SBI's 444-Day FD: Is Your Return Really 7.25%?

SBI's Amrit Vrishti FD offers 7.25% interest for 444 days. Senior citizens get 7.75%. But TDS, premature withdrawal penalties, and DICGC limits can quietly cut what you actually take home.

Here's what happened: SBI's Amrit Vrishti FD runs for exactly 444 days, offering 7.25% per annum for regular depositors and 7.75% for senior citizens.. Interest is compounded quarterly, meaning actual maturity value is slightly higher than simple-interest calculations suggest — around ₹1,089 per ₹1,000 invested at 7.25%.. DICGC deposit insurance covers up to ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank, so large FD holders at SBI should check their total exposure across all accounts..

What you should do: Submit Form 15G (below 60 years) or Form 15H (senior citizens) at SBI before your FD's first interest payout to avoid unnecessary TDS deduction.. Calculate your total SBI deposits — savings account, existing FDs, and this new one — and if the sum exceeds ₹5 lakh, open any additional FD amount at a different scheduled bank for full DICGC cover.. Compare SBI Amrit Vrishti's 7.25% against small finance banks currently offering 8–9% for similar tenures on the GoCredit platform before locking in..

If your annual FD interest is below the taxable threshold, file Form 15G at the start of the financial year — not just once, but every April — or SBI will deduct TDS automatically on renewal.