Secure Your Future with SBT Fixed Deposit

The State Bank of Travancore fixed deposit schemes have the solution to a secure and stress-free future

About State Bank of Travancore

State Bank of Travancore was established in 1945 as Travancore Bank LTD. and was sponsored by the former Princely State of Travancore. Under the SBI subsidiary Banks Act 1959, the special statute of the Indian Parliament, State Bank of Travancore was granted membership of the State Bank Group which is the largest banking group in India. State Bank of Travancore has also deemed an Associate of the State Bank of India.

Eligibility

State Bank of Travancore offers the opportunity for children of 10 years and above to open a fixed deposit account with a maximum deposit limit of Rs.2 Lakhs. In the event that a minor who is below the age of 18 years is offered guardianship, the maximum limit that the minor can deposit into their fixed deposit account is Rs.20 Lakhs.

An existing State Bank of Travancore bank account is not a prerequisite to open a fixed deposit account.

Adults over the age of 18 years can enjoy a fixed deposit account with State Bank of Travancore without any maximum limit cap on their fixed deposit account.

State Bank of Travancore Fixed Deposit Loan Schemes

Following are the categories that State Bank of Travancore offers fixed deposit schemes in-

●     Domestic deposits

○     Less than Rs.1 crore

○     Rs.1 crore and above

●     NRO fixed deposits

○     Less than Rs.1 crore

○     Rs.1 crore and above

●     NRE fixed deposits

○     Less than Rs.1 crore

○     Rs.1 crore and above

Interest Rates offered on State Bank of Travancore fixed deposits-

FIXED DEPOSIT TYPE	AMOUNT	INTEREST RATES
Domestic deposits	Less than Rs.1 crore	7.5% - 9.25%
Domestic deposits	Rs.1 crore and above	7.0% - 8.75%
NRO fixed deposits	Less than Rs.1 crore	7.0% - 8.75%
NRO fixed deposits	Rs.1 crore and above	6.50% - 8.75%
NRE fixed deposits	Less than Rs.1 crore	8.75%
NRE fixed deposits	Rs.1 crore and above	8.25%

Amount that can be placed in your fixed deposit account

The minimum amount you can place in your fixed deposit account with State Bank of Travancore is Rs.1000. The best part about State Bank of Travancore fixed deposits is that there is no cap on the maximum amount that you can invest in your fixed deposit account. The only thing that you have to keep in mind is that an existing account cannot be updated with monetary inputs. In order to place more sums of money under a fixed deposit scheme, a new fixed deposit account needs to be created.

Tenure Period of your fixed deposit account

State Bank of Travancore offers its customers fixed deposit account tenures starting from 7 days and all the way up to 10 years. You can pick the tenure most beneficial to you at your discretion.

Are the fixed deposit accounts with State Bank of Travancore taxable?

State Bank of Travancore fixed deposit interests paid are tax deductible if the interest rate on the fixed deposit exceeds Rs.10000.

What about loans provided against fixed deposits?

State Bank of Travancore offers you loans against your fixed deposit account to a loan amount of up to 90% of your term deposit amount. Furthermore, the interest rate you are charged will be 1% of your State Bank of Travancore fixed deposit interest rate.

Special Rates for Senior Citizens

State Bank of Travancore offers attractive special rates for senior citizens under the domestic deposit scheme of less than Rs.1 crore.

State Bank of Travancore is a stable institution to invest with

State Bank of Travancore has the answer to all of your imminent financial fears. State Bank of India has infused capital into State Bank of Travancore, thus increasing its capital to Rs.6018.46 crores as evaluated on December 31st 2014. Its non-performing assets percentage has decreased by leaps and bounds in the last quarter. Furthermore, State Bank of Travancore’s capital to risk weighted assets ratio has shown a substantial increase. Also, State Bank of Travancore has shown steady a increase in bank deposits, NRI deposits and yield on advances with its phenomenal decreases in cost of deposits and its total advances.
Know More about NRI Fixed Deposit Scheme

New Set of Rules from RBI for Small Finance and Payment Banks

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the new set of norms and regulations for the ‘small finance’ and ‘payment banks’. In the new rule, the RBI has said that these institutions must have a minimum of 100 crore as capital requirement to start off their savings accounts, provide fixed deposits, payments or remittent services which caters to the migrant labours, lower economic groups or small and medium scale industries etc.

