Savings account options - ÌÇÐÄVlog /money/banking/savings-options You deserve better, safer and fairer products and services. We're the people working to make that happen. Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:52:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2024/12/favicon.png?w=32 Savings account options - ÌÇÐÄVlog /money/banking/savings-options 32 32 239272795 The best high-interest savings accounts /money/banking/savings-options/articles/top-high-interest-savings-accounts Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000 /uncategorized/post/top-high-interest-savings-accounts/ Earning peanuts on your savings? Find out where you could be getting more for your money.

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Need to know

  • Interest rates on bank deposit accounts have increased noticeably over the last three years, meaning there are now more benefits to old-fashioned saving
  • Some accounts will pay you interest with few or no conditions – others will give you a better rate, but come with specific requirements
  • Before making a deposit, check that you can meet any conditions and whether your savings would be better off elsewhere

On this page:

While Australia’s cash rate has seen a few cuts recently, it’s still high, meaning the interest rates on deposit accounts at banks across the country are also more generous than they’ve been in quite a while.

High-interest savings accounts may still not sound as appealing as some modern investments, but they’ve at least started to live up to their name in recent years.

Where rates on these products were previously languishing at below 1%, they’re now hovering around 5.00%.

High-interest savings accounts are finally starting to live up to their nameÌý

With the money market showing some life, now could be a good time to revisit this long-time savings favourite and see which banks are offering the best rates.Ìý

Luckily, we’ve filtered through the terms and conditions for you to find the best high-interest savings accounts worth considering.

What is a high-interest savings account?

High-interest savings accounts are bank accounts that pay you a higher rate of interest on the money you put in them.

Because they offer higher rates than most other bank accounts, many of these products come with conditions, such as depositing a certain amount each month.

Like regular savings accounts, they’re also usually online and not connected with a credit or debit card, so it’s not as easy to dip into your savings.

Because they offer higher rates than most other bank accounts, many of these products come with conditions

In order to get one of these accounts, you’ll also often have to open an everyday spending or transaction account at the same bank, some of which may come with their own fees or conditions. Our list identifies which products require you to take this extra step.

Thankfully, most high-interest savings accounts don’t come with ongoing account-keeping, service or admin fees. In any case, we outline the fee situation for each of the best performing accounts (and their associated transaction accounts) in our list below.

You get more money for your deposit in a high-interest savings account than in a regular savings or transaction product.

How do high-interest savings accounts work?

The percentage figure you’ll see advertised alongside a high-interest savings account refers to the annual rate of interest you’ll be paid on the money you keep in that account.

Even though this figure represents an annual return, for each of the accounts listed here, interest is calculated daily (to account for some months having more days than others) and paid monthly.

Provided you’ve met any account conditions, interest will appear in your account after the month it was earned.

How to know where to put your savings

Before you go switching accounts to cash in on the higher rates, pause to consider the best way to make your savings count:

  • When choosing which high-interest option to go for, don’t fall for teasers (i.e. accounts that offer generous introductory rates, but only for the first few months) or options with deposit or transaction conditions that you might find hard to meet.
  • If you have debts owing to buy now, pay later (BNPL) services or credit cards, your first priority should be to pay them off before putting money aside for saving.
  • If you’ve got a mortgage, a 100% offset account might be a better destination for your cash – keeping your money in an offset can help you reduce the amount of interest you’ll pay over the life of your loan.

Best high-interest savings accounts by base rate

These accounts offer the best ongoing annual interest rates without requiring you to make any regular deposits or transactions, or making you wait a certain amount of time before you can access your money.

Products with tiered rates (different interest rates for different parts of a deposit) are ranked by their lowest tier – that is, the initial rate they offer customers.

Any introductory rates (which usually only last for a few months) included with accounts are mentioned, but don’t factor into a product’s ranking. Accounts exclusively for children are not included.

(Last updated 16 July 2025)

Freedom Saver (Australian Unity) – 4.85%

On balances up to $50,000.Ìý

  • You’ll also have to open a linked transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account, but a dormant account fee of $2.50 per month is charged to accounts with no activity for 12 months.

Flex Saver (ANZ Plus) – 4.50%

On balances up to $5000.

  • You’ll also have to open Plus and Growth Saver accounts with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or other accounts from the same provider.
  • Exclusive to the ANZ Plus app and not accessible via ANZ’s standard online or branch banking.

