Are shorter term deposits worth a look right now?
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Term deposits have reached some great levels in recent months. But, while it can be tempting to lock your savings away for some time, it’s possible that you can miss out on some rates that are actually highest in the short term.
Below, we’ll have a look at what rates currently look like for shorter terms in a 3-6 month range.
What are the highest short term deposit rates?
The Mozo database tracks 81 term deposits across a range of terms, and we calculate how much the rates in each category average out to. As you’ll see below, the highest rates of each category^ sit above the averages for the 1 year rates at 4.62% p.a, 2 year rates at 4.08% p.a, 3 year at 3.89% p.a, 4 year at 3.78% p.a, and 3.81% p.a for 5 year terms.
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3 month terms
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Provider
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Rate
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Minimum Deposit
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Bank of Sydney
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5.00% p.a.
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$1000
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Judo Bank
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5.00% p.a.
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$5,000
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Gateway Bank
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4.90% p.a.
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$1,000
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4 month terms
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Provider
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Rate
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Minimum Deposit
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South West Slopes Credit Union (special 4 month term)
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5.00% p.a.
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$500
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Goldfields Money
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4.95% p.a.
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$5,000
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Southern Cross Credit Union
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4.80% p.a.
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$5,000
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5 month terms
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Provider
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Rate
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Minimum Deposit
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MOVE Bank
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5.10% p.a.
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$5,000
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Goldfields Money
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4.95% p.a.
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$5,000
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AMP Bank
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4.75% p.a.
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$5,000
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6 month terms
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Provider
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Rate
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Minimum Deposit
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| Heartland Bank | 5.30% p.a. | $25,000 |
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Judo Bank
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5.25% p.a.
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$1,000
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Bank of Sydney
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5.30% p.a.
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$1,000 |
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G&C Mutual Bank
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5.20% p.a.
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$1,000
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So in the short 3-6 month range, rates of 5.00% and above are available from a few providers. The 6 month term deposit category has the most 5% and over term deposits with 14 providers on our database offering rates at these ranges.
Locking in for a short 3-6 month term at these high rates could make sense to take advantage of the current rate environment while retaining the flexibility to reinvest at a later date.
Ready to compare? Check out some term deposits on our hub page or some of the providers in the tables below.
^Based on a term deposit with a balance of $25,000. Up to date as of 14 May 2024.