Fixed deposits continue to be the preferred investment choice for individuals with a low risk tolerance, especially among senior citizens. Their attractiveness stems from assured returns, preferential interest rates of up to 0.5%, enforced savings, high liquidity, and the straightforward nature of the investment process.
In times of heightened market fluctuations, many senior citizens opt to steer clear of market-linked investments to safeguard and grow their retirement savings through fixed deposits (FDs). Indeed, a significant number of senior depositors depend on the regular interest disbursements from their non-cumulative FDs, which can be received monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, to manage their everyday expenses.
Fixed deposits are also effective tools for building emergency funds, as they not only facilitate capital appreciation but also permit easy access to funds before maturity. This feature allows individuals to withdraw money for urgent requirements, although it may result in a potential interest income loss of up to 1%.
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However, to enhance potential returns without incurring investment risks, senior citizens might explore the FD laddering strategy. This method involves segmenting their savings into several FDs with different maturity timelines, thereby creating opportunities for reinvestment and establishing a continuous investment cycle.
For example, if a depositor possesses Rs 5 lakh, then rather than placing the entire sum into a single FD, they could choose to divide it into five FDs of Rs 1 lakh each, each with varying maturity periods from 1 to 5 years. By implementing this strategy, senior citizens can benefit from potentially higher interest rates in the future while minimizing the necessity to prematurely withdraw a fixed deposit to meet immediate financial obligations, thus preserving interest income.
If you are in search of the best fixed deposit offers specifically designed for elderly individuals, you can access the most recent interest rates from many of India’s prominent banks, including SBI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, PNB, Bank of India, and Union Bank of India, among others.
| Senior Citizen Fixed Deposit Interest Rates | ||||||
| Bank Name | Interest Rates (p.a.) | |||||
| Highest slab | 1-year tenure (%) | 3-year tenure (%) | 5-year tenure (%) | |||
| % | Tenure | |||||
| SMALL FINANCE BANKS | ||||||
| AU Small Finance Bank | 8.50 | 18 months | 7.75 | 8.00 | 7.75 | |
| Equitas Small Finance Bank | 9.00 | 444 days | 8.70 | 8.50 | 7.75 | |
| ESAF Small Finance Bank | 8.75 | 2 years to less than 3 years | 6.50 | 7.25 | 6.75 | |
| Jana Small Finance Bank | 8.75 | 365 days to 1095 days | 8.75 | 8.75 | 7.75 | |
| NorthEast Small Finance Bank | 9.50 | 546 days to 1111 days | 7.50 | 9.50 | 6.75 | |
| Suryoday Small Finance Bank | 9.10 | Above 2 years to 3 years | 7.35 | 9.10 | 8.75 | |
| Ujjivan Small Finance Bank | 8.75 | 12 months | 8.75 | 7.70 | 7.70 | |
| Unity Small Finance Bank | 9.50 | 1001 days | 8.35 | 8.65 | 8.65 | |
| Utkarsh Small Finance Bank | 9.10 | 2 years to 3 years; 1500 days | 8.60 | 9.10 | 8.35 | |
| PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS | ||||||
| Axis Bank | 7.75 | 15 months to less than 2 years; 5 years to 10 years | 7.20 | 7.60 | 7.75 | |
| Bandhan Bank | 8.55 | 1 year | 8.55 | 7.75 | 6.60 | |
| City Union Bank | 8.00 | 333 days | 7.25 | 6.75 | 6.50 | |
| CSB Bank | 7.75 | 401 days | 5.50 | 6.25 | 6.25 | |
| DBS Bank | 8.00 | 376 days to 540 days | 7.50 | 7.00 | 7.00 | |
| DCB Bank | 8.55 | 19 months to 20 months | 7.60 | 8.05 | 7.90 | |
| Federal Bank | 7.90 | 50 months ; 777 days | 7.30 | 7.50 | 7.25 | |
| HDFC Bank | 7.90 | 4 Year 7 Months (55 months) | 7.10 | 7.50 | 7.50 | |
| ICICI Bank | 7.80 | 15 months to less than 18 months | 7.20 | 7.50 | 7.50 | |
| IDFC First Bank | 8.25 | 400 days | 7.00 | 7.50 | 7.25 | |
| IndusInd Bank | 8.25 | 1 year to 2 years | 8.25 | 7.75 | 7.75 | |
| Jammu & Kashmir Bank | 7.50 | 1 year to less than 3 years | 7.50 | 7.25 | 7.00 | |
| Karur Vysya Bank | 8.10 | 760 days – Special Deposit | 7.40 | 7.40 | 7.40 | |
| Karnataka Bank | 8.00 | 375 days | 7.85 | 7.00 | 7.00 | |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | 7.90 | 390 days to less than 23 months | 7.60 | 7.60 | 6.70 | |
| RBL Bank | 8.60 | 500 days | 8.00 | 8.00 | 7.60 | |
| SBM Bank India | 8.75 | Above 18 months to less than 2 years 3 days | 7.55 | 7.80 | 8.25 | |
| South Indian Bank | 7.75 | 400 days | 7.20 | 7.20 | 6.50 | |
| Tamilnad Mercantile Bank | 8.00 | 400 days | 7.50 | 7.00 | 7.00 | |
| YES Bank | 8.50 | 18 months | 7.75 | 8.00 | 8.00 | |
| PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS | ||||||
| Bank of Baroda | 7.80 | 399 days – bob Monsoon Dhamaka | 7.35 | 7.65 | 7.15 | |
| Bank of India | 7.75 | 333 days – Star Dhan Vriddhi | 7.30 | 7.25 | 6.75 | |
| Bank of Maharashtra | 7.75 | 777 days | 7.25 | 7.00 | 7.00 | |
| Canara Bank | 7.75 | 444 days | 7.35 | 7.30 | 7.20 | |
| Central Bank of India | 7.95 | 444 days | 7.35 | 7.25 | 7.00 | |
| Indian Bank | 7.75 | 400 days – IND SUPER | 6.60 | 6.75 | 6.75 | |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 7.80 | 444 days | 7.60 | 7.00 | 7.00 | |
| Punjab National Bank | 7.75 | 400 days | 7.30 | 7.50 | 7.00 | |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | 7.80 | 666 days | 6.80 | 6.50 | 6.50 | |
| State Bank of India | 7.75 | 444 days – Amrit Vrishti | 7.30 | 7.25 | 7.50 | |
| Union Bank of India | 7.90 | 333 days | 7.30 | 7.20 | 7.00 | |
| FOREIGN BANKS | ||||||
| Deutsche Bank | 8.00 | Above 1 year to 3 years | 7.00 | 8.00 | 7.50 | |
| HSBC Bank | 8.00 | 601 to 699 days | 4.50 | 7.50 | 6.50 | |
| Standard Chartered Bank | 8.00 | 1 year to 375 days; 2 years to less than 3 years | 8.00 | 7.60 | 7.25 | |
| Note: *Depositors aged 80 years and above | ||||||
| Source: Paisabazaar.com | ||||||
| Interest rates as of 17 September 2024 | ||||||
