Australia’s Best Term Deposits March 2024

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A term deposit with a fixed interest rate could be one of the more reliable ways to ensure that your savings continue to grow over time. The good news for savers in 2024 is that after a period of decline term deposit rates are edging higher. 

But with different interest rates, term lengths and account features on offer, how can you find the best term deposit match? 

The ‘best’ term deposit for you is going to be different to the next person because everyone has varying financial and savings needs.   

One place to start is to compare ‘award-winning’ term deposits. Every year Mozo’s team of in-house financial experts compare term deposits as part of the Mozo Experts Choice Savings and Transactions Awards^. In fact, our judges analysed different term deposit accounts from 76 Australian banks and providers to highlight the ones that consistently offer some of the ‘best’ rates. 

But as term deposit rates change and so do the best deals, the Mozo editorial team has also rounded up information about some other excellent term deposit deals this month for you to review and compare.

Expert Picks: Award-winning best Term Deposits

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Judo Bank -Term Deposit
  • 5.10% p.a. interest rate for a 1 year term
  • 0.10% loyalty bonus
  • Interest can be paid to another bank

If you’re looking for a competitive interest rate and some flexible features, Judo Bank’s award-winning Term Deposit^ is an option worth taking a closer look at. It comes with term options between three months and five years, with interest rates as high as 5.10% p.a. on a 1 year term (when interest is paid at maturity). Aside from the rates, Judo Bank lets savers have their interest paid to another bank and they’ll give customers a 0.10% interest rate bonus if they roll over their principal for a new term, once it reaches maturity. Just remember, there’s a minimum deposit requirement of $1,000 to get started and a maximum of $1,000,000.

Rabobank - Term Deposit
  • 4.75% p.a. for 1-year
  • 0.10% loyalty bonus (conditions apply)
  • Deposits up to $2,000,000

This award-winning Term Deposit^ offers interest rates as high as 4.75% p.a. on 1-year term (when interest is paid annually). Rabo offers terms starting from one month up to 5 years with a minimum deposit of $1,000 and a max of $2,000,000. Sadly, your interest can’t be paid to another bank, but if you opt for an automatic rollover, you automatically get a 0.10% p.a. loyalty interest rate bonus.

editor's picks term deposits

Editor’s picks of the month: March 2024

With term deposit interest rates on the move, you might want to consider locking in your savings for a mid-length term, which might get you a good level of interest. Here’s a selection of term deposits handpicked by our editors. To compare them against other options, check out our term deposit comparison page to explore our complete database.

MyState Bank - Online Term Deposit
  • 4.85% p.a for 9 month term
  • Min $5,000 deposit

MyState Bank offers a range of terms from 3 to 36 months. Its best rate is currently 4.85% for 9 months but also has an option for 4.80% for 1 year. There are no set-up or account keeping fees and deposits up to $250K are guaranteed by the Australian Government. This online term deposit is easy to set up and manage online, just be aware that there's also a minimum $5,000 deposit but you can lock away as much as $5 million.

Bankwest Term Deposit
  • 4.80% p.a. for a 9 month term paid at maturity
  • $1,000 minimum deposit
Find out more

With the Bankwest term deposit you can begin investing with as little as $1,000 up to $5 million. There are a range of investment terms available from 1 month to 5 years, but its most competitive rate is currently 4.80% p.a for a 9 month term paid at maturity. There are no account fees but you’ll need to set up a linked account which can be with Bankwest or another financial institution. At the end of the investment term, you’ll get a 7 day grace period to decide whether you want to reinvest or withdraw your funds.

First Option - Term Deposit
  • Up to 5.20% p.a. interest rate for 12 month term
  • Minimum $25,000 deposit
Find out more

First Option’s term deposit offers rates of 5.20% for a 12-month term, depending on how much you deposit. First Options allows you to pay interest to another bank and automatically rolls over your term deposit once it matures. Insured by the Australian Government Financial Claims Scheme.

