In retail banking, which of the following are common types of deposit accounts offered by commercial banks?

Introduction / Context:
Banking awareness questions often ask about the basic types of accounts that customers can open with commercial banks. This is important for both exam preparation and real life financial literacy. Knowing the difference between savings accounts, current accounts, fixed or term deposits and recurring deposits helps individuals and businesses choose the right product for their needs and understand how banks structure their liabilities.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on standard deposit accounts offered to individuals and businesses by commercial banks.
• Investment products like shares or mutual funds are not counted as basic bank accounts.
• Special accounts used only by the central bank are outside the scope of retail banking.
• The question asks for a list that contains common deposit account types.

Concept / Approach:
Deposit accounts can be grouped into a few basic categories. A savings account is designed for individuals to park money safely, earn some interest and transact occasionally. A current or checking account is mainly for businesses and individuals with high transaction volumes; it usually offers low or no interest but high liquidity. Fixed or term deposit accounts involve locking in money for a fixed period in return for a higher interest rate. Recurring deposit accounts allow customers to deposit a fixed amount regularly each month and earn interest like a term deposit. The correct option is the one that names these common types together.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the mainstream deposit accounts that most commercial banks advertise to retail and small business customers. Step 2: List savings accounts for individuals and families who want security and some interest on idle money. Step 3: Add current or checking accounts for frequent transactions and business operations. Step 4: Include fixed or term deposits and recurring deposits for customers seeking higher interest with some commitment period. Step 5: Choose the option that combines all these deposit types and reject options that mention only investment instruments or central bank accounts.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can simply check how most bank websites present their retail products. They usually showcase savings accounts, current accounts, fixed deposits and recurring deposits in the very first menu. Sale of shares, debentures or commodity trading accounts is usually done through separate investment or brokerage divisions and is not categorised as basic deposit accounts. Likewise, foreign exchange reserve accounts are maintained by central banks at a macroeconomic level, not by everyday customers. This confirms that the combination in the correct option matches real world banking practice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because equity shares and debentures are capital market instruments, not basic bank accounts. Option C is incorrect as commodity trading accounts are specialised brokerage products and not standard deposit accounts. Option D refers to foreign exchange reserve accounts, which are macro level accounts of central banks, not retail or business deposit accounts. Option E is clearly unrealistic and has no basis in actual banking services, making it an easy distractor.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse any financial product offered by a bank with a deposit account. For example, mutual funds or bonds sold through a bank branch are investment products, not deposits, and may not carry the same protection. Another mistake is to think that current accounts must always pay high interest, when in reality they trade off interest for the convenience of frequent transactions. Remembering the four basic deposit categories helps students and customers classify products correctly and answer exam questions with confidence.

Final Answer:
Savings accounts, current or checking accounts, fixed or term deposit accounts and recurring deposit accounts.