A CD is a negotiable money market instrument issued by a commercial bank in dematerialized form for a specified period of time at a market determined discount rate. The face value is payable on maturity by the issuing bank. The maturity period of CDs issued by a bank should be not less than 7 days and not more than a year. Discount is calculated on actual/365 day (rear-ended) basis. CDs are freely transferable by endorsement and delivery. CDs are issued in the form of usance promissory notes attracting stamp duty, akin to CPs.