Independent · CBN and SEC figures

Stanbic IBTC Fixed Deposit vs Money Market Fund: Which Pays More?

The two ways most Stanbic IBTC customers park cash, compared on the official numbers: the average fixed deposit rate the bank reported to the CBN and the yield Nigeria's largest money market fund reported to the SEC. Same 10% tax on both, so the comparison is mostly about rate, access and protection.

Sources: CBN weekly deposit rates as at 3 Jul 2026; SEC weekly NAV table as at 14 Aug 2026. CheckInvestNg is not affiliated with Stanbic IBTC.

Stanbic IBTC fixed deposit

10.20%

CBN average · rank 27 of 32 banks

Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund

15.36%

SEC yield · rank 41 of 48 · largest fund in Nigeria

Gap

5.16 pp

in favour of the money market fund

₦1m for a year, net

+₦46,440

extra from the fund after 10% WHT

What ₦1,000,000 earns after tax

Fixed deposit at the CBN average with simple interest paid at maturity; money market fund at its SEC yield with returns reinvested. Both net of 10% withholding tax. At an equal rate the two would be within a few naira of each other at every period shown, so the difference below is almost entirely the gap in rate.

PeriodStanbic IBTC FD net interestStanbic IBTC MMF net returnDifference
3 months₦22,636₦32,731+₦10,095 fund
6 months₦45,271₦66,652+₦21,381 fund
12 months₦91,800₦138,240+₦46,440 fund

For scale, Stanbic IBTC's CBN-reported savings account rate the same week was 2.65%. The CBN fixed deposit figure is an average across every tenor and amount booked that week, not a rate card.

The differences that matter beyond the rate

Stanbic IBTC fixed depositStanbic IBTC Money Market Fund
Rate10.20% CBN average, fixed for the tenor once agreed; negotiable on larger amounts15.36% SEC-reported, floats weekly (unchanged since 17 Jul 2026)
Access to your moneyLocked for the tenor (30 to 365 days); early withdrawal usually forfeits some interestRedeem any business day, usually paid in 1 to 2 days, no penalty
ProtectionNDIC deposit insurance up to ₦5 million per depositor per bankNot insured; SEC-regulated, fund assets ring-fenced from the manager
Tax10% withholding tax on interest, deducted at source10% withholding tax on distributions, deducted by the manager
Who holds your moneyStanbic IBTC Bank, a CBN-licensed deposit money bankStanbic IBTC Asset Management, an SEC-licensed sister company under Stanbic IBTC Holdings
SuitsMoney you will not need for a set period and a rate you want locked inEmergency funds and idle cash you may need at short notice

A simple rule of thumb

  • Cash you might need this year: the money market fund. Same tax, no lock-in, and on the current figures a higher rate as well.
  • Cash you can commit for a fixed period: get a fixed deposit quote from Stanbic IBTC on your actual amount. Any quote above 15.36% beats the fund at today's yield and locks the rate in. Quotes above the CBN average are common on larger placements.
  • Above ₦5 million: the NDIC cover on the deposit stops at that limit per depositor per bank, so the insurance advantage of the deposit shrinks as the amount grows.

Stanbic IBTC fixed deposit calculator

Preloaded with Stanbic IBTC's CBN-reported average of 10.20% as the quoted rate. Replace it with the figure the bank actually gives you to see the net maturity value for your amount and tenor, or pick a bank from the list to compare.

Indicative rate — confirm with your bank before investing

Fixed Deposit Calculator

₦1,000,000.00
₦50K₦500M
%

Gross rate before withholding tax, applied to every tenor. Enter the figure your bank quoted for your amount and tenor.

Results

Maturity Value (after tax)

₦1,091,800.00

Net interest: ₦91,800.00

Gross interest₦102,000.00
Withholding tax (10%)₦10,200.00

Gross Annual Rate

10.20%

Net Annual Yield (after 10% WHT)

9.18%

Monthly Equivalent (net)

₦7.5K

Tenure

1yr

Rate Used

Your quoted rate — 10.20% p.a.

Simple vs Compound — Interest Earned (before tax)

Maturity Value Across Banks (1yr)

Bank Rate Comparison

Indicative — verify with bank
Bank
6-Month Rate
12-Month Rate
24-Month Rate
Sterling Bank
14.8%Best16.0%Best16.5%Best
GTBank
14.5%15.5%16.0%
Fidelity Bank
14.2%15.2%15.8%
Zenith Bank
13.5%15.0%15.5%
Access Bank
14.0%15.0%16.0%
First Bank
13.5%14.8%15.5%
UBA
13.0%14.5%15.5%

Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund calculator

Preloaded on the Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund at its SEC-reported yield. Switch to “Earn ₦X/Month” to see the balance needed for a target monthly income.

See how your investment grows

Money Market Fund Calculator

Calculate your projected returns from Nigerian money market funds

₦10,000.00₦500,000,000.00
1 month36 months
Projected Value

₦1,153,600.00

Total Income Earned

₦153,600.00

Monthly Income (Avg)

₦12,800.00

Annual Yield Applied

15.36%

Selected fundStanbic IBTC
Reported yield p.a.15.36%
Fund managerStanbic IBTC Asset Mgt. Limited
Fund size (NAV)₦3.00trn
Change in 4 weeksunchanged

MMF vs Savings Account Projection

15.36% MMF vs 4% savings account over 12 months

Over 12 months, the MMF earns you ₦113,600.00 more than a 4% savings account.

