Germany Festgeld Calculator: Fixed-Term Deposit Maturity Value
Calculate the maturity value of a German Festgeld — a fixed-term deposit (Termineinlage) that locks a lump sum at a fixed interest rate for a set term — and the interest earned.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Future value | Total growth |
|---|---|---|
| €20k · 3.5% · 3yr | $22,174.36 | $2,174.36 |
| €10k · 3% · 1yr | $10,300.00 | $300.00 |
| €50k · 3.2% · 5yr | $58,528.65 | $8,528.65 |
| €100k · 3.8% · 4yr | $116,088.56 | $16,088.56 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the deposit amount, the fixed rate, and the term (Laufzeit). The calculator compounds the deposit to maturity and shows the maturity value and total interest. Festgeld locks your money for the term at a guaranteed rate; this estimate assumes interest is compounded (added to the deposit) annually, though some Festgeld pays interest out each year instead.
The Formula
Future Value of a Lump Sum
PV = present value, r = annual rate, n = number of years
Worked Example
€20,000 in a Festgeld at 3.5% for 3 years grows to about €22,174 — roughly €2,174 of interest. Festgeld (fixed-term deposit) is a popular safe-savings product in Germany: you commit a lump sum for a fixed term (Laufzeit) — commonly 1 to 10 years — at a fixed, guaranteed interest rate locked at the start. In return for giving up access during the term, you typically earn more than the instant-access Tagesgeld (overnight money) account. Deposits are protected by the EU-wide deposit guarantee up to €100,000 per bank per depositor.
Key Insight
Festgeld is a cornerstone of conservative German saving, and a few features shape the real return. Safety: deposits are covered by the statutory EU deposit guarantee up to €100,000 per depositor per bank (many German banks also belong to additional voluntary protection schemes covering more), making Festgeld very low-risk — though spreading large sums across banks keeps everything within the guarantee. Festgeld vs Tagesgeld: Festgeld locks your money for a fixed term at a fixed rate (no access until maturity, but a guaranteed rate), while Tagesgeld is instant-access with a variable rate — so Festgeld suits money you won't need for the term and want a locked return on, and rate-shoppers sometimes ladder multiple Festgeld terms. Interest handling: depending on the product and term, interest may be compounded annually (added to the deposit, as this estimate assumes) or paid out each year (in which case the principal alone is returned at maturity); for multi-year Festgeld, whether interest compounds matters to the final figure. Tax: interest is investment income subject to the German Abgeltungsteuer — a flat 25% withholding tax plus the 5.5% solidarity surcharge (and church tax if applicable) — but only on interest above your annual saver's tax-free allowance (Sparerpauschbetrag), which you claim via a Freistellungsauftrag with your bank to avoid over-withholding. So your after-tax return is lower than the headline rate once interest exceeds the allowance. Liquidity: early access is usually not possible or only with penalty, so treat Festgeld as hold-to-maturity. This calculator gives a pre-tax maturity estimate; for net return, account for Abgeltungsteuer on interest above your allowance, and confirm whether your Festgeld compounds or pays out interest.
Festgeld structure + Einlagensicherung
STRUCTURE.
Substantial — substantial fester Zinssatz garantiert über Laufzeit.
Substantial — substantial Laufzeit 1 Monat - 10 Jahre.
Substantial — substantial typischerweise 3 Monate - 5 Jahre.
Substantial — substantial Kapital + Zinsen gebunden bis Ende.
Substantial — substantial keine Verfügung während Laufzeit (oder substantial Strafzinsen).
Substantial — substantial Auszahlung Endfälligkeit.
ZINSEN 2024 (top Anbieter).
1 Monat. 3.0-3.5%.
3 Monate. 3.3-3.7%.
6 Monate. 3.5-3.8%.
9 Monate. 3.6-3.9%.
1 Jahr. 3.7-4.0%.
2 Jahre. 3.5-3.8%.
3 Jahre. 3.3-3.6%.
5 Jahre. 3.0-3.5%.
10 Jahre. 2.8-3.3%.
Substantial — substantial inverse Zinsstrukturkurve 2024.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial.
EINLAGENSICHERUNG substantial.
EU minimum. €100K pro Kunde pro Bank.
Substantial — substantial gesetzlich garantiert.
Substantial — substantial Auszahlung binnen 7 Tagen.
Deutsche privater Bankenfonds.
