What is a bonus interest savings account?
A bonus saver account (or a bonus interest savings account) is a savings account that rewards you with extra interest when you meet the account conditions. These can also be known as incentive saver accounts or reward saver accounts as they incentivise you to save, and reward you with bonus interest.
Each account will have different conditions to meet in order to earn the bonus interest. This will usually include one or more of the following:
- Deposit a minimum amount of money you need per month (this can range from $20 to $2000)
- Make no withdrawals from the account
- Link the savings account to an everyday transaction account with the same bank
- Make a certain number of transactions per month
- Keep your savings balance above a certain level
The conditions to earn bonus interest vary greatly from bank to bank, so it's important to regularly compare savings accounts to ensure you're always getting the best deal.
How can a bonus saver account benefit me?
A bonus saver account is designed to encourage you to save money on a regular basis. The terms used for this type of account generally come with two requirements. The first requires a minimum monthly deposit without making any withdrawals from the savings account for a given month. The second looks at the growth of the account from the first day of the month to the last and if the balance has increased by a set amount. If one of the two conditions are met, generally you can receive the bonus interest. The bonus rate is an additional percentage that’s determined by the bank and then added to their standard variable interest rate.
Do I lose the bonus interest permanently if I don't meet the conditions for one month?
No! If you haven't met the conditions for one month, you'll be eligible for the bonus interest again the following month. Any month you meet the conditions, you'll be able to receive the bonus interest.
Features to look for in an bonus interest saver account
When comparing between different Australian banks and their bonus saver accounts, think about the following features.
The amount of bonus interest you get
Each bank will offer different bonus interest rates, so make sure to look for one that offers a high bonus interest rate. It's also important to look at the total variable rate, which is the bonus rate plus the base rate.
What are the deposit conditions?
Sometimes the deposit conditions are quite strict, requiring you to deposit high amounts each month in order to earn the bonus interest rate and make no withdrawals. Other are a lot easier, with some accounts only requiring you to deposit $20 a month. whatever the conditions are, make sure you're realistic when considering the deposit requirements. If you can't realistically meet the conditions, you won't earn the bonus rate anyway.
The withdrawal conditions
Some banks will not allow any withdrawals in the month, while with others, you’re free to make withdrawals as long as you essentially return that money by meeting a monthly growth total. For example, if the goal is to save $200 in a month, and you withdraw $50, you will need to deposit at least $250 into the account before the month finishes in order to qualify for the bonus interest.
The linked bank account
Some of these accounts will be accessible only through a linked transaction account with the same bank, while others can be opened as a standalone account. If you do need to link the account to a bank account with the same bank, check that account doesn't charge too many fees.
The balance that you earn interest on
Bonus saver accounts will only pay bonus interest on balances of a certain size. Some accounts pay bonus interest on balance up to $50,000, while others pay bonus interest on balances of $250,000 or even more.
Introductory versus ongoing bonus rates
There are two types of bonus savings accounts: introductory bonus offers or ongoing bonus offers. With an introductory bonus savings account, the bonus rate is offered for a set period of time after opening the account (usually the first 4 months). There are usually no conditions to meet to earn this bonus rate as it's only available for a limited time.
Ongoing bonus rate account instead offer bonus interest ongoing each month that you meet the account conditions. So while there are conditions to meet to earn the bonus interest, you can continue to earn it month after month for as long as you have the account (and meet the conditions!).
Bonus saver accounts versus term deposits
Term deposits are another type of savings account, however they're quite different to a bonus saver account. Firstly, your money in a term deposit is locked away for the duration of the term length that you choose, which can be anywhere from 3 months to 5 years. If you want to access the money earlier you'll need to give 31 days notice, and will likely pay a penalty or lose some of your interest. Bonus savings accounts allow you to access your money instantly if you need it. However, depending on the account conditions, you might not qualify for bonus interest that month if you do make a withdrawal.
Another difference is that term deposit rates are fixed, meaning they won't change until your term length ends. Bonus savings accounts have variable rates, meaning they can change at any time. A term deposit is more of a 'set and forget' option that requires very little effort after it's opened, whereas a bonus saver will require you to meet ongoing conditions each month.
Pros and cons of bonus savings accounts
Pros
- You get a higher interest rate. Bonus saver accounts give you an opportunity to boost your savings quicker with a higher interest rate than standard savings accounts.
- There are usually no fees. These types of accounts typically do not have monthly account keeping fees.
- Motivate yourself to save. If you need help with saving you may find that having a set monthly goal to meet makes it easier to stay on track.
Cons
- There are conditions to meet. You may find it hard to continually meet the terms of a bonus saver account on a month to month basis, particularly if you get paid inconsistently.
- You'll need to try and avoid making withdrawals. Unlike a transaction account, the money kept in a bonus saver account cannot be as easily accessed and used to make everyday purchases.
So, what's the best bonus interest savings account?
The best savings account is one that has conditions you can easily meet each month. There's no point getting the account with the highest bonus rate if you can't meet the conditions to earn it.
How the Finder Score helps you find a better savings account
The Finder Score is a simple score out of 10. The higher a savings account's score, the better we think it is for the average customer.
We score each savings account in our database of hundreds based on a data-driven methodology with 2 main criteria: Does the account offer a high interest rate? And is it easy for savers to actually earn that rate?
Read the full Finder Score breakdown
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