Online or on the walls of metro stations, you may have seen ads flourish for these savings accounts offering a remuneration close to that of the Livret A (3%). They had disappeared in recent years because of low rates, but these "super booklets", with boosted rates for a few months, have made their comeback.
Unlike the fake booklets that circulate on the Internet, these are not scams but real offers. Banks use these attractive remunerations as appeal products to attract new customers: 4% for 4 months at Fortuneo (offer valid from June 5 to August 16), 3% for 5 months at Cashbee, 4% for 3 months at Distingo (Stellantis group)...
Beware of optical illusion
For savers looking for new solutions to strengthen their savings at a time of inflation, the offer may seem attractive, especially since their ceilings are high: you can deposit very large sums. But beware of the optical illusion, warns Philippe Crevel, director of the Cercle de l'épargne: "Once the defined period has passed, which does not exceed a few months as a general rule, rates fall quite low. " In this case, 1% at Fortuneo.
See alsoHow inflation does business for online banks
In addition, the advertised interest rates are gross and it is necessary to "deduct the 30% tax that applies". In these conditions, are the super booklets interesting? "It can be, if you have a very large amount to invest that you intend to reuse quickly, for example if you have just sold a house or apartment," summarizes Philippe Crevel.
Less earnings than a booklet A
This can also be an option for savers whose regulated passbooks have reached their ceiling (22,950 euros for the booklet A, 12,000 euros for the sustainable development booklet) and who are looking for complementary investment solutions.
Figures in support, the economist takes the example of the booklet Distingo, one of the best bidders at the moment with 4% the first three months, then 2% the following. "If you put 10,000 euros in it for a year, the after-tax return will be 175 euros," he calculates. By placing the same amount on a booklet A, the gain will be 300 euros.