Bank FD Comparison Tool
ESAF Small Finance Bank vs Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Fixed Deposit Comparison 2026
Compare Fixed Deposit interest rates, maturity amounts, and features between ESAF Small Finance Bank (Private Sector) and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (Private Sector).
ESAF SFB
Private Sector
VS
TMB
Private Sector
ESAF SFB: Min ₹1,000
TMB: Min ₹1,000
DICGC Insured up to ₹5 Lakhs
Compare Your FD Returns
Adjust the parameters below to see how returns compare between the two banks
₹
Five Lakhs rupees
₹1,000₹20,00,000
years
1 year10 years
Interest Rate Comparison
Interest Rates by Tenure
General rates across different tenures
Current selection: 3 years (1095 days) -ESAF SFB: % |TMB: %
Side-by-Side Rate Comparison
Direct comparison of general rates
ESAF SFB
TMB
Highlighted = Your selected tenure
Feature Comparison
Features | ESAF SFB Private Sector | TMB Private Sector |
|---|---|---|
Minimum FD Amount | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 |
Current Interest Rate(Selected Tenure) | % | % |
Premature Withdrawal Penalty | 1% | 1% |
Official Rate Source | View Official Rates | View Official Rates |
ESAF Small Finance Bank
Private Sector Bank
Key Advantages:
Small Finance Bank with competitive rates
High FD rates up to 7.75% for senior citizens
Focus on financial inclusion
Digital banking services
Online FD booking available
Senior citizen benefits with +0.50% additional interest
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank
Private Sector Bank
Key Advantages:
Private Sector Bank established in 1921
Consistently offers higher FD rates for several years
Special TMB400 deposit scheme at 7.00% for senior citizens
Low cost of operations compared to other banks
Senior citizen benefit of +0.10% on most tenures
Online FD booking through Internet & Mobile Banking
Strong presence across South India with 500+ branches
ISO 27001 certified for information security
NRE and FCNR deposits available for NRIs
Important: Fixed Deposit Safety & Insurance Coverage
₹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) + TMB (₹5L)
For ₹15 lakhs: Add a third bank to the mix
💡 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
Choose ESAF SFB If:
- •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
Choose TMB If:
- •Minimum amount: ₹1,000
- •Private Sector banking preference
- •Private Sector Bank established in 1921
- •Consistently offers higher FD rates for several years
- •Special TMB400 deposit scheme at 7.00% for senior citizens
Best Strategy:
- •Split large amounts across both banks
- •Keep ≤₹5L per bank for insurance
- •Compare rates before investing
- •Consider branch convenience
- •Review rates periodically
Explore more FD comparisons
Looking for a different bank matchup? Use these quick links to jump to other FD comparisons.
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