A recent news article stated that if one takes part in PNB’s 2025 fixed deposit scheme, he or she would earn as much as ₹50,000 from an investment of ₹2 lakh. This indeed a very high return at first sight—and certainly captures the interest of those who want a safe place to put their money in the short- to medium-term. These kinds of claims usually come at the right time when the majority of investors are looking for safe parking lots for their savings that also bring in predictable returns.
Nonetheless, the presented figure needs to be examined carefully. The prevailing published interest rates at PNB do not support so much money being made in such a short time — implying that the ₹50,000 return involves either a longer period of time, compounding over as many years, or a deceptive projection rather than a guaranteed return in a year.
What PNB’s Official FD Rates Show
As per PNB’s official rate sheet (September 2025), the highest FD rate for a 390-day period is 6.60% per annum for general public and 7.10% per annum for senior citizens. The rates for shorter terms are lower: for example, a one-year FD would yield about 6.25% p.a. to the general public. Based on this rate structure, an investment of ₹2 lakh at ~6.6% per annum would produce about ₹13,200 over one year (before taxes)—this is way less than the ₹50,000. Therefore, this is an indication that the headline claim is likely to be based on unrealistic assumptions or drawn-out periods.
Why the Headline Claim Is Misleading
The difference between the headline and the official rate indicates that the “₹50,000” forecast might be derived from:
- either compounding the interest over a few years (not a single-year return),
- or presuming a much higher interest rate than what PNB officially offers, or
- maybe including the reinvestment of interest or others assumptions.
Reading such claims without verifying the actual rate and tenure can result in unrealistic expectations. In the most realistic situations, the returns would be in line with the standard rates, which are not much but are stable.
Nevertheless — Why PNB FD stays as a good option
Despite the above, PNB’s FDs come out as a rational decision for hissers:
- They carry low risk and are ensured by a government bank, thus the depositors feel sure about the safety of their capital.
- For those who prefer stability and predictable returns, mostly the withdrawn persons from the market, PNB’s fixed deposit scheme is a good option because it provides a fixed return at the known rates.
- For old-age customers, the FDs with slightly higher rates make such FDs a better choice for the safety of savings.
So, these FDs are not meant for quick-rich scenarios, but they still support the idea of people being conservatively and safely parts of the whole saving portfolio.
What Investors Should Do Before Investing
Before investing in any FD scheme — especially ones that are publicly advertised with high returns — investors should take the following steps:
- Look at the bank’s official interest rate chart instead of just listening to media headlines.
- Calculate the realistic returns through an FD calculator or manual calculation (principal, rate, tenure).
- Include the tax on the FD interest (as interest income is taxable), which will lead to a reduction in net returns.
- Align the maturity of the FD with their financial goals — short-term, medium-term, or long-term — to prevent a mismatch of liquidity needs.
Also Read: Guaranteed Returns: ₹2 Lakh Investment in PNB Bank Yields ₹3.77 Lakh…