Substantial — substantial Zusatzschutz über €100K hinaus.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial Milliardenhöhe per Bank.
Substantial — substantial Sparda Bank, Volksbank substantial.
AUSLAND Banken.
Substantial — substantial EU-Banken €100K garantiert.
Substantial — substantial Klarna, BIGBANK Estland, Banca Sistema Italien substantial höhere Zinsen.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial Vorsicht Estland, Italien Einlagensicherung.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial.
STEUER substantial.
Abgeltungsteuer 25%.
Solidaritätszuschlag 5.5% auf 25% = +1.375%.
Kirchensteuer ggf. 8-9% auf 25%.
Substantial — substantial total ~26.375% ohne Kirchensteuer.
Substantial — substantial ~28.375% mit Kirchensteuer.
SPARERPAUSCHBETRAG.
Substantial — substantial €1,000 jährlich steuerfrei Zinsen.
Substantial — substantial €2,000 zusammenveranlagte Ehegatten.
Substantial — substantial Freistellungsauftrag bei Bank stellen.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial.
Strategie + Alternativen
ZINSTREPPE (laddering) substantial.
Substantial — substantial Festgeld auf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Jahre aufteilen.
Substantial — substantial jährliche Liquidität.
Substantial — substantial Reinvestition zu aktuellen Zinsen.
Substantial — substantial substantial Zinsänderungsrisiko reduziert.
TAGESGELD substantial.
Substantial — substantial 2.5-3.5% top 2024.
Substantial — substantial täglich verfügbar.
Substantial — substantial variabler Zinssatz.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial Liquidität.
Substantial — substantial Neukundenbonus 1-3 Monate substantial.
BUNDESANLEIHEN substantial.
Substantial — substantial 2-10 Jahre.
Substantial — substantial 2.5-3% 2024.
Substantial — substantial sicher.
Substantial — substantial Wertschwankungen substantial bei Verkauf.
BUNDESSCHATZBRIEFE substantial — substantial abgeschafft seit 2013.
PFANDBRIEFE substantial sicher Anlageklasse.
ETFs substantial.
Substantial — substantial Aktien long-term.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial Risiko.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial Renditen 7-8% historisch.
FONDSGEBUNDENE Lebensversicherung.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial Steuervorteile.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial Gebühren.
RIESTER / RÜRUP substantial.
Substantial — substantial Altersvorsorge.
Substantial — substantial substantial steuerliche Vorteile.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial.
REAL RETURN.
Substantial — substantial Inflation 2024 ~2.5%.
Substantial — substantial Festgeld 3.8% nominal − 2.5% inflation = 1.3% real.
Substantial — substantial nach Steuer ~0.5% real.
Substantial — substantial substantial moderate Erhalt Kaufkraft.
PLATFORMS substantial.
Weltsparen (Raisin). Substantial — substantial EU-Banken Vergleich.
Substantial — substantial Estonia, Italien, France banks higher rates.
Substantial — substantial Schutz €100K pro Bank.
Zinspilot. Substantial — substantial similar Vermittler.
Direktbanken. Substantial — substantial ING, DKB, comdirect substantial.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial.
STRATEGIE TYPISCH.
(1) Substantial — substantial 3-6 Monate Notgroschen auf Tagesgeld.
(2) Substantial — substantial 1-2 Jahre Festgeld Zinstreppe.
(3) Substantial — substantial Langfristanlage in ETF + Lebensversicherung.
(4) Substantial — substantial Altersvorsorge substantial.
Germany Festgeld benchmarks (2024)
Reference Festgeld rates + economics.
| Laufzeit | Top Zinssatz 2024 |
|---|---|
| 1 Monat | 3.0-3.5% |
| 3 Monate | 3.3-3.7% |
| 6 Monate | 3.5-3.8% |
| 1 Jahr | 3.7-4.0% |
| 2 Jahre | 3.5-3.8% |
| 5 Jahre | 3.0-3.5% |
| 10 Jahre | 2.8-3.3% |
| Tagesgeld vergleich | 2.5-3.5% |
| Bundesanleihe 10 Jahre | 2.5-3% |
| Abgeltungsteuer | 25% + 5.5% Soli |
| Sparerpauschbetrag | €1,000/yr (€2K Ehepaar) |
| EU Einlagensicherung | €100K |
Festgeld 2024 inverse Zinsstrukturkurve (kurz höher als lang). EU Einlagensicherung €100K pro Bank Standard. Weltsparen / Zinspilot Vermittler für ausländische Banken. Zinstreppe substantial Risiko-Management. Inflation 2024 ~2.5% — real return moderat. Steuer 26.375% Standard. Bundesbank + BaFin + Stiftung Warentest + Finanztip data.
