Kotak Mahindra Bank offers the Public Provident Fund (PPF), a government-backed long‑term savings scheme designed for secure and tax‑efficient investment. With fixed rates and flexible deposit options, a PPF account can help individuals steadily build retirement or education funds.
PPF at Kotak is essentially the same central‑government scheme available at any authorised bank, offering guaranteed returns, tax benefits and safe growth. The interest rate is currently 7.1 % per annum, compounded annually, and the scheme is backed by the Ministry of Finance. It offers stability and triple tax exemption: deposit, interest, and maturity proceeds are all tax‑free under Section 80C.
Eligibility includes resident Indian individuals aged 18 years or older. Minors can also have a PPF account under a guardian. NRIs are not permitted to open new accounts, though they may continue existing ones until maturity. Only one PPF account is allowed per individual.
The PPF scheme has a fixed 15‑year tenure, during which you must deposit between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1.5 lakh per financial year. Deposits may be made in lump sum or instalments (up to 12). Missing the minimum annual deposit will deactivate the account, which can be reinstated with a Rs.50 penalty per default year plus Rs.500 deposit.
Interest is calculated on the lowest account balance between the close of the fifth day and the month’s end. It accrues monthly and is credited on 31st March each year.
Online via Kotak Net‑Banking: Log in, choose “Open New PPF Account”, select self or minor account, provide details, confirm with OTP, and your account is instantly created. You’ll receive confirmation via email or SMS.
Offline by visiting a branch with KYC documents: PAN, Aadhaar/ID, address proof, passport‑size photograph, nomination form and initial deposit.
Annual deposits must be at least Rs. 500 and cannot exceed Rs. 1.5 lakh; any excess amount will not earn interest. To maximise interest, it is best to deposit funds before the fifth day of each month to ensure full‑month interest accrual.
Partial withdrawals are permitted from the seventh financial year onwards, up to 50 % of the balance at the end of the fourth year or the previous year (whichever is lower), once per year. The scheme also allows loans from the third to sixth year, up to 25 % of the balance at the end of the second preceding year. Loan interest is 1 % above the prevailing PPF rate.
Premature closure (before 15 years) is allowed only under specific conditions (e.g. medical treatment or higher education) with a penalty of 1 % interest reduction.
Upon completion of 15 years, you may withdraw the full amount tax‑free or extend the account for further blocks of 5 years, with or without continued contributions. Once extended, one withdrawal per year is permitted. Without action, the account extends automatically on no‑contribution terms.
Using Kotak’s PPF Calculator, you can estimate maturity amount, total interest and total investment based on your contribution and tenure. It helps simplify financial planning and compare scenarios.
Other benefits include government‑backed security, tax exemption, disciplined long‑term savings, flexibility of deposit modes (online transfer, cheque, cash), nomination facility and free transfer between branches or banks.
The primary limitation is the long lock‑in of 15 years. Interest rate may change quarterly but has remained steady at 7.1 % since April 2020. Withdrawals and loans are allowed only under strict conditions. Only resident Indians can invest. For higher returns or market-linked growth, consider complementing PPF with mutual funds or SIPs.
The current interest rate on the Kotak Mahindra Bank PPF account is 7.1% per annum, compounded annually.
The minimum deposit allowed is Rs.500, and the maximum is Rs.1.5 lakh in one financial year.
You can make partial withdrawals from the seventh year, and full withdrawal is permitted after the 15-year maturity.
No, NRIs are not allowed to open a new PPF account, but they may continue an existing one until maturity.
No, the interest earned and the maturity amount from a PPF account are completely tax-free under Section 80C.
You can open a PPF account online through Kotak Net Banking by selecting “Open PPF Account,” submitting details, and verifying with OTP.
Yes, you can transfer your existing PPF account from another bank or post office to Kotak Mahindra Bank at no charge.
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