Term deposit certificates (CDT) in August 2026 returned to the center of savings decisions in Colombia, driven by rates that exceed 13% annual effective (EA) and by the possibility of knowing from the beginning how much money the investor will receive at maturity. For many savers, this feature keeps these securities as an option to protect resources without assuming the ups and downs of other investments.
Before investing, experts always recommend that it is necessary to review the rate, term, minimum amount, automatic renewal and early withdrawal conditions.
The rates reported by entities monitored by the Financial Superintendence of Colombia show that August 2026 will start with several options above 12% EA. The level once again put the CDT among the most consulted products by those looking for a performance known since the opening.
The most profitable products are:
- KOA: 13.53% EA
- Pichincha Bank: 13.50% EA
- Bank Contact: 12.98% EA
- GNB Sudameris: 12.78% EA
- Bank of the West: 12.73% EA
These returns are among the highest in the market for August, although they change depending on the term chosen, the amount invested and the conditions of each entity. Therefore, a higher rate does not always imply the best decision for all profiles.
The high rate environment continues after the Bank of the Republic raised its intervention rate to 12%. The movement sustained the attractiveness of deposit products and left double-digit returns in both short and long horizons.
An analysis by MejorCDT indicated that the transfer of this reference rate to the CDTs progressed more slowly than at the beginning of the year. Even so, the market maintains high levels in several maturities.
According to monitoring, the best current rates reach:
- 12 months: 13.51% EA.
- 18 months: 13.30% EA.
- 6 and 9 months: 12.60% EA.
- 3 months: 11.20% EA.
This dispersion shows that the attractiveness is not limited to a single term and that there are still high returns in almost all investment horizons. The general manager of MejorCDT, Omar Casas, warned that waiting for more increases can work against the saver. “The market is already in an extraordinary moment with rates above 13%. Waiting to see how much more the banks rise means leaving the premium standing still, losing value in the face of current inflation”noted the expert.
The interest rate is usually the first data that an investor looks at, because the profit at the end of the term depends on it. But that percentage does not exhaust the evaluation of a CDT. They also weigh:
- Residence time: Longer terms tend to pay better, although they require leaving the money tied up until maturity. If the person anticipates that they will need these resources in a few months, a short term may be more suited to their situation.
- Minimum investment amount: Each entity sets a different barrier to entry.
- Automatic renewal rules and early withdrawal policies: Some CDTs do not allow you to have the money before the agreed date without affecting the investment.
- Compare several entities before deciding: Small differences in the rate can translate into larger profits when the capital invested is high.
An analysis by KOA Financing Company showed that young people are the ones who are betting on the opening of CDTs:
- 59.84% of openings correspond to people between 25 and 44 years old.
- 79.53% of the clients belong to strata 2, 3 and 4.
- 71% of investments are concentrated in terms of between seven and 12 months. Within this group, the one-year horizon appears to be the most used by clients.
- He ticket Opening average is around $15 million.
For KOA, this behavior coincides with greater financial inclusion and the growth of digital channels to contract formal savings products.
