5 Benefits of a Savings Account and Who Should Open One?
A savings account is essential for every individual's banking needs. It is the most used and basic bank account that a person can invest in. The savings account is a type of deposit account a bank offers to keep your money safe while simultaneously providing interest on the balance amount.
Banks offer savings accounts that act as security, account manager and financial safety net for your money. In this article, we will discuss all the benefits of a savings account, its features, and more.
What Are the Benefits of Multiple Savings Accounts?
There are no restrictions on the number of savings accounts anyone can open in India. Having multiple savings accounts can significantly improve how you manage your finances.
Here is a list of the important benefits of having multiple savings accounts:
1. Helps in the Management of Finances
Everyone uses a savings account for different financial goals, such as a child's education, emergency fund, monthly expenses, etc. Keeping the money in separate savings accounts will improve your financial management immensely. It will be easier for you to track your savings for different goals and objectives.
2. Get the Best Interest Rate Yields
Having multiple savings accounts in different banks can help you earn better interest returns on your investment. Diversify your savings account portfolio by keeping your money on online banks with higher interest yields. It can be used as a short-term investment strategy; having multiple accounts can improve your savings.
3. Reduces Spending
Having a lot of money in a single savings account can lead to unnecessary spending. When you keep the savings balance in multiple accounts, you will better understand what savings account funds are off-limits from spending. Applying this strategy will provide you with a better understanding of spending and savings priorities.
4. Avail Bonuses by Opening New Savings Accounts
Some banks offer bonuses for opening new savings accounts in their banks, which serves as one of the biggest advantages of a savings account. They use this strategy to attract new customers. These bonuses can be in the form of higher interest rates, monetary bonuses, discount offers and credit cards with higher limits.
5. Get Deposit Insurances
Banks offer deposit insurance on your savings account. Earlier, the deposit insurance used to be ₹1 lakh; nowadays, according to the new regulations by the RBI, it has been increased to ₹5 lakh.
What Are the Features of a Savings Account?
Here is a list of the essential features provided by banks on savings accounts:
Banks and NBFCs provide passbook and cheque books with savings accounts.
Savings accounts offer all types of transactions. You can receive payments and make payments with your savings account.
Auto debits and auto credits can be set up with the ECS NACH facilities from your savings accounts.
Savings bank accounts offer holders Internet banking and mobile banking access.
Banks and NBFCs offer ATM and debit cards to savings bank account holders.
A savings bank account offers interest on the account balance.
It provides customers with the freedom to withdraw funds at any time and any place.
You can pay bills from your savings account with UPI.
Banks and NBFCs send transaction alerts to customers via messages and mail.
What Is the Importance of a Savings Account?
Here is a list of factors that make savings account an important part of your financial planning:
Reduces Risk: The savings account is trusted by account holders all around the world. It is considered a low-risk option to keep funds. The savings account offers liquidity options like no other bank account. Liquidity is the reason for the low-interest yield of the savings accounts.
Another importance of a savings account is you can get insurance of ₹5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation.
Provides Special Services: Banks and NBFCs offer value-added special services and benefits with a savings account. They provide discounts on purchases via debit cards with special merchants. Recently, some banks provide basic general insurance such as medical and travel insurance at the time of opening.
Generates Income: Banks offer interest on the balance of savings accounts. The interest yield is low but still better than current accounts. According to the regulations by the RBI, banks can provide interest rates from 2.5% to 7% on savings accounts. Some banks offer higher interest rates than others; remember this factor while opening a savings account.
Easy Transaction: The facility of easy transactions is the most important factor of a savings account. Making deposits and withdrawals are very easy on a savings account. Generally, banks do not issue any limits or restrictions on the number of transactions for savings accounts.
Eases Out Your Financial Planning: Opening a savings account can help you to ease your financial planning. You can initiate auto-debit and credit features of your savings account to ease your monthly bill payments.
What Are the Benefits of a Savings Account?
Savings Account provides a lot of benefits to the account holders, making it a must for every individual. Following are the benefits of savings account you should keep in mind while opening a new account:
Provides Liquidity: High liquidity is considered the most important benefit of savings accounts. You can make transactions at any time and any place. Savings accounts allow you to pay directly to the receiver's bank account or receive money in your account. Bank-issued debit cards help you withdraw cash anytime and pay