Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 28 -- Nearly 20 private commercial banks (PCBs) have already lowered the interest rates on fresh deposits by keeping their lending rates unchanged.

The PCBs have slashed their interest rates on deposit around 2.0 percentage points as part of their 'preparation' ahead of the execution of the single-digit interest rate on both lending and deposit.

The downward revision of the deposit rates comes much ahead of the date-April 01 next- announced by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal during his meeting with the chairmen and managing directors of the PCBs on December 30 last.

The banks are now trying to keep their spread at a 'rational level' for minimising the impact on the single-digit interest rate - 6.0 per cent on...