What are the best fixed deposit interest rates currently offered in South Africa?

last updated 1st May 2026 by Walter

# Bank Term Min Age Min Deposit Nominal Effective
1SA Retail Bonds logo60 months 18 R19.25% 9.46%
2Fedgroup logo60 months 18 R18.65% 9%
3SA Retail Bonds logo36 months 18 R18.75% 8.94%
4African Bank logo60 months 18 R1m8.47% 8.81%
5Investec logo60 months 55 R100k8.46% 8.8%

Understanding interest rates:

Nominal rate: The basic interest rate before considering any compounding effects. If you were to withdraw your interest monthly instead of letting it compound, this is the rate you'd earn.

Effective rate: The actual annual return you'll receive when interest is reinvested monthly. This higher rate shows your true return because it includes compound interest (earning interest on your interest).

The best interest rate is 9.46% offered by SA Retail Bonds on a 60 fixed deposit investment. This is the highest interest rate you will be able to get in South Africa. This rate is fixed throughout 60. It is the effective annual rate. You will need a minimum investment of R1 to get that interest rate. Check out my fixed deposit calculator to see how much interest you will earn for your investment amount.
Table of contents

Best 5 year fixed deposit rates

last updated 1st May 2026 by Walter

# Bank Min Age Min Deposit Nominal Effective
1SA Retail Bonds logo18 R19.25% 9.46%
2Fedgroup logo18 R18.65% 9%
3African Bank logo18 R1m8.47% 8.81%
4Investec logo55 R100k8.46% 8.8%
5Absa logo55 R1m8.15% 8.46%

Understanding interest rates:

Nominal rate: The basic interest rate before considering any compounding effects. If you were to withdraw your interest monthly instead of letting it compound, this is the rate you'd earn.

Effective rate: The actual annual return you'll receive when interest is reinvested monthly. This higher rate shows your true return because it includes compound interest (earning interest on your interest).

The best 5 year fixed deposit interest rate is 9.46% offered by SA Retail Bonds. This is the effective annualised rate. You will need a minimum investment of R1 to get that interest rate. Check out the fixed deposit calculator to see how much interest you will earn for your investment amount.
Looking for the best interest rates for a specific investment amount?
Who offers better interest rates?
Who offers better interest rates?
updated 1st May 2026
Who offers better interest rates?
updated 1st May 2026
Who offers better interest rates?
updated 1st May 2026

Best 3 year fixed deposit rates

last updated 1st May 2026 by Walter

# Bank Min Age Min Deposit Nominal Effective
1SA Retail Bonds logo18 R18.75% 8.94%
2Absa logo55 R1m7.85% 8.14%
3African Bank logo18 R1m7.73% 8.01%
4Standard Bank logo18 R100k7.72% 8%
5Access Bank Plc logo18 R07.6% 7.87%

Understanding interest rates:

Nominal rate: The basic interest rate before considering any compounding effects. If you were to withdraw your interest monthly instead of letting it compound, this is the rate you'd earn.

Effective rate: The actual annual return you'll receive when interest is reinvested monthly. This higher rate shows your true return because it includes compound interest (earning interest on your interest).

The best 3 year fixed deposit interest rate is 8.94% offered by SA Retail Bonds. This is the effective annualised rate. You will need a minimum investment of R1 to get that interest rate. Check out the fixed deposit calculator to see how much interest you will earn for your investment amount.
Looking for the best interest rates for a specific investment amount?

Best 2 year fixed deposit rates

last updated 1st May 2026 by Walter

# Bank Min Age Min Deposit Nominal Effective
1SA Retail Bonds logo18 R18.25% 8.42%
2Investec logo55 R100k8.04% 8.34%
3Absa logo55 R1m7.65% 7.92%
4Standard Bank logo18 R100k7.61% 7.88%
5Access Bank Plc logo18 R07.5% 7.76%

Understanding interest rates:

Nominal rate: The basic interest rate before considering any compounding effects. If you were to withdraw your interest monthly instead of letting it compound, this is the rate you'd earn.

Effective rate: The actual annual return you'll receive when interest is reinvested monthly. This higher rate shows your true return because it includes compound interest (earning interest on your interest).

The best 2 year fixed deposit interest rate is 8.42% offered by SA Retail Bonds. This is the effective annualised rate. You will need a minimum investment of R1 to get that interest rate. Check out the fixed deposit calculator to see how much interest you will earn for your investment amount.
Looking for the best interest rates for a specific investment amount?

Best 1 year fixed deposit rates

last updated 1st May 2026 by Walter

# Bank Min Age Min Deposit Nominal Effective
1TymeBank logo18 R18.25% 8.57%
2Bidvest logo18 R17.81% 8.1%
3Investec logo18 R100k7.78% 8.06%
4Standard Bank logo18 R5m7.44% 7.7%
5Absa logo55 R100k7.35% 7.6%

Understanding interest rates:

Nominal rate: The basic interest rate before considering any compounding effects. If you were to withdraw your interest monthly instead of letting it compound, this is the rate you'd earn.

Effective rate: The actual annual return you'll receive when interest is reinvested monthly. This higher rate shows your true return because it includes compound interest (earning interest on your interest).

The best 1 year fixed deposit interest rate is 8.57% offered by TymeBank. This is the effective annualised rate. You will need a minimum investment of R1 to get that interest rate. Check out the fixed deposit calculator to see how much interest you will earn for your investment amount.
Looking for the best interest rates for a specific investment amount?

Best 6 month fixed deposit rates

last updated 1st May 2026 by Walter

# Bank Min Age Min Deposit Nominal Effective
1TymeBank logo18 R17.75% 8.03%
2Bidvest logo18 R17.39% 7.65%
3Investec logo18 R100k7.26% 7.51%
4African Bank logo18 R1m7.17% 7.41%
5Absa logo18 R100k7.1% 7.34%

Understanding interest rates:

Nominal rate: The basic interest rate before considering any compounding effects. If you were to withdraw your interest monthly instead of letting it compound, this is the rate you'd earn.

Effective rate: The actual annual return you'll receive when interest is reinvested monthly. This higher rate shows your true return because it includes compound interest (earning interest on your interest).

The best 6 month fixed deposit interest rate is 8.03% offered by TymeBank. This is the effective annualised rate. You will need a minimum investment of R1 to get that interest rate. Check out the fixed deposit calculator to see how much interest you will earn for your investment amount.
Looking for the best interest rates for a specific investment amount?

Best 3 month fixed deposit rates

last updated 1st May 2026 by Walter

# Bank Min Age Min Deposit Nominal Effective
1Bidvest logo18 R17.06% 7.29%
2Investec logo18 R100k7% 7.23%
3Access Bank Plc logo18 R06.8% 7.02%
4African Bank logo18 R1m6.79% 7.01%
5Nedbank logo18 R250k6.75% 6.96%

Understanding interest rates:

Nominal rate: The basic interest rate before considering any compounding effects. If you were to withdraw your interest monthly instead of letting it compound, this is the rate you'd earn.

Effective rate: The actual annual return you'll receive when interest is reinvested monthly. This higher rate shows your true return because it includes compound interest (earning interest on your interest).

The best 3 month fixed deposit interest rate is 7.29% offered by Bidvest. This is the effective annualised rate. You will need a minimum investment of R1 to get that interest rate. Check out the fixed deposit calculator to see how much interest you will earn for your investment amount.
Looking for the best interest rates for a specific investment amount?