B Mirror Report : After six months, the profit rates on savings certificates have been reduced once again. The Internal Resources Division (IRD) has announced new profit rates for savings certificates for the next six months, effective from today, 1 January.

Under the new rates, the maximum profit rate on savings certificates will be 10.59 percent, while the minimum will be 8.74 percent. The profit rates were also reduced last July, and now they have been cut again after six months. The rates are reviewed every six months.

It has been observed that profit rates are relatively higher for smaller investments and lower for larger investments. The threshold has been set at Tk 7.5 lakh. Investments of Tk 7.5 lakh or less will earn higher profit, while investments above Tk 7.5 lakh will receive lower returns. As part of income and debt management, the government regularly determines savings certificate profit rates.

Among all types of savings certificates under the National Savings Directorate, the Family Savings Certificate is the most popular. Previously, for investments below Tk 7.5 lakh, the profit rate at maturity after five years was 11.93 percent; this has now been reduced to 10.54 percent. For investments above Tk 7.5 lakh, the rate has been reduced from 11.80 percent to 10.41 percent.

For the Pensioner Savings Certificate, the profit rate at maturity after five years for investments below Tk 7.5 lakh was 11.98 percent, which has now been reduced to 10.59 percent. For investments above Tk 7.5 lakh, the rate has been lowered from 11.80 percent to 10.41 percent.

The profit rate on the five-year Bangladesh Savings Certificate has also been reduced. For investments below Tk 7.5 lakh, the maturity profit rate was 11.83 percent, which will now be 10.44 percent. For investments above Tk 7.5 lakh, the rate has been reduced from 11.80 percent to 10.41 percent.

Profit rates have also been cut for savings certificates with quarterly profit payments. For investments below Tk 7.5 lakh, the maturity profit rate was 11.82 percent; it will now be 10.48 percent. For investments above Tk 7.5 lakh, the rate has been reduced from 11.77 percent to 10.43 percent.

All national savings schemes issued before 1 July 2025 will continue to earn the profit rates applicable at the time of issuance for their original tenure. However, in the case of reinvestment, the profit rate prevailing on the reinvestment date will apply. The profit rates will be reviewed again after six months.

Savings certificate holders are mainly middle-class families in the country. In times of need, they rely on encasing savings certificates, and a portion of their monthly household expenses often comes from the profit earned on these instruments.

Due to rising prices of goods, the country has been experiencing high inflation for more than two years. Although inflation has eased slightly in recent months, it remains in the 8–9 percent range. As a result, pressure on the middle class has increased further at the start of the new year. Those whose household expenses depend heavily on savings certificate profits will face even greater financial strain.