maturity.
• The FCNR deposits you maintain are not subject to Indian taxation.

• Choose the account that best fits your needs from the three available options. They all provide simple, effective ways for you to manage your income from various sources and allow you to move money between India and your resident country. The parameters of distinction between NRO, NRE, and FCNR accounts are shown in the table below.

Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) Account allows NRIs to invest in shares/convertible debentures of Indian companies under repatriation through a registered stock broker on a recognized stock exchange in India.

The investor will have to open NRE account (Repatriation basis) account under PIS with only one Designated Bank.

As per RBI guidelines, NRIs should have a separate bank account exclusively for PIS purposes and all transactions relating to shares purchased or sold should be routed through this account and it should not be allowed to carry any other transaction which is not related to trading of shares.

You can open various NRI accounts with RBL Bank, including NRO accounts, NRE accounts, and FCNR accounts. Manage your foreign and domestic income profitably by opening the account type that best suits your requirements. Learn more about RBL Bank’s most recent interest rates, fees, and advantages for opening different types of NRI accounts. Access all the paperwork and forms required for FCNR deposits.