From 1 October, RBI’s new rules will change how banks calculate your deposit interest. No more ‘annual’ rates misleading you; now, banks must use the actual number of days in a year (365 or 366) to compute interest. This small change could cost you a few hundred rupees in lost returns; especially if you’re holding large FDs. Also, banks can now offer different interest rates for different deposit tenures; which might sound flexible, but could confuse investors when comparing offers. And here’s the kicker: early withdrawal penalties may now be applied more strictly, even if you withdraw just a few days after opening the FD. If you’re planning to break an FD soon, check your bank’s new terms before you do. These aren’t huge policy shifts; but they quietly impact your returns. Smart investors are already recalculating their FD math. Don’t get caught off guard.