Last year’s three reductions to the cash rate have not been kind to savings accounts. And with precautionary savings on the rise, banks have felt little pressure to compete for depositors by offering high rates. Right now, the average introductory bonus rate sits at a paltry 0.82% p.a., while the average ongoing bonus rate is even lower at 0.76% p.a.
The Westpac Life account and NAB reward Saver continue to lead among offerings from the major banks, giving savers interest rates of 0.55% p.a. so long as a few requirements are met. For those aged between 18 and 29, the maximum rate on the Westpac Life account jumps up to a staggering 3.00% p.a. However, this only applies to balances up to $30,000, and the monthly conditions are a bit more numerous.
Bank of Queensland also offers rates of 3.00% with its Fast Track Starter Account. Like the Westpac Life account, this is also only available to young Australians, specifically those aged 14 to 24, and the maximum rate only applies to balances up to $10,000.
For Australians who don't meet the age requirements for the Life account, there are still a few worthwhile options out there. ING currently offers an ongoing bonus rate of 1.35% p.a., so long as monthly conditions are met. Rabobank offers an introductory rate of 1.75% p.a. - the highest in our database - which is available for the first 4 months before reverting to 0.30% p.a. And the Macquarie savings account comes with a base rate of 1.20% p.a., which is unconditional for balances up to $250,000.
To find out how interest rates are tracking in other banking products for January, check out our snapshot for Home Loan Interest Rates, Personal Loan Interest Rates, Car Loan Interest Rates and Term Deposit Interest Rates.
Search promoted savings accounts below or do a full Mozo database search. Advertiser disclosure.
1.20% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Everyday or Glide transaction accounts.
1.20% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Everyday or Glide transaction accounts.
Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2020 in the Regular Saver category.^ No monthly account fees and no minimum balance requirements.
0.90% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
No withdrawals in the month. Bonus rate for first 4 months, reverting to 0.05% rate after*
0.90% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
No withdrawals in the month. Bonus rate for first 4 months, reverting to 0.05% rate after*
$0 monthly account fee. Link to any Australian bank account.
0.80% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
0.01% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
0.80% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
0.01% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Minimum deposit of $200 and no withdrawals in the month.
Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. Automatic payment feature. No minimum opening balance needed.
1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
0% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Make 5 or more successful card purchases per calendar month using your Up debit card and digital wallets (ATM transactions excluded).
1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
0% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Make 5 or more successful card purchases per calendar month using your Up debit card and digital wallets (ATM transactions excluded).
No monthly fees and earn up to 1.10% interest when you make 5 card purchases per calendar month. Automatically receive a $5 bonus into your new Up account when you use the special code MOZO5SAVE at sign up.
0.85% p.a. (for $0 to $5,000,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
0.85% p.a. (for $0 to $5,000,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Increase balance by at least $300 in the month
No upfront or ongoing fees. Unlimited free transactions. Great for regular contributions.
Hot DealOnly available between the ages of 14 - 24 years
3.00% p.a. (for $1 to $10,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Ongoing bonus rate applied and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked accountif in the previous month $200 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account.
14 to 24 years
3.00% p.a. (for $1 to $10,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Ongoing bonus rate applied and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked accountif in the previous month $200 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account.
3.00 %P.A. Bonus Interest on balances up to $10,000 when the Bonus Criteria is met. Free withdrawals to your linked Day2Day Account while still earning Bonus Interest. Only available between the ages of 14 - 24 years.
1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $500,000)
0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $500,000)
0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
No account keeping fees. No minimum balance required. Unlimited phone and internet transactions.
1.05% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Ongoing bonus rate applied if in the previous month $1,000 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked account.
1.05% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Ongoing bonus rate applied if in the previous month $1,000 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked account.
No minimum balance required. Winner of a 2020 Mozo Experts Choice Awards in the Regular Saver category. ^
No Current Offer
0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
No Current Offer
0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
An easy, everyday banking account packed with flexible options to help you spend, budget and save better. Create up to 9 sub accounts.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings accounts Awards
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Reviews, news, tips and guides to help find the best savings account for you.
A savings account is a low risk account where you can stash the savings that you don’t plan to use for daily expenses. Generally speaking, savings accounts usually require a low minimum balance, and are a good way to keep your money safe but still accessible.
Most savings accounts calculate and compound interest daily. This means that the amount of interest you earn is constantly growing, and you can boost it by making regular deposits into your savings account.
For example, if you have $1,000 in a savings account with an interest rate of 2.0% p.a., you’ll earn $20 in interest each year. If you were to add monthly deposits of $175, you could double your interest. Check out our savings calculator to work out what your interest rate is earning you.
Different types of savings accounts will have different interest rates attached to them. Here are some of the popular types of savings accounts and what interest rate you might expect from them.
For technology-savvy savers, online savings accounts are a great way to maximise your interest. Online banking cuts out overhead costs for the banks, which usually means higher interest rates and lower (if any) fees for you.
Offered as incentive to open an account, introductory interest rates usually apply for a period of 3-6 months from the time when you open the account. Intro rates are usually very high, but remember to check the standard rate as well before you open an account, because after the initial introductory period your interest will go back to the standard rate. An account with a high introductory rate is perfect if you’re saving for a short term goal, like a new car or a shopping spree.
These rates are offered as long as you meet certain conditions, usually something like a monthly minimum deposit or maximum withdrawal limit. Some only require you to make a certain amount of purchases each month using your linked everyday transaction account.
Bonus interest rates are higher than the account’s standard rate, sometimes by quite a bit, so it's worth checking out what you might have to do to be eligible. Knowing that your high interest rate may be conditional upon not withdrawing from your account is also a great motivator to stick to your budget!
If you want an account that you can leave your savings in for a longer period of time and you’re not interested in switching around to chase introductory or bonus rates, look for a savings account with a high standard interest rate. Take a look at Mozo’s long term savings account comparison to find out which bank is offering the best savings interest rates at the moment.
It’s never too early to introduce your kids to the importance of saving! You can start by opening a kids savings account. While these accounts generally don’t have any fees, and their introductory or bonus rates are competitive, these rates also often depend on conditions like a monthly minimum deposit. If you’re not sure that your child can meet the requirements, it's better to search for an account with a higher standard interest rate.
We've covered what savings accounts are and the types of interest they offer, but there might still be one or two things you're in the dark about. Below, we've compiled a few key questions to put you on the right track to finding the perfect savings account.
Like home loans and term deposits, savings account rates move in line with the cash rate. When the Reserve Bank reduces official interest rates, banks are usually quick to cut their savings rates in kind. If, however, the RBA was to raise official interest rates, you can generally expect much more attractive returns on your savings.
There are a few key features to keep in mind when you’re shopping around for a competitive savings account. While securing the highest possible interest rate might seem like the most important thing, it can sometimes be a bit trickier than that. Keep an eye on these things when choosing a savings account:
If you’re looking to maximise your savings, earning interest is one of the easiest and low-risk ways to do it. Use some of these handy tips to help you make the most of your savings account interest rate.
You need to take a lot of things into account when choosing the right savings account for you: bonus and introductory interest rates, ongoing interest rates, fees and conditions. You’ll also need to know what kind of deposits your budget allows for and how you want to use your account. It can all seem a little overwhelming, so here at Mozo, we’ve taken some of the hard work out of it for you with these handy resources:
You can also find out more about interest rates, how they work and what they mean for you by visiting our interest rate guides pages.
