Introduction
Imagine a piggy bank that not only keeps your money safe but also makes it grow over time! That's what banking with a recurring deposit account is all about. This chapter takes you into the world of banking, where you learn how banks help people save, lend, and manage money. A recurring deposit account is like a disciplined savings plan, where you deposit a fixed amount every month and watch it grow with interest. Whether it's planning for a future goal or understanding how banks work, this chapter is your guide to mastering the basics of banking and the magic of recurring deposits.

- Banking is the process of accepting, protecting, and lending money.
- People deposit spare money in banks to keep it safe and earn interest.
- Banks lend money to individuals or businesses for starting or expanding ventures.
- Banks charge a higher interest rate on loans than they pay on deposits.
- Banks offer various services beyond deposits and loans, benefiting individuals and society.
Main functions of a bank:
- Accepting deposits from customers.
- Lending money to those in need, often at concessional rates for specific groups like farmers or small business owners.
- Providing services like money transfers, bill payments, lockers for valuables, traveler's cheques, foreign currency, ATM cards, debit cards, and credit cards.
Example: Many salaried individuals receive their salaries through bank accounts, and banks facilitate payments like school fees, utility bills, and government loan installments in cities.
Types of Accounts
- Banks offer various deposit schemes to suit different needs.
- The most common and popular type discussed here is the Recurring Deposit Account.
Example: A Recurring Deposit Account allows customers to save a fixed amount monthly for a chosen period, earning interest on their savings.
Recurring Deposit Account (R.D. Account)
- A depositor selects a fixed monthly deposit amount and a specific period for the account.
- The period can range from 3 months to 10 years.
- At the end of the period (maturity), the depositor receives a lump sum called the maturity value.
- The maturity value includes the total deposited amount plus interest, compounded quarterly.
- The interest rate is set by the Reserve Bank of India and may change periodically.
Example: If someone deposits ₹200 every month for 36 months, they will receive the total deposited amount plus interest at maturity, based on the bank's interest rate.
Computing Maturity Value of a Recurring Deposit Account
Stepwise Explanation:
- Identify the monthly deposit (P), number of months (n), and annual interest rate (r).
- Calculate the interest using the formula provided.
- Compute the total sum deposited by multiplying the monthly deposit by the number of months.
- Add the total sum deposited and the interest to find the maturity value.
Formulas:
- Interest (I) = P × [n(n+1) / (2 × 12)] × (r / 100)
- Total Sum Deposited = P × n
- Maturity Value (M.V.) = (P × n) + I
- Maturity Value (M.V.) = (P × n) + {P × [n(n+1) / (2 × 12)] × (r / 100)}
Example: Kiran deposited ₹200 per month for 36 months at 11% per annum.
- Given: P = ₹200, n = 36 months, r = 11%
- Interest (I) = 200 × [36(36+1) / (2 × 12)] × (11 / 100) = ₹1,221
- Total Sum Deposited = 200 × 36 = ₹7,200
- Maturity Value = 7,200 + 1,221 = ₹8,421
Solved Examples
Example 1: Mohan deposited ₹80 per month for 6 years at 6% per annum. Find the maturity amount.
- Given: P = ₹80, n = 6 × 12 = 72 months, r = 6%
- Interest (I) = 80 × [72 × 73 / (2 × 12)] × (6 / 100) = ₹1,051.20
- Total Sum Deposited = 80 × 72 = ₹5,760
- Maturity Value = 5,760 + 1,051.20 = ₹6,811.20
Example 2: Mr. R.K. Nair gets ₹6,455 after one year at 14% per annum. Find the monthly installment.
Method 1 (Unitary Method):- Assume P = ₹100, n = 12 months, r = 14%
- Interest = 100 × [12 × 13 / (2 × 12)] × (14 / 100) = ₹91
- Total Deposited = 100 × 12 = ₹1,200
- Maturity Value = 1,200 + 91 = ₹1,291
- For M.V. = ₹6,455, Monthly Installment = (100 / 1,291) × 6,455 = ₹500
Alternative Method:- Let monthly installment = ₹x
- Interest = x × [12 × 13 / (2 × 12)] × (14 / 100) = 0.91x
- Total Deposited = 12x
- Maturity Value = 12x + 0.91x = 12.91x
- Given M.V. = ₹6,455, so 12.91x = 6,455
- x = 6,455 / 12.91 = ₹500
Example 3: Ahmed deposits ₹2,500 per month for 2 years and gets ₹66,250 at maturity. Find the interest and rate of interest.
(i) Interest:- Total Deposited = 2,500 × 24 = ₹60,000
- Interest = Maturity Value - Total Deposited = 66,250 - 60,000 = ₹6,250
(ii) Rate of Interest:- Given: P = ₹2,500, n = 24, I = ₹6,250
- Using I = P × [n(n+1) / (2 × 12)] × (r / 100)
- 6,250 = 2,500 × [24 × 25 / (2 × 12)] × (r / 100)
- r = (6,250 × 24 × 100) / (2,500 × 24 × 25) = 10%
Example 4: Monica deposited ₹600 per month at 10% per annum and received ₹24,930 at maturity. Find the time in years.
- Let time = n months, P = ₹600, r = 10%
- Interest = 600 × [n(n+1) / (2 × 12)] × (10 / 100) = [5n(n+1) / 2]
- Total Deposited = 600 × n
- Maturity Value = 600n + [5n(n+1) / 2] = 24,930
- Multiply by 2: 1200n + 5n² + 5n = 49,860
- Simplify: 5n² + 1205n - 49,860 = 0
- Divide by 5: n² + 241n - 9,972 = 0
- Solve quadratic: n = [-241 ± √(241² + 4 × 9,972)] / 2
- n = 36 or -277 (discard negative)
- Time = 36 months = 3 years