Deposit ladder
Split your savings over deposits with rising terms. Every year a part comes free, the rest keeps a higher fixed rate. Per rung the planner picks the best-paying offer from the deposit comparison, within the deposit guarantee. A worked example, not advice.
3 deposits from 1 year until 3 years. Over the whole term together €3,573 interest; the first part comes free on 2 Nov 2027 .
- everything 3 years fixed · Renault Bank, 3.50%−€17 p.a.
- everything 1 year fixed · Bigbank, 3.40%+€33 p.a.
- everything instant access · Trade Republic, 3.03%+€216 p.a.
Purely on rate, everything 3 years fixed earns more right now. The ladder buys spread: money that comes free and a rate that follows the market up.
| Rung | Bank and product | Deposit | Rate | Effective | Interest over the term | Matures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Bigbank Termijndeposito · Bigbank AS | €16,600 | 3.40% | 3.40% | €564 | 2 Nov 2027 | all 1 year → |
| 2 years | Nordax Bank Termijndeposito · NOBA Bank Group AB (publ) | €16,600 | 3.50% | 3.50% | €1,182 | 2 Nov 2028 | all 2 years → |
| 3 years | Renault Bank Termijndeposito · RCI Banque S.A. | €16,800 | 3.50% | 3.50% | €1,826 | 2 Nov 2029 | all 3 years → |
What matures when
- 2 Nov 2027€17,164deposit plus €564 rate
- 2 Nov 2028€16,600deposit; interest yearly paid out
- 2 Nov 2029€16,800deposit; interest yearly paid out
When a rung matures you lock that part up again for the longest term at the rate of that moment; that keeps the ladder going. Rates are gross and as the bank publishes them now; the effective annual rate includes fees and compound interest.
Compare with instant-access saving Unsure about locking up? Guided choice
About deposit ladders
What is a deposit ladder?
You split your savings over deposits with rising terms, for example 1, 2 and 3 years. Every year one matures: you can withdraw that part or lock it up again for the longest term at the rate of that moment. That way you combine the higher rate of long terms with money that comes free regularly.
When does a ladder pay off?
When long terms pay more than short ones and you do not want to lose access to all your money for years. If short and long terms pay about the same, or an instant-access account pays as much, locking up adds little; the comparison below shows that per amount.
What about the deposit guarantee?
The guarantee is per person per banking licence, usually up to € 100,000. Two rungs at the same bank count together. The planner picks, per rung, the best-paying bank where your amount still fits within the guarantee, so every euro stays covered.
You open the accounts at the bank or via Raisin; click a bank for the conditions and the button to the provider.