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Why open a Farm Management Deposit (FMD) account?

Build up cash reserves

The FMD scheme is a government initiative that lets you build up cash reserves in the good years to help safeguard your future.

Get fixed returns

You’ll earn a locked-in interest rate over the fixed term you’ve chosen, giving you the confidence of a regular income.1

Defer tax payments

Eligible income deposited into an FMD account for a year or more only becomes taxable when it’s withdrawn.2

It’s simple to apply for an FMD online

If you’re a Westpac customer with Online Banking, open an FMD online in minutes:


1. Select Open Online, check the FMD Summary and Apply now

2. Sign in and Find your rate to see how much you'll earn

3. Choose a term, the amount to invest, and the interest payment frequency that suits your needs

4. Review, confirm, Open account and transfer into the account the same day.

  


Want to see rates for different terms?

Find out what you'll earn using our calculator


1. Select Open Online

2. Sign in

3. Explore rates using our FMD calculator.

  

New to Westpac?

Contact your nearest Agribusiness Banker. They'll be able to help get you set up. If you're with us already but don't have Online Banking, register now, then apply for an FMD.
 

Ready to renew or manage your FMD?

It's quicker in Online Banking and the Westpac App
 

  • Sign in to check for bonus rates
  • Calculate income for different terms
  • Choose to re-invest some or all of your savings, or close your account.

 

You'll have 6 days after your FMD matures to decide what you want to do. If you want to withdraw funds before the end of the term, you ll need to give us at least 31 days' notice (except in cases of hardship) and your returns are likely to be less than for a full term.


Eligibility check

  • 18+ years old
  • Individual primary producer
  • Sole trader, partner in a partnership, or beneficiary of a trust
  • Operating in Australia with an Australian address
  • Eligible under  ATO Farm Management Deposits Scheme requirements. 3
  • Minimum deposit: $1,000
  • Most you can have invested across all your FMDs: $800,000
 
Not eligible for a Farm Management Deposit? Try a Business Term Deposit

How to open a farm management deposit online

If you’re an existing Westpac customer and are registered for Online Banking, you can apply online for a Farm Management Deposit account in less than 10 minutes.

Westpac Online Banking is available to update Farm Management Deposits from 8.00am to 9.30pm Monday to Friday and 8.00am to 4.00pm on Saturdays (AEST).

If you are a sole trader, partner in a partnership or beneficiary of a Trust, you can sign in to Online Banking from a desktop to open a Farm Management Deposit.
 

  • You must have a TFN or ABN registered with Westpac Online Banking
  • You must be an individual primary producer in Australia earning no more than $100,000 p.a. in non-farm income in the year of the FMD deposit
  • You can have multiple FMD accounts and with different banks, but you cannot hold more than $800,000 in total in FMDs
  • You must comply with the ATO Farm Management Deposits Scheme special legislative requirements.

Note: Business Networks are currently not eligible to open a Farm Management Deposit in Online Banking.

FAQs about Farm Management Deposits

Yes, in most circumstances you can choose to withdraw your funds or renew your Farm Management Deposit account online. FMDs can be managed in Online Banking from 8am to 9.30pm on business days and 8am to 4pm Saturdays (Sydney time).

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Things you should know


Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply.

Any bonus rates offered above may only be available through Westpac Online Banking. Online Banking will be available to manage Term Deposits from 8:00am to 9.30pm on a Business Day and 8:00am to 4:00pm Saturdays (Sydney time).
 

1. If you want to access your funds before the end of the fixed term you must provide a minimum 31 days' notice (except in cases of hardship as defined by us), and early withdrawal may reduce returns as per our Terms and Conditions (PDF 146KB) (PDF 274KB).

2. Funds need to be held in a Farm Management Deposit for a minimum of 12 months (except in certain circumstances) to qualify for the tax benefit.

3. Please refer to the  ATO Farm Management Deposits Scheme special legislative requirements to ensure you comply. 

The taxation position described is general in nature and should not be relied upon as a complete or definitive statement of the law and its application to your circumstances; and it does not constitute tax advice. Westpac recommends you obtain specific tax and financial advice on your own position from suitably qualified advisers before opening an FMD account.

This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Consider its appropriateness to these factors before acting on it and read the Terms and Conditions before deciding.