GO Save (AMP Bank GO) – 4.50%

On balances up to $250,000.

  • You’ll also have to open a linked transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account.
  • Exclusive to the AMP Bank GO app and not accessible via AMP’s standard online or branch banking.

Online Saver Account (Bank Orange) – 4.50%

On balances above $1000.

  • You’ll also have to open a linked transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account.

Savings Account (Macquarie) – 4.50%Ìý

On balances up to $1 million. An introductory rate of 4.85% is available for the first four months on balances up to $250,000.

  • You’ll also have to open a linked transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account.

Note: Some other banks, including Firefighters Mutual and UniBank, have accounts with base rates higher than some listed here, but we’ve chosen to leave them off this list because their products are only available to current and former workers in particular industries and their families.

Read more about how to save money:

5 steps to better, cheaper health insurance

How to manage your money when you travel

The cost saving measures that don’t work

How to compare superannuation funds

How to avoid cryptocurrency scams

Best high-interest savings accounts by bonus rate

Able to make a few concessions with your money without breaking your budget? These accounts top the savings rate market, but require depositors to make certain sized deposits and numbers of transactions in return.

Accounts exclusively for students, trainees or apprentices are not included.

It’s important to know that if you can’t meet these conditions, the bank will only pay you a base rate of interest, which can be as low as 0.05%.

(Last updated 16 July 2025)

Future Saver Account (Bank of Queensland) – 5.10%Ìý

On balances up to $50,000.

  • Conditions: Must be 14–35 years old. Deposit at least $1000 into a linked Everyday Account (cash and cheques not included), and make five settled, eligible transactions with the card linked to your Everyday Account in a month.
  • You’ll have to open a linked Everyday transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account.
  • Exclusive to the myBOQ app and not accessible through BOQ’s standard online or branch banking.

Growth Saver (MOVE Bank) – 5.00%Ìý

On balances up to $25,000.

  • Conditions: Deposit at least $200 and make no withdrawals in a month.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees.

Life savings account (Westpac) – 5.00%

On balances up to $30,000.

  • Conditions: Must be 18–29 years old. Make at least one deposit and have a growing account balance every month. Hold a Westpac Choice transaction account and make at least five eligible, settled purchases with the card linked to this account every month.
  • You’ll have to open a linked transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account.
  • A $5 monthly account keeping fee applies to the Choice account, but is waived for customers under 30.

Savings Maximiser (ING) – 5.00%Ìý

On balances up to $100,000. Can only apply to one account.

  • Conditions: Deposit at least $1000 into any personal ING account in your name and make at least five settled purchases with an ING debit or credit card in a month. The savings account must also have a higher closing balance than the previous month (excluding interest).
  • You’ll have to open a linked transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account.

Boss Saver (BCU Bank) – 4.90%

On balances up to $100,000.

  • Conditions: Deposit at least $500 into, and make five or more card purchases from, your linked Access Account in a month.
  • You’ll have to open a linked Access transaction account with the same provider.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account.

Savvy Saver Account (P&N Bank) – 4.90%

On balances up to $100,000.

  • Conditions: Deposit at least $500 into, and make five or more card purchases from, your linked account (an ‘& Transaction Account’) in a month.
  • You’ll have to open the specified ‘& Transaction Account’.
  • No ongoing account-keeping fees on this account or the linked transaction account.

Why are some bank accounts only available via an app?Ìý

You’ll notice several of the accounts listed above are only available through the relevant bank’s app and can’t be accessed via online banking on its website or in its branches.Ìý

Last year, we asked some of the banks offering these why this is the case.Ìý

BOQ Group, which offers the Bank of Queensland accounts, says it’s prioritising mobile platforms for these products because of “rapidly changing” customer needs and mobile usage.Ìý

An app-only approach can also help a bank’s bottom line

ANZ says it’s also seeing more people wanting to go online and use their smartphones for banking and that, with ANZ Plus, the bank is seeking to respond to these consumer trends.

However, an app-only approach can also help a bank’s bottom line.Ìý

Since our inquiry, ANZ has revealed that its costs to acquire and service customers are 45% and 35% cheaper, respectively, through ANZ Plus than other parts of its retail business.

