Fixed Deposit (FD)

A fixed deposit account is a form of investment that allows customers to grow their savings at a fixed rate for a fixed period of time. Also called FDs, fixed deposit account interest rates remain unaffected by market volatility. Investors generally invest in FDs for regular returns or as rainy-day fund for unforeseen financial emergencies since FDs offer higher liquidity than most investment options.

The minimum amount required to open Fixed Deposit account at the branches is Rs. 10,000.

Yes, the FD investment can be withdrawn partially. The penalty on premature withdrawal would be subject to 'Premature Closure Penalty' as prescribed by the Bank on the date of deposit.

Senior Citizens earn additional interest of 0.5% per annum on deposits below ₹10 Crore.

This deposit is an FD with a lock-in period of 5 years, without the option of pre-mature withdrawal facility. Customers can avail tax benefits under section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. You can open it by walking into an IDFC FIRST Bank branch, or after opening a Savings Account via netbanking or mobile banking app.

An FD investment of up to ₹1,50,000/- booked during the financial year is eligible for exemption under Section 80C

In the case of joint deposits, the Tax benefit under 80C will be available only to the first holder of the deposit.

If your PAN Card is submitted at the time of opening a Savings Account, it is not required again. However, if you don’t have a PAN, you will have to submit Form 60

FDs opened under a UCIC without PAN will be opened with Maturity Instructions of Auto Closure only. Sweep out facility on a savings account without PAN will not be offered

If you open Fixed Deposit without a PAN Card, these are the following implications for customers:

1. TDS will be recovered at 20% (as against 10%).

2. NO TDS credit from the Income Tax department.

3. NO TDS certificate will be issued (As per CBDT circular no: 03/11).

4. FDs opened under a UCIC without PAN will be opened with Maturity Instructions of Auto Closure only

5. Form 15G/H and other exemption certificates will be invalid and penal TDS will apply

Yes, by visiting the Branch.

No, you cannot change the FD tenure in a live FD.

Customers aged 60 years or above will be eligible for a Senior Citizen’s Fixed Deposit.

As per Section 194A of Income Tax Act 1961, TDS shall be deducted at the rate of 10% when interest payable or reinvested on FD & RD per customer, across all Branches, is likely to exceed Rs. 40,000/- (or Rs. 50,000/- for Senior Citizens) in a Financial Year, unless otherwise exempt under law.

The Sweep-In facility enables customers to link existing Term Deposit to Savings or Current Accounts held with the bank. In case of an emergency, the shortfall in the account is swept in from the linked Term Deposit in the units of Rs. 1/-, thereby giving customers the convenience of getting payments processed with ease. 

The Sweep-Out facility enables customers to earn higher interest on the additional balances maintained in the Savings Account /Current Account by automatically booking the pre-defined amount as a Fixed Deposit scheme.

FD accounts that are booked through Sweep-Out option, the Sweep-In is enabled automatically.

Yes, the Sweep-In facility can be availed for all or multiple deposits held with the bank, except on Tax Saver Deposit.

The system will first Sweep-In amount from the deposit that was booked last or recently.

Only the deposit principal amount will be considered for a Sweep-In facility.

One of the many Fixed Deposit tax benefits is that the Bank can deduct TDS on the FDs booked. The entity would need to submit either Form 15G OR Certificate of Tax exemption issued under Section 197 of Income Tax Act, 1961. However, PAN would be mandatory. In absence of PAN, Form 15G and other exemption certificates would be invalid & penal TDS would be applicable.

As per Section 139AA of the Income tax Act, 1961, it is mandatory to link Permanent Account Number (‘PAN’) with Aadhaar by June 30, 2023. If PAN is not linked, then the PAN provided by the customer will become inoperative. Failure to link will also attract higher TDS rate of 20%, as may be applicable on the income from the Bank.  Bank will be unable to refund the TDS once deducted.

If you would like to open Fixed Deposits with a value of more than or equal to INR 3 Cr, please visit our nearest IDFC FIRST Bank Branch.

Interest on deposits are calculated either as simple interest, or compound interest in case of re-investment. You can use our Fixed Deposit interest calculator to understand the returns you might receive.

The interest rates applicable on Fixed Deposits withdrawn before the maturity date, as stated by the RBI, shall be as under:

1. Interest shall be paid at the rate applicable to the amount and period for which the deposit remained with the bank and not at the contracted rate.

2. No interest shall be paid, where premature withdrawal of deposits take place before completion of the minimum period specified i.e. 7 days.

If a Fixed Deposit matures and proceeds are unpaid, the amount left unclaimed with the bank shall attract rate of interest as applicable to savings account or the contracted rate of interest on the matured FD, whichever is lower.

Look for the following features in an FD account:

1. Online fixed deposit accounts offer more convenience and flexibility. You can open IDFC FIRST Bank’s FD accounts directly through the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile banking app.

2. Interest rate is a vital criterion for FDs. Choose a high FD interest rate to grow your savings faster.

3. Ensure the FD you choose has flexible tenure options. Select an appropriate FD tenure after analysing your financial requirements well.

4. Read the terms for premature withdrawal and the penalty to be paid in such a case, if applicable.

5. An overdraft facility is essential in FDs. Unsecured loans are generally more expensive in terms of repayment than loans against FDs.

1. Easily accessible online through IDFC’s mobile app

2. High interest rate

3. Interest payout options

4. Special benefits for senior citizens

5. Flexible tenures

Bank shall recover TDS/Overhead tax (OHT) from the interest amount but if the interest amount is not sufficient to recover TDS/OHT, the same will be recovered from the principal amount of the FD