Private Sector
Public Sector
ESAF Small Finance Bank vs Punjab National Bank Fixed Deposit Comparison 2025
Compare interest rates, features, and returns between ESAF Small Finance Bank (Private Sector) and Punjab National Bank (Public Sector). Compare the security of public sector banking with the convenience of private sector services.
Five Lakhs rupees
Interest Rate Comparison
General rates across different tenures
Current selection: 3 years (1095 days) -ESAF SFB: % |PNB: %
Direct comparison of general rates
Feature Comparison
| Features |  ESAF SFB Private Sector |  PNB Public Sector |
|---|---|---|
Minimum FD Amount | ₹1,000 | ₹500 |
Current Interest Rate (Selected Tenure) | % | % |
Premature Withdrawal Penalty | 1% | 1% |
Official Rate Source | View Official Rates | View Official Rates |
Key Advantages:
Key Advantages:
₹5 Lakh Insurance Limit
The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) provides insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakhs per depositor per bank. This means if you deposit more than ₹5 lakhs in a single bank, only ₹5 lakhs is guaranteed by the government.
⚠️ Recommendation:
Never deposit more than ₹5 lakhs in a single bank. If you have larger amounts, distribute them across multiple banks to ensure full insurance coverage.
Smart Distribution Strategy
For ₹10 lakhs: Split between ESAF SFB (₹5L) + PNB (₹5L)
For ₹15 lakhs: Add a third bank to the mix
Best of Both: Combine ESAF SFB (convenience) with PNB (security)
💡 Pro Tip:
You can also open FDs in different family members' names in the same bank to get additional ₹5 lakh coverage for each account holder.
Key Insights & Recommendations
- • Minimum amount: ₹1,000
- • Private Sector banking preference
- • Small Finance Bank with competitive rates
- • High FD rates up to 7.75% for senior citizens
- • Focus on financial inclusion
- • Minimum amount: ₹500
- • Public Sector banking preference
- • Heritage bank
- • Wide network
- • Government backing
- • Split large amounts across both banks
- • Keep ≤₹5L per bank for insurance
- • Use ESAF SFB for convenience
- • Use PNB for stability
- • Review rates periodically
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