What is the issue with term deposit?
Interest rates paid on term deposits are typically lower or less attractive than most fixed-rate investments. Term deposits can't be withdrawn early without penalty or losing all of the interest earned. Interest rates don't keep up with rising inflation.
Liquidity Risk. If you suddenly need some of your funds, you may have to break an investment, meaning that you are likely to lose most of your interest income on that particular term deposit. Growth Risk. Long-term investors should expect to see their investments grow. Term deposits are not growth assets.
Bank accounts and term deposits are a great place for short-term savings, emergency funds, and managing your budget. Returns on bank deposits aren't as high as other types of investments, so while they're great for managing the day to day, they're not as powerful for long-term goals.
Savings accounts are more flexible than term deposits. A savings account can be useful when you want to put your money away and have it earn some interest with the peace of mind that you can also access your funds as and when you need to. You can deposit or withdraw money at any time.
Call money: disadvantages
- High deposit minimums. - Banks may charge a fee for withdrawal.
Cons of a term deposit
If you need to access your money, you may have to pay an early withdrawal penalty fee, and the withdrawal may require a period of notice. You also can't add to your balance during the term, so if you want to keep contributing to your savings, a term deposit might not be the best option for you.
When your term deposit matures, you can reinvest it into a new term deposit at the prevailing interest rate (with or without the interest earned), reinvest a different amount by either adding funds or taking some funds out, or have the money deposited back to you via your nominated bank account.
Disadvantages of term deposits
To earn interest on your term deposit, your money is locked away for a chosen period of time. If you need your money before the term ends, you may have to pay a penalty fee. You may only receive a proportion of the interest earnt, or none at all.
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating |
---|---|
LendingClub LevelUp Savings Learn more at LendingClub Bank, Member FDIC | 4.7/5 Best for High-Yield Online Savings Accounts |
UFB Portfolio Savings Learn more at UFB Direct, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 Best for High-Yield Online Savings Accounts |
For a safe and secure investment with a guaranteed interest rate, both term deposits and fixed deposits can be good options. However, if you are looking for a deposit with a shorter maturity period, then a term deposit may be a better option.
Who has best term deposit?
Bank | Term Deposit | Interest Rate |
---|---|---|
MOVE Bank | MOVE Bank Term Deposit - 5 months | 5.00% p.a. |
Goldfields Money | Goldfields Money Stow it Term Deposit - 4 months | 4.80% p.a. |
MyState Bank | MyState Bank Regular Term Deposit Account - 7 months | 4.60% p.a. |
BankVic | BankVic Term Deposit - 6 months | 4.80% p.a. |
Top 10 Private Sector Banks Offering the Best FD Rates
Bandhan Bank – 8.05% (1 year) RBL Bank – 8.00% (500 days) YES Bank – 8.00% (18 months) DBS Bank – 7.50% (376 to 540 days)

You will not be able to readily access your money during the term invested. If you wish to access your money before the term ends you will have to pay an administration fee, miss out on interest which you would otherwise earn and you may need to provide 31 days' notice depending on the type of term deposit.
Term deposits, also known as term investments, are a popular savings option offered by banks and other financial institutions. They can provide a low risk, reliable way to grow your money, helping you work towards achieving your financial goals.
A certificate of deposit is a type of term deposit that has a fixed term and typically offers a higher interest rate, while a term deposit is a general term for deposits that are held for a fixed period, including certificates of deposit.
A balance that is negative indicates that the deposits have been depleted and a top up to the account is needed. In the detail section for the deposit account, an invoice is represented as a negative number, meaning a reduction of your balance.
If you're only planning on putting away a small sum for a few months, it may be more effective to use a savings account. But, if you've got the cash and time to spare, a fixed rate protects you from any fluctuations in interest rates, making a Term Deposit a great long-term option.
- Difficult to Remember. Because they are automatic, automated payments are difficult to monitor. ...
- High Credit Card Balance. ...
- Banking Fees. ...
- Security Risks. ...
- Electronic Errors. ...
- Stopping Payments.
Term deposits
If you make an early withdrawal, you may receive a reduction in the interest paid to you. We'll determine your break rate (reduced interest rate) by taking into account the term you originally invested for, and the length of time the money was actually invested, less an interest rate adjustment of 2%.
- Your money isn't accessible. ...
- No extra deposits. ...
- Less flexibility. ...
- No bonus interest. ...
- Rollover terms are often less competitive. ...
- Won't benefit from rises in the market.
What are the three types of term deposit?
- Recurring Deposits.
- Fixed Deposits.
Some banks might add a break fee onto your sacrifice in interest, which is typically $30. Less common is that some other banks impose a break fee which is worked out by looking at the bank's current rates, the account rate, how much money you want to withdraw and how close to maturity the account is.
If you know you won't need your money for a set period and you're comfortable with locking it away, a term deposit can be a good option. However, if you might need access then a savings account provides more flexibility to withdraw funds whenever you need them.
A 'Term Deposit' is simply a deposit that is locked-in for a certain term. By this logic, Fixed Deposits (FDs) and Term Deposits are the same. But that is not all, Term Deposits also cover other products such as Recurring Deposits, Post Office Deposits, Foreign Currency Deposits and Senior Citizen Deposits.
Top Banks | 1 year - less than 2 years | 5 years - upto 10 years |
---|---|---|
HDFC | 7.10% | 7.75% |
Post Office | 6.90% | 7.50% |
Axis Bank | 7.60% | 7.75% |
ICICI Bank | 7.65% | 7.50% |