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Savings Account for Baby
Compare your savings accounts available for babies with Savvy and find the best fund for your newborn.
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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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- 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 savings accounts for babies
It’s never too early to start saving on your child’s behalf, so if you have a new baby, it’s worth considering setting up a savings account in their name.
Take advantage of the ability to start tucking money away for their adolescent years while also having a resource to teach them the fundamentals of money. Comparing with Savvy ensures you will find the best savings account for your baby to give them a head start in life.
What are babies’ savings accounts?
Babies’ savings accounts are those which are designed for minors under the age of 18. These low-cost accounts are tailored towards parents or guardians who are looking at starting a savings account for their new baby or child. It allows caregivers to put money away for them and teach them the basics of saving and finance.
You’re allowed to open an account for your child as soon as they’re born. These types of accounts typically have an age limit of 18 years old, but this varies depending on who you bank with. Youth savings accounts can be opened right up until you turn 25 years old.
How do I open a babies’ savings account?
Setting up a babies’ savings account is relatively straightforward, as you can follow these simple steps:
Compare your options: Comparing with Savvy will help you find the best deal on the market. We make it easy for you to find a low-cost account with a top interest rate so you can make your money go further.
Check the eligibility: You must have an Australian residential address to open an account and your child must fall within the age guidelines, so it’s important to double-check that you qualify before applying.
Apply with a bank: Once you’ve found the account you want, you can apply online or via a bricks-and-mortar branch. You’ll need to supply two forms of ID (such as your driver’s licence and Medicare card) for yourself and one form of ID for your child. A current passport or birth certificate is sufficient in the case of your child.
Open your account: You’ll receive a welcome pack from your institution which will include your BSB and account number. Once you have that, you can start depositing into your child’s account.
What are some of the features to compare on these accounts?
Competitive interest rates
Base interest rates on babies’ savings accounts are sometimes up to four times higher than those offered on your average savings account. It’s important to secure the highest rate possible for your child, as this can help you grow their savings substantially. For example, if you invested $400 monthly at a rate of 0.5% p.a. over 14 years, you could earn $2,400 in interest. However, if your rate was 1.5% p.a. instead, the interest you earn would grow more than threefold to $7,525. You can use Savvy’s handy online savings calculator to estimate how much interest your child could earn.
Parental controls
These controls will come in handy when your child is old enough to start spending their own money. Parental controls are mandatory for children under the age of 12 and allow parents or guardians to set spending limits, receive bank statements and be a signatory to any transactions.
Minimal deposit requirements
You won’t have to part with too much money to keep the account open, with low or no deposit requirements. These conditions can range from $5 to $10 depending on who you bank with. Use Savvy’s online calculator if you need help working out how much to deposit to reach your child’s savings target.
Balance conditions
Very few institutions enforce minimum balance conditions on these accounts. If they do, the requirement will be that you keep your child’s account balance above $0. Some banks enforce maximum balance limits of $5,000, while others will only set these in relation to earning bonus interest.
No fees
Banks don’t charge fees for account keeping or transactions on babies’ savings accounts. This prevents your child from having the interest they accrue eaten away by small charges.
Bonus interest
The bonus interest rates on these accounts tend to be very competitive. Before being blinded by the big figures, check the conditions your child needs to meet to earn the bonus are achievable and affordable.
Easy access
A savings account can be easily linked to your baby’s bank account so, when your child is old enough, they can use a debit card or deposit money at ATMs which accept cash deposits.
Fun extras
Banks offer child-friendly resources which help your youngster expand their financial literacy. These include downloadable budgets, household chore charts and interactive videos. Some banks send out a piggy bank as a gift on your child’s birthday.
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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Top tips for comparing baby savings accounts
Find a high interest rate
The better your rate, the better your balance will be. Finding a competitive interest rate also means you’ll fast-track the achievement of a savings goal. You can use Savvy’s savings goal calculator to work out how long it’ll take you to reach your target.
Use Savvy’s easy-to-follow guide
Comparing with Savvy can help you make the most informed choice when opening a savings account for your child. Comparing savings accounts with our easy-to-follow comparison information and simple tips gives you a sure-fire way of tracking down the best rate on the market and getting the most out of your baby’s money.
Compare bonus interest conditions
Keeping one eye on the future is key when weighing up which bonus interest requirements suit you and your child. Select an account with requirements you know your child will be able to afford when they start earning pocket money or a casual wage.
Weigh up parental controls
Different accounts come with different levels of parental controls, so it’s important to compare so you can find the one that works best for you moving into the future before setting up an account. Most will require you to be a signatory to any purchases, whereas others go further and allow you to cap your child’s spending.
Common questions about baby savings accounts
Yes – you can open a savings account for your godchild. Anybody can open a savings account for a child so long as they have a copy of that child’s birth certificate.
Banks have roughly a year to write to the account holder signalling that they’re reaching the age of maturity on their account. If there’s no response, the financial institution will archive the account. It can be retrieved within seven years, after which it’s claimed by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and transferred into a lost money fund. You can still obtain it from there, though, using ASIC’s unclaimed money search.
Yes – any tax earned on a babies’ savings account must be declared at tax time. If you’ve opened a savings account for a newborn and have been making deposits into the account, you will need to include any interest earned on your tax return.
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.