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Home / Bank Accounts / Joint Bank Accounts
100% free. No impact on your credit score
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Signing up for a joint bank account can be an exciting next step in your relationship. Take a look at some of the issues to consider before opening a shared account and compare the key details and options available for a couple looking to make that next step forward together right here with Savvy today.
A joint bank account is an account held in the names of two people instead of one. All parties can withdraw and deposit funds just like a traditional bank account. They are frequently transaction or everyday accounts, but it’s also possible to open joint savings accounts, term deposits and offset accounts.
Joint accounts in Australia come in two different varieties: ‘both to sign’ or ‘one to sign’. The difference between these two is that with a ‘one to sign’ account, which is the most common type, either person can carry out transactions without needing the authorisation of the other. If the account is set up as ‘both to sign,’ this means both parties have to give their authorisation for a fund withdrawal to take place. The names hark back to the days before online banking when withdrawals and payments were made using cheques. In the case of ‘both to sign’, each cheque would require two signatures before it could be cashed.
Before opening a joint bank account, the two parties must discuss rules for operating the account. Both people need to agree and understand how the joint account is to be used, and what the limitations are. Here’s a checklist of some of the main issues that should be agreed to before the joint account is opened:
This varies between couples. Some prefer to have just one debit card and share the card between two wallets. However, it’s more common for the bank, credit union or building society to issue two cards, one for each account-holder. Both debit cards will enable the user to have access to the joint account to make payments, withdraw cash at ATMs and purchase items online. There aren’t usually any additional fees to provide two debit cards instead of one.
There are numerous situations where a joint account makes perfect sense, and for this reason, there are many different types of bank accounts for almost every situation. Some commonly seen scenarios include:
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Having a joint account can make it easier to pay joint expenses such as rent or mortgage payments or to pay for the weekly supermarket shopping. Who pays for dinner need never again be an issue!
With a joint bank account, both partners can see exactly how each dollar is spent and where the money is going, so there’s total financial transparency in the relationship.
Some savings accounts require a minimum monthly deposit to receive generous bonus interest. It's easier to reach this target if two people are contributing to the account.
Having a joint account can prove to be cheaper than having two separate accounts, as only one set of fees needs to be paid. If an account fee is $5 per month, that’s a saving of $60 a year in account fees alone.
If your relationship suddenly heads south, it may be difficult to agree on how to divide the joint account funds between the account-holders.
One partner spending irresponsibly can end up negatively affecting both partners’ credit records, even if only one half of the couple is responsible for the loss.
A disparity in earning capabilities or spending expectations can result in financial tensions. If spending limits aren’t agreed upon in advance, this can potentially damage to a healthy relationship.
As each partner can see exactly what the other has spent money on, this can mean there are no fun surprises as the cost of birthday or Christmas presents is revealed (if separate bank accounts are not retained in addition to the joint one.)
Yes – some financial institutions allow more than two people to hold a joint account, although two people sharing an account is the most common option. In business situations, it’s sometimes necessary for all company directors to be signatories to a business bank account or for a director to co-sign any payments the company secretary wishes to make out of the company joint bank account.
Sometimes a joint account is used to hold money on behalf of a third party who is unable to manage the funds themselves. This may be because the third party is a young child or is otherwise incapable of making financial decisions for themselves. In such a case, a trustee may be nominated to administer the account on behalf of the third party, for the sole benefit of the third party. For example, a godparent may open a joint bank account for their newborn godchild and appoint the child’s parents as trustees, so any money in that account is held in trust for the child until they reach an age where they’re able to handle their finances themselves.
Yes – if the account was set up on a ‘one or either to sign basis,' either person can make withdrawals and close the account without the permission of the second party. It’s important to discuss this with your joint account-holder to ensure your shared funds are safe. Savvy can help you find the best joint bank account by comparing fees, charges and interest rates and presenting you with this information in an easy-to-read format.
This will depend on the financial institution and the conditions of the joint account with the child. At the age of 12, a child can legally open their own bank account in Australia. They can be issued with a debit card with their parent’s permission at the age of 12 and get a card themselves without parental permission at age 14. Some banks allow the young person to remove parental controls at the age of 14, while others allow progressively more control to the child from age 12 onwards.
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