Best of the big four: ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac

Australia’s major lenders have traditionally lagged behind newer and smaller banks on deposit returns, but they do offer competitive rates on some savings products.Ìý

They also rarely limit their interest rate offers to certain balance sizes, meaning they can be a good option if you’re looking to earn a return on a large deposit.

Here’s what you could be getting if you’re a customer at one of the big four:

(Last updated 16 July 2025)

ANZ

  • ANZ Plus Flex Saver – 4.50%. See details above. 1.50% on balances over $5000.
  • ANZ Plus Growth Saver – 4.50%. Conditions: Grow your account balance by at least $100 (on top of any interest you receive) every month, otherwise it reverts to 0.15%. No ongoing account-keeping fees.
  • Progress Saver – 3.50%. Conditions: Deposit at least $10 in one transaction in a month and make no withdrawals or transfers or incur any fees or charges, otherwise it reverts to 0.01%. No ongoing account-keeping fees.
  • Online Saver – 0.90%. No ongoing account-keeping fees.

CBA

  • GoalSaver – 4.45%. Conditions: Make at least one deposit and have a growing account balance in a month, excluding interest and bank-initiated transactions, otherwise it reverts to 0.30%. No ongoing account-keeping fees.
  • NetBank Saver – 1.90%. 4.65% for the first five months on your first NetBank Saver account. No ongoing account-keeping fees.

NAB

  • Reward Saver – 4.35%. Conditions: Make at least one deposit and no withdrawals in a month, otherwise it reverts to 0.10%. No ongoing account-keeping fees.
  • iSaver – 1.50%. 4.65% for the first four months on balances up to $20 million if you haven’t held an iSaver account in the last 12 months. No ongoing account-keeping fees.

Westpac

  • Life – 4.50%.ÌýConditions: Make at least one deposit and have a growing account balance in a month, otherwise it reverts to 0.40%. 18–29 year olds with this account can earn 5.00% on balances up to $30,000 if they meet the previous criteria and make five eligible and settled purchases with a debit card linked to their Westpac Choice account. No ongoing account-keeping fees.
  • eSaver – 1.00%. 4.50% for the first five months if opened online by sole applicants who have never held an eSaver account before. No ongoing account-keeping fees.

How much does a high-interest savings account pay?

If you had $1000 in an account and deposited $100 into it each week for a year, you would earn…

$36 in an account earning 1.00% interest

$163 in an account earning 4.50% interest

$172 in an account earning 4.75% interest

$175 in an account earning 4.85% interest

$181 in an account earning 5.00% interest

$185 in an account earning 5.10% interest

Source: mozo.com.au

Text-only accessible version

How to compare high-interest savings accounts

Step 1. Interest rate: What’s the maximum rate and does it come with conditions? Does it only last for a short time?

Step 2. Linked account: Do you need to open a linked transaction account with the same bank?

Step 3. Access: Is the account app-exclusive? Can you use internet banking? Will you have access to a debit card, ATM withdrawals or a linked account?

Step 4. Conditions: What are the conditions for the maximum interest rate?

  • Intro rate: Does the interest rate only apply for the first few months?
  • Deposits: Do you need to make minimum deposits? Does the account balance need to grow?
  • Transactions: Do you need to make a certain number of transactions from a linked account?
  • Withdrawals: Are withdrawals allowed?

Step 5. Fees: Are there any fees on the account or a linked account?

High-interest account traps to be aware of

As we’ve highlighted, some high-interest savings accounts come with a web of conditions and caveats.Ìý

You should make sure you will be able to meet these requirements if you want to take advantage of the bonus rates these accounts offer. If you can’t, in many cases your rate will be slashed and end up being much lower than what you would be getting in a condition-free account.

Rate tease

‘Teaser’ accounts make a big show of offering high rates with no conditions – only to reveal in the fine print that holders will enjoy this introductory rate for just the first few months.

There are quite a few of these out there, so always look at the details of a deal before you park your cash and be prepared to move your savings elsewhere if you don’t want to be hit with a lower base rate.

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: Accounts with a short-term bonus rate can work for you if you need a place to leave your money for a short period of time, as they’re more flexible than a term deposit.

