Disclaimer: Rates shown are based on publicly available data as of August 2026. Promotional rates have specific terms and conditions (fresh funds, minimum deposits, limited periods). Always verify current rates directly with the bank before placing a deposit.
Quick Answer
Best Malaysia FD board rate (August 2026): Bank of China at 2.80% p.a. (12 months). Best promotional rate: CIMB TIA-i Merdeka campaign at up to 3.75% p.a. Among local banks: Alliance Bank leads at 2.40%, BSN at 2.35%. All covered by PIDM up to RM250,000 per depositor per bank. Use our FD calculator to see exact returns for your amount.
What's Inside
- 1. All Malaysia FD Rates (August 2026)
- 2. Current FD Promotions — CIMB, Affin, Maybank
- 3. RM50,000 Deposit — Bank-by-Bank Returns
- 4. What Are "Fresh Funds"? (Don't Lose Your Promo Rate)
- 5. PIDM Protection — How Safe Is Your Money?
- 6. Smart FD Strategy for Malaysia in 2026
- 7. Calculate Your Exact Returns
1. All Malaysia FD Board Rates (August 2026)
Every major Malaysian bank's standard fixed deposit rates as of August 2026. Sorted by 12-month rate. These are board rates — available to anyone without promotional conditions:
| Bank | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | Min Deposit | Early Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of China | 2.35% | 2.60% | 2.80% | RM1,000 | No |
| Alliance Bank | 2.00% | 2.20% | 2.40% | RM500 | No |
| BSN | 1.95% | 2.15% | 2.35% | RM500 | No |
| UOB | 1.85% | 2.00% | 2.20% | RM1,000 | No |
| OCBC | 1.80% | 1.95% | 2.05% | RM1,000 | Yes |
| Affin Bank | 1.75% | 1.90% | 2.05% | RM500 | Yes |
| Standard Chartered | 1.75% | 1.90% | 2.05% | RM1,000 | No |
| HSBC | 1.75% | 1.90% | 2.00% | RM1,000 | Yes |
| Public Bank | 1.70% | 1.80% | 1.95% | RM1,000 | No |
| RHB | 1.65% | 1.80% | 1.90% | RM1,000 | Yes |
| Maybank | 1.65% | 1.75% | 1.85% | RM1,000 | Yes |
| CIMB | 1.60% | 1.75% | 1.85% | RM1,000 | Yes |
| Hong Leong | 1.60% | 1.75% | 1.85% | RM500 | Yes |
| AmBank | 1.60% | 1.75% | 1.85% | RM500 | No |
2. Current FD Promotions — August 2026
Promotional rates are significantly higher than board rates but come with conditions (fresh funds, minimum deposits, limited time). Here's what's running right now:
| Bank | Campaign | Rate | Tenure | Min Deposit | Key Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIMB | TIA-i Merdeka 2026 | Up to 3.75% | Various | RM1,000 | Fresh funds required |
| CIMB | eFD-i Campaign | Up to 3.35% | 6-12 months | RM1,000 | Fresh funds via FPX |
| Affin Bank | FD Promotion 2026 | Up to 2.80% | 6-12 months | RM500 | Fresh funds |
| Al Rajhi | Term Deposit-i | 2.65% - 3.35% | 1-60 months | RM500 | Islamic (Commodity Murabahah) |
| Agrobank | Fixed Return Investment | 2.50% - 3.30% | 1-60 months | RM1,000 | Government-backed |
Up to 3.75% p.a. — but read the fine print. CIMB often uses step-up structures where the headline rate only applies to the final month. The effective rate across the full tenure may be closer to 2.5-3.0%. Always calculate the EIR (Effective Interest Rate), not just the headline number.
CIMB eFD-i: Simpler — flat rate up to 3.35% p.a. for 6-12 months. Requires RM1,000 minimum via FPX from another bank (fresh funds). This is genuine value if you qualify.
Affin Bank FD Promotion 2026
Affin Bank periodically runs FD promotions offering rates above their standard 2.05% board rate. Current promotions offer up to 2.80% for 12-month placements with fresh funds. Affin's advantage: lower minimum deposit (RM500) and early withdrawal allowed on promotional FDs — unusual among Malaysian banks.
