Banca Ifis — Rendimax Conto Deposito
Banca Ifis S.p.A.
Rendimax Conto Deposito is Banca Ifis's online savings account, split into three lines within the same relationship: Libero (0.25% gross, always available), Like (1.25% gross, with 33 days' notice to get the money back) and Vincolato — the line that makes it worth opening. The fixed-term line reaches 3.50% gross per year from 24 to 60 months with interest paid at maturity, or 3.30% with interest paid upfront at opening. No current account at another bank is needed: transfers run through the Predefined Accounts the customer registers. Opening, activating and closing a term cost nothing, there is no account fee, and deposits are covered by the Italian deposit guarantee scheme up to €100,000. But the lock-up is a real one: nothing can be touched before maturity.
Data & conditions
| Max gross rate | 3.5% |
|---|---|
| Max net rate | 2.39% — tax and stamp duty take 32% |
| Account type | Fixed term |
| Available terms | 6m · 9m · 12m · 18m · 24m · 36m · 48m · 60m — up to 3.5% gross |
| Early withdrawal | No |
| What early withdrawal costs | No early withdrawal at all: the information sheet rules out access to the funds — «not even partial» — before maturity, and forbids closing the deposit or changing its term. |
| Accrued interest forfeited | No |
| Interest compounding | Quarterly |
| Interest paid upfront | No |
| Stamp duty | Paid by you — 0.2% of the balance per year |
| When stamp duty is charged | Charged at each statement period |
| Deposit amount | €1,000 – €3,000,000 |
| Deposit guarantee | EU guarantee €100,000 |
| Automatic rollover | No |
| Requires a linked current account | No |
| Joint account | Yes |
| Supported countries | EEA · 1+ countries |
| Regulator | Banca d'Italia |
| Segment | B2C |
| Funding / solidity | Specialist bank (NPLs, factoring, leasing) · retail limited to the Rendimax brand · listed (IF) |
| MiCA / License status | Licenza bancaria (Albo Banche n. 5508 · ABI 03205) Italian banking licence (Bank of Italy) |
Strengths
- 3.50% gross from 24 months upward, held even on long maturities: at 60 months the rate does not drop, while many rivals only reward 24-36 months.
- No friction costs: opening, account fee, and activating or closing a term are all zero, and no current account with the bank is required.
- Low entry threshold (€1,000) and high ceiling (€3m), with up to 20 separate terms running in parallel to stagger maturities.
- No notable sovereignty advantage documented.
Weaknesses
- Rigid lock-up: the information sheet rules out any early access — «not even partial» — and forbids closing the deposit before maturity. Anyone who might need the money must stay on the Libero line at 0.25%, which nets less than zero after stamp duty.
- The 0.2% stamp duty is taken at the end of every statement period — quarterly unless another frequency is chosen — and charged to the Libero line, which must therefore be kept funded.
- 3.50% gross becomes 2.39% net: withholding tax and stamp duty take almost a third of the advertised return.
- Custodial: the platform holds your funds and can freeze or lose them.
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
- Subject to regulation (Italian banking licence (Bank of Italy)): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.
Verdict
Score 3.9/5, solid profile. In its favour: 3.50% gross from 24 months upward, held even on long maturities: at 60 months the rate does not drop, while many rivals only reward 24-36 months. The trade-off to weigh: rigid lock-up: the information sheet rules out any early access — «not even partial» — and forbids closing the deposit before maturity. Anyone who might need the money must stay on the Libero line at 0.25%, which nets less than zero after stamp duty.
On the Sovereignty lens the score is 0.4/5 (weak): the strength is censorship resistance (1.5/5), while fund control (0.0/5) is the weak link.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
What does Rendimax's 3.50% actually pay?
3.50% is the gross rate. A 26% withholding tax applies to it and, separately, a 0.2% annual stamp duty calculated on the balance. The net result is 2.39% per year. The gap does not depend on how much you deposit: stamp duty is a percentage of the balance, so it is subtracted in percentage points and does not change with the amount.
Can I withdraw before the term ends?
No. The 9 July 2026 information sheet is explicit: the customer cannot obtain access to the funds — «not even partial» — before the agreed maturity, nor close the fixed-term deposit or change its duration. There is no penalty because there is no option at all. Anyone who wants to be able to get the money back must use the Like line, with 33 days' notice, which pays 1.25% gross.
Do I need a current account with Banca Ifis?
No. Funds move in and out through Predefined Accounts — payment accounts held by the customer at other Italian banks, registered when the account is opened. The Rendimax current account exists as a separate product but is not a condition for opening the deposit account.
Is upfront or at-maturity interest payment better?
It depends on when you need the money, not on how much it pays. With payment at maturity the rate is higher on every term (3.50% vs 3.30% at 24 months, 3.50% vs 3.15% at 60 months) but interest arrives quarterly until maturity. With upfront payment the entire interest is credited on the opening day, against a lower rate.
Is the money guaranteed?
Banca Ifis belongs to the Italian Interbank Deposit Protection Fund, which covers up to €100,000 per depositor. Above that threshold the excess is unprotected and, in a banking crisis, falls within the scope of bail-in under the BRRD directive.
Sources
- Official service page Tassi · Importi · Svincolo · Bollo · +1 Data verified on Jul 27, 2026