The new rules comes on the back of the union budget in July which aimed at creating specialized banks for providing unique services. The new rule pertains to providing banking services to the local surrounding area, payment banks, and fixed deposit schemes to lend money or serve as a remitter of money for small businesses, unorganized sectors, farmers, migrant labours, and the lower economic groups. Read More..

The promoters who can apply

Any existing non-bank Pre-paid Payment Instrument (PPI) issuers, individuals or professionals, non-banking finance companies, corporate business correspondents, mobile phone companies, super-market chains, companies, real sector cooperatives owned by residents or public sector organizations can open payment banks.

Residents or professionals with 10 years of experience in banking and finance or companies, societies owned and run by residents can open small finance banks. Even resident owned NBFCs, Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), and Local Area Banks (LABs) can also set up small finance banks.

What can they do?

Payment banks can take deposits of up to 1 lac per person and issue debit cards but not credit cards. Can provide transaction services in partner through networks or join as business correspondent with other banks. They can also sell mutual funds and insurance or other no risk sharing simple finance products.

How can they deploy the funds?

Payment banks cannot lend money apart from the minimum capital amount; they will have to invest 75 percent of demand deposit balance money in government debt instruments for one year and save maximum of up to 25 percent in current and time or fixed deposits.

Capital money required

With a minimum of 100 crore, payment banks should not have more than 33.33 times its net worth as liabilities.

How much can the promoter contribute?

A promoter can have a minimum 40 percent stake for the five years from business commencement for payment banks. For small banks it shall start at 40 percent and gradually reduce to 26 per cent within 12 years from the date of commencement of business.

Foreign ownership

The foreigner ownership can go up to 49 percent of the total paid-up capital by the bank. The NRI individual can go up to 24 percent.

Prudential norms & transition path for small finance banks

With the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) applicable, these banks must lend 50 percent of its loan and advances of up to 25 lakh to priority sectors as named by the RBI.

Small banks can move up the ladder to universal banks by reaching the minimum capital requirements of universal banks and their net worth. The past performance will also be taken into consideration along with due diligence from the RBI.

Bank Deposits Down- A Trend, or Lasting Reality?

In recent times, banks are reporting a steady decline in deposits from customers across the economic scale. This is obviously a worrying factor, not helped by the fact that many reputed Indian banks including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of India (BoI) etc. have, recently, slashed the interest rates across a wide range of fixed deposit maturities. Is this the start of a mass trend? Have the banks lost their charm as a safe and productive outlet for an individual’s hard earned money, via instruments like the fixed deposit?

Is this time to safely relegate the erstwhile superstar that was the fixed deposit as a relic from the days gone by?

Not so fast, dear investor. The warning bells and the doomsday predictions will have to wait a while longer.

Rising Cost of Living (Money is Short- Commitments Are Many)

With modernisation and all-round advancements, the cost of living has correspondingly hit the roof. The common Indian man now needs to stretch his hard earned rupee much farther than before. When expenditure eats up most of the income, savings turn into a luxury rather than a rule. In August 2014, bank deposits across India grew at an alarming rate of just 5.6%- the lowest in the preceding five years, signalling and providing ample proof for this hypothesis. This worries those in the banking trade because deposits from individuals account form a majority of such monetary inputs- 36% as compared to 34% deposited by businesses annually.

The solution- can the cost of living scale down in the coming times? Maybe Santa Claus could do something about it…

Shifting Priorities- A House, Car, and maybe World Peace!

For common households, the first priority when it comes to disposable cash is a roof over their heads- which translates into housing loans and mortgages. Next, the common man looks for other necessities in life, a car, education for the kids, implements for the house etc. This allots a very limited margin for sustainable and undisturbed bank deposits, a fact made difficult by the rapid urbanization of the Indian middle class. Money is short- and it serves a greater purpose when not locked in a bank. The fact that home loans, car loans are holding steady feeds to this idea.

