An account you can't withdraw from could help you save money, as you're restricted from making impulse purchases. Your options include a term deposit or a savings account with withdrawal restrictions. Here's the difference:
Check out a range of locked savings accounts accounts that you can't touch below.
Savings accounts are packed with features to help you save money and grow your balance. They offer high interest rates, charge minimal or no fees and typically include a range of incentives to encourage you not to touch the money in your account. These are also called bonus saver accounts. Bonus savers offer a higher interest rate each month you make limited or no withdrawals and when you make regular deposits, providing a great incentive to keep your money in the account and to keep adding to it.
In order to activate this bonus interest rate each month you will need to satisfy certain requirements, which may include:
| Response | |
|---|---|
| I am not planning to get a term deposit | 61.37% |
| 12 months | 16.26% |
| 6 months | 6.29% |
| 24 months | 4.31% |
| 9 months | 3.77% |
| 3 months | 3.5% |
| 60 months | 1.98% |
| 36 months | 1.26% |
| 48 months | 1.26% |
If you don't meet the conditions of the savings account, for example if you don't deposit any money into the account for a month, you'll earn a lower interest rate on your balance for that month, which could be as low as 0.01% p.a. By scheduling an automatic transfer from your salary into your savings account each month, you can quickly build a sizable savings balance. Our savings calculator will help you work out just how much interest you can earn.
As the name suggests, savings accounts are designed to help you save money, not spend it. If you want an account that allows easy access to your money, we suggest opening an everyday transaction account.
Make sure to compare the following when researching the benefits of bonus saver accounts:
A term deposit is another type of savings account that you can't withdraw from. Term deposits are more restricting than savings accounts, as you need to lock your money away for a certain length of time and can't access it at all until the term is finished. If you do need to make a withdrawal, you'll need to give 31 days' notice and pay a penalty. You can choose to lock your money away in a term deposit for one month up to five whole years at a time and the term deposit will pay a fixed rate of interest for the length of the term.
There are a couple of key benefits to term deposits. First, you get the security of a fixed interest rate and a guaranteed return on your investment. If interest rates drop while your money is locked away in a term deposit, you won’t be affected.
Second, these accounts are set up in a way to discourage you from dipping into your savings balance. You typically can’t access the funds in a term deposit without having to give 31 days' notice and paying a sizable fee, so any money you deposit is safe from the risk of impulse-buying and unnecessary spending.
On the other side of the coin, term deposits are not all that convenient if you ever need fast access to your funds in an emergency and you also won’t be able to benefit from any interest rate rises that occur until your deposit matures.
Consider the following features when comparing the pros and cons of term deposit accounts:
Term deposits and bonus saver accounts can both offer many benefits to people who struggle to save money. Make sure you research the benefits and drawbacks of both types of accounts before deciding if either one is right for you.
The main differnce between the two types of accounts is that a bonus saver offers extra interest as an incentive to leave your money in the account, but there's nothing really stopping you from withdrawing. On the other hard, a term deposit requires 31 days notice to withdraw, so it's a lot harder to touch. If you're really bad with impulsive purchases, a term deposit will be harder to access.
Karen Eley is the founder of Women Talking Finance, which provides money coaching and financial literacy and education services. An experienced and former financial adviser who has worked in financial services industry for 22 years, Karen is a Certified Money Coach (CMC), holds a Bachelor of Accounting and an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning and CFP.
Lock in a fixed rate on a range of term lengths between 3 months and 3 years for deposits $1000 or more.
Australian Unity Term Deposit offers you a wide choice of term lengths for your investment, with a fixed rate of return on your money.
Earn a competitive fixed interest rate on Citibank term deposit when you invest $10,000 or more.
Earn a competitive interest rate on terms between 1 month and 2 years with a Heartland Bank term deposit.
Term deposits with loyalty bonuses reward customers for their ongoing business by offering a bonus interest rate on term deposit balances.
Set your own terms and conditions for how your money grows with a flexible investment account that rewards you with higher interest earnings.
If you trying to decide on the best time to invest in a term deposit, start here. See the past interest rates on term deposits from 1985 until now.
With the ME term deposit you get a flexible savings plan with options that let you customise the terms to suit your needs.
If you need a safe place to tuck your savings of away and yield a profit, a $100,000 term deposit could provide a solution.
The added level of control coupled with the high interest earning potential of notice savers makes this a savings account worth considering. Ensure that you understand exactly how it works, and if it will fit in with your financial goals before making a final decision.