3. RM50,000 Deposit — Bank-by-Bank Returns (12 Months)
Here's exactly how much you earn on a RM50,000 fixed deposit for 12 months at each bank's board rate:
| Bank | Rate (12mo) | Interest Earned | Maturity Value | vs Maybank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of China | 2.80% | RM1,400 | RM51,400 | +RM475 |
| Alliance Bank | 2.40% | RM1,200 | RM51,200 | +RM275 |
| BSN | 2.35% | RM1,175 | RM51,175 | +RM250 |
| UOB | 2.20% | RM1,100 | RM51,100 | +RM175 |
| OCBC / Affin / StanChart | 2.05% | RM1,025 | RM51,025 | +RM100 |
| HSBC | 2.00% | RM1,000 | RM51,000 | +RM75 |
| Public Bank | 1.95% | RM975 | RM50,975 | +RM50 |
| RHB | 1.90% | RM950 | RM50,950 | +RM25 |
| Maybank / CIMB / Hong Leong | 1.85% | RM925 | RM50,925 | — |
With CIMB's promo rate (3.75%): RM50,000 × 3.75% = RM1,875 — more than double what you'd earn at Maybank's board rate. This is why promotional rates matter in Malaysia.
4. What Are "Fresh Funds"? (Don't Lose Your Promo Rate)
Almost every Malaysian FD promotion requires "fresh funds." Get this wrong and you'll earn the board rate (1.85%) instead of the promotional rate (3.35-3.75%). Here's the rule:
Qualifies as Fresh Funds:
- Transfer from another bank — moving RM50K from Maybank to CIMB qualifies for CIMB's promo
- Cash deposit — physical cash deposited at branch
- FPX transfer — online transfer from a different bank's account
- Cheque from another bank — banker's cheque from a different institution
Does NOT Qualify:
- Internal transfer — moving from your CIMB savings to CIMB FD = board rate only
- Maturing FD rollover — renewing an existing FD at the same bank usually doesn't qualify
- Between your own accounts — current account to FD at same bank = no promo
5. PIDM Protection — How Safe Is Your Money?
Every ringgit you deposit in a Malaysian commercial bank is insured:
| Protection | Coverage | Limit | Banks Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIDM | Deposits + interest | RM250,000 per depositor per bank | All commercial banks (Maybank, CIMB, Public Bank, etc.) |
| Government (DFIA) | Full guarantee | 100% principal + interest | Bank Rakyat, Agrobank |
What This Means Practically
- RM250K or less at one bank — fully protected, zero risk
- More than RM250K — split across banks for full coverage
- Joint accounts — have their own separate RM250K coverage
- Bank of China (Malaysia) — yes, covered by PIDM despite being a foreign-owned bank
- Islamic FDs — same PIDM protection as conventional
→ RM250,000 in Bank of China FD (2.80%, fully covered by PIDM)
→ RM250,000 in Alliance Bank FD (2.40%, fully covered by PIDM)
→ Total interest: RM14,000 + RM12,000 = RM26,000/year, 100% insured
6. Smart FD Strategy for Malaysia in 2026
Where Are Malaysian Rates Heading?
Bank Negara Malaysia's Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) has been stable at 3.00% through 2025-2026. With global rate cuts happening in the US, EU, and other markets, BNM may follow with a cut in H2 2026 or early 2027. Current FD rates (1.85-2.80% board, up to 3.75% promo) may decline if OPR drops.
What to Do Now
- Lock in promotional rates now — CIMB's Merdeka campaign (3.75%) ends soon. If rates fall, you'll be glad you locked in today's rate for 6-12 months.
- Don't default to your main bank — If you bank with Maybank or CIMB, their board rates are the lowest (1.85%). Check Bank of China (2.80%) or Alliance (2.40%) for significantly better returns.
- Use the FD ladder strategy — Split RM100K into 4 × RM25K deposits maturing every 3 months. You get liquidity (one matures quarterly) while earning 12-month rates.
- Chase promos strategically — Keep RM10K-20K in a savings account at each of 2-3 banks. When a promo launches, you have "fresh funds" ready to deploy from another bank.
- Consider Islamic FDs — Al Rajhi (2.65-3.35%) and Agrobank (2.50-3.30%) offer competitive rates. Same PIDM protection. You don't need to be Muslim to open one.
Board Rate vs Promo Rate — Which to Choose?
| Scenario | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Can transfer fresh funds | CIMB promo (3.35-3.75%) | Highest rate available, worth the effort |
| Can't move money / no fresh funds | Bank of China (2.80%) | Highest board rate, no conditions |
| Want lowest minimum deposit | Alliance / BSN (RM500 min) | Good rates without large commitment |
| Want early withdrawal option | Affin / OCBC / Maybank | These allow partial/full early withdrawal |
| Want government guarantee (no limit) | Agrobank (2.50-3.30%) | Backed by Malaysian Government, not just PIDM's RM250K |
7. Calculate Your Exact Returns
Plug in your deposit amount and tenure to see exactly how much you'll earn at each rate:
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Last Updated: August 15, 2026 | Author: CalcIQ Team | Sources: RinggitPlus, CIMB.com.my, Maybank2u.com.my, Bank Negara Malaysia