It’s a Viral Epidemic- Impacting Other Deposit Instruments

The slowdown in bank deposits has had a natural escalation- other products in the bank’s kitty, including current accounts and savings accounts are feeling the pinch. These products are the bank’s primary and cheapest form of funding, that have risen at a mere 5.1% in August 2014. The concern arising from this is that as loan growth is a much higher prospect than the growth of its cheaper forms of funding, the banks might have to dip into their expensive forms of cash to power their loan growth. It’s like cigarette smoking- the end results are never good, cumulating in such scenarios as a slower lending growth.

Negative Real Returns on Deposits- Bad gets Worse!!

This year, inflation has maintained a steady height across the 12-month fixed deposit rate, resulting in among other things, cut-down on the real returns on deposits. Next year, the situation is expected to get worse, surpassing the 3.3% inflation rate set in August 2014. This will ensure that returns on deposits will not meet the expectations of the investor, forcing them to invest in other high-yielding formats including trusts, stock market etc. The situation looks grim for the bank deposit scenario, and all the banking analysts who are hoping for a ‘poof-and-the-problem-is-history’ solution.

Hence, while the bankers search for an answer to this nagging problem, the common folks are holding on tight to their monies and looking out for more productive results. Understandably, the one solution that could ease the worries at both ends could be the lowering cost of living, an option that only a progressive and people oriented budget can confirm upon. The wait, begins!!

Fund your loan with a loan against fixed deposit

At some point in time everyone needs cash and most of the times we avail a loan or sell our assets. Especially in times of urgent cash most of us do not realize that, we could still have that last bit of cash left in us, only if we looked for it.

Have you ever tried availing loan against your fixeddeposit?

Yes, banks offer loan against your fixed deposit. The surprise just does not stop here, you also get a range of benefits compared to the traditional loans.

Cheaper interest rates

Loans against fixed deposits are way cheaper. In fact the interest rates are less than half of what you pay when compared to your personal loans. For loans against fixed deposits, the interest rate is mostly just a percent or 2 higher than the interest earned on your FD. For example, if your FD offers you 8% percent interest on maturity then you pay just 9 percent for the loan borrowed on your fixed deposit.

Pay only for the loan amount and the tenure of the loan

In simple words if you availed a loan amount of 9,000 against your fixed deposit of 10,000 and if you repay the amount in 10 days, then you pay the interest only for the ten days against a loan of 9,000 rupees. Therefore, interest is charged only on the amount borrowed and for the tenure of the borrowed amount.

Get up to 90% of sum assured

In most cases when we avail for a loan, we are always short changed. However in case of loans against fixed deposits there is a possibility of getting up to 90% of the loan amount simply because the loan amount is based on the value of your fixed deposit.

As always do not just go with flow, most importantly find the purpose of the loan. Go for loan against FD mostly in case of a temporary cash crunch and if you are sure you will get some liquidity in the near future.

No repayment charges

Unlike your home loan or personal loans, there are no charges in case you pay off your loan against fixed deposits earlier than the stipulated period. So in case you did get some extra cash or the extra liquidity you need not think twice before repaying your loan on the FD.

Instant Loan disbursement

No need to fill lengthy forms, go through elaborate procedures or worry about your CIBIL score. Loans against fixed deposits are easily available as the lender knows the maximum amount to be disbursed by looking at your fixed deposit amount and the tenure. However, going forward if you are not paying your loan on time, it will surely reflect on your credit score and might affect your future loan eligibility.

Processing fees is almost next to nothing

Almost every loan starts off with the dreaded processing fees. It is all fine once the loan is disbursed. If your loan is rejected or later you realized that the loan is not as per your terms and conditions then your processing fees in most cases is as good as gone. However, in case of loans against fixed deposits there is only some marginal fees and the banks might even waiver it off in case you are a regular customer.

Loan tenure is till the FD maturity date

You can actually fix the tenure of the loan amount based on your repayment capacity and in most cases you can choose the tenure for as long as the fixed deposit's maturity date. So in case you have gone for those long and steady fixed deposit plans, then you can avail a long tenure and also enjoy the low interest on loans against fixed deposits.

Take a moment of thought

However, with all the strings and bells attached, loan against fixed deposits must be taken with a pinch of salt. End of the day you are the best person who knows about your financial situation. Do not just go with the flow and opt for a loan. Loan against fixed deposit is best in cases where the liquidity crunch is for a short period of time and you are almost pretty much assured of getting cash in the near future.