Balance limitsÌý

Many of the most competitive accounts offer good rates, but limit them to balances up to a certain amount. For example, they may payÌý4.50%, but only on balances up to $5000.Ìý

Any amount of money above this will earn interest at a lower rate, or not at all.Ìý

This is one aspect of the high-interest savings market where the big four come out better against smaller banks – larger institutions are less likely to have balance limits as part of their offers, making them an attractive option if you’re looking to deposit a large amount of money.

Minimum monthly deposits

Many accounts that offer a top-shelf rate will make you work for it, requiring you to make set monthly deposits into it or a linked transaction product.

For some banks, the bar for these contributions is as high as $1000, so getting wages or a salary paid into the account where they’re required could be the easiest way to meet these conditions.

No withdrawals and positive balances

These minimum-deposit conditions often come paired with a “growing balance” clause, which slashes your rate to next to nothing if you make a transfer and leave the account holding less money than the previous month. Others only provide bonus rates if you make no withdrawals at all.

Be prepared to leave your money untouched for a while if you want to reap some serious interest

If your account comes with these conditions, be prepared to leave your money untouched for a while if you want to reap some serious interest.Ìý

Linked accounts and mandatory purchases

Quite a few of the best savings options currently on the market require you to have a transaction account with the bank you’re saving with.

In the age where you can set up a bank account online, this is a relatively simple task, but be aware that a linked transaction account may come with ongoing fees. You might also have to make a minimum number of purchases using the card linked to that account every month if you want to keep your rate up.

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: Make sure you only use this sort of account if you can fulfil its conditions without inconveniencing yourself or your budget.

Age limits and occupation eligibility

We’ve decided to overlook a few accounts that would have made it onto our list because their competitive rates are only available to children or teenagers. Always check you’re putting your money somewhere that’s age-appropriate.

We’ve also left off any accounts provided by banks who only offer their products to current and former workers in particular sectors (such as education or the emergency services), their relatives or any apprentices, trainees or students.

The problem with the current high interest rates

As interest rates have increased over the last three years, we’ve become concerned they’re not flowing through to savers (who benefit) as much as they are to mortgage holders and borrowers (who don’t).

In 2023, the ACCC conducted an inquiry into the interest rates on deposit products such as savings accounts and how they compare to those on loans, after noting that the changes to saving rates had been “smaller or conditional”.

While interest rates have gone up over the last three years, we’re concerned they’re not flowing through to savers (who benefit) as much as they are to mortgage holders and borrowers (who don’t)

ÌÇÐÄVlog has been weighing in on this issue, calling for banks to be required to ensure they’re offering fair value on deposits, move customers to their best savings rate, and make it easier to close accounts.

Last year, the , announcing changes that it promises will “help Australians get a better deal on banking products.”

These include making banks tell customers when the interest rate on a savings account is changing and a program to work with banks to help improve how customers are notified about bonus interest rate offers.

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Why the best banks for saving aren’t the ones you’d expect /money/banking/savings-options/articles/savings-accounts-at-smaller-banks Sun, 01 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000 /uncategorized/post/savings-accounts-at-smaller-banks/ Most deposit accounts offering the best rates come from little-known institutions.

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Need to know

  • Australians' appetite for high-interest bank accounts has been rising along with the rates on these products
  • ÌÇÐÄVlog regularly compares the best options and we've seen the most competitive rates coming from lesser-known banks
  • With banking reforms on the horizon, we're pushing for changes to help more consumers find better deposit deals

At ÌÇÐÄVlog, we’re always keeping an eye on which of our articles resonate most with readers.

In the wake of periods of historically high inflation, interest in our article on the best savings accounts is like the current cost of living – higher than it’s ever been.Ìý

By comparing the best high-interest savings options from across all the banks, we’re helping consumers make better choices about where they park their money.

But we’ve also noticed that, in a country dominated by the big four, a lot of the best high-interest products come from banks many of us may not have heard of.

The big four banks dominate Australia, but their savings accounts don’t have the best rates.

Rate hikes reviving interest

Until quite recently, consumer appetite for high-interest savings accounts, which promise better rates of return than standard savings or everyday transaction products, had been flagging.

This is because the rates on these accounts (just like those on mortgages) follow the Reserve Bank’s (RBA) cash rate target.Ìý

Low inflation and significant economic headwinds pushed this figure further and further down in the decade leading up to 2022.

