What are the Benefits & Importance of Opening a Savings Account?

A savings account is one of the most popular investment options among people. This is due to two reasons – low to no risk of investment and availability of funds whenever required. It is also one of the basic options for people just starting to interact with banks and other financial institutions.

Savings accounts are easy to get started with and maintain. There are no complications of terms and conditions. However, you must maintain a minimum balance in your savings account to avoid penalties. There are several advantages of savings accounts. Find more about the benefits and features of a savings account in this blog.

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Features of Savings Account

Given below are some of the key features of a savings account:

Easy Accessibility: A savings account makes financial transactions easier as they are the base option for managing funds. Apart from using the account for making withdrawals at ATMs, you can now fulfil most of the payments online using your savings account.

Interest Earnings: You can earn interest on the amount parked in your savings account. The rate of interest varies between 3% to 7% from one bank to another. Apart from banks, there are several other factors that influence the interest rate, such as the amount in savings accounts and the repo rate.

Hassle-free Transactions: You can make easy transactions and withdraw cash from your savings account whenever you need money. There is no such maturity period or penalty. However, you should check with your bank for the limit on the amount and number of transactions which differs from one bank to another.

Debit Card & ATM Facility: Every savings account holder receives an ATM/ Debit Card linked to their account. You can use this card to make transactions from your account anywhere at any time. Also, you can withdraw funds from any other bank's ATM. So, you don't need to worry about carrying cash all the time anymore.

Net and Mobile Banking: You can now check your balance, recent transaction details, and other tasks via your online banking account. Also, you can use apps specific to your bank to perform the same tasks more conveniently.

Benefits of Savings Account

Apart from having the features mentioned above, a savings account has multiple benefits. Here are some of the most practical benefits of a savings account:

Safety: The funds deposited in a Savings Account remain untouched unless withdrawn or disbursed. This is the main reason why Savings Accounts offer relatively lower interest rates. Additionally, Savings Accounts are protected by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) for amounts up to Rs.1 lakh.

Liquidity: It is the main reason people choose a savings account over a fixed account or any other type of investment. You can make withdrawals or transfer funds whenever required. There is no limitation or penalty.

Simple and Easy Fund Transfer: Various methods of fund transfer are readily accessible through both Internet banking and mobile banking. Individuals with a savings bank account can utilise options such as RTGS, NEFT, IMPS, and UPI to transfer funds conveniently.

Joint Account (Optional): Maintaining a joint account is particularly beneficial for household finances, as it supports effective financial planning. Another key benefit is increased flexibility, as all the account holders have the authority to sign cheques and manage the account.

Auto Debit Facility (Optional): Customers can establish automatic debits for utility payments and bills through banks. This method offers a convenient way to ensure timely payments. You can use this facility for loan repayments to avoid missing out on EMIs and facing penalties.

Auto Credit Facility (Optional): One advantage of maintaining funds in a savings account is the ability to link it with a demat account and other investment instruments. By doing so, any income generated from dividends and interest is automatically deposited into the associated bank account.

Auto Sweep Facility (Optional): Many banks offer an automatic sweep facility, wherein funds exceeding a specific threshold are automatically converted into a fixed deposit. These funds accumulate interest at fixed deposit rates, typically higher than regular savings rates.

Benefits of Multiple Savings Accounts

Is having one savings account enough? It might be. But there are multiple reasons to have multiple savings accounts. Check them out below:

Focus on your goals: It is common to have various financial objectives, such as saving for a child's education, creating an emergency fund, covering monthly expenses, and more. Establishing separate accounts for each goal simplifies the process of managing and monitoring your savings for individual purposes.

Moreover, it minimises the risk of inadvertently using funds meant for one goal for another.

Secured Finances: In today's digital age, banks heavily rely on technology for accessing savings accounts. Even a minor technical issue can result in prolonged waiting times.

In such scenarios, having multiple accounts allows for convenient transactions through alternative accounts, reducing reliance on a single financial institution and ensuring uninterrupted operations.

Multiple Benefits: A common approach adopted by banks to attract new customers is providing bonuses and other perks to individuals who open new accounts.

Opening savings accounts at multiple banks increases the chances of earning multiple bonuses. The extra funds received as bonus can be directed towards your savings objectives.

Who Should Open a Savings Account?

A savings bank account is suitable for a wide range of individuals, including:

It is ideal for those who want to securely store their money while earning a modest interest rate.
Individuals looking for a safe avenue to accumulate funds for short-term goals, emergency funds, or regular expenses can benefit from a savings account.
It is also suitable for individuals who prefer liquidity and easy access to their funds.
Students, working professionals, homemakers, and retirees can all find value in opening a savings bank account to manage their finances effectively and meet their financial objectives.

A savings bank account offers liquidity, account bonuses, transaction flexibilities, and more. The number of benefits of savings accounts is convincing enough to go for it. Also, not to mention how easy and convenient a savings account is as an avenue for savings for individuals just getting started with their financial journey.

However, be sure to go through the terms and conditions carefully of the respective bank before opening a savings account with them to avoid any future complications.

FAQs about Benefits of Savings Accounts

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When is the interest accumulated credited to my savings account?

Usually, banks credit the interest accumulated on your savings account yearly or half-yearly. However, some banks, such as IDFC First, also credit the interest monthly.

Who can I open a Joint Savings Account with?

You can open a Joint Savings Account with anyone with valid documents and above 18 years of age. Minors are also eligible to be joint account holders but with either of their parents.

When will my savings account become inactive?

According to the regulations set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), an account is considered inactive if the account holder does not initiate any transactions (such as cash cheque payments, withdrawals at a branch/ATM, or fund transfers through Phone Banking/Internet Banking/ATMs) for a consecutive period of two years.

Can I use my savings account to open a Demat account?

Certainly, it is possible to open a Demat account by linking your savings account. Demat accounts are essential for trading in different stock market instruments and usually entail separate charges distinct from those of a savings account.

Can I transfer money from one savings account to another?

Yes, you can easily transfer money from one savings account to another. You can use any method for fund transfer - Cash/Cheque Deposit, IMPS, NEFT, or RTGS Transfer.