Certificate of Deposit

A Certificate of Deposit or CD is a fixed-income financial tool that is governed by the Reserve Bank of India and is issued in a dematerialized form. It is a type of agreement made between the depositors and the banks, wherein the bank pays an interest on your investment.

Certificate of Deposit is a short-term investment that comes with fixed investment amounts and maturity tenure ranging between 1-3 years.

Features of Certificate of Deposit

Certificate of deposit in India can be issued for a minimum deposit of Rs. 1 lakh or in subsequent multiples of it.
Certificates of deposit are issued by the Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and All-India Financial Institutions. The Cooperative Banks and the Regional Rural Banks(RRBs) are not eligible for issuing a CD.
There is a term period of 3 months to 1 year for CDs that are issued by SCBs, whereas the term period ranges from 1 year to 3 years for CDs issued by financial institutions.
CDs in dematerialised forms can be transferred through endorsement or delivery, similar to dematerialised securities.
There is no lock-in period for a certificate of deposit.
It is fully taxable under the Income Tax Act.

Certificate of Deposit - Key Highlights

Certificate of Deposit Meaning	The Certificate of Deposit is the product that is offered by banks and credit unions that give an interest rate premium in exchange for the customer agreeing to lock in an amount for a predetermined period of time.
Certificate of Deposit Interest Rates	Locked rates are the positive attributes of CDs, and they will provide a clear and predictable return to the Deposit over a time period. The bank will not, even later on – change the rate, making it a guaranteed return.
CD Minimum Amount	The minimum amount of Deposit begins at Rs. 1,00,000.
Tenure	This is the length of the period for the CD; for instance, it could be six months to years. The tenure ends on the date of the maturity; when the CD has matured completely, you will be able to withdraw the funds without a penalty fee.
Eligibility Criteria	CDs are issued by scheduled commercial banks and selected financial institutions in the country as allowed by RBI within the limit. It is issued to individuals, corporations, companies, and funds, among others. Certificate of Deposits could also be issued to NRIs but on a non-repatriable basis only. It is important to note that banks and financial institutions can’t provide loans against CDs. Also, banks would not buy their own CDs before the latter’s maturity. The aforementioned norms would be relaxed by the RBI for a particular period of time. It is crucial to note that banks have to maintain the statutory liquidity ratio and cash reserve ratio on the price of a Certificate of Deposit.
Taxes	Certificates of deposits are completely fully taxable in the hands of investors under the Income Tax Act.
Opportunity for Loans	A depositor can get loans against CDs, except for the permitted explicitly by the RBI. The issuer is given to buy back CDs before maturity at the prevailing market price. The investors could opt for accepting or rejecting the CDs purchased back offer as per wants.

How to Buy a Certificate of Deposit?

The process of buying and selling CDs is similar to that of buying and selling shares, and the steps are mentioned below:

Step 1: The seller and the buyer need to agree on the price and the quality of the transaction.
Step 2: The seller will authorise its depository participants through the delivery instructions slip.
Step 3: The slip will be inclusive of the instructions to debit the seller’s account and transfer the CD to the account of the buyer.
Step 4: In the case of any confusion, you can also get assistance from a professional.

Certificate of Deposit vs Fixed Deposit

Criteria	Fixed Deposit	Certificate of Deposit
Minimum Investment Amount	The minimum investment amount for a fixed deposit is Rs. 1000.	The minimum deposit amount for a CD is Rs. 1 lakh.
Return on Investment	It ranges from 3.5% to 8%.	The interest rate on CDs, if issued by organisations, has higher interest rates as compared to commercial banks.
Investment Tenure	It is a long-term investment and offers a maximum maturity period of 10 years.	This is a short-term investment and offers a maturity period ranging from 1-3 years.
Collateral	One can apply for a loan against FD.	One cannot apply for a loan against a CD.

Benefits of Issuing a Certificate of Deposit in India

A certificate of deposit does not consume capital for market volatility, and it is a completely secure financial instrument with assured amounts at the time of maturity. The money that is deposited would continue to predict an increase. It also offers a lot of larger interest rates on a lump sum investment.
CDs offer you monthly payouts, annual payouts, or also a lump sum payout during withdrawal at maturity. You could choose the tenure and price you want to be invested for, and though there are certain parameters set by the bank, it will help to tailor the investment instruments to your needs.
There are usually no additional costs or fees that are associated with a CD, and you only pay your investment.

FAQs

Will I be able to withdraw the funds from my online CD?

Yes, you can withdraw funds only once from your online CD during the grace period without any withdrawal penalty. However, you will be charged with an early withdrawal penalty if you withdraw before the maturity period.

What happens once a CD matures?

After a CD matures, the investor will have a grace period to withdraw their funds or transfer them into a new CD. Or else the banks or financial institutions may automatically renew it.