This made it cheaper to borrow money, but meant that ‘high-interest’ savings accounts were anything but.Ìý

This has punished borrowers, but also breathed life into the savings market

By mid-2021, the rates on these products were typically around just 1% per year, casting saving in an increasingly dim light.Ìý

Australia’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated boom in spending, along with inflation, prompted the RBA to raise the cash rate month after month, with the rate sitting at 4.35% at the time of writing.

This has punished borrowers, but also breathed life into the savings market, lighting a fire under high-interest accounts.Ìý

These products are now starting to live up to their name, with rates hovering around 5.50% on the most competitive options.

Inflation-busting products coming from curious quarters

Many of the best savings accounts come from lesser-known banks.

While high-interest savings accounts may not sound as exciting as some more modern investments, they can still help your savings grow.

Inflation in the year to June 2024 was 3.8%, meaning funds in a high-interest savings account earning 5.50% per year will increase in value, even after inflation (which erodes how much our money is worth).

What’s intriguing, though, is that the accounts offering these rates come from unexpected sources.

Ever heard of Australian Unity, Unity Bank or Move? No surprises if you haven’t, but these institutions are subtly courting Australian savers, consistently offering the best deposit rates.

Meanwhile, the big four banks have lagged behind, with their market dominance failing to translate into high savings rates.

Most of the high-interest savings products you’ll find on their websites offer returns well below those stumped up by smaller and newer banks.

Why the lack of interest?

Tom Abourizk is head of policy at ÌÇÐÄVlog and has been examining consumer finance products for several years.

He points out the low rates of switching between deposit products – just 16% of consumers changed their main savings account to a different bank in the last three years, according to the ACCC.

Tom says this “sticky” consumer behaviour means big banks don’t have to put up competitive offers to hold onto customers.

“The incentive to gain more customers on good deals doesn’t necessarily outweigh the value of paying less interest to their already-existing savings account customer base,” he explains.

It is worth mentioning that at least some of the big four have upped their game recently, with new products from brands like ANZ making it into our lists of top performers.

Most savers tend to stick to their current bank, meaning there’s little incentive for banks to offer higher rates.

Smaller institutions, meanwhile, are often trying to get established in the banking market, so are more willing to offer better rates.

Peoples’ savings can also be a useful source of credit for these minor players.

“[They can], in particular, use savings deposits to finance their lending activities, as it can be a lower cost source of credit for them,” Tom says.Ìý

“This creates more motivation to obtain a greater share of the savings market, even if it means paying out more interest to customers.”

Are smaller banks safe?

Tom says anyone unsure about giving their savings to a smaller, lesser-known institution should know there are extensive rules in place to protect deposits

“Banks are not allowed to play fast and loose with our savings,” he explains. “The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) imposes strict capital requirements that make the risk of a bank going bust extremely small.”

And if an institution does run into trouble, the federal government’s Financial Claims Scheme (FCS) is designed to guarantee the safety of the first $250,000 of your savings, as long as you’ve deposited the money with a regulated bank.

Our work to help savers

ÌÇÐÄVlog is advocating for changes to help you get more value from your savings account.

Following campaigning from ÌÇÐÄVlog and other consumer organisations, the federal government announced in June that it would be making changes to the savings sector to “help Australians get a better deal on banking products”.

Among the reforms being floated is a requirement on banks to reduce the barriers customers face when switching savings accounts and regulations to make institutions tell customers when the rate on their savings account is changing.

Tom is part of the team meeting with the government to discuss its ideas and he says ÌÇÐÄVlog is pushing for extra initiatives.

“We’ve been encouraging them to look at making the banks automatically move customers who are on objectively worse deals into better accounts they offer, on an opt-out basis,” he says.

“People who don’t have the financial nous or time to shop around and find better deals shouldn’t be left worse off.”

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The best fee-free bank accounts /money/banking/savings-options/articles/top-fee-free-bank-accounts Sun, 19 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000 /uncategorized/post/top-fee-free-bank-accounts/ Getting stung just for keeping your money in the bank? Free yourself from fees with these wallet-friendly transaction options.

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Need to know

  • If your bank is charging you regular account-keeping or access fees, you might like to switch to a no-fee option
  • Many banks, including the big four, offer transaction accounts that don't charge these fees, but these sometimes come with conditions
  • Many smaller banks offer accounts that don't come with admin fees or any conditions

On this page:

Ongoing account-keeping fees charged by banks are chipping away at our savings at a time when, according to ÌÇÐÄVlog’s September consumer pulse survey, 58% of us are worried about our level of disposable income.

