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Bonus Interest Savings Accounts
Grow your interest faster by finding and comparing bonus interest savings accounts with Savvy.
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- Make 5 successful purchases using your Up or 2Up debit card, Apple PayTM, Google PayTM or other digital wallets in a calendar month to qualify for interest. ATM transactions or transfers are not included.
- Instantly create multiple Savers in-app.
- Use Round Ups to automatically transfer spare change from purchases to a Saver.
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Compare and find the best bonus interest savings account
Reaching your savings goal can at times seem like a hard slog, so having some extra incentive can help you along the way. That’s exactly how a bonus interest savings account works.
By offering you a higher interest rate in exchange for meeting certain monthly conditions, you can hit your savings targets faster. It’s important you find an account that suits you, so you can learn how to compare bonus interest savings accounts right here with Savvy today.
How does a bonus interest savings account work?
Bonus interest accounts reward good savings habits with extra interest at an inflated rate. The bonus interest rate is determined by your financial institution and is added as a percentage to your base rate for a given month. To achieve that high rate, you’ll need to meet various monthly conditions. These conditions can include having your balance fall within a certain range or depositing a particular amount in your account over a month. There also may be a cap on the number of withdrawals or transactions you’re able to make.
Most online savings accounts now come with bonus interest features, with the requirements varying depending on the one you open. For example, a bonus businesses saver may require your balance to be above $500,000, whereas a standard account may only require a balance over $2,000. Comparing with Savvy is the easiest way to find a set of requirements that you’ll comfortably be able to meet.
Bonus saver accounts differ from ordinary transaction or savings accounts in that they can often make it harder for you to access your money. These accounts won’t come with debit cards and you may not be given several free monthly withdrawals, which you likely would be on a standard savings account.
Bonus savings accounts can come in a few different forms. You can earn bonus interest on these types of accounts:
Standard savings account: Bonus interest conditions are standard across many savings accounts. Ensure you choose one with requirements you can comfortably meet.
Joint savings account: Couples or family members who open joint accounts can earn bonus interest for meeting monthly benchmarks. The big benefit of having two account holders is you’ll both be contributing to one pool of money, which can make it easier to meet the high interest requirements set by your bank or financial institution.
Kids’ savings account: Kids’ savings accounts are geared towards parents wanting to teach their children the importance of saving. Because they’re meant for youngsters under the age of 12, they tend to have very basic requirements and account balance restrictions, but a high bonus rate. For example, an account may have a $5 or $10 minimum monthly deposit condition. You may also not be able to withdraw from it.
Which factors should I compare in bonus savers?
Interest rates
Pay attention to both the maximum and base interest rates offered on these accounts. The top rate will be the interest rate you earn if you meet the minimum monthly requirements. If you can’t meet these for whatever reason, the interest you’ll earn will be the much lower base rate. Comparing these can ensure you find the best interest rate to fast-track the achievement of your savings goals. You can use our savings calculator to compare how much interest you’ll earn based on different rates.
Minimum requirements
Bonus saver conditions vary from account to account, so you must weigh up which set of requirements suits you best. Finding an account with manageable deposit and balance conditions, along with a strong interest rate, will make achieving your savings goals a breeze. Comparing with Savvy gives you the best shot at finding a bonus interest savings account with achievable requirements.
Withdrawal limits
Earning a high interest rate is often conditional on not making any withdrawals for the month. Comparing accessibility is important when shopping around for savings accounts. An account which is too restrictive could leave you cash-strapped if you’re in need. It’s also important to check if your account is accessible through internet banking (which almost all are today). This will allow you to make deposits seamlessly between accounts, as well as regularly check your balance and set up regular transfers.
Linked account
These savings accounts can be accessed through a linked everyday account. This makes it easy if you ever need to access a lump sum of money. It’s important to compare these, as some banks require you to open a linked account with them even if you want to open one elsewhere.
Fees
Bonus saver accounts don’t usually come with fees. However, there could still be some on the market which do. Comparing with Savvy allows you to find a savings account with the lowest fees and a competitive rate so your balance isn’t eaten away by unnecessary costs.
Types of savings account
Your account doesn't have to be with a bricks-and-mortar bank. By opening an account with an online institution, you can manage your funds via online banking and apps.