In case your loan requirement is for a smaller amount, you can again opt for loans against fixed deposit while you can continue to earn interest on the balance amount of fixed deposit. However once you have availed a loan you cannot go for partial withdrawals of your fixed deposit or close the fixed deposit. You will have to continue your fixed deposit till the maturity date or go for the prepayment of the loan and there are no tax benefits as well.

Final Opinion

In case you need some fast cash without much fuss, then fixed deposits are one of the best sources for loans available. End of the day it is your own money and not only do you get interest on the balance amount but it does help to raise your own money.

Know all about Non-Bank Fixed Deposits

Bank fixed deposits is an all-time favorite investment vehicle for a large number of investors. While bank fixed deposits offer secured returns and other intrinsic advantages like option of availing loans and flexible tenure, banks are quite often the first ones to reduce interest rates on deposits in case of a recession or bad market economic scenario. Since most banks offer similar interest rates, the reduction of fixed deposits interest rates is usually uniform across all public and private banks. It is during such a scenario that investors look for alternate investment options that can offer similar advantages as bank fixed deposits.

Non bank fixed deposits or corporate fixed deposits are one such option that allows investors to invest their funds as deposits under various fixed deposit schemes. These non banking financial institutions have the complete authorization of Reserve Bank of India to seek investment from normal public and must not be compared to other crony ponzy schemes often operating in a recession market. Let us look at various aspects of investing in a Non-Bank Fixed Deposits or company fixed deposits a s they are commonly called.

Types of NBFC Fixed Deposit Schemes:  Investment in fixed deposit schemes of various non-banking financial companies have been authorized by RBI to have a term period between 12 months to 5 years. The rate of interest for such non banking financial companies FD schemes is higher than traditional bank fixed deposits but the investments are highly unsecured.

Non Banking Financial Companies have a two tier system for investors known as the cumulative fixed deposit scheme and non cumulative fixed deposit scheme. In the cumulative fixed deposit scheme, NBFCs offer interest at the end of the fixed deposit tenure. The interest keep son getting accumulated to the principal amount leading to higher returns. At the end of the investment tenure period, the investor gets principal amount along with the accumulated interest.

On the other hand, in case of a non cumulative fixed deposit, the interest earned by the investor is paid off on a regular periodic basis depending on the preference of the investor. Interests are usually paid out quarterly, half yearly or annually. Since in case of non cumulative fixed deposits the interest earned in not added to the principal invested amount, the returns are lower compared to non cumulative fixed deposits.

Fixed Deposits and Company Ratings: Before investing in fixed deposits in non banking financial companies, an investor must do a background check of the company in terms of its rating and performance. Various financial agencies like CRISIL and ICRA rate such non banking financial companies that accept investments from general public. The ratings are done in accordance to the new owned fund or NOF of the company along with RBI slabs and ceilings. The ratings of NBFCs give a perfect yardstick for investors to choose the right company for investment of their funds.

Interest Rates: Non banking financial companies offer higher interest rate for investments compared to bank fixed deposits. Reserve Bank of India has stipulated the maximum upper limit for interest rate at 12% for all investments made to various NBFC fixed deposit accounts. Considering the fact that maximum interest rate in today's economic scenario offered by banks ranges close to 9%, non banking financial companies offer interest rates between 9 to 12% making them an attractive investment option for a number of investors.

Premature Withdrawal Options: Investing in fixed deposits of non banking financial companies come with a lock in period of 3 months. After the expiry of the initial lock in period, the investor is free to withdraw funds prematurely from the deposit. Each NBFC can its own terms and conditions catering to penalties and calculation of interest accrued for premature withdrawals.

Other Advantages: While the investment may not be highly secured as bank fixed deposits, NBFCs offer a higher interest rate than bank fixed deposits. Like bank fixed deposits, nomination and premature withdrawal facility is available for company fixed deposits. The procedure to enter any company fixed deposit investment scheme is simple and non complicated allowing common investor to invest with ease.

Why is it better to Invest in FDs than Mutual Funds?

From time immemorial, there have been some momentous questions that have invaded the minds of the rational, clear thinker- the chicken or the egg, democracy or dictatorship, the Beatles or Metallica? For the 21^st century investor in you, one of the paramount questions is this- Where must I invest, in fixed deposits or mutual funds?

