The government has slashed profit rates on all types of national savings certificates for the next six months, effective from Tuesday, July 1.
The Internal Resources Division of the Finance Ministry issued a circular on Monday announcing the new rates.
This adjustment follows a policy introduced in January that linked profit rates on savings instruments to the average yield of five-year and two-year treasury bonds over the past six months. As returns on those bonds have declined, savings certificate rates have been revised downward accordingly.
Under the revised rates, the highest profit rate will be 11.98 per cent and the lowest 9.72 per cent. Investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh will yield higher returns than those exceeding that threshold.
Five-Year Bangladesh Savings Certificate will now offer an annual return of 11.83 per cent for investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh, down from 12.40 per cent.
For larger investments, the rate is also 11.83 per cent, which was previously 12.37 per cent.
Three-Year Three-Monthly Profit-Based Savings Certificate will yield 11.82 per cent for investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh, compared to the previous 12.30 per cent.
For investments above that amount, the new rate is 11.77 per cent, down from 12.25 per cent.
For Five-Year Pensioner Savings Certificate, investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh will now earn 11.98 per cent, reduced from 12.55 per cent. For amounts above Tk 7.5 lakh, the return is 11.80 per cent, down from 12.37 per cent.
In the case of Five-Year Family Savings Certificate, the new rate is 11.93 per cent for investments up to Tk 7.5 lakh, down from 12.50 per cent. Larger investments will earn 11.80 per cent, previously 12.37 per cent.
Three-Year Fixed Deposit Scheme of the Post Office Savings Bank will now offer 11.82 per cent for investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh, compared with that of 12.30 per cent earlier. For investments above that threshold, the rate is 11.77 per cent, down from 12.25 per cent.
The revised rates come at a time when inflation has remained elevated for more than two years. This move is expected to intensify financial pressure on middle-income families, particularly those who rely on savings certificate returns to cover household expenses.
The circular clarified that profit rates for Wage Earner Development Bond, US Dollar Premium Bond, US Dollar Investment Bond and Post Office Savings Bank General Accounts will remain unchanged.
Certificates issued before July 1, 2025, will continue to earn profits at the previous rates for their original term. However, upon reinvestment, the new rates will apply. The government will review profit rates again after six months.
