When you open a term deposit, you can choose the length of time for which you want to invest your money. This is known as the term, and terms typically range from 1 to 60 months. Once you’ve deposited your money, it’s locked away for the entirety of the term you choose.
When the term of your deposit comes to an end, this is when your term deposit reaches maturity. Once a deposit has matured, you can access the funds you initially invested as well as any interest that has been paid into the account.
When a term deposit matures, your investment is complete and your account is officially closed. Access restrictions that apply during the term (see below) are lifted, allowing you to re-invest your money in another term deposit, invest it elsewhere, or simply withdraw it to use however you like. Your bank will usually contact you in the weeks leading up to your term deposit maturity date to let you know the term is about to end and outline the options available.
There are several possible steps you can take when a term deposit reaches maturity. You can:
Often, if you do nothing and take no action your funds will be rolled over into a new term deposit with the same term length (this is sometimes referred to as tdr - term deposit rollover). The bank’s current interest rate for your chosen term will apply to your new investment. While this can be a convenient way to continue building a bigger savings balance, the downside is that your bank’s current interest rate may not be competitive with the rates on offer elsewhere. Investing your money for the same term length may also not be suitable, so it’s usually a good idea to compare your options and consider choosing a new term and interest rate.
Now is the perfect time to shop around and consider your investment needs. If you want to open another term deposit, have a think about a suitable investment time frame for you. Then you can compare the interest rates on offer from your bank and other financial institutions. If opening a new term deposit, you may wish to top up your balance with extra funds. The more you invest, the greater your interest returns will be.
You may want to withdraw some of the money to fund other purchases and investments, but invest the remainder in a new term deposit.
You can withdraw the money from the account and invest it elsewhere, for example in the share market (here's how to buy shares online) or if you've decided to buy a property.
You can withdraw the money from the term deposit and open a high interest savings account instead. High interest savings accounts are another low-risk way to invest your money, and they usually offer better interest rates than term deposits. Some savings accounts, known as bonus savers, will offer a higher interest rate each month you meet a few conditions, like depositing a certain amount of money into the account. This is a great way to keep up good savings habits, and put the money earned from your term deposit back to work.
The majority of Australians are willing to lock up their money for a year and take out term deposits for 12 months at a time.
| Response | |
|---|---|
| 12 months | 39.55% |
| 6 months | 15.45% |
| Unsure | 12.73% |
| 24 months | 11.82% |
| 3 months | 8.64% |
| 36 months | 7.27% |
| 9 months | 4.55% |
One of the key benefits of term deposits is that it’s quite difficult to access your funds before maturity. This removes the temptation to dip into your savings and spend the money that is meant to be set aside for something else.
However, while it is difficult to access your term deposit before maturity it’s not impossible, but there are terms and conditions attached. First, many banks will require you to provide written notice before you can withdraw your funds, and this notice typically has to be provided 31 days in advance. So if you want to access the money in your term deposit to meet urgent expenses, this restriction can cause problems.
Second, and perhaps more significant, is the fact that you will usually be charged with a fee and an interest rate penalty for withdrawing your funds early. Your bank will have a set formula for calculating how much to reduce the interest earned on your account, and in some cases you may actually have to repay some of the interest you have already been paid.
With this in mind, it’s important to think carefully about whether or not a term deposit is right for you before opening an account.
There will usually be a seven-day cooling-off period following a rollover to allow you to decide whether the new deposit is right for you.
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Compare term deposit rates from Australia's Big Four banks and see if you can find a better rate with a smaller bank.
Lock in a fixed rate on a range of term lengths between 3 months and 3 years for deposits $1000 or more.
Australian Unity Term Deposit offers you a wide choice of term lengths for your investment, with a fixed rate of return on your money.
Earn a competitive fixed interest rate on Citibank term deposit when you invest $10,000 or more.
Earn a competitive interest rate on terms between 1 month and 2 years with a Heartland Bank term deposit.
They offer a fixed interest rate (so you don't need to worry about any market volatility) and your deposit up to $250,000 is protected by the government.
Set your own terms and conditions for how your money grows with a flexible investment account that rewards you with higher interest earnings.
If you trying to decide on the best time to invest in a term deposit, start here. See the past interest rates on term deposits from 1985 until now.
If you need a safe place to tuck your savings of away and yield a profit, a $100,000 term deposit could provide a solution.
The added level of control coupled with the high interest earning potential of notice savers makes this a savings account worth considering. Ensure that you understand exactly how it works, and if it will fit in with your financial goals before making a final decision.
At maturity will my term deposit be paid on a weekend?
Hi Henry!
It is usually paid out the next business day of your maturity date, unless the bank has operations during weekends that they consider.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan