What Is the Difference Between Deposit And Fixed Deposit?

The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has issued guidelines for launching Term Deposit schemes, fixed deposit schemes, and recurring deposit services. Additionally, they proffer variants to fascinate deposits from the public. A fixed deposit scheme involves placing the amount deposited for a defined period of time and earning interest at the prevailing rate during the period of the deposit opted by the depositor. A receipt is also issued to the depositor under the scheme. 

Deposits are paid on maturity according to the deposit terms, and interest is paid to the depositor at monthly/quarterly/half yearly/annual intervals or on maturity according to the deposit terms. If certain conditions are met, you can withdraw prematurely and even determine your earnings with an FD calculator.

It is possible to make more deposits into the fixed deposit account at current FD interest rates in India. Still, separate receipts will be issued, which may have different terms, rates, and maturity dates, according to the depositor’s preference. Find out more about the differences by reading on. 

A term/fixed deposit involves depositing a lump sum for a specified period and withdrawing your money at maturity along with FD interest rates in India. On the other hand, recurring deposits are set up so that you deposit a fixed sum of money every month for a set period of time and then withdraw your entire balance along with interest when the deposit matures.

Recurring deposits are designed for those with little monthly savings and who wish to accumulate them. In a fixed deposit, a specific amount is deposited for a specific period of time. A recurring deposit is when a certain amount is deposited monthly for a specified period. The banks are now allowing recurring deposit instalments to be made every month.

Time and recurring deposits are called term and fixed, respectively. A deposit is accepted for a fixed period, and when a depositor wants to withdraw the amount, the account must be closed and interest received with an FD calculator. In the case of savings deposits or current deposits, chequebooks and debit cards are provided for withdrawal purposes. These facilities cannot make deposits on fixed or recurring terms.

Both FD and RD accounts can be pledged for loans by banks. A fixed deposit is a good option for someone receiving a large amount at a particular time. In contrast, recurring deposits are good for someone who has a regular monthly income and wants to save a certain amount. You can find detailed information about the schemes on the banks’ websites.

Common characteristics of the fixed deposit

  • There is a minimum seven-day deposit requirement and a maximum ten-year deposit requirement for fixed deposits
  • A depositor receives interest according to the length of the deposit
  • Every bank determines what the FD interest rates in India will be
  • This scheme involves depositing a lump sum amount for a fixed period and receiving interest quarterly from the bank
  • It is also possible for banks to recompense interest on a fortnight, half-yearly, and monthlybasis based on the specific request of the depositor
  • Investors can park their savings in an FD for a fixed period and earn higher interest on their investments, which results in higher returns.
  • It is possible to open an FD for a minimum of seven days and a maximum of ten years
  • When an investment is made in an FD account, the interest earned compounds and is earned on the new balance every time a compounding occurs

You will notice that the recurring deposit is more profitable since both fixed deposits and RDs have the same interest rate. Furthermore, recurring deposits are not subject to tax deductions. RDs are appropriate for salaried people, while FDs are appropriate for people receiving lump sum payments, such as retirement benefits. You can increase yourself in a variety of ways through investments. Your idle savings can be mobilized and worked for you through fixed deposits and recurring deposits.

Fixed Deposits:

Purpose: 

Higher FD interest rates in India than regular savings accounts are there to encourage investors to mobilize their idle savings.

Duration: 

There is a minimum opening deposit period of 7 days and a maximum opening deposit period of 10 years.

Eligibility: 

Any resident Indian or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) can open fixed deposit accounts. 

The impact of compounding frequency on compound interest: 

After each compounding of investment, interest is earned on the new balance of the FD. There is a difference in interest rates offered on the FDs and RDs. For FDs, interest rates are generally higher than for RDs. Nevertheless, investors benefit from both sources of income because they are stable and almost risk-free. You may want to consider these bank deposits if you are looking for a stable source of income while protecting your investment amount.