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Fixed Deposit Vs Public Provident Fund: Which is Good?

RBL Bank Oct 27, 2022

The full form of PPF is Public Provident Funds and the full form of FD is Fixed Deposits. These are both financial tools that help you grow your money safely. Both these investment options can help you accumulate savings for a rainy day or plan your retirement. However, as both have unique features and benefits, it can get confusing to decide between the two options. Here is everything you need to know about PPF and FD to help you choose the suitable option for yourself.

What is a Fixed Deposit?

A Fixed Deposit is a low-risk investment option under which the investor can invest a lump sum amount with a bank for a fixed tenure and a pre-decided interest return. FDs are guaranteed returns investment tools, and the returns are not affected by market highs and lows. FD interest rates in India vary between banks, and senior citizens usually get a slightly higher interest return than others. Investors can use an online FD calculator to calculate their returns on an FD.

Features and Benefits of a Fixed Deposit

  • Fixed deposits have a flexible tenure, and the investor can invest in an FD for a period of their choice. It can be anywhere between 7 days to 20 years, depending on the financial goals and requirements.
  • When an FD matures, the investor gets a pre-decided return on their investment, and the return does not depend on the prevailing market conditions. They would get the same returns even in times of a market slump.
  • You can opt for a Cumulative FD under which you can earn interest on your reinvested interest and get higher returns.
  • FDs can also be a regular income source if you opt for a non-cumulative FD and get periodic interest payouts.
  • Senior citizens can get additional benefits on their Fixed Deposits through higher interest returns. They can use a FD calculator to calculate the FD returns.
  • There are tax exemption FDs under which you can save on income tax payments.

What is a Public Provident Fund?

Public Provident Fund is a government-backed financial tool that also leads to tax savings for the investor. These funds are offered by the post office or banks and are completely safe since the government guarantees them.

Features and Benefits of a Public Provident Fund

  • The tenure of a PPF is a minimum of 15 years, and you can increase it by multiple of five years. It is a long-term saving tool.
  • An investor can deposit a minimum of INR 500 in a PPF, which can go up to INR 1.5 lakhs in a financial year.
  • PPFs are tax-saving instruments, and an investor in PPF can get a tax exemption of up to INR 1.5 lakhs annually.
  • To maintain the PPF, the investor must invest at least once a year for at least 15 years.
  • There are multiple modes of investment in a PPF, and you can invest through a cheque, cash, demand draft, or online fund transfer.
  • Investors can nominate in the PPF when they open a PPF account or later on.
  • PPFs come with minimum risk and guaranteed returns and keep your capital safe.

Difference Between Fixed Deposit and Public Provident Fund

Parameters

Fixed Deposit

Public Provident Fund

Issued By

Banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies

Indian Government

Minimum Amount you can Deposit

INR 5,000

INR 500

Liquidity

Moderate

Low

Tenure

7 days to 20 years

15 years that can be increased in blocks of 5 years

Eligibility

Indian residents, NRIs, Corporations, Trusts, Hindu United Families

Residents of India

Joint Account

Allowed

Not allowed

Interest Returns

Up to 7.5% with some banks

Up to 7.1%

Loans Against the Instrument

Available

Available only after 3 years

Premature Withdrawals

Allowed

Allowed after 5 years

Tax on Interest

Some FDs are tax exempted

Fully tax exempted

Tax on Investment

Available on tax exemption FDs

Available on all PPFs

 

The Final Word

A PPF is a better long-term investment than an FD because it helps you achieve long-term goals. In the current scenario, Fixed Deposits and Public Provident Funds are both good investment instruments. Depending on your investment needs and time horizon, you can choose between the two. If you are looking for a financial instrument with a relatively shorter and flexible tenure, you can opt for a Fixed Deposit. The FD rates in India differ for various banks, and you can opt for a bank with higher FD returns.

Disclaimer: Articles published on the website are merely indicative and suggestive in nature and do not amount to solicitation. The contents do not guarantee the desired returns and/or results. Reader is advised to exercise discretion and consult independent advisors for achieving desired result. Visitors to this blog/ website w.r.t products & services offered by RBL Bank Limited herein, shall ensure that the comments / feedback posted shall be restricted to the contents published herein and shall not contain such language that may be un-parliamentary or against any religion, caste, section of society, political view etc. While our endeavor is to publish the comments that are submitted, however, all comments/feedback shall be subject to internal review by RBL Bank Limited. We do not guarantee that the comments that are submitted will be published.

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