Under the Consumer Protection Code, when advertising a deposit account, which items must be included?

• A. AER
• B. Fixed or variable rate
• C. How much of the deposit is guaranteed by the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme
• D. AER, fixed or variable, and the guarantee by the Deposit Guarantee Scheme

Answer: (D)

When advertising a deposit account, you must give information that lets customers compare offers and understand their protection. The required disclosures are the actual return the account offers, shown as the annual equivalent rate (AER), to reflect how often interest is compounded; whether that rate is fixed or can vary over time; and the extent of protection under the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme, i.e., how much of the deposit is guaranteed. Presenting all three pieces together ensures the advertisement is clear, not misleading, and enables an apples-to-apples comparison between products.

For context, the Deposit Guarantee Scheme covers deposits up to a certain limit per depositor per institution, providing a safety net regardless of the interest rate offered. Including the AER, the rate type, and the guarantee amount gives a complete picture of both potential return and protections.