Festgeld vs Tagesgeld — which one for which job
Both are bank deposits with the same EU deposit guarantee. The choice is about rate certainty vs flexibility, and about the horizon of the money.
| Aspect | Festgeld (fixed term) | Tagesgeld (overnight) |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | Fixed at deposit (guaranteed for term) | Variable, can change with notice |
| Access | None until maturity (or steep penalty) | Any day, no notice |
| Term | 1 month to 10 years (commonly 1–3 yr) | Indefinite |
| Deposit guarantee | Yes, €100k EU + voluntary schemes | Same |
| Best for | Money you won't need for the term, locking high rates | Emergency reserve, short-horizon money, rising-rate periods |
| Risk | Locked at old rate if market rises | Rate can fall during the period |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Festgeld maturity calculated?
The deposit compounds at the fixed rate over the term. €20,000 at 3.5% for 3 years grows to about €22,174 (roughly €2,174 interest). This assumes interest is compounded annually; if your Festgeld pays interest out each year instead, the principal alone is returned at maturity.
What's the difference between Festgeld and Tagesgeld?
Festgeld locks a lump sum for a fixed term at a fixed, guaranteed rate (no access until maturity). Tagesgeld is instant-access overnight money with a variable rate. Festgeld usually pays more in return for the lock-in, suiting money you won't need for the term; Tagesgeld suits flexible, accessible savings.
Is Festgeld safe?
Yes — very low-risk. Deposits are covered by the EU statutory deposit guarantee up to €100,000 per depositor per bank (many German banks also have additional voluntary protection). For larger sums, spreading across banks keeps everything within the guarantee. The rate is fixed and guaranteed for the term.
Is the interest taxed?
Yes — interest is subject to the Abgeltungsteuer, a flat 25% withholding tax plus the 5.5% solidarity surcharge (and church tax if applicable), but only on interest above your annual saver's allowance (Sparerpauschbetrag). Submit a Freistellungsauftrag to your bank to use the allowance and avoid over-withholding. After-tax return is lower than the headline rate.
Can I withdraw Festgeld early?
Usually not, or only with a penalty — the lock-in for the term is the trade-off for the higher fixed rate. Treat Festgeld as hold-to-maturity money. If you might need access, Tagesgeld or a shorter Festgeld term is more suitable. Some banks allow early termination only in exceptional cases.
When is this calculator unreliable?
Less reliable when Zinssatz changes (substantial ECB rate changes), when early withdrawal substantial penalty / not permitted, when Sparerpauschbetrag €1,000/year tax-free interest threshold ignored, when Einlagensicherung differs by country (EU minimum €100K, German private bank up to billions), when inflation comparison (real return) varies, or when foreign bank tax compliance (CRS reporting) requires reporting. Inverse Zinsstrukturkurve 2024 — kurz höher als lang.
References & Authoritative Sources
- Deutsche Bundesbank — Zinsstatistik + Einlagensicherung · consulted June 1, 2026 · German central bank
- BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) — Banking regulation · consulted June 1, 2026 · Federal regulator
- Stiftung Warentest / Finanztip — Festgeld Vergleiche · consulted June 1, 2026 · Consumer financial research
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
Germany Festgeld (Fixed-term deposit) = Kapital × (1 + Zinssatz)^Laufzeit. Calculator returns Endkapital. Top Festgeld 2024: 6-monatig 3.5-3.8%; 1-jährig 3.7-4.0%; 2-jährig 3.5-3.8%; 5-jährig 3.0-3.5%. Substantial Einlagensicherung €100K EU + private institutions. Tax: Abgeltungsteuer 25% + Soli 5.5% = 26.375%. RELIABILITY: Reliable for documented rate + Laufzeit. Less reliable when (a) Zinssatz changes (substantial ECB rate changes); (b) early withdrawal substantial penalty / not permitted; (c) Sparerpauschbetrag €1,000/year tax-free interest threshold; (d) Einlagensicherung differs by country (EU minimum €100K, German private bank up to billions); (e) inflation comparison (real return); (f) foreign bank tax compliance (CRS reporting).
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