How to open a Fixed Deposit (FD) in a bank — complete 2026 guide

Indian household FD outstandings crossed ₹103 lakh crore by Mar 2026 (RBI data). Despite the rise of mutual funds and equity, FDs remain the single largest financial asset of Indian households. The numbers favouring senior citizens are particularly attractive — the 0.5-0.75% extra rate, combined with §80TTB's ₹50,000 interest deduction, makes FDs genuinely tax-efficient for retirees up to a corpus of ~₹6-7 lakh per person.

A Fixed Deposit (Term Deposit) is a contractual deposit with a bank: you give money for a fixed period at a fixed interest rate. The bank promises to return principal + interest at maturity. Unlike a savings account (where rate floats and you can withdraw anytime), the FD is locked — premature withdrawal is allowed but penalised (typically 1% lower interest + interest recalculated at the rate that applied for the actual tenure held).

Compare with:

• Savings account — 2.7-4.0% pa; fully liquid; daily compounded.
• Recurring Deposit (RD) — like an FD but you deposit a fixed amount each month for 6 months to 10 years; same interest rates as FDs.
• Post Office Time Deposit (POTD) — government-backed equivalent; slightly higher rate (7.0-7.5%); 1, 2, 3, 5 yrs.
• NSC, KVP, SCSS, PPF — government small savings; rates revised quarterly. SCSS at 8.2% for seniors is currently the highest fully government-guaranteed rate.
• Corporate FDs — issued by companies (Bajaj Finance, HDFC Ltd, Mahindra Finance) — higher rate (~7.5-9%) but NOT covered by DICGC; rated by CRISIL/ICRA.
• Debt mutual funds — market-linked; can be more tax-efficient if held for years; daily-priced; no lock-in.

The legal framework you should know:

• Banking Regulation Act, 1949 §17 — empowers scheduled commercial banks to accept deposits.
• RBI Master Direction on Interest Rates on Deposits (Domestic / NRI), 2016 (updated periodically) — governs how banks set FD rates, the differential for senior citizens, and the rules for premature withdrawal.
• DICGC Act, 1961 — insures deposits (savings + FD + RD + current) up to ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank (raised from ₹1 lakh in 2020). Your FD in SBI + your savings in SBI are aggregated; FD in SBI + FD in HDFC are separately insured.
• Income Tax Act, 1961:
  • §80TTA — deduction up to ₹10,000 on interest from savings account for individuals < 60 (does NOT cover FD interest).
  • §80TTB — deduction up to ₹50,000 for senior citizens (60+) on interest from BOTH savings accounts AND FDs/RDs.
  • §194A — TDS at 10% on FD interest if total interest from one bank > ₹40,000 (under-60) or ₹50,000 (senior) in a financial year. Submit Form 15G (under-60, total income below taxable limit) or Form 15H (senior, ditto) to avoid TDS.
  • §80C — investment in a 5-year tax-saving FD up to ₹1.5 lakh is deductible (only old regime). Cannot be premature-withdrawn.

Rates change quarterly (sometimes more often) and vary by bank type:

• PSU banks (SBI, BoB, Canara, PNB) — moderate rates, highest perceived safety.
• Private banks (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, Kotak, IndusInd) — slightly higher rates than PSUs.
• Small finance banks (AU SFB, Equitas SFB, Ujjivan SFB, Suryoday SFB, Jana SFB, Utkarsh SFB) — 8.0-9.0% pa for 1-3 year tenures; 8.5-9.5% for senior citizens. Same DICGC coverage of ₹5 lakh.
• Cooperative banks — even higher rates but several have failed in recent years (PMC Bank 2019, etc.). Stick to ₹5 lakh per bank.

Comparison sites: bankbazaar.com, paisabazaar.com, your bank's website, RBI Database on Indian Economy (dbie.rbi.org.in) for benchmark.

Key tactic: at small finance banks the rate is much higher than PSU banks, but with the ₹5 lakh DICGC cap, distribute — e.g., ₹5 lakh in AU SFB + ₹5 lakh in Equitas SFB + ₹5 lakh in SBI = ₹15 lakh deposit, all insured separately.

• 7 days to 6 months — short-term parking; rates ~4-6%.
• 6 months to 1 year — moderate; rates ~6-7%.
• 1 to 2 years — sweet spot; many banks offer the highest rate at 18-month “special tenor” buckets.
• 2 to 5 years — slightly lower rates than 1-2 yr typically.
• 5 years tax-saving FD — eligible for §80C deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh; 5-year lock-in (cannot be broken even on emergency); rate same as regular 5-yr FD.
• 5 to 10 years — for very long-term parking.

