Several online banks currently offer superbooks at boosted rates, sometimes up to 5.5%to attract new customers. But obviously, such a gain cannot be unlimited. This figure displayed is promotional, it therefore only corresponds to the defined period (i.e. two or three months out of the year) and with a ceiling. Once this period has passed, the rate falls back to its base level, often between 1 and 2%.
So, is this a good investment? To find the answer, you have to look the actual return over an entire year…but not only that. Because this type of booklet, unlike the Livret A, the LEP or the LDDS, is taxed, so we must also look at the return that remains once the tax has been deducted. Let’s analyze in which case they can be considered.
A boosted rate that only lasts a few months
“We have superbooks which make 5% for two months, but by smoothing over the whole year, is it really profitable? » asks Fabien Keryell, before giving the answer: “When we take 5% on a booklet which was initially at 2 %, that’s 3 points more, but only for two months, therefore 0.5% more over the entire year »he explains. This is an absolutely necessary calculation to do so as not to be impressed by the figure.
Indeed, these offers are designed to attract new customers over a short period of timebefore returning to classic performance. “These offers are often limited in time and in the amount paid”he specifies. “As with any promotional offer, this additional 0.5%, the bank will often try to catch them elsewhereby offering other products “, he assures.
Don’t forget about taxation
We must also not forget that, unlike the Livret A, the banks’ “superlivrets” are taxed. That is to say, they are subject to the flat tax, which was applied this year to almost all savings and investment products. at 31.4%compared to 30% previously. In this same example, the difference of 0.5% gross thus falls to around 0.343% net once the tax has been paid.
Before getting started, it is therefore necessary to calculate the “real return over one year, and after flat tax”insists Fabien Keryell. And always compare with what you could have on the Livret A, currently at 1.5% but which will increase to 1.7% on August 1st. Or, if you are eligible, for the LEP, which will remain at 2.50%. These booklets are completely exempt from tax and social security contributions, unlike superbooklets, which further reduces the real difference between the two investments once taxation is taken into account.
On a capital of 10,000 euros, a rate boosted to 5% for two months then falling to 1% for the rest of the year brings in around 90 euros gross over twelve months, or around 62 euros net after flat tax. A Livret A at the current rate of 1.5%, net of tax, brings in 150 euros over the same amount and the same duration. The gap is therefore largely reversed in favor of Booklet A as soon as the promotion ends. This is why this type of offer is only possible when you have a certain amount of cash to invest (exceeding the regulated savings accounts) in the short term, and without any risk with rapid release required.
