Fact checked
Savings accounts can allow the average Australian to pop money aside for a rainy day or a short or long-term target. You may wonder how much the average person has in their fund and whether yours is keeping pace.
Savvy has done the homework for you, providing you with the data you need to compare your savings to the average Australian. We also let you compare deals to find the best account to grow your savings.
The average Australian savings account balance varies depending on your age. According to a Westpac survey released in December 2021, the average customer has $22,020 in their savings account. The bank said this figure was likely skewed by larger deposit holders and pointed to a “more realistic figure” of $3,559. Westpac says this is the median between $500 and $20,000, meaning half of their customers have $3,559 or more in their savings account.
Balances also tended to increase along with the age of the customer, the survey found. For example, someone between the age of 25 and 34 had an average balance of $7,995, whereas someone between the age of 45 and 54 had $20,165 in their account on average. Across at NAB, a March 2022 survey found that 75% of customers were trying to save, with half holding $1,000 or more in their savings accounts.
According to an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey from June 2020, the average household has roughly $26,500 in savings. Middle-income households have about $27,373 in their accounts, while high-income households have $92,179 in savings.
Finding the strongest savings account for your funds comes down to assessing several key variables, such as interest rates and access to your money. By comparing these factors with Savvy, you can get the most out of your money.
Interest rates
The higher your interest rate, the faster your money will grow. Finding a competitive rate can bolster your balance and fast-track the achievement of any savings goal you’re working towards. As an example, say you deposited $700 every month into an account bearing 1% p.a. You’d earn almost $4,900 interest over ten years by doing so. However, if your rate sat at 2% p.a. instead, the interest you’d earn over the same period would top $10,000. Savvy’s savings calculator can give you a fuss-free way to estimate your account’s growth over the years.
Level of access
Savings accounts take many forms, with some of them allowing you easier access to your cash than others. If you tend to lack a bit of financial discipline, opting for a locked savings account such as a term deposit can be an easy way to keep your money out of reach. This will also allow compound interest to work its magic, earning you a return on the money you’ve invested and the interest you’ve already accumulated. You can check how much you’ll earn from your savings account with Savvy’s compound interest calculator.
Contributions
Regularly depositing to your savings account will allow your balance to grow over time. More frequent deposits can help boost your interest earnings, as interest is usually calculated daily. If you’re only just setting up an account, draw up a budget and work out how much you can comfortably afford to pop aside into your savings regularly.
Monthly account requirements
Banks tend to offer you bonus high interest for meeting certain monthly account conditions. This can be a great way of incentivising your savings, as you know your high interest rate is on the line if you don’t meet the monthly minimum deposit and balance requirements. Comparing with Savvy will allow you to find an account with conditions you can comfortably afford to meet, ensuring you never miss out on your bonus.
Fees and charges
Savings account fees may seem insignificant but, added up over 12 months, can make a dent in the interest you earn. Monthly account keeping fees of up to $5 or paper statement fees of up to $2.50 are just some of the common charges. Comparing accounts will allow you to find one which doesn’t charge monthly fees, encouraging faster growth of your bank balance.
Are you looking to grow your savings? Compare a wide range of savings accounts with Savvy so you find the best deal in Australia and the highest interest rate to help grow your savings.
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Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.
You should always consult a given offer's PDS or further documentation in the process of deciding on which loan to choose, as well as seeking independent, professional advice. If you decide to apply with one of the lenders listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the lender offering that product.
You wouldn’t take out a home loan or buy a car without shopping around, so savings accounts shouldn’t be any different. Comparing with Savvy will help you find a low-fee, high interest account which can earn you the best return and boost your balance.
Drawing up a budget will allow you to see how much you have left to save once you’ve paid for all of your essentials such as rent, groceries and utilities. This also prevents you from leaving yourself short of funds, as you can budget to save an amount you know you can do without.
If you have a linked everyday account, you can schedule deposits to go straight into your savings on the day you’re paid. This can make the process of adding to your nest egg simpler and keeps your savings plan in line with your budget.
If you’re trying to reach a savings goal, finding a savings account with a competitive interest rate will enable you to hit your target faster. Consider accounts with bonus interest or introductory offers. Introductory offers can give you up to six months of high interest, sometimes five times what a standard rate delivers, before reverting to a much-lower base rate.
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.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
