By Joanne Poh on 9 January 2020 In 2019, Maybank offered some of the best fixed deposit promotions in town, busting even the 2% p.a. Ceiling in some months. Sadly, Maybank is lagging behind this month — the January 2020 fixed deposit promotions are “meh” at best.
Looking for the best fixed deposits in August 2020 in Singapore? There is no National Day fixed deposit promotion this year. This is unlike previous years whereby banks offered a one time higher interest rate if you do a placement before National Day.
The 1 year interest rate for September 2020 Singapore Savings Bonds has fallen as low as 0.24%, thus any of the fixed deposits promotion below will beat the Singapore Savings Bonds.
I have shared many other financial instruments that is similar to what fixed deposits can offer. One good alternative is buying a short term endowment plan. Endowment plans guarantee your capital upon maturity which is similar to what fixed deposits offer. Most of the short term endowment plans are on limited tranche basis. You can read more about Best Endowment Plans In August 2020 here.
In July, I have signed up for a Dash EasyEarn, which is an insurance savings plan that offers you 2.0% p.a. for the first year up to S$20,000. The estimated interest rate p.a. is 1.5% thereafter.
The current low interest rates offered by most banks remained unattractive to me. Nevertheless, if you still prefer traditional fixed deposits, below are the best fixed deposits promotion that I have found for August 2020.
Among the banks below, I prefer the fixed deposit from DBS and MayBank given that they offer much higher interest rate per annum for a 12 month placement as compared to the rest of the banks.
Interest Rate: Refer below, Minimum Placement: S$1,000, Promotion Valid Until: Not stated
The interests rates were published on 18th June 2020. At this point of writing, I have not seen any revision to the interest rates.
For a minimum amount of S$1,000, you can perform a fixed deposit placement with DBS. For a 12 months placement of S$10,000 at 1.15% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$115.
Interest Rate: 0.90% (12 months) or 1.15% (24 months), Minimum Placement: S$25,000, Promotion Valid Until: Not stated
As shared previously, MayBank had decided to do away with their traditional time deposit and replace with the iSAVvy Time Deposit.
This promotion is valid from 1st July 2020 onwards for a minimum placement amount of S$25,000 in iSAVvy Time Deposit via Maybank Mobile/Online Banking (for individuals only).
For a 12 months placement of S$25,000 at 0.90% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$225.
For a 24 months placement of S$25,000 at 1.15% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$578.31.
Interest Rate: Up to 0.65%, Minimum Placement: S$20,000, Promotion Valid Until: Not stated
For 8 months placement of S$20,000 at 0.60% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$80.00.
Deposit Amount | 3 month | 8 month |
S$20,000 to < S$100,000 | 0.35% | 0.60% |
S$100,000 and above | 0.40% | 0.65% |
Interest Rate: 0.80%, Minimum Placement: S$20,000, Promotion Valid Until: 31st August 2020
The interest rate has fallen from 0.90% p.a. in July to 0.80% p.a. in August.
For 10 months placement of S$20,000 at 0.80% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$133.33.
Minimum Placement (Fresh Funds) | Tenor | Promotional Rate |
S$20,000 | 10 months | 0.90% p.a. |
Interest Rate: 0.70%, Minimum Placement: S$5,000, Promotion Valid Until: 31st August 2020
OCBC has reduced their fixed deposit rate from 0.80% p.a. in July to 0.70% p.a. in August.
Minimum Placement (Fresh Funds) | Tenor | Promotional Rate |
S$5,000 | 12 months | 0.70% p.a. |
For 12 months placement of S$5,000 at 0.70% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$35.00.
Interest Rate: Refer below, Minimum Placement: S$5,000, Promotion Valid Until: 31st August 2020
For 12 months placement of S$5,000 at 0.30% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$15.00.
Seriously?
Interest Rate: 0.20% to 0.30%, Minimum Placement: S$25,000, Promotion Valid Until: 15th August 2020
For 6 months placement of S$25,000 at 0.20% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$25.00.
If you happen to be a priority banking customer, for 6 months placement of S$25,000 at 0.30% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$37.50.
Seriously?
Minimum Placement | Tenure | Promotional Rate | Priority Banking Preferential Rate |
S$25,000 | 6 months | 0.30% p.a. | 0.40% p.a. |
Looking for the best fixed deposits in September 2020 in Singapore? If you have 50K, you should read my previous post on Where Will You Put 50K? before you jump straight into Fixed Deposits.
