Learn how to maximise your savings

Many of us may not have given that much thought about how to maximise our savings. When you have worked hard to save, it makes sense be smart about where you put your money.

In most cases, there are two main options available for those who have saving goals or want to maximise their interest returns after a few years of saving. This is where term deposits and savings accounts can help; so, which one do you choose?

Choosing a term deposit or savings account

You may have heard of term deposits, but what are they exactly? Some of you might know people who have invested savings into these accounts which are often products offered by banks, credit unions or building societies. In most cases, your money is invested for a fixed term and you can get a fixed rate of interest over that term¹.

When money is deposited into a term deposit, your money is there for a pre-determined period which might range from 1 month to 5 years and the interest rate is unlikely to change for that nominated period of time provided that the customer has met all the terms and conditions of that particular product².

On the other hand, a high-interest savings account can vary their interest rates based on the discretion of your chosen financial institution; therefore, the rate of return from interest isn’t locked in.

Things to consider 

IMB Bank is an Authorised Deposit-taking Institution (ADI) and can offer both term deposits³ and high-interest savings accounts. If you are considering investing in either a term deposit account or a savings account⁴, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has a list of ADIs where IMB Bank is a registered ADI.

Often, financial institutions require a minimum initial deposit amount. This amount may vary from one financial institution to another, and you might like to consider all the options available to you to make an informed decision.

What to choose when you need a flexible option

With term deposits, there usually is a minimum tenure period and in most cases, this can’t be said for a savings account. With a savings account, you may need to keep your money within the account for a given period of time to maximise the interest paid into the account. Despite this, the flexibility of a savings account can allow you to access to your funds in an emergency. There are usually no penalties for withdrawing these funds.

With a term deposit, you will need to consider how prepared you are to limit your access to your funds during the term of your deposit. If you encounter an emergency situation where you need access to your savings, consider the potential fees and charges that you may incur for early access to your term deposit.

Invest savings for maximum interest return

If you’re looking to invest your savings for maximum return of interest, you don’t necessarily have to have one account or the other. In fact, you can have the option of using both types of accounts to your advantage. This can allow you to have the security of the term deposit in one account, but also, the flexibility of another savings account if you need to access your funds during emergencies. This strategy may take some more advanced financial acumen which an IMB Financial Planner might be able to assist with.
 

Get started

Sources:

1 - Money Smart