FundYield4-week changeFund sizeUnitholdersAction

FCMBAM Money Market Fund

FCMB Asset Management Limited

Best
23.69%+7.71 pp₦72.3bn4,408

Coronation Money Market Fund

Coronation Asset Management Limited

19.64%−0.10 pp₦96.8bn20,749

Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund

Greenwich Asset Management Limited

19.08%+0.20 pp₦15.4bn1,143

STL Money Market Fund

STL Asset Management Limited

18.90%+0.02 pp₦19bn2,037

Trustbanc Money Market Fund

Trustbanc Asset Management Limited

18.79%−0.01 pp₦19.3bn1,068

Emerging Africa Money Market Fund

Emerging Africa Asset Management Limited

18.61%+1.37 pp₦9.2bn1,345

Meristem Money Market Fund

Meristem Wealth Management Limited

17.34%−0.39 pp₦129.8bn12,374

Guaranty Trust Money Market Fund

Guaranty Trust Fund Managers

16.95%−0.28 pp₦586.8bn61,073

ARM Money Market Fund

ARM Investment Managers Limited

16.74%−0.14 pp₦444.7bn88,738

Zenith Money Market Fund

Zenith Asset Management Ltd

15.98%+0.23 pp₦166.9bn9,277

United Capital Money Market Fund

United Capital Asset Mgt. Ltd

15.80%+0.69 pp₦259.5bn100,000

First Asset Money Market Fund

First Asset Management Limited

15.45%+0.18 pp₦747.9bn44,202

Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund

Stanbic IBTC Asset Mgt. Limited

15.36%unchanged₦3.00trn362,532

AXA Mansard Money Market Fund

AXA Mansard Investments Limited

15.31%−0.34 pp₦181.3bn41,893

Yields as reported by each fund manager to the SEC for the week ended 14 Aug 2026; they change weekly and are not guaranteed. The list shows the highest-yielding funds with at least ₦5bn under management plus the largest funds by assets. Minimums and redemption terms are in each fund's prospectus. WHT of 10% applies to MMF distributions.

Original publications: CBN — Deposit and Lending Rates in the Banking Industry and SEC Nigeria — Weekly Net Asset Value for Collective Investment Schemes (workbook for 14 Aug 2026). Stanbic IBTC is a trademark of its owner, used here to identify the products. See also Stanbic IBTC fixed deposit rates, all 14 Stanbic IBTC funds, the same comparison for GTBank, every bank's CBN fixed deposit rate and all 48 money market funds ranked.

Frequently asked questions

Which pays more right now: a Stanbic IBTC fixed deposit or the Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund?

On the latest official figures, the Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund pays more: 15.36% reported by the Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund to the SEC for the week ended 14 Aug 2026, against Stanbic IBTC Bank's average fixed deposit rate of 10.20% reported to the CBN for the week ended 3 Jul 2026, a gap of 5.16 percentage points. Both are taxed at 10% withholding tax, so the gap carries through to your net return. The fixed deposit figure is an average across every tenor and amount the bank booked that week; a negotiated rate on a large placement can be higher.

How much does ₦1,000,000 earn in each over one year?

At 10.20% simple interest, ₦1,000,000 in a Stanbic IBTC fixed deposit for 365 days earns ₦102,000 gross and ₦91,800 after 10% WHT. At 15.36%, the same amount in the Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund for 12 months earns ₦153,600 gross and about ₦138,240 net, with returns reinvested. That is ₦46,440 more from the money market fund over the year, before any fees. Use the calculators on this page with the rate Stanbic IBTC actually quotes you.

What rate would Stanbic IBTC need to quote for the fixed deposit to win?

Because both products carry the same 10% withholding tax, the fixed deposit only needs to beat the fund's yield: any negotiated fixed deposit rate above 15.36% would out-earn the Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund at its current yield over a year, and would also lock that rate in for the tenor while the fund's yield floats. Rates above the CBN average are common on larger placements, so ask the bank for a quote on your actual amount and enter it in the fixed deposit calculator's custom rate field.

Why is the Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund yield lower than some other funds?

Size. The fund holds ₦3.00trn for 362,532 unitholders, roughly 47% of all money market fund assets in Nigeria, and a fund that large has to place money across many instruments rather than chase the best-paying paper. It ranks 41 of 48 funds by yield; the NAV-weighted average is 16.01% and the highest reported is 23.69% (FCMBAM Money Market Fund). Even so it still beats Stanbic IBTC Bank's own fixed deposit average of 10.20%.

What are the real differences beyond the rate?

Four things. Certainty: a fixed deposit rate is fixed for the tenor; a money market fund yield changes weekly with treasury bill and commercial paper rates. Liquidity: a fixed deposit locks your money for 30 to 365 days and early withdrawal usually forfeits some interest; a money market fund can normally be redeemed in one or two business days without penalty. Insurance: a Stanbic IBTC Bank deposit is covered by NDIC deposit insurance up to ₦5 million per depositor per bank; the fund is not insured, though it is SEC-regulated with assets ring-fenced from the manager. Provider: the deposit is with Stanbic IBTC Bank, while the fund is run by Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, a sister company under Stanbic IBTC Holdings. There is also a middle option, the Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund (₦6.1bn, unit price ₦178.52, +1.93% over four weeks), which holds slightly longer paper than the money market fund and whose unit price moves.

Where do these figures come from?

The fixed deposit rate is Stanbic IBTC's average time deposit rate in the Central Bank of Nigeria's weekly "Deposit and Lending Rates in the Banking Industry" table for the week ended 3 July 2026 (ref. BSD/DIR/GEN/DLR/007/001), where the bank ranks 27 of 32 against an industry average of 13.83%. The money market fund yield is from the Securities and Exchange Commission's weekly "Net Asset Value and Unit Price" table for the week ended 14 August 2026. CheckInvestNg is independent and not affiliated with Stanbic IBTC.

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