Bank of Sydney Term Deposit
  • Maximum Interest rate of 5.10% p.a. for 6 months
  • No account keeping fees
Find out more

If you are looking for a short-term investment option the Bank of Sydney offers terms from 1 month-13 months. Its 6 month rate is currently a competitive 5.10% p.a. You can invest as little as $1,000 or as much as $1,000,000. There are no account keeping fees to pay (T&Cs apply) and you can apply online in as little as 5 minutes. All deposits are protected by the Australian Government’s Financial Claims Scheme up to $250,000.

Mozo People's Choice Award 2023

people's choice 2023

Every year, Mozo sends out a survey for Australians to tell us which banking products they think are the best. And the Mozo People’s Choice Awards uses that information to declare the people’s favourites as winners. Here’s a look at some of this year’s banking winners with great term deposit rates.

Bendigo Bank Term Deposit
  • 4.75% p.a. for 12 month term
  • $1,000 minimum opening deposit
Find out more

Bendigo Bank scored a 2023 Mozo People’s Choice Award for Excellent Customer Service which is no easy feat. It offers all sorts of banking products with an excellent customer service team to help you every step of the way, including getting a 12 month term deposit with a 4.75% p.a. interest rate. You only need $1,000 to open a term deposit, and you can deposit up to $5 million. Unfortunately, it doesn’t let you pay your interest into another bank account, but it does offer automatic rollovers for when your term deposit reaches maturity. Be mindful that you must give a 31 day notice to Bendigo Bank if you want to withdraw your funds before the maturity date.

ING Term Deposit
  • 4.90% p.a. for 12 month term
  • Minimum opening deposit of $10,000
  • Won five 2023 Mozo People’s Choice Awards
Find out more

ING’s term deposit offers a competitive 4.90% p.a. rate for a 12 month term. You can choose to have your interest paid into a different bank of your choosing once the account reaches maturity. Also, once your term reaches maturity, it automatically rolls over to a new term. To be able to use this term deposit you need to have at least $10,000 available to deposit. The maximum amount you deposit is $5 million. Remember, if you want to withdraw your funds before the maturity date you must with a 31 day notice.

The most common FAQs about term deposits

What’s the difference between a term deposit and a savings account?

If you’re weighing up whether a term deposit or savings account would be the best fit for your savings there are a few major differences to consider. Term deposits come with fixed interest rates so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll earn over time, but the trade off is that to earn that interest you won't be able to access that money (without penalty). On the other hand, savings accounts come with variable interest rates which can be changed by your bank (up or down) at any time, but you’ll also have easier access to your money.

Do the best term deposits have account fees?

The good news about term deposits is that the vast majority don’t come with monthly account fees, including our best Term Deposit award winners listed above. Don’t forget that a penalty of some kind will most likely apply if you choose to withdraw your money from a term deposit ahead of schedule though.

Are term deposits safe?

Term deposits issued by authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) in Australia are covered under the government’s Financial Claims Scheme. The scheme provides a guarantee for deposits of up to $250,000 per person, per institution in the unlikely event that an ADI fails.

Can I withdraw money from a term deposit early?

Yes, it is possible to access term deposit funds early before the maturity date, though there are downsides to doing so. In most cases you will need to give your bank at least 31 days notice beforehand, and you’ll likely be charged an early withdrawal fee or some sort of penalty for doing so.

What are the best term deposits in Australia?

Ultimately we can’t point you towards one  single ‘best’ term deposit, because the best term deposit for you will be based on your own priorities and financial needs. In you live in or around Sydney have a look at the Best term deposits in Sydney. You may find it helpful to browse through the full 2022 Mozo Experts Choice Term Deposit Award winners list though, or if you’re interested in seeing how those award winners stack up against other offers on the market you can head on over to Mozo’s dedicated term deposit comparison hub. 

Just remember, it’s always a good idea to read through the information and any terms and conditions provided on a bank or provider’s website first before making a decision. 

* Different interest rates apply to different amounts or different interest payment frequencies.

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