Term Deposit Calculator
A term deposit (fixed deposit) locks your money for an agreed period in exchange for a guaranteed interest rate. Enter the amount, rate and term to see what you earn.
Is a term deposit safe?
Deposits at EU-licensed banks are protected up to €100,000 per depositor per bank by national deposit guarantee schemes. Within that limit a term deposit is as safe as euro savings get — the trade-offs are lock-up (early withdrawal usually forfeits some or all interest) and a return that may not beat inflation. Check the real value of your payout with the inflation calculator.
When a term deposit makes sense
Term deposits fit money with a known date and no room for risk: next year's tuition, a house deposit six months away, or the cash slice of a portfolio. Deposit marketplaces (such as Raisin) let you compare rates from banks across the EU, where rates often beat your home bank's offer. For goals more than about five years away, historically diversified investing has usually done better — see how to start investing in Europe.
The deposit ladder
A practical technique when rates are decent: split a large sum into several deposits with staggered maturities — say a quarter each into 3, 6, 9 and 12-month terms. Every three months one matures, giving you regular access to part of the money while most of it keeps earning the higher long-term rate. If rates rise, the maturing slice rolls into the better rate; if you need cash, you never have to break more than a quarter of the total.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I withdraw early?
Terms vary by bank: typically you forfeit some or all of the accrued interest, and some banks charge a small fee on top. The principal is normally safe. Read the specific product terms before locking large sums — and keep your emergency fund out of term deposits entirely.
Is interest taxed?
In most EU countries yes, as capital income at your national rate, and many banks withhold it automatically for residents. The rate shown in this calculator is gross.