With 96% of consumers also reporting their household expenses have gone up, most of us are on the hunt for savings. Bank accounts that sting you every month just for holding your money are an easy cull.

But, with a plethora of banks offering zero-fee everyday transaction accounts (each with their accompanying chunks of fine print), it can be time-consuming to find the ideal deposit destination.

To help, we’ve compiled a list of the best fee-free personal transaction accounts.

Fee-free options from the big four

If you’re looking to open a no-fee transaction account at one of Australia’s big four institutions, your options are limited.

Pretty much all of these banks require you to meet certain conditions in return for waiving monthly fees on their transaction accounts.

These range from depositing a certain amount per month or being of a certain age, to only using a particular app instead of standard net banking.Ìý

NAB’s Classic Banking Account is the least restrictive and only charges monthly fees if you opt for a platinum debit card over the bank’s regular Visa offering.

This is where each of the big four stand on offering no-fee transaction accounts:

ANZ

ANZ Plus Transaction Account – no monthly feeÌý(account only accessible through the ANZ Plus app and not through standard ANZ online banking).

Access Advantage – $5 monthly feeÌý(waived if you deposit at least $2000 per month, are under 25 or over 60, are a student, are receiving certain government support payments, or meet other criteria).

Commonwealth BankÌý

Everyday Account Smart Access – $4 monthly feeÌý(waived if you deposit at least $2000 per month, are under 30, are a student or apprentice, are receiving certain pension payments, or meet other criteria).

NAB

Classic banking account – no monthly feeÌý(A $10 monthly card fee applies if you use the NAB Platinum Visa Debit card).

Retirement Account – no monthly feeÌý(For over 55s only).

Westpac

Choice account – $5 monthly feeÌý(waived if you deposit at least $2000 per month, are under 30, are a student, or hold certain concession cards). (Expatriates or customers new to Australia can also get a waiver for the first 12 months).

Many banks offer spending accounts that don’t charge fees, but can come with conditions.

The best fee-free accounts with other banks

Luckily, there are a bunch ofÌý banks outside of the big four that offer fee-free spending accounts without asking you to meet certain conditions.

We’ve compiled a list of personal transaction accounts for adults that don’t:Ìý

  • charge regular, ongoing monthly or annual account-keeping, service or admin fees.
  • charge debit card access fees, or set requirements or limitations on the number of deposits or transactions.
  • require you to be a student, concession card holder, pension recipient or of a certain age.Ìý
  • require you to have a home loan with the institution.
  • require you to be a current or former worker in a particular sector, (such as the emergency services) or require you to be related to someone who meets this criteria.Ìý
  • require you to be an Australian university graduate.

Before you start making deposits, it’s important to check if an account will work for you. While some of these options pay interest on deposits, others don’t, and while they don’t charge you account-keeping fees, they might slug you for other services or for certain transactions.

Text-only accessible version

AMP – Access Account

Australian Military Bank – Access Account

Australian Mutual Bank – Transaction Account

Australian Unity – Transaction Account

Auswide Bank – Instant Access Account

Bank First – Everyday Account

Bank of Melbourne – Complete Freedom Account

Bank of Queensland – Everyday Account

BankSA – Complete Freedom Account

Bankwest – Easy Transaction Account

BCU Bank – Access Account

Beyond Bank – Purple Transactor

BOQ Specialist – Everyday Plus Account, One Account

Credit Union SA – Access Account

Defence Bank – Everyday Access

Gateway Bank – Edge Transaction Account

Goldfields Money – Essential Account

Great Southern Bank – Everyday Edge Account

Greater Bank – Access Account

Heritage Bank – Simply Access

HSBC – Day to Day Account, Everyday Global Account

Hume Bank – All Purpose Account, Essential Account

ING – Orange Everyday

Macquarie – Transaction Account

MyState Bank – Glide Account

Newcastle Permanent – Everyday Account

Orange Credit Union – All Purpose Savings Account

P&N Bank – & Transaction Account, Easypay Access Account

People’s Choice – Everyday Account, Everyday Living Account

Qudos Bank – General Savings Account

RACQ Bank – Everyday Account

South West Slopes Credit Union – Everyday Account

St.George – Complete Freedom Account

Suncorp – Everyday Options Account, Carbon Insights Account

The Mutual Bank – Express Savings

UBank – Spend Account

Up – Everyday Account

Virgin Money – Go Account

Source: Mozo

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How to save for your kids’ education /money/banking/savings-options/articles/saving-for-childrens-education Wed, 18 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000 /uncategorized/post/saving-for-childrens-education/ Putting away money for school fees – is it as easy as ABC?

