You may find yourself wanting to prematurely withdraw from your fixed deposit account due to an unforeseen expense or emergency. In such cases, it is essential to know the financial consequences of breaking your FD.
1. Closure penalties and lower interest rates.
The rate of interest offered on fixed deposits tends to be higher for longertenures. An FD with a longer tenure is set to fetch you better returns than a shorter-term FD this is because of the power of compounding. As you can see, a 4-year FD can yield returns up to 8.05% p.a., whereas a 1-year FD would offer 7.40% p.a. which is lower than the former. Also, if you wish to prematurely withdraw your FD, you will be charged interest as per the rate on the day of opening your account for the actual period your account was open.
2. Interest rates on a new FD may not be as good as your old one.
In certain economic climates, interest rates on FDs may drop, and there is no guarantee that they will be as high as they were on the date you opened your account. Therefore, you are making yourself susceptible to lower interest rates by prematurely withdrawing your FD, should you wish to reopen an FD again shortly. What’s more, many financial institutions such as Bajaj Finance offer you assured returns that are immune to market fluctuations, so it is in your best interest to think deeply before withdrawing prematurely.
3. Changing FDs for a higher interestrate does not always pay.
If you plan on closing your FD to reinvest the money with another issuer offering you a higher rate of interest, it will benefit you to first calculate the amount of money you would lose in premature withdrawal fees and lower interest. In most cases,once you have taken these fees into account, you may find that the new FD will offer you the same or sometimes lower returns on investment.
4. For immediate cash, it may be better to take a loan against your FD.
If you need immediate financial assistance, it may be better for you toavail of a loan against your FD rather than break the FD. Loans against FDs offer you far better interest rates than personal loans. Most issuers will set the interest rate at one or two percent higher than the FD interest rate. What is more, with your FD still intact, you can continue to earn interest.
With Bajaj Finserv, your loan amounts, card limits and insurance is already approved. All you must do is simply share a few details and get money in bank with 1-step verification. You can check your pre-approved offer here.
A fixed deposit that offers you assured returns at competitive interest rates is a long-term investment thatshould not be broken lightly. If you require immediate funds, a loan taken against the FD is a far more financially prudent solution. If this does not work for you, you can easily withdraw your FD before maturity by making an easy online application. Choose an issuer who has a simple process of premature withdrawal to ensure that you have the liquidity you desire during your time of need.
