Deposit accounts are back at the center of attention for Italian savers. The recent decisions of the European Central Bank on interest rates are pushing several credit institutions to revise upwards their offers for those who leave sums tied up or deposited. The increase in returns mainly concerns online products and medium-long term constraints. The result is a more favorable market for those looking for a simple tool to make savings, without exposing themselves to the typical risks of other financial investments.
How much do deposit accounts yield
The highest offers concern fixed deposit accounts. Those who agree to lock up the capital for a longer period can obtain higher returns. For 5-year bonds, the maximum gross rate is up to 3.90%. On 12-month maturities, however, the best offers can reach up to 3.50% gross.
There are also free solutions, which allow you to maintain greater freedom in the use of money. In this case the yield can reach up to 3% gross, but the conditions vary depending on the bank and the product chosen.
Because rates have gone up
The growth in yields is linked to the monetary policies of the ECB. The rate adjustments have pushed banks to change their conditions, in particular on products designed to raise savings. The increase was 30 basis points on 12-month bonds and more than 50 basis points on 5-year maturities. Digital institutions are among the most active, also because they have lower management costs than traditional banking networks and can offer more aggressive offers.
Italy above the European average
In European comparison, Italy is in a favorable position. Eurostat surveys for the summer of 2026 indicate an average annual gross rate of 2.84% for Italian deposits, higher than the European Union average of 2.57%. Lithuania leads the ranking with an average return of 3.34%. Italy ranks fourth, ahead of markets such as Germany and France, which are below the European average. The data mainly concerns deposits with a commitment of more than two years, where the difference between countries is more evident.
Current accounts, almost zero return
The situation changes for traditional current accounts. These products are mainly used for daily money management, such as salary crediting, payments, transfers and debits. For this reason the recognized rates remain very low. In Italy the average yield on current accounts is 0.19% gross, compared to a European average of 0.28%. These percentages are insufficient to defend the purchasing power of savings from inflation.
Some banks offer current accounts with promotional rates of up to 4% gross per year. These offers may be interesting, but should be read carefully. Often the highest yield is only valid for a limited period or requires specific conditions, such as salary crediting, a maximum remunerated amount or the opening of new banking relationships.
