Bank Interest rate last updated on 08-Feb-2011

 Method of calculation of interest:

1) Savings Bank :
                         Payment of interest will be made on daily product basis, payable half yearly
2) Fixed Deposits:

i) For deposits with tenure of 91 days and above, interest is calculated on a quarterly basis.
ii) In event the depositor chooses to reinvest the interest earned during the pervious quarter then the same is added to the Principal for calculation of interest. Interest on this amount is calculated every quarter.
iii) For deposits with tenure of below 91 days, interest is calculated at Simple interest. Please note that the period of Fixed deposit is considered in number of days.
iv) In event the depositor chooses to receive the periodic interest payments on a quarterly basis, interest is calculated and paid on quarterly rests.
v) Premature withdrawal of deposit will attract 1% penalty (Fixed Deposits opened post August 1, 2008): 1% less than the card rate (applicable for deposits below Rs.15 lacs), as on the date of deposit, for the period for which the deposit has remained with the Bank or 1% less than the contracted rate which ever is lower.
vi) Tax at Source is deducted as per the Income Tax regulations prevalent from time to time.

Indian Banks - Public Sector (rates last updated on 08-Feb-2011)

BANK NAME / DURATION	1 - 2yrs	2 - 3yrs	3 - 5yrs
Allahabad Bank	8.00	8.25	8.25
Andhra Bank	9.00	9.25	8.60
Bank of Baroda	8.75	8.75	8.50
Bank of India	8.75	8.25	7.75
Bank of Maharashtra	8.30	8.30	8.30
Canara Bank	8.75	8.75	8.50
Central Bank of India	8.25	8.25	8.50
Corporation Bank	9.15	9.25	9.25
Dena Bank	8.50	8.50	8.25
IDBI Bank	8.75	9.00	9.25
Indian Bank	8.50	8.50	8.50
Indian Overseas Bank	8.25	8.25	8.75
Oriental Bank of Commerce	8.50	8.50	8.50
Punjab & Sind Bank	8.50	9.00	9.00
Punjab National Bank	8.75	8.50	8.50
State Bank of Bikaner&Jaipur	8.50	9.25	9.00
State Bank of Hyderabad	8.50	8.75	8.75
State Bank of India	7.75	8.25	8.25
State Bank of Mysore	8.75	8.50	8.50
State Bank of Patiala	8.50	9.00	8.25
State Bank of Travancore	8.50	8.75	8.75
Syndicate Bank	9.00	9.00	9.00
UCO Bank	8.00	8.25	8.25
Union Bank of India	8.00	8.75	8.75
United Bank of India	8.25	8.50	9.00
Vijaya Bank	9.25	9.25	8.50

Indian Banks - Private Sector (rates last updated on 08-Feb-2011)

BANK NAME / DURATION	1 year < 2 years	2 years < 3 years	3 years < 5 years
Axis Bank	8.75	8.25	7.00
City Union Bank	9.00	9.00	9.00
Development Credit Bank	7.50	7.75	7.75
HDFC Bank	8.00	8.25	8.25
ICICI Bank	8.00	8.25	8.50
IndusInd Bank	9.00	8.75	8.75
ING Vysya Bank	8.50	8.75	8.75
Karnataka Bank	9.75	9.50	9.25
Kotak Bank	8.75	9.00	9.00
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank	9.25	9.25	8.75
The Bank of Rajasthan Ltd	8.00	8.25	8.50
The Catholic Syrian Bank	8.60	8.80	8.80
The Dhanalakshmi Bank	8.60	8.75	8.75
The Federal Bank	9.25	8.75	8.75
The J & K Bank	8.50	8.50	8.50
The Karur Vysya Bank	10.00	9.75	9.00
The Lakshmi Vilas Bank	10.10	9.00	7.75
The South Indian Bank	9.25	8.75	8.75
TNSC Bank	9.00	8.50	8.50
Yes Bank	8.25	8.50	8.75

Read More

TYPES OF INSURANCE POLICIES & Plans

Insurance provides compensation to a person for an anticipated loss to his life, business or an asset.

 Insurance is broadly classified into two parts covering different types of risks:

1. Long-term (Life Insurance)
2. General Insurance (Non-life Insurance)

Long-term Insurance:
Long term insurance is so called because it is meant for a long-term
period which may stretch to several years or whole life-time of the insured.
Long-term insurance covers all life insurance policies.
 Insurance against risk to one's life is covered under ordinary life assurance.
Ordinary life assurance can be further clasified into following types:

Types of Ordinary Life Assurance	Meaning
1. Whole Life Assurance	In whole life assurance, insurance company collects premium from the insured for whole life or till the time of his retirement and pays claim to the family of the insured only after his death.
2. Endowment Assurance	In case of endowment assurance, the term of policy is defined for a specified period say 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. The insurance company pays the claim to the family of assured in an event of his death within the policy's term or in an event of the assured surviving the policy's term.
3. Assurances for Children	i).Child's Deferred Assurance: Under this policy, claim by insurance company is paid on the option date which is calculated to coincide with the child's eighteenth or twenty first birthday. In case the parent survives till option date, policy may either be continued or payment may be claimed on the same date. However, if the parent dies before the option date, the policy remains continued until the option date without any need for payment of premiums. If the child dies before the option date, the parent receives back all premiums paid to the insurance company.
	ii). School fee policy: School fee policy can be availed by effecting an endowment policy, on the life of the parent with the sum assured, payable in instalments over the schooling period.
4. Term Assurance	The basic feature of term assurance plans is that they provide death risk-cover. Term assurance policies are only for a limited time, claim for which is paid to the family of the assured only when he dies. In case the assured survives the term of policy, no claim is paid to the assured.
5. Annuities	Annuities are just opposite to life insurance. A person entering into an annuity contract agrees to pay a specified sum of capital (lump sum or by instalments) to the insurer. The insurer in return promises to pay the insured a series of payments untill insured's death. Generally, life annuity is opted by a person having surplus wealth and wants to use this money after his retirement. There are two types of annuities, namely: Immediate Annuity: In an immediate annuity, the insured pays a lump sum amount (known as purchase price) and in return the insurer promises to pay him in instalments a specified sum on a monthly/quarterly/half-yearly/yearly basis. Deferred Annuity: A deferred anuuity can be purchased by paying a single premium or by way of instalments. The insured starts receiving annuity payment after a lapse of a selected period (also known as Deferment period).
6. Money Back Policy	Money back policy is a policy opted by people who want periodical payments. A money back policy is generally issued for a particular period, and the sum assured is paid through periodical payments to the insured, spread over this time period. In case of death of the insured within the term of the policy, full sum assured along with bonus accruing on it is payable by hte insurance company to the nominee of the deceased.

