These savings accounts reward you with extra interest when you display good savings habits. Some accounts even offer additional rewards, like points or cash back.
Reward saver accounts are more commonly known as bonus savers, as they offer a bonus interest rate.
When you meet the account conditions, often by making regular depoisits, you'll be rewarded with extra interest.
Be aware that if you don't meet the account conditions, the standard interest rate offered is very low.
What is a reward saver account?
A reward saver account is a savings account that offers some kind of special reward, usually in the form of extra interest. These are commonly called bonus savings accounts.
These accounts will reward you with a higher interest rate when you meet certain requirements. Often this involves depositing a certain amount of money into the account each month and restricting withdrawals.
Some accounts will offer additional rewards as well as extra interest. For example, they may offer cash back or points which you can use towards discounts at partner brands.
Note that if you're looking for reward points, such as Velocity Points or Qantas Points, these are offered with rewards credit cards not savings accounts.
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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?
This is an extra interest rate that's offered to new customers for a short period of time on top of the ongoing standard variable rate. It's usually only available for the first 4-5 months after opening the account, and there are usually no conditions to meet to get this.
It acts as an incentive or a reward for switching your savings to the new account - which is why it's for new customers only.
After the introductory period ends you'll get the standard ongoing rate. These are usually quite decent, especially considering there are no conditions to meet, however they're certainly not as high as what you could get with an ongoing bonus rate.
Ongoing bonus interest
This is extra interest that's available every month when you meet the account conditions. The monthly bonus interest acts as a reward for showing good savings habits.
The most common conditions you'll see include depositing a certain amount of money each month (such as $1,000), restricting withdrawals and growing your balance. These do change between accounts, so make sure you choose one with conditions that you can easily meet.
If you don't meet the conditions one month you won't get the reward of bonus interest, and will instead only earn the standard ongoing rate. Be aware that these rates are often very low, sometimes even 0% p.a.
Welcome cash back
Some savings accounts may offer cash back as a one-off special offer when you first open the account. For example, you might get a one-off reward of $50 cash when you first open the account.
These aren't always available, so if you're looking for an account it could be worth keeping your eye out for any special cash back reward offers before you switch.
How much do you have in savings?
Finder data found the average Aussie has $33,872 in cash savings. Australian men have an average of $44,269 in cash savings, while women hold an average of $23,750.
Incentive to save. The reward of extra interest provides a good motivation to save money.
Higher interest rate. Reward saver accounts with bonus interest give you a higher interest rate than standard savings accounts.
No fees. Savings accounts do not have monthly account keeping fees.
Cons
Conditions to meet. You might find it hard to meet the monthly conditions in order to get the reward of more interest.
No reward points. Unlike credit cards, savings accounts don't allow you to collect reward points for popular programs like Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
No banks current offer interest rates as high as 7% on savings accounts.
No, you typically can't earn rewards points for programs like Velocity Frequent Flyer with a savings account. These points are earned by spending money, not saving money, and are most often available via a credit card.
A rewards savings account is a savings account that provides higher interest rates as a reward for meeting certain criteria, such as making a minimum deposit each month and avoiding withdrawals. This incentivises saving by offering a bonus interest rate.
Yes, you can withdraw money from an incentive saver account, but doing so may result in losing the bonus interest for that month, depending on the terms and conditions of the account you've chosen. These accounts typically reward you with a higher interest rate if you do not make any withdrawals during the month.
Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards.
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