Match tenure to actual need. Don't lock 5 years if you might need money in 18 months — premature withdrawal penalty erases much of the rate advantage.

• Cumulative (Reinvestment) — interest compounded quarterly, added to principal; total paid only at maturity. Highest absolute return. Best when you don't need monthly income.
• Monthly Interest Payout — interest credited to savings account each month. Effective rate slightly lower (no compounding). Best for retirees who need regular income.
• Quarterly / Half-yearly Interest Payout — between cumulative and monthly.
• Annual Interest Payout — interest credited annually.

For Lakshmi Devi (above), cumulative was right because pension covered her monthly needs. For someone whose pension doesn't cover monthly expenses, monthly payout is right even at slightly lower yield.

Online (existing customer, fastest):

1. Login to net banking / mobile app (SBI YONO, HDFC MobileBanking, ICICI iMobile, etc.).
2. “Open Fixed Deposit” → select source savings account → enter amount → tenure → interest payout type → maturity instruction (auto-renew / credit to savings) → nominee → confirm.
3. FD opened in 2 minutes; e-receipt + email confirmation.

Branch (new customer or non-tech-savvy):

1. Visit branch with PAN, Aadhaar, photo, address proof, cheque OR transfer slip.
2. Fill Form A — FD Account Opening Application (also called Account Opening Form or AOF for term deposits).
3. Specify tenure + interest payout + nominee + maturity instruction.
4. Sign — submit cheque OR debit instruction from existing savings account.
5. Receive FD Receipt (Original) + counterfoil; some banks issue digital + physical.

• Nominee: mandatory under Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules. Can be one person or a registered nominee (up to 4 in some banks). Nominee gets the FD on death without probate; saves the family huge trouble.
• Maturity instruction:
  • Auto-renew for the same tenure at the prevailing rate (default in many banks; not always best).
  • Credit to my savings account (recommended unless you actively want to keep rolling).
  • Pay to a nominated account / DD (rare, used in trust accounts).

If you forget to set this, banks usually default to “auto-renew” — which can lock your money for another 5 years at potentially lower rates.

• If your total income for the FY is below the basic exemption limit (₹3 lakh new regime / ₹2.5 lakh old regime; ₹3 lakh / ₹3 lakh / ₹5 lakh for seniors / super-seniors), submit Form 15G (under 60) or Form 15H (60+) at each bank where you have FDs.
• Submitted once per FY, ideally in April so TDS doesn't get deducted from the start.
• Done online via net banking or in-branch.
• If TDS was already deducted, you can claim refund only by filing your ITR.

• Banks email/SMS 15-30 days before maturity.
• Default action: as per maturity instruction. Verify the renewal rate — current rates may have moved up or down since you locked the FD.
• If the renewal rate is unattractive, switch to monthly payout, transfer to another bank's higher rate, or move to liquid mutual fund.

• Allowed for normal FDs (NOT for 5-year tax-saving FDs).
• Penalty: typically 1% lower interest (sometimes 0.5-1.5%) + interest recalculated at the rate that applied for the actual tenure held.
• Example: Opened 3-year FD at 7.0%; broke after 1 year. The applicable 1-year rate was 6.5% — you'll get 5.5% on the 1-year held (6.5% - 1% penalty). Difference is significant if broken early.
• For senior citizens, the 0.5% extra rate is also forfeited on premature withdrawal at most banks.
• Some banks offer “sweep-out / sweep-in” FDs linked to savings — partial breakage without penalty up to a limit.

+-------------------------------+----------------------+---------------+
| Bank type & tenure            | General public (pa)  | Senior (pa)   |
+-------------------------------+----------------------+---------------+
| SBI, 1 year                   | 6.80%                | 7.30%         |
| SBI, 2-3 years                | 6.75%                | 7.25%         |
| SBI, 5 years (tax-saving)     | 6.50%                | 7.50%         |
| HDFC Bank, 1 year             | 6.60%                | 7.10%         |
| HDFC Bank, 5 years            | 7.00%                | 7.50%         |
| ICICI Bank, 1 year            | 6.70%                | 7.20%         |
| Bank of Baroda, 1 year        | 6.85%                | 7.35%         |
| Axis Bank, 1 year             | 6.70%                | 7.20%         |
| AU Small Finance, 18 months   | 8.00%                | 8.50%         |
| Equitas SFB, 2-3 years        | 8.10%                | 8.60%         |
| Ujjivan SFB, 12-24 months     | 8.25%                | 8.75%         |
| Suryoday SFB, 5 years         | 8.40%                | 8.90%         |
+-------------------------------+----------------------+---------------+
| Item                          | Detail                               |
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Min FD                        | ₹1,000 (₹100 in some banks)          |
| Max FD                        | No upper limit (KYC for > ₹50 lakh)  |
| Senior citizen extra          | 0.50% to 0.75% above general rate    |
| DICGC insurance               | ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank       |
| TDS on interest               | 10% if interest > ₹40k/yr (₹50k sr)  |
| §80TTA deduction              | ₹10,000 (savings interest, < 60 only)|
| §80TTB deduction              | ₹50,000 (savings + FD interest, 60+) |
| 5-yr tax-saving FD §80C       | Deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh; lock-in   |
| Premature withdrawal          | -1% interest typically; recalculated |
| Auto-renew (default)          | Same tenure at prevailing rate       |
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| RTI to PIO PSU bank for FD records: ₹10 IPO                          |
| RBIOS complaint (cms.rbi.org.in)  : NIL fee                          |
| DICGC claim (in case bank fails)  : NIL fee                          |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Rates above are illustrative as of April 2026. Always verify on the bank's website before opening.

