Taiwan’s Richart Marks 10th Anniversary with 2.2% Fixed Deposit, Highest in Market

Key facts

• Taishin International Bank’s Richart digital account launches a six-month fixed deposit at 2.2% annual interest from May 7 to August 31, 2026.
• The rate is about 50% higher than the market average of 1.4%–1.6% for six-month NTD deposits.
• Minimum deposit is NT$10,000; maximum is NT$2 million per account, with a one-participation limit per customer.
• The deposit is available only for ‘new funds’ — assets exceeding the customer’s total holdings as of April 30, 2026.
• New customers who open a Richart account by June 30 and enter code ‘2026RT200’ receive a NT$200 cash gift upon first login.
• CTBC Bank launched a competing foreign-currency deposit promotion offering up to 8% annual interest for seven-day USD deposits of $20,000 or more.
• The promotion runs until August 31, 2026, or while capacity lasts, with Taishin reserving the right to adjust rates early.

A Market-Beating Offer for Savers

Taiwan’s digital banking landscape is heating up as Taishin International Bank’s Richart brand celebrates its tenth anniversary with a fixed-deposit promotion that outpaces competitors. Starting May 7, 2026, Richart will offer a six-month new Taiwan dollar term deposit at an annual interest rate of 2.2 percent — roughly 50 percent higher than the prevailing market range of 1.4 to 1.6 percent for similar maturities. The product is designed to attract both small savers and large depositors. The minimum single deposit is just NT$10,000, making it accessible to young professionals, while the maximum is NT$2 million per account. A customer depositing the full NT$2 million would earn approximately NT$3,616 in interest per month, according to the bank’s calculation formula: deposit amount × 2.2% / 365 × 30.

No Strings Attached — But Only for New Money

Unlike many high-yield deposit campaigns that require salary transfers or completion of tasks, Richart’s offer imposes no such conditions. The key eligibility criterion is that the deposited funds must be ‘new money’ — meaning assets that exceed the customer’s total holdings with Taishin Bank as recorded on April 30, 2026. This includes all NT and foreign-currency deposits, insurance products, and investment holdings. The bank will update the available new-funds quota each business day at 10:00 a.m. Customers who do not yet have a Taishin account can participate by opening a Richart digital account. The entire process is handled through the Richart mobile app, with no need to visit a branch; users select the dedicated fixed-deposit card on the app’s dashboard and complete the transaction in minutes.

A Limited-Time Campaign with a Welcome Bonus

The promotion runs from May 7 to August 31, 2026, or until the allocated capacity is exhausted — a detail the bank emphasizes to encourage early action. Taishin reserves the right to terminate the campaign or adjust the interest rate in response to market changes, with any changes announced on its official website. To attract new customers, Richart is also offering a NT$200 cash gift for those who open an account and log into the app for the first time by June 30, 2026. To qualify, applicants must enter the exclusive code ‘2026RT200’ during the account-opening process. The offer is limited to individuals who have never held a Richart account or participated in any previous promotional campaigns.

Competitors Respond with Foreign-Currency Plays

The deposit war is not confined to the NT market. CTBC Bank, one of Taiwan’s largest private banks, has launched a foreign-currency time deposit promotion called ‘Save Money Now’ running until June 12, 2026. The program targets four major currencies: US dollar, Australian dollar, Japanese yen, and Chinese yuan. CTBC’s offer includes a seven-day US dollar deposit of at least $20,000 at an annual rate of 8 percent; a seven-day Australian dollar deposit of A$1,000 at 5 percent; a seven-day yuan deposit between ¥1,000 and ¥20,000 at 2.5 percent; and a one-month Japanese yen deposit of ¥150,000 at 4 percent. Customers must convert funds from NT-denominated accounts at CTBC’s posted exchange rates via online or mobile banking.

Bankers Warn of Currency Risk in Foreign Deposits

While the headline rates on foreign-currency deposits are eye-catching, banking analysts caution that exchange-rate fluctuations can erode or even wipe out interest gains. The actual return depends on the cost of converting NT dollars into the foreign currency and the exchange rate at maturity when converting back. Taishin’s Richart, by contrast, offers its high rate in the customer’s home currency, eliminating currency risk. The bank positions the product as a tool for parking idle funds, hedging against inflation, and maintaining portfolio stability. ‘It’s a straightforward way to earn a competitive return without complexity,’ a Taishin spokesperson said.

Outlook: A Signal of Intensifying Digital-Bank Competition

Richart’s tenth-anniversary campaign underscores the growing battle among Taiwan’s digital banks for customer deposits and loyalty. With a rate that significantly undercuts traditional brick-and-mortar offerings, the promotion may pressure other players to raise their own rates or introduce new perks. For savers, the window of opportunity is finite. The campaign’s limited capacity and the bank’s right to adjust terms mean that those interested should act quickly. As the financial sector watches closely, the success of Richart’s gambit could shape pricing strategies across the industry in the months ahead.

The bottom line

• Richart’s 2.2% six-month fixed deposit is available from May 7 to August 31, 2026, for new funds only, with a maximum of NT$2 million per account.
• The rate is roughly 50% above the market average for six-month NTD deposits, with no salary or task requirements.
• New customers can earn a NT$200 bonus by opening an account with code ‘2026RT200’ by June 30.
• CTBC Bank offers foreign-currency deposits with rates up to 8% for USD, but carries exchange-rate risk.
• The promotion is limited in capacity and subject to early termination or rate adjustment by Taishin.
• The campaign highlights intensifying competition among Taiwan’s digital banks for customer deposits.