Which is the Best Choice to Invest? FD vs Savings Accounts!

Investors prefer risk-free investment schemes that offer maximum return against the money they put in. There are several such schemes available in the Indian financial market.However, fixed deposits and savings accounts are by far the most preferred options amongst them.

FDs are a form of term deposits that allow you to invest a certain amount for a fixed tenor. That amount earns interest over the period,and you receive the accumulated return along with the principal amount when the FD matures.





A savings account is a type of deposit account provided by various financial institutions.You can earn a modest rate of interest against your funds; however, the percentage is significantly low compared to the FD interest rate.

Both fixed deposit and savings account have several features and benefits that might be useful for certain types of investors. You should carefully consider the advantages of both these schemes to determine where to invest in.

Here are some of the features that differentiate between fixed deposits vs savings accounts.

FD vs savings account

• Interest rate – FDs generally offer a higher interest rate than a savings account. Certain financial institutions offer up to 8.75% interest on FDs. And, savings accounts come with up to 4% interest per annum, although this rate varies between different financial organisations and can change according to the amount you deposit.

The higher interest rate of FDs allows you to grow your invested amount much quicker. It is one of the primary reasons why people prefer fixed deposits over a savings account while investing for a longer term.

• Assured return –Fixed deposits are independent of market fluctuations which make them ideal for investors who want a guaranteed return. The rate of interest is decided when you open the scheme and stays fixed throughout the tenor.

Savings accounts offer either fixed or floating interest rates. Floating rate of interest is market dependent and can decrease if the financial market takes a hit or the government decides to reduce the repo rate. It makes savings accounts comparatively more vulnerable to market fluctuations.

• Benefits for senior citizens – Both FDs and savings account offer several add-on benefits for senior citizens. For example, the Fixed Deposit for senior citizens offered by Bajaj Finserv accrues0.35% additional interest rate above the regular amount, increasing the total rate to approximately 9.10%.

Savings accounts generally offer benefits such as higher withdrawal limit and interest rate for senior citizens.However, maintaining a savings account can often be difficult for a retired person.

On the other hand,in an FD, the full investable amount is deposited at a time while opening the account. Hence, it is ideal for senior citizens as they can put in a huge portion of their savings and allow it to accumulate interest over time.

Also, FDs are ideal for someone who wants to invest a sum of money and earn a guaranteed return when the scheme matures. It can significantly increase the investor’s wealth and help him or her achieve financial freedom in a short period.

Company Fixed Deposits V/S Bank Fixed Deposits

Fixed Deposit, a banking term that can easily scare those who are unaware of the lingo used by top class bankers and investors. Let’s break down this two-word idea into a much simpler format.

● Fixed – Something that stays still, preferably stable and safe from harm.

● Deposit – An investment; something which gives some returns.

Now when we link them, we get the idea of a ‘stable investment but with a certain degree of profits’. Fixed Deposits can be confusing especially when investors wish to invest yet don’t understand the schemes.

FD is meant to invest your money for a long period of time, and gaining a huge sum of interest a.k.a profit for not withdrawing the money before the maturity date hits. It is a banking instrument for investing money and earning gains.

Advantages for Fixed Deposit

Higher the Interest Rate- Higher the returns and also you get to choose the terms and dates. 

Disadvantages for Fixed Deposit

We cannot think of any except maybe the long maturity dates, but then even that is chosen by the investor.

Bank and Company Fixed Deposits

You could invest via two channels, through your bank or in a company FD. People usually pick a bank as they trust a government controlled organisation more compared to a company or an MNC. However, if we look closely, the difference is startling in the way of how much returns the investor actually gets!

An FD in the bank could give you a maximum of 7-9% based on its capacity and other investments. It seems quite less compared to a company FD. While a prospering company could easily give a maximum of 10% of interest for your investment. It is tricky to find out which company is the right one for you and that is where a company’s credit rating jumps in.