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Need to know

  • Starting your savings journey early is key
  • Savings accounts, paying off the mortgage and investments – there are many ways to saveÌý
  • 10 savings tips to help with school fees

All parents know that school and university fees can be expensive. But saving for your kids’ education doesn’t have to drain the bank account.Ìý

The trick is to start saving early and to look at your options. Read on to kickstart your savings.

How much are school fees going to cost?

Estimate how much you’ll need based on how old your kids are, whether you want to send them to a private or government school, and if you’re saving for their primary, secondary or tertiary education – or all three.Ìý

Primary school fees will cost less than high school and university fees, and there’s a wide range of fees charged by types of private schools.

It’s also worth considering other costs like childcare fees and paying off debts like credit cards.

Start saving early for school and university fees

The best time to start saving is when your child is born or even earlier. If that’s not an option, then like any other long-term savings goal, the best time to start is now.Ìý

  • Make a budget. Try theÌýÌýto get started.
  • Decide how much you can put aside each week.
  • Increase the amount you put aside each year to account for inflation.

There are a few ways you can achieve your savings goals. It could be as simple as setting up a direct debit from your account and deducting a weekly amount into aÌýhigh interest savings account.

You could also make lump-sum contributions a few times a year, such as your annual tax refund.

Savings options

Pay off your mortgage

Paying off your mortgage as quickly as possible saves you interest and frees up your cash. The interest saved on your mortgage, depending on your interest rate, is an after-tax return.Ìý

So that you have access to the money for school fees, you need a mortgage with:Ìý

  • a redraw facility with low or no feesÌý
  • an offset account.Ìý

Although tempting, you have to be disciplined and can’t use the money for other expenses if you want to achieve your saving goals.

Investments

Investments such as insurance bonds, managed funds and shares can be a way to set money aside for your kids’ education.Ìý

But before you dive in, consider these points:

  • How flexible is the investment?
  • How long is your investment timeframe? If it’s close to the time you’ll need access to the funds, consider moving the money into a more accessible investment such as an online savings account.
  • What are the costs, such as brokerage, entry and ongoing management fees?Ìý
  • Get financial or tax advice. Setting up your investment strategy and considering franking credits and tax rates can be quite complex.

10 money-saving tips

  • Talk to your kids about money, especially the difference between needs and wants. Not only will it make things easier when you have to say no, you’re also teaching them vital life skills. Check out for some helpful tips.Ìý
  • If you want your kids to attend a private high school, consider sending them to your local public primary school to save money for their secondary and tertiary education.
  • If possible, consider walking your kids to school instead of dropping them off by car. Apply for a concession card if your child uses public transport to get to school.
  • Check out second-hand uniforms and textbooks. They’re usually available from the school office or from other parents with older children at the school. Also consider if cheap T-shirts from department stores match your school’s uniform colours.
  • Make a list and compare prices before buying school supplies. Check out our money-saving school supply tips.
  • Compare school laptops. Microsoft offers discounted prices for educational purposes, and some retailers offer education ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) discounts for specific devices. Your school may also have some devices for loan. See how to find the best laptop for school for more information.Ìý
  • Get school shoes during sales. Trainers (runners) can be an excellent option if the uniform policy allows them. See how to buy the best school shoes for our tips.Ìý
  • Limit canteen lunches and pre-packaged snacks. Try cooking big batches of muffins, pastries and slices for the freezer, defrost overnight and match with a serving of fruit and vegie sticks with dip for a healthy school lunch option. To make sandwiches more interesting, use a variety of breads, including wholemeal, white, rye, rolls, wraps, pita, bagels, focaccia and rice cakes.Ìý
  • Limit after-school activities and make sure you get a free try-out session before paying for the term.
  • Use free ‘lite’ versions of educational apps before buying the full version. Check out our tips on what to look for in educational apps.

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