• KYC mismatch. Aadhaar / PAN / bank-record name doesn't exactly match. New-customer FD opening blocked. Update KYC at branch first.
• Bank account dormant. If your savings account had no transactions for 24+ months, it's dormant; need to revive (small deposit + KYC re-verification) before opening an FD.
• Senior citizen rate not applied. You turned 60 last month but bank's records still show < 60. Flag at the branch — they update DOB and re-issue FD at the senior rate.
• Auto-renewal disabled. FD matured, money sat idle in your savings account at 2.7% for months because you forgot to check. Set up SMS/email maturity alerts.
• 5-year tax-saving FD — cannot premature withdraw. You needed money urgently. Bank refuses. Only options: take a loan against the FD (most banks allow up to 90% of value at FD rate + 1-2%), or wait for maturity.
• TDS deducted despite Form 15G/15H. Submitted form late (after FD interest already credited). Bank can't reverse. Claim refund in ITR.
• PAN-Aadhaar not linked → inoperative PAN. TDS deducted at 20% instead of 10%. Link PAN-Aadhaar (₹1,000 fee) and submit fresh PAN to bank.
• Wrong nominee details. Bank may freeze the FD on death of holder if nominee details are incomplete. Verify at opening.
• FD receipt lost. Apply for duplicate FD receipt at branch — small fee (₹100-300) + indemnity bond. FD itself is unaffected; the receipt is just a token.
• Bank merger. SBI absorbed associate banks; PNB-OBC-United; BoB-Vijaya-Dena — your old IFSC has changed. FD itself is honoured; just update the new IFSC for maturity credit.

• Visit your home branch; ask for the Branch Manager or Senior Manager — Deposits. Carry FD receipt + statement + ID.
• Toll-free helplines:
  • SBI: 1800-1234 / 1800-2100
  • HDFC Bank: 1800-202-6161
  • ICICI Bank: 1860-120-7777
  • Bank of Baroda: 1800-258-44-55
  • Canara Bank: 1800-1030
  • PNB: 1800-180-2222

• Every bank publishes the PNO name + email on its website (mandated by RBI). Look for “Grievance Redressal” in the website footer.
• Write structured email: FD receipt number, dates, what happened. Allow 30 days as per RBI's grievance norms.

• Portal: https://cms.rbi.org.in
• Toll-free: 14448
• Time limit: lodge within 1 year of the bank's reply (or 13 months from your original complaint).
• No fee. Award binding on the bank up to ₹20 lakh + up to ₹1 lakh for mental harassment.
• Common scope: FD interest miscalculation, premature withdrawal penalty wrongly applied, senior citizen rate not given, DICGC claim refusal at bank end, TDS deducted despite Form 15G/15H submitted on time, maturity proceeds delay.

• dicgc.org.in — claims process activates automatically when RBI directs payment under DICGC Act §16.
• As of 2021 amendment, DICGC must pay within 90 days of an “All Inclusive Direction” by RBI.
• Cap: ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank (across all accounts — savings + FD + RD aggregated).

• https://pgportal.gov.in → “Department of Financial Services” (PSU banks) or “RBI” (regulatory).

The honesty rule.

RTI helps here when:

• Your FD is with a PSU bank (SBI, BoB, Canara, PNB, Union, Indian Bank, IOB, UCO, Central Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank) — these ARE public authorities. RTI to PIO at the bank's circle / zonal office for: FD status, interest calculation showing each quarter's compounding, TDS deductions and Form 16A trail, dealing officer's name, file movement record.
• You complained to RBIOS and want the internal note-sheet of how the case was processed — RTI to PIO RBI / PIO Office of Banking Ombudsman.
• You want DICGC claim status for a failed bank — RTI to PIO DICGC.
• You want the master directions / circulars under which a PSU bank refused you the senior rate or wrongly deducted TDS — RTI to PIO RBI.

