Bangladesh keeps national savings certificate interest rates unchanged for Jul-Dec

Investors will continue to earn up to 11.98 percent interest on national savings certificates

The government has decided to keep interest rates on national savings certificates unchanged for the July-December period, citing the interests of middle-income families.

Currently, investors can earn a maximum return ranging from 11.77 percent to 11.98 percent, depending on the investment amount and maturity period.

On Thursday, the Finance Division's Internal Resources and Debt Management Wing informed the Internal Resources Division (IRD) that profit rates for the July-December period would remain unchanged.

Farhana Jahan Upama, an official of the Internal Debt Management Wing who signed the letter, said the National Savings Directorate under the IRD will issue a formal notification.

The directorate had earlier issued a notification on Dec 30, 2025 reducing interest rates, which was scheduled to take effect on Jan 1.

The notification lowered returns on several savings certificate schemes.

However, it was suspended on Jan 4 amid concerns that middle-income investors could lose interest in savings certificates. As a result, interest rates for the January-June period also remained unchanged.

The directorate currently reviews savings certificate interest rates every six months.

Under the suspended notification, the maximum return for investments of up to Tk 750,000 during January-June would have been 10.59 percent, while the minimum would have been 8.74 percent.

Previously, for the July-December period of last year, returns on savings certificates ranged from 8.74 percent to 11.98 percent.

Under the latest decision, investors will continue to receive the previous maximum return of 11.98 percent.

Interest rates, however, vary according to the investment scheme, amount and maturity period.

The Family Savings Certificate continues to offer a maximum return of 11.93 percent. Investments exceeding Tk 750,000 will continue to earn 11.80 percent.

For the 5-year Bangladesh Savings Certificate, investments below Tk 750,000 will continue to earn 11.83 percent, while investments above that threshold will receive 11.80 percent.

The Three-Month Profit-Based Savings Certificate will continue to offer 11.82 percent for investments below Tk 750,000 and 11.77 percent for larger investments.

The Three-Year Post Office Savings Certificate will also continue to offer 11.82 percent on investments below Tk 750,000 and 11.77 percent for investments above that amount.

The government reviews savings certificate interest rates every six months. However, once an investment is made, the applicable interest rate remains unchanged until the maturity of that investment, even if rates are revised later.

Individual or joint investments of up to Tk 750,000 receive one set of interest rates, while larger investments earn comparatively lower returns. Interest rates also vary depending on the maturity period.

A single savings scheme allows investments for terms ranging from one to five years. Among all schemes, the Family Savings Certificate remains the most popular.