Next, forget about the Singapore Savings Bonds. The 1 year interest rate for October 2020 Singapore Savings Bonds has fallen as low as 0.26%, thus any of the fixed deposits promotion below will beat the Singapore Savings Bonds.
I have shared many other financial instruments that is similar to what fixed deposits can offer. One good alternative is buying a short term endowment plan. Endowment plans guarantee your capital upon maturity which is similar to what fixed deposits offer. Most of the short term endowment plans are on limited tranche basis. I have not done any look up for the best endowment plans in September yet. Thus, you can read more about Best Endowment Plans In August 2020 here.
In July, I have signed up for a Dash EasyEarn, which is an insurance savings plan that offers you 2.0% p.a. for the first year up to S$20,000. The estimated interest rate p.a. is 1.5% thereafter.
However, if you are planning to sign up for Dash EasyEarn, I suggest to sign up for Singlife Account first whereby you earn 2.5% p.a. for the first $10,000. For the balances beyond S$10,000, you can then place the rest of the money with Dash EasyEarn to earn 2.0% p.a.
Nevertheless, if you still prefer traditional fixed deposits, below are the best fixed deposits promotion that I have found for September 2020. The current low interest rates offered by most banks remained unattractive to me.
Among the banks below, I prefer the fixed deposit from DBS and MayBank given that they offer much higher interest rate per annum for a 12 month placement as compared to the rest of the banks. You will not find any banks except DBS that pays you 1.15% p.a. for a S$20,000 placement.
Interest Rate: Refer below, Minimum Placement: S$1,000, Promotion Valid Until: Not stated
The interests rates were published on 3rd September 2020. The interest rates for the amount tier S$1,000 to S$19,999 and other tenors remain unchanged. The interest rates for 12 months and above tenors are applicable only to rollover placements at the same tenors.
For a minimum amount of S$1,000, you can perform a fixed deposit placement with DBS. For a 12 months placement of S$10,000 at 1.15% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$115.
Interest Rate: Refer below, Minimum Placement: S$5,000, Promotion Valid Until: Not stated
Here are the interest rates for MayBank iSAVvy Time Deposit as of 8th September 2020.
For a 6 months placement of S$5,000 at 0.55% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$13.75.
For a 12 months placement of S$25,000 at 0.85% p.a. and 24 moths at 1.20% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$212.50 and $603.60 respectively.
Interest Rate: Up to 0.65%, Minimum Placement: S$20,000, Promotion Valid Until: Not stated
For 12 months placement of S$20,000 at 0.60% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$120.00.
Deposit Amount | 12 month (Renewal and Fresh Funds via PayNow) | 15 month (Fresh Funds At Branch) |
S$20,000 to < S$50,000 | 0.60% | 0.60% |
S$50,000 and above | 0.65% | 0.65% |
Interest Rate: 0.65%, Minimum Placement: S$20,000, Promotion Valid Until: 30th September 2020
The interest rate has fallen from 0.80% p.a. in August to 0.65% p.a. in August.
For 10 months placement of S$20,000 at 0.65% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$108.33.
Minimum Placement (Fresh Funds) | Tenor | Promotional Rate |
S$20,000 | 10 months | 0.65% p.a. |
Interest Rate: 0.60%, Minimum Placement: S$5,000, Promotion Valid Until: 30th September 2020
OCBC has reduced their fixed deposit rate from 0.70% p.a. in August to 0.60% p.a. in September.
Minimum Placement (Fresh Funds) | Tenor | Promotional Rate |
S$5,000 | 12 months | 0.60% p.a. |
For 12 months placement of S$5,000 at 0.60% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$30.00.
Interest Rate: Refer below, Minimum Placement: S$5,000, Promotion Valid Until: 30th September 2020
For 12 months placement of S$5,000 at 0.30% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$15.00.
Interest Rate: 0.20% to 0.30%, Minimum Placement: S$25,000, Promotion Valid Until: 30th September 2020
For 6 months placement of S$25,000 at 0.50% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$62.50.
If you happen to be a priority banking customer, for 6 months placement of S$25,000 at 0.60% p.a., the interest that you will receive upon maturity is S$75.00.
Minimum Placement | Tenure | Promotional Rate | Priority Banking Preferential Rate |
S$25,000 | 6 months | 0.50% p.a. | 0.60% p.a. |