RTI does NOT help here when:

• Your FD is with a private bank (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, Kotak, IndusInd, IDFC First, Yes Bank, Federal, RBL, etc.) or a small finance bank (AU, Equitas, Ujjivan, Suryoday, Jana, Utkarsh, etc.). These are NOT public authorities under the RTI Act — settled by RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry (2015) and reaffirmed in subsequent rulings. Sending an RTI to HDFC's “PIO” gets a polite refusal letter. Use RBIOS instead — it covers private banks, SFBs, and cooperative banks.
• Your FD is with a cooperative bank (urban or rural). State cooperative banks may or may not be RTI-covered depending on whether they are “substantially financed” by the state government — a case-by-case test. Easier path: RBIOS.
• Your FD is in a corporate FD (Bajaj Finance Ltd, HDFC Ltd, Mahindra Finance Ltd) — NBFC-deposit, not bank deposit; not RTI-covered. Use NBFC Ombudsman scheme.
• You want the bank's profitability / lending portfolio — exempt under §8(1)(d) “trade secrets” even for PSU banks. RBI Mistry judgment also restricted RTI to specific borrower/inspection records.
• You want interest rate prediction for next quarter — banks decide based on RBI policy + asset-liability matching; not “information held” yet.

For drafting a PSU-bank or RBI RTI, see RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers.

Q. Is it safer to open one big ₹15 lakh FD or three ₹5 lakh FDs in different banks?
Three ₹5 lakh FDs in three different banks = each fully insured by DICGC (₹15 lakh total insured). One ₹15 lakh FD = only ₹5 lakh insured if the bank fails. The 0.05-0.10% rate trade-off is well worth the safety, especially with small finance / cooperative banks.

Q. Should I open FDs in my wife's / parents' / kids' names to save tax?
Be careful. Income earned on a sum gifted to spouse is clubbed with your income under §64 of the IT Act — so no tax saving. Gift to major children (>18 yrs) or parents is not clubbed — fully effective for tax-shifting.

Q. Can NRIs open FDs?
Yes — three types: NRE FD (interest tax-free in India; principal + interest fully repatriable), NRO FD (Indian-source income; interest taxable + TDS; partial repatriation per RBI rules), FCNR FD (in foreign currency — USD/GBP/EUR/JPY etc.; interest tax-free; no rupee conversion risk).

Q. What is “loan against FD”?
Banks give you an overdraft/loan up to 90-95% of your FD value at FD rate + 1-2%. Useful when you need urgent cash without breaking the FD. Better than premature withdrawal in most cases — you don't lose the FD rate advantage.

Q. Can I add a joint holder later?
Most banks: no — to add/remove a joint holder, you have to close and re-open the FD. Decide at opening time.

Q. Will my FD interest rate change if RBI cuts repo rate?
No. The rate at which you booked is locked for the entire tenure. Rate changes apply only to NEW FDs and renewals.

Q. Should I open FD in PSU bank or private bank or small finance bank?
Decide on the rate-vs-perceived-safety trade-off. DICGC ₹5 lakh insurance is the same for all scheduled commercial banks (PSU, private, SFB). For amounts within ₹5 lakh per bank, SFB rate advantage (8-9% vs 6.5-7%) is real and free money. For amounts above ₹5 lakh, distribute or use PSU bank.

Q. The bank says my FD is “auto-renewed at the prevailing rate” but the rate now is lower. Can I refuse?
Within 7 working days of auto-renewal, most banks allow you to override and choose a new tenure / break the FD without premature withdrawal penalty. Act fast on the maturity SMS.

Q. I'm a senior citizen but the bank gave me only the general rate. What now?
Go to branch with PAN + Aadhaar (DOB proof). Ask for rate revision from FD opening date — banks must comply per RBI Master Direction. If denied, escalate to PNO and then RBIOS.

Q. My FD is in joint names. Who pays tax on the interest?
For “Either or Survivor” / “Anyone or Survivor” FDs, the first holder is the assessee for tax purposes — interest is taxed in their hands and TDS is deducted on their PAN. The second holder isn't taxed on the same interest.

• How to open SCSS — Senior Citizens Savings Scheme
• How to open a PPF (Public Provident Fund) account
• How to start a Mutual Fund SIP
• How to dispute a CIBIL credit score
• RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers
• All Indian government helplines — one master directory
• RTI forms + state-wise fee chart

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026 by RTI Wiki editorial team. FD rates change quarterly with RBI repo rate and bank policy. Verify current rates on the bank's website or write to admin@bighelpers.in if you spot a stale figure.