New to term deposits? Here’s the reason why you should try one
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Knowing what kind of savings vehicle to park your cash in can be overwhelming , especially for those who are just getting started. However, term deposits are one kind of savings vehicle that should be on your radar.
What is a Term Deposit?
A term deposit is a fixed-term investment held at a financial institution. You invest a lump sum of money for a predetermined period, which could range from a month and up to 5 years. During this term, your money earns interest at a fixed rate, which is usually higher than a regular savings account.
One of the main draws of a term deposit is its predictability. The interest rate is fixed, meaning you know exactly how much your investment will earn over its term. This can be particularly appealing in times of economic uncertainty, where other investments might be subject to market fluctuations.
Why is now a good time for Term Deposits?
At the moment, some of the best term deposit rates on offer are sitting at or above 5%. However, the financial conditions that led to these rates are beginning to cool, with recent CPI data showing a slowing rate of inflation.
So why is this important? Basically, the Reserve Bank is likely to hold rates for the next few meetings. This means that many savings and term deposit providers are likely to adjust rates downward. By locking in a good rate now, you’re ensuring that your money is earning a guaranteed fixed rate for however long you need it to.
How to find a good term deposit rate
There are a couple of ways of finding good term deposit rates, however there are many providers. So, to make the process easy, you can use our term deposit comparison tools to find a provider with the features and rates you’re looking for.
Next up, getting a good idea about the average market rates can help you contextualise rates on offer. Using our database, the Mozo data team has put together some handy averages for all the term deposit rates we compare by term length.
| Term | Rate | Term | Rate |
| 3 month | 3.76% | 2 years | 4.09% |
| 6 month | 4.27% | 3 years | 3.93% |
| 9 month | 4.26% | 4 years | 3.81% |
| 1 year | 4.60% | 5 years | 3.85% |
If you’re looking to get started now, you can head over to our term deposit hub page. Alternatively, you can check out some of the providers in the tables below…