Both FD and mutual funds make logical arguments for their selection. Mutual funds are the new kids on the block, prospective high returns, seemingly progressive and definitely a better tax saving option as compared to FD. Fixed deposit on the other hand is considered a safer option, comes with a better guarantee in terms of the ready availability of funds and has that ‘traditional’ and ‘long-term’ vibe working for it. We are presenting below, a clear selection of reasons that put FD a notch above mutual funds as your ideal choice of investment. Of course, the final choice is always yours to make…

Think Long Term, or a year or two…

The lure of mutual funds lie in its short term success- your investment, a progressive market, good returns. However, fixed deposit ensures a reliable and steady FD interest rate that remains constant over a short term or long term duration. While this ensures security for your investment, it also sees to it that the chances of you losing money on your FD investment is a very tiny, miniscule percentage, against the constant unreliability of mutual funds.

No fees on investing…

Unlike mutual funds that require a minimum surcharge for the management of investment and distribution of funds, charged irrespective of actual returns gained, a fixed deposit doesn’t require any additional fees to get going. The FD is in place to only earn positive paybacks for the investor without demanding any additional monetary inputs to begin with.

More liquidity equates to ready cash…

True, most FD portfolios are conceived with an intent to invest money for a long duration, however, many banks allow you to withdraw your money prematurely, with a very small penalty (usually 1%). This ensures that you always have a source of ready, liquid cash that can be accessed immediately if situations thus demanded. This shouldn’t play havoc with the FD interest rate too as you will receive an interest rate in line with the duration your money was part of the FD portfolio. On the flipside, mutual funds fine a 1% exit load on prematurely terminated portfolios, while paying out interest on the prevalent Net Asset Value (NAV) that is squarely dependent on the ups and downs of the financial market.

Consistent return on FD investment…

Investing in fixed deposits come with an assurance that the FD interest rate that was promised to you at the time of the purchase of the fixed deposit will remain a constant factor through the duration of the policy. Such a promise isn’t a possibility with mutual funds. In the latter, the market decides the fate of your investment- it could be an impressive return in line with the market’s upswing, or you could lose money as the market hits the ground.

Bottom line- FD gives you safety, and an assurance of a fixed income on your investment. Fixed deposit is the choice of a safety oriented, smart and optimistic investor, who isn’t willing to cast away his/her hard earned money on the whims of an often volatilemarket. 

BANK OF BARODA - FIXED DEPOSIT INTEREST RATES 2014

Bank of Baroda (BOB), headquartered in Vadodara, Gujarat is one of the largest banks in India. This leading public-sector bank has a widespread network of over 4,460 branches and offers a wide range of products and services to meet the banking needs of its customers.

Amongst its products, BOB offers fixed deposits at varying tenors and at attractive interest rates. Below are the interest rates on the various Bank of Baroda fixed deposit interest schemes as at August 2014.

Bank of Baroda Double Dhamaka Fixed Deposit Interest Rates (p.a.) 

Less than Rs.1 crore

Period	Interest Rate
General Public: 7 Years 9 months & 02 days	9.05%
Senior Citizens: 7 Years 4 months & 05 days (additional interest as applicable)	9.55%

source: http://www.bankofbaroda.com/interest.asp

Term Deposits & NRO Deposits - Interest Rates (p.a.)

Less Than Rs.1 crore

Period	Interest Rate
7 - 14 days	4.50%
15 - 45 days	4.50%
46 - days	6.50%
91 - 180 days	7.30%
181 - 270 days	7.75%
271 days - 1 yr.	8.25%
1 yr. - 6 yrs. 3 months	9.05%
6 years 3 months - 10 years	9.05%
1111 Days (Baroda Maha Utsav Deposit Scheme)	9.05%

Term Deposits & NRO Deposits - Interest Rates (p.a.)

Rs.1 crore to Rs.10 Crores

Period	Interest Rate
7 - 14 days	4.50%
15 - 45 Days	4.50%
46 - 90 days	6.50%
91 - 180 days	7.25%
181 - 270 days	7.75%
271 days - 1 year	8.50%
1 yr.	8.75%
1 yr. - 2 yrs.	8.75%
2 yrs. - 3 yrs.	8.75%
3 yrs. - 10 yrs.	8.50%