Top fixed-rate bonds and term deposits compared

About Top fixed-rate bonds and term deposits compared

A term deposit trades access for a known return: you agree to leave money in place for a set period at a rate that does not move. This ranking covers 192 brands in that space, from easy-access cash accounts to long fixed terms priced in local currency. Most work the same simple way, money in, interest earned, money back at the end. A few listings are revolving credit lines you draw and repay, and each blurb says which kind of product it is, so you are not comparing a loan with a deposit by accident. The main trade-off is flexibility against yield. Longer terms and local-currency deposits often pay more, but the cash is harder to reach and some providers charge for leaving early. Short terms with monthly interest cost less and cap what you earn. Most listings here pay a fixed rate, so the headline figure is the figure you get, and the median headline rate in this ranking is 6%. Two things matter most before you commit: how much you must put in, and what it costs to get the money back early.

How we picked

Safety of the money, cost and the practicalities of the account decide the order. Costs carry a weight of 35%, the breadth of what is on offer 25%, and trust signals 40%. Those three weights decide every position on the page. Each figure comes from the provider's own pages, its terms and conditions, its rate card or a public register, and the qualifier that sits behind a number stays attached to it. A headline rate is only read alongside the account type, the term and any early-exit rule, so a credit line with a large rate is never scored as the same thing as a fixed deposit with a smaller one. Deposit protection is mentioned only where a provider states it, and a local-currency figure is presented as a local-currency figure rather than a euro return. Partner listings are placed first, and the remainder follow in score order, so the sponsored slots are easy to pick out. Vivid Plus holds rank 1 at the top of the list and PUMB holds rank 10 at the bottom.

Our top picks

1. 2. iuvoSAVE

   iuvoSAVE is a true fixed deposit in this ranking, earning 5% on a fixed rate for 3 months, with no monthly fee and a minimum deposit of €10, a sensible entry point for someone putting money away rather than borrowing it. It is run by IUVO GROUP OÜ in Estonia and you can add funds at any time. Early exit is allowed before the due date, but a fee applies to the amount taken out and a monthly cap limits each version, so the flexibility is narrower than plain access suggests. Support runs on email, chat and phone. KiiBank, ranked next, shows a far bigger rate at 15% but asks for a much heavier XAF 5,000 to enter.

   • Minimum deposit: €10
   • Account fee: €0
   • Deposit and withdrawal fees: 2 free withdrawals per month, then 1 EUR per withdrawal

   Pros

   • Mobile app handles receivables activity within a couple of clicks.
   • Auto Assign places available funds using predefined selection filters.
   • Only approved originators appear after reputation and stability checks.
   • Added funds stay accessible at any time while invested.

   Cons

   • Range stays focused on receivables with no wider asset types shown.
   • Access stays centred on the mobile app without branch service.
   • Portal positioning reflects Europe rather than worldwide coverage.

2. 6. Bank of Scotland DE: best for Bank of Scotland DE

   Bank of Scotland DE is an online direct bank for Germany offering a free overnight money account and fixed-term deposits.

   • Headline rate: 3%
   • Account kind: Easy access
   • Headquarters: Germany

   Pros

   • Provides overnight savings with flexible access to deposited funds
   • Offers fixed term deposits for savers who value planning security
   • Combines saving products with car loans and personal loans
   • Operates fully digitally without need to change everyday bank

   Cons

   • Serves only customers resident in Germany with online access
   • Covers a narrow product set centred on savings and loans
   • Requires an existing everyday account to remain elsewhere

3. 7. Santander Lokaty PL: best for Santander Lokaty PL

   Santander Lokaty PL is Santander Consumer Bank in Poland, offering online deposits and a savings account alongside loans and credit cards.

   • Headline rate: 3.6%
   • Rate type: Variable
   • Access terms: no minimum or maximum balance on the account

   Pros

   • Santander Consumer Bank lists online term deposits with a minimum of PLN 1,000.
   • The application is completed online, and the captured page says deposits can renew automatically and offers a choice of terms.

   Cons

   • Money stays tied up for the agreed period
   • Early access to funds is limited while the deposit runs

4. 8. Bigbank FI: best for Bigbank FI

   Finnish arm of Bigbank offering a savings account and fixed-term deposits, as well as vehicle and product financing.

   • Headline rate: 2.5%
   • Account kind: Easy access
   • Support channels: Email, Phone

   Pros

   • Flexible savings account that allows withdrawals without stated restrictions
   • Fixed term deposit that keeps agreed terms across the full period
   • Vehicle and product financing offered alongside savings products
   • Digital account management supported by phone and email help

   Cons

   • Product range centres on saving with vehicle and goods finance

5. 9. Santander Consumer Bank BE: best for Santander Consumer Bank BE

   Santander Consumer Bank BE is a Belgian bank offering savings accounts and term accounts online.

   Pros

   • Offers both flexible savings accounts and term accounts in one place.
   • Keeps procedures transparent and accessible for people starting to save.
   • Provides mobile application access for managing accounts at any location.
   • Shares yearly research on saving habits of people in Belgium.

   Cons

   • Term saving locks funds away until the agreed maturity date.
   • Focus remains on Belgian savers rather than wider European markets.

What to look for

What the rate really is

A fixed rate means the headline figure stands for the whole term, and that is the norm here: 99% of the listings in this ranking pay a fixed rate. The median headline rate is 6%, with the upper quartile at 12.2%. Always read the rate next to the currency and the term, and never judge a deposit by the largest number on the page alone.

Term length and what leaving early costs

Money usually stays put: the median term in this ranking is 12 months, and 85.9% of the listings are fixed-rate products. Before choosing, read the early-exit rule. Some providers close a deposit at a reduced rate, some charge a fee on the amount withdrawn, some cap how much can be taken out each month and some restrict withdrawal until maturity.

How much you need to start

Entry amounts vary widely. The median minimum deposit here is €136.88, and the lower quartile is €5, so plenty of listings take a small first payment while others ask for a serious lump. A low entry point is useful for trying an account, and it says nothing about the rate you earn.

Protection, fraud and who holds the balance

Protection is part of what a deposit pays you to accept. Vivid Plus and Plazo ES state the same EU deposit guarantee limit of EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, and Optima Bank states that the deposit is insured up to a cap in local currency. Fraud sits alongside that risk: the share of retail money lost across the site is 70.15% in the median case, reaching 74.5% in the upper quartile. Check who holds the balance too, since some listings here are banks and others are platforms or a lender.

Support and everyday access

Phone is the most common channel in this ranking, offered by 92.7% of listings, and 67.5% run a help centre, with chat used more sparingly. A provider you cannot reach in your own language is a poor home for long-term savings, and it matters most before your first renewal date arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Top fixed-rate bonds and term deposits compared by country

• Austria
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• India
• Italy
• Mexico
• South Korea
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• United States

The data behind this ranking

All data and the CSV