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What is Certificate of Deposit (CD)?

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There are many financial tools for investors to choose from when it comes to a Demat and trading account, and the Certificate of Deposit is one such tool. The RBI or Reserve Bank of India governs this short-term, fixed-income financial tool. It is essentially an agreement between banks and depositors in which the former pays interest on the depositor’s investment. 

CD or Certificate of Deposit has a tenure of 1-3 years and comes with fixed investment amounts.  Here’s a look at everything you need to know about this financial tool. 

Understanding Certificate of Deposit Detail 

When you decide to be part of a Certificate of Deposit, you will notice the similarities it holds with a standard bank deposit account. There are several factors involved when you want to decipher the Certificate of Deposit meaning. Here’s a look at some of them:

The interest rates of most CDs are fixed apart from those of variable-rate CDs, which have the potential to earn higher returns if the interest rates rise. The benefit of a fixed-rate CD is that you will know the exact amount you will be earning by the time the CD matures. However, if post the locking in of the investment, the rates rise, then you could experience losses.

A Certificate of Deposit usually has a tenure between 6 months to 3 years, post which you can withdraw your investment, also known as the principal amount, along with the interest it has earned. CDs also involve financial institutions like banks or credit unions, who set the conditions of the investment like early withdrawal penalties and whether the CD will automatically be reinvested when it matures. The financial institution that you decide to open the CD with will either provide you with a monthly or quarterly statement in physical or electronic form. 

Features of Certificate of Deposit  

The Certificate of Deposit also comes with its fair share of features. Here is a list of some of them:

  • The minimum amount that the Certificate of Deposit can be issued in India is ₹1 lakh. Beyond, any further investments would need to be in subsequent multiples of it.

  • The SCBs or Scheduled Commercial Banks and the All-India Financial Institutions are responsible for issuing the Certificate of Deposit. 

  • CDs cannot be issued by Cooperative Banks or Regional Rural Banks.

  • Certificates of Deposit issued by the SCBs or Scheduled Commercial Banks, have a maturity term between 3 months to 1 year.

  • Certificates of Deposit issued by All-India Financial Institutions have a maturity term between 1 and 3 years. 

  • Like securities in the Demat account, you can transfer CDs in dematerialised forms via endorsement or delivery.

  • CDs don’t have a lock-in period and are fully taxable under the IT Act.

Certificate of Deposit - Key Highlights 

To help you understand the concept of the Certificate of Deposit better, here is a look at some of its key highlights. 

Attributes

Details

Meaning

The CD is an agreement offered by banks and credit unions. These financial institutions promise to pay an additional interest rate premium on a customer’s investment when the latter chooses to lock in the amount for a predetermined period.

Interest Rates

Fixed interest rates help provide a clear and predictable return estimate and help an investor determine what their total investment will become after it reaches maturity.  Variable rates have the potential to produce higher returns if they rise.

Minimum Amount

You can deposit a minimum amount of ₹1 lakh in a CD 

Tenure

The tenure can vary between 6 months to 3 years. CDs issued by the SCBs or Scheduled Commercial Banks, have a maturity term between 3 months to 1 year. CDs issued by All-India Financial Institutions, on the other hand, have a maturity term between 1 and 3 years

Eligibility Criteria

A CD can be issued to individuals, corporations, companies, etc. It can also be issued to NRIs but this is done on a non-repatriable basis. However, banks and financial institutions do not offer loans against CDs and neither do banks buy their own CDs before it matures. 

Taxes

CDs are fully taxable under the Income Tax Act.

How to Buy a Certificate of Deposit?  

The great thing about buying a CD as an investor is that if you know how to buy and sell shares, then the CD-buying process would be easy for you due to their similarities. Have a look at a step-by-step breakdown of the process. 

  1. The process starts with both the seller and buyer reaching an agreement regarding the price and other details of the transaction.

  2. It is then up to the seller to authorise its DP to carry out the transaction through a delivery instructions slip.

  3. This slip will usually contain all the instructions needed to debit the CD from the seller's account and transfer it to the buyer’s account.

Benefits of Issuing a Certificate of Deposit in India 

There are quite a few benefits of issuing a Certificate of Deposit in India. Some of them are listed below:

  • One of the main benefits of a Certificate of Deposit in India is that it is one of the most secure financial instruments that investors can invest in and one that promises assured returns when it matures. 

  • If investors invest funds in lumpsum, then the interest rate on it is also higher in CDs.

  • CDs offer investors monthly, annual or lump sum payouts. Lumpsum payouts happen when the CD matures. 

  • Investors can choose the tenure and price according to their financial goals.

  • CDs do not usually come with any additional costs or fees apart from your investment.

Certificate of Deposit vs Fixed Deposit 

Here’s a look at some of the differences between the Certificate of Deposit and a Fixed Deposit

Criteria

Fixed Deposit

Certificate of Deposit

Minimum Investment Amount

The minimum investment amount is ₹1000.

The minimum deposit amount for a CD is ₹1 lakh.

Return on Investment

Falls between 3.5% and 8%. 

The interest rate on CDs issued by organisations is higher compared to the interest rates offered by commercial banks. 

Tenure

Long-term investment with a maximum maturity period of 10 years.

Short-term investment with a maturity period of 6 months to 3 years.

Collateral

FDs can be used to seek loans.

CDs cannot be used to seek loans against

Additional Read: What is Demat Account: Importance, Features and Types

Conclusion 

A Certificate of Deposit is a financial instrument, very much like other securities, that is stored in a dematerialised format and offers fixed returns on an investor’s locked-in amount either monthly or annually. This sort of contract is signed between a buyer and an institution offering the CD where the latter provides fixed interest rates, which add to the investment of the investor and can be withdrawn after it reaches maturity. 

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

For All Disclaimers Click Here: https://bit.ly/3Tcsfuc

Frequently Asked Questions

What is certificate of deposit (CD) and how does it work?

Answer Field

The CD is a short-term, fixed-income tool that is essentially an agreement between banks and depositors in which the former pays interest on the depositor’s investment.

What are the benefits of investing in a certificate of deposit?

Answer Field

CDs are a great form of a secure investment that offers higher interest rates, CDs offer interest payouts in the monthly, annual or lumpsum forms. If investors choose to invest a lumpsum amount, they are rewarded with a higher interest rate. Investors can choose the attributes of the CD themselves according to their financial goals. CDs also don’t usually come with any additional costs.

What are the typical interest rates on certificates of deposit?

Answer Field

The interest rates on CDs can range from 3.5% to 8%.

Are there penalties for early withdrawal from a certificate of deposit?

Answer Field

CDs may come with early withdrawal penalty charges that are charged by the bank of an institution that is offering the tool to an investor.

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