General Insurance:
Also known as non-life insurance, general insurance is normally meant for a short-term period of twelve months or less.
Recently, longer-term insurance agreements have made
an entry into the business of general insurance but their term
does not exceed five years.
 General insurance can be classified as follows:

Fire Insurance	Fire insurance provides protection against damage to property caused by accidents due to fire, lightening or explosion, whereby the explosion is caused by boilers not being used for industrial purposes. Fire insurance also includes damage caused due to other perils like strom tempest or flood; burst pipes; earthquake; aircraft; riot, civil commotion; malicious damage; explosion; impact.
Marine Insurance	Marine insurance basically covers three risk areas, namely, hull, cargo and freight. The risks which these areas are exposed to are collectively known as "Perils of the Sea". These perils include theft, fire, collision etc.
	Marine Cargo: Marine cargo policy provides protection to the goods loaded on a ship against all perils between the departure and arrival warehouse. Therefore, marine cargo covers carriage of goods by sea as well as transportation of goods by land.
	Marine Hull: Marine hull policy provides protection against damage to ship caused due to the perils of the sea. Marine hull policy covers three-fourth of the liability of the hull owner (shipowner) against loss due to collisions at sea. The remaining 1/4th of the liability is looked after by associations formed by shipowners for the purpose (P and I clubs).
Miscellaneous	As per the Insurance Act, all types of general insurance other than fire and marine insurance are covered under miscellaneous insurance. Some of the examples of general insurance are motor insurance, theft insurance, health insurance, personal accident insurance, money insurance, engineering insurance etc.

Read More

Insurance Companies List in India

  Insurance is a national matter, in which life and general insurance is yet a booming sector with huge possibilities for different global companies, as life insurance premiums account to 2.5% and general insurance premiums account to 0.65% of India's GDP. The Indian Insurance sector has gone through several phases and changes, especially after 1999, when the Govt. of India opened up the insurance sector for private companies to solicit insurance, allowing FDI up to 26%. Since then, the Insurance sector in India is considered as a flourishing market amongst global insurance companies. However, the largest life insurance company in India is still owned by the government.

The history of Insurance in India dates back to 1818, when Oriental Life Insurance Company was established by Europeans in Kolkata to cater to their requirements. Nevertheless, there was discrimination among the life of foreigners and Indians, as higher premiums were charged from the latter. In 1870, Indians took a sigh of relief when Bombay Mutual Life Assurance Society, the first Indian insurance company covered Indian lives at normal rates. Onset of the 20th century brought a drastic change in the Insurance sector.

Insurers

Insurance industry, as on 1.4.2000, comprised mainly two players: the state insurers: 

  Life Insurers:

    Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

 General Insurers:

    General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC)  (with effect from Dec'2000, a National Reinsurer)

GIC had four subsidary companies, namely ( with effect from Dec'2000, these subsidaries have been de-linked from the parent company and made as independent insurance companies.

    The Oriental Insurance Company Limited
    The New India Assurance Company Limited
    National Insurance Company Limited
    United India Insurance Company Limited.

Insurance Companies In India

    Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited
    Birla Sun Life Insurance Co. Ltd
    HDFC Standard life Insurance Co. Ltd
    ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
    ING Vysya Life Insurance Company Ltd.
    Life Insurance Corporation of India
    Max New York Life Insurance Co. Ltd
    Met Life India Insurance Company Ltd.
    Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance Limited
    SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd
    Tata AIG Life Insurance Company Limited
    Reliance Life Insurance Company Limited.
    Aviva Life Insurance Co. India Pvt. Ltd.
    Shriram Life Insurance Co, Ltd.
    Sahara India Life Insurance
    Bharti AXA Life Insurance
    Future Generali Life Insurance
    IDBI Fortis Life Insurance
    Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance
    AEGON Religare Life Insurance
    DLF Pramerica Life Insurance
    Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance
    Agriculture Insurance Company of India
    Apollo DKV Insurance
    Cholamandalam MS General Insurance
    HDFC Ergo General Insurance Company
    ICICI Lombard General Insurance
    IFFCO Tokio General Insurance
    National Insurance Company Ltd
    New India Assurance
    Oriental Insurance Company
    Reliance General Insurance
    Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance
    Shriram General Insurance Company Limited
    Tata AIG General Insurance
    United India Insurance
    Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd
    Apollo Munich Health Insurance
    Bajaj Allianz General Insurance ia
    Bharti AXA General Insurance
    Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India
    IDBI Federal Life Insurance
    IndiaFirst Life Insurance
    L&T General Insurance
    Max Bupa Health Insurance
    Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Ltd.
    SBI General Insurance
    Star Health Insurance

Read More