Is a savings account worth it in 2023?
![person poking a piggy bank containing high interest savings accounts](https://cdn.mozo.com.au/images/atwood/12771/GettyImages-1343374176%202.jpg)
For high interest rate chasers, savings accounts are pretty appealing right now. Following multiple cash rate hikes in 2022, rates have continued to increase.
It didn’t take us long to come up with five reasons to consider a savings account. Here’s our summary of why savings accounts are still worth it in 2023.
A piggy bank, with extra room
When all is said and done, a savings account is basically a modern day piggy bank with a bit of extra room. It’s a safe place to stash funds out of reach, in preparation for a rainy day.
In Australia, all authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) are backed by the federal government’s Financial Claims Scheme. In other words, that’s all banks, mutual banks and credit unions. Under the scheme, deposits per customer per ADI are backed by the government up to $250,000. That means that if your bank were to fail, up to $250,000 of your money would be secure. So just like a piggy bank on your bedside table, a savings account is pretty safe.
Money out of sight, out of mind
As most savings accounts don’t come with a linked debit card, accessing funds at a moment’s notice is harder. Impulse purchases are difficult to make when you don’t have access to an ATM or the option to make tap and go payments. To access savings, usually you will have to transfer them across to an everyday transaction account.
It’s not ideal to move money out of your savings, and banks will even discourage it. Often you will be hit with either a transfer fee or the interest rate on the savings account will be reduced dramatically. For all these reasons, a savings account really becomes a place to keep money out of sight and out of mind.
Low risk, low maintenance
Compared to share trading and buying on credit, an emergency savings fund is a fairly low risk way to be prepared for tough times. As mentioned above, ADI-licenced banks are backed by the Financial Claims Guarantee scheme too. So if you’re not big on investing or you’re worried about racking up debt with a credit card, a savings account could be a less stress-inducing option.
As well as being low risk, savings accounts are also often low maintenance. The only thing you usually have to remember is to deposit money regularly into your stash. A number of banks even have the option to set up automatic bank transfers, meaning you might not even have to worry about remembering that!
Savings tools to write home about
In 2023 there are many savings account that come with nifty tools to help you stash cash. Features that come with some accounts these days include roundup tools, spending insights and reminders to pay money in.
These extra features can encourage you to save more and regularly. Things like spending trackers and insights are also useful to help paint a bigger picture of what you spend your money on, on a daily basis. You could even use the insights to help you cut back.
A bit of interest on the side
Finally, while rates are low at the moment, it is still possible to earn a bit of interest on your savings. For example, at the moment the average ongoing interest rate for savings accounts tracked in the Mozo database is 2.48% p.a.*
Looking for a new savings account? Then head to Mozo’s compare savings accounts page to review what accounts are on offer right now.
Compare savings accounts
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- High Interest Savings - 2024
Savings Maximiser
5.50% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
0.55% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
For customers who have an Orange Everyday account, deposit $1000 into a personal ING account, make 5 eligible transactions and grow their nominated Savings Maximiser account each month.
Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria. No ING fees to pay. Save even more with ING Everyday Round Up. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
CompareCompareSavings Maximiser
Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria. No ING fees to pay. Save even more with ING Everyday Round Up. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
- Maximum rate
- 5.50% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.55% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- For customers who deposit $1000 from an external source into a personal ING account (excluding Orange One and Living Super), make 5 eligible transactions and grow their nominated Savings Maximiser account each month so there is more in the account at the end of the month than there was at the start of each month (excluding interest). The total bonus interest rate is available on balances up to $100,000 on one Savings Maximiser the next month after meeting eligibility.
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must be linked to an Orange Everyday transaction account to receive the bonus rate. Where multiple Savings Maximiser Accounts are held, the bonus rate is only applied to one nominated account.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the ING Savings Maximiser
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Reward Saver Account
5.25% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
0% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Intro bonus rate of 5.25% for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months, reverting to 3.25%. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals.
Introductory bonus rate for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals. Start your account online in under 10 minutes and earn interest on balances up to $1,000,000 (T&Cs apply). No monthly account fees, helping you save smarter and faster.
CompareCompareReward Saver Account
Introductory bonus rate for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals. Start your account online in under 10 minutes and earn interest on balances up to $1,000,000 (T&Cs apply). No monthly account fees, helping you save smarter and faster.
- Maximum rate
- 5.25% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Intro bonus rate of 5.25% for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months, reverting to 3.25%. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals.
- Access
- ATM, EFTPOS, Visa Debit, Cheque book, BPay, Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking, Bank@Post
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the IMB Bank Reward Saver Account
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Savings Account
5.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
4.75% p.a.(for $0 to $1,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus variable rate is available for the first 4 months.
Competitive introductory variable rate for first 4 months (on deposits up to $250,000). No account keeping fees to pay. Multiple 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
CompareCompareSavings Account
Competitive introductory variable rate for first 4 months (on deposits up to $250,000). No account keeping fees to pay. Multiple 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
- Maximum rate
- 5.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 4.75% p.a.(for $0 to $1,000,000)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus variable rate is available for the first 4 months.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must have a Macquarie Transaction Account to link with.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Macquarie Savings Account
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Kick Start Savings - 2024
High Interest Savings Account
5.75% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
4.40% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
Reward yourself with a higher rate for your good savings habits with the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account. No Account keeping fees. No minimum balance. Support Aussie farmers with every dollar you save.
CompareCompareHigh Interest Savings Account
Reward yourself with a higher rate for your good savings habits with the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account. No Account keeping fees. No minimum balance. Support Aussie farmers with every dollar you save.
- Maximum rate
- 5.75% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
- standard interest rate
- 4.40% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening, reverting to standard variable rate. Rate shown is for Personal customers and is subject to change. Different rates apply to Business/SMSF customers.
- Access
- Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account
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Savings+Bonus
5.00% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
2.00% p.a.(for $0 to $250,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Minimum $100 monthly deposit and no withdrawals to earn bonus interest each month.
Earn a generous interest rate on your at-call savings (T&Cs apply). Interest is calculated daily and paid to you monthly. A $5 monthly membership fee will not apply if your total account balances with First Option Bank exceed $1,000 or you have a credit card or loan with the bank.
CompareCompareSavings+Bonus
Earn a generous interest rate on your at-call savings (T&Cs apply). Interest is calculated daily and paid to you monthly. A $5 monthly membership fee will not apply if your total account balances with First Option Bank exceed $1,000 or you have a credit card or loan with the bank.
- Maximum rate
- 5.00% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 2.00% p.a.(for $0 to $250,000)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $5.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Minimum $100 monthly deposit and no withdrawals to earn bonus interest each month.
- Access
- -
- Minimum balance
- $1.00
- Other restrictions
- Must become a First Option Bank member to open an account.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the First Option Bank Savings+Bonus
Your selected savings accounts
Your selected savings accounts
Your selected savings accounts
Your selected savings accounts
Your selected savings accounts
*Average based on savings accounts tracked in the Mozo database, correct as of 12 January 2023.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Account Awards
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