When it comes to growing your savings, the higher the interest, the better. High interest accounts can either come with higher base rates or steep bonus rates.
Opening an account for your child can be a great way to give them a head-start with their savings and help teach them about the responsibility of managing their money.
Keeping track of your funds and growing them is important as a student. Some providers offer special accounts with high interest and no fees to help you boost your savings.
There are many reasons why you may need a joint account, such as if you're combining funds with your partner or managing your parents' money with your siblings.
Businesses have different needs when it comes to their savings, so many banks and other financial institutions offer specialist products designed to offer flexibility.
Many savings accounts offer bonus interest, which can offer a much higher rate if certain conditions are met, such as a set number of deposits or linked transactions.
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Pros and cons of bonus interest savings accounts
PROS
Incentive to save
By dangling a high interest rate in front of you, these savings accounts can motivate you to work harder towards your savings goal. It can also help you resist the temptation to dip into your savings at any time, knowing you’ll lose interest for the month if you do.
Competitive bonus rates
Bonus saver accounts usually offer a generous interest rate for meeting the various conditions placed on them. These high interest rates are also well above the base rate you’ll get if you don’t meet the requirements.
Easy to manage
Your financial institution should give you the option of making this account accessible through your online banking portal. This will give you the ability to set up regular transfers and check your balance.
No fees
Bonus saver accounts generally don’t come with any fees. That means you don’t have to worry about small costs for account keeping, excess transactions and staff-assisted withdrawals eating away the interest you earn.
CONS
Potentially restrictive conditions
You’ll have to meet various account requirements to unlock your bonus interest, which may prevent you from banking as comfortably as you’d like. By comparing with Savvy, you can ensure you’re not choosing an account with unmanageable conditions.
Low standard rates
The base rate on these types of savings accounts tends to be much lower than the top interest on offer. Comparing with us allows you to get a side-by-side look at what base rates are being offered so you can choose the best account the market has to offer.
Hard to make withdrawals
Accessing your money with these accounts will be tough because their sole purpose is to help you save. If you find yourself short and need to tap into your account, even once, you could forfeit any interest earned for the month.
Frequently asked savings account questions
Interest on these accounts is generally calculated daily and paid monthly. If you make a withdrawal over the month, your interest will be calculated at whatever your base rate is.
The federal government-backed Financial Claims Scheme safeguards individual bank balances up to $250,000. This gives you peace of mind your nest egg is safe in the event your financial institution collapses.
Yes – you can open a bonus interest saver account in two names. Much like a standard joint account, you should both agree on either a ‘one to sign’ or ‘both to sign’ level of protection over your account. This protection helps if you ever need to make changes to the account or close it.
You only lose out on interest for the month if you don’t meet the account conditions. Once the calendar rolls over to the new month, you have another shot at hitting the bonus interest benchmarks.
An introductory or ‘honeymoon’ rate, is another form of bonus interest. Instead of making you earn your bonus interest, these accounts offer a short burst of high rates. This is primarily used by banks to entice customers into opening online savings accounts. Ideal for short-term savers, you’ll usually get a window of about four months to earn high interest before they revert to much lower base rates.
Your bank will have requirements regarding what you should deposit every month to earn your interest. However, if you want to go over and above these requirements, you can use Savvy’s online savings goal calculator to work out how much you need to deposit to reach your target. Alternatively, if you know what you need to deposit, you can also estimate how long it’ll take to reach your target at various interest rates with us.
Our savings calculators
Use our savings calculator to help you calculate how much you could save over a set timeframe based on different deposit sizes and frequencies.
Your savings can put in work for you. Crunch the numbers to see how much interest you could earn on top of your interest by compounding daily, monthly and annually.
It's crucial to have a clear idea of your monthly household budget to see where your money is going and where it could potentially be better spent.
If you're applying for a loan or need to know what your salary is for your tax return, you can use our annualisation calculator to work out what you'll earn this financial year.
Setting savings goals is important. With this tool, you can work out how much you'll need to deposit to reach your financial aims over a set timeframe.
Just as important as knowing how much to deposit is working out how long it'll take to reach your goals. This savings goal calculator can help you do just that.