A credit rating system is present to ensure that companies can and will end up repaying their investors, even in times of distress. This credit rating is assigned to a fixed deposit instrument by a credit rating agency after doing a thorough analysis of the business risks, financial risks and the overall management quality.

A major inconvenience is the loss of flexibility, an FD in a bank means no withdrawing rights (under certain circumstances, you can break the FD but pay a penalised fee or get a lower rate of interest). Thus, making you pay additional money from your pockets to get back your own money. That hardly seems fair!

A company FD, on the other hand, allows a variety of schemes that can be manipulated according to your needs and time periods. You could pay a monthly interest or at quarterly intervals. This then allows you as an investor to earn some quick cash on the side.

Company FDs can be used by any target audience; working class, senior citizens, housewives, and even those who are in the zero or low tax bracket. A good idea then is to diversify your funds into different companies which will then lower the chances of risk.

We do suggest to read the application form in detail and to clarify your worries before investing in a company. A track record of the company’s past interest schemes could always provide a good source of information. Another piece of advice is to always keep a check on the credit ratings of the company and to minimise risk by clearing out your money from the company if you see it fall.

On the whole, a company fixed deposit is a good investment idea for the fixed income group investors who are on the lookout for safe returns. Not all can afford the volatile markets, and thus a company fixed deposit can help keep you grounded and your money safe, earning a higher rate of interest at the same time.

How do Fixed Deposits Affect your Financial Stability?

Following the demonetization drive, a lot of banks have seen an increase in investment in fixed deposits. Fixed deposits are a safer option as opposed to market stocks and mutual funds, and they are rarely affected by the volatility of the market.

Investing in the fixed deposit is easier since you have to invest your funds only once throughout the tenure of the deposit as opposed to recurring deposits where you have to keep investing some part of your limited monthly income.

Fixed Deposits

Different banks offer different interest rates which are dependent on their policies, the tenure of the fixed deposit and the amount of money that you want to invest. Not only banks but companies also offer fixed deposits.

The company fixed deposits provide you with a higher rate of interest as compared to bank fixed deposits. Whenever you decide to invest in fixed deposits, it is necessary that you choose a financial institution, lender or company based on their reputation in the market and the rate of interest that they provide.

It is necessary to keep in mind that the income that if you receive more than INR 10, 000 in one financial year, you will have to pay tax on this extra income and the tax amount will be decided based on the tax bracket that you fall into.

Financial Goals

The tenure of the fixed deposit depends on your financial goals. A fixed deposit is dependent on the amount that you invest in and the rate of interest that is paid to you by the financial institutions or lenders. The term of your fixed deposit can range anywhere from 7 days to 20 years.

If you have a large amount of cash that you want to invest, it is advised that you invest in different investment options. This will provide you with financial security since all your investments will not be affected by the volatility of the market.

If you have opted for a short-term fixed deposit, you can extend the tenure of this fixed deposit once it matures and this will help you in increasing your liquidity. 

Whenever you invest your funds, make sure you choose the tenure in such a way that you keep receiving the benefits of your investment in a timely fashion. 

Rate of Interest

The best type of fixed deposit in which you can earn go rate of interest is the one where the rate of interest is calculated the compound interest, with the help of online fd calculator you can check your returns of invested your saving in FD . 

If you are opting for a Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFC) or a Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) you should consider the nature and stability of their business, the services provided by these companies and credit rating of the companies. 

As credit rating has very less impact on the interest offered by the company’s fixed deposit, it's the investor’s responsibility to check the rating of the company should be AAA rated. 

Financial Emergency

If you are facing a financial emergency, you can break the fixed deposit and use this money. No penalty charges are usually applied by the financial institutions or lenders if you break your fixed deposit before its maturity. 

It offers attractive features like cashless hospitalization benefits, discount rating from 5% to 25% on medical services, doctor on call. In company deposits, new customized options are available for each customer, as per their goals and budget, specialized offers for women, free accidental insurances for the individual investor.