Reviewed by: Fibe Research Team
You book a fixed deposit, it is for a specific term. Generally, you close your FD after it matures at the end of this term. In case, you want to make a premature withdrawal, then you will have to give an FD closing application. Understanding the process can help you access funds when needed, so read on to learn the complete steps involved.
When you apply for a fixed deposit, you invest your money for a certain period. This can be anywhere between 7 days and 10 years. Based on your financial goal, you can choose a comfortable tenure. After the FD maturity period, you receive the invested principal amount back. If you have booked a cumulative FD, you also receive the interest earned. If not, you will get the payout at your chosen intervals.
After your fixed deposit has matured, you can withdraw the funds and transfer the money to your savings account or renew your FD. There is also a third scenario when your fixed deposit has matured, and you have left it unattended. In that case, there are two possibilities:
If you want to withdraw your FD on maturity, follow these steps:
To withdraw the FD amount online, you can log into your net banking account and follow the process as mentioned on the dashboard. Most financial companies will automatically transfer the funds if you have not opted for auto-renewal.
In case you want to make a withdrawal before the tenure ends, you can do so. Keep in mind that doing this can reduce your gains as you may not get the interest rate decided at the time of application. Premature withdrawal results in an interest penalty but helps you when you need to access funds for urgent needs.
Say you have invested ₹5 lakhs for 5 years, and there is a medical emergency in your family. In that case, you may want the ₹5 lakh corpus before the FD maturity period so you can deal with this crisis.
In case of early withdrawal, you may have to pay FD closing charges based on your issuer’s policy and the investment terms. Here’s what the online and offline process involves:
The offline FD closing process goes like this:
In case you are following an online process, you can follow these basic guidelines:
You will receive the money after the approval of your FD closing application. The online process is usually much faster than the offline process. So, if you want your funds instantly, try to go for the online process. Make sure you have your fixed deposit receipt with you to access the number while closing your FD.
Yes, you can close your FD on maturity by ensuring you contact the issuer and transfer the amount to your savings account. You can close your FD before it matures as well.
Yes, it is possible to close your FD before it matures. Fill in the FD closing application, and it will be approved. In this case, the interest on your fixed deposit will not be the same as when you booked it since premature withdrawal comes with a penalty. Some banks may also require additional FD closing charges.
You can close your fixed deposit online, whether you are closing it before maturity or upon maturity. The online process may be much faster, but you can also close your FD offline by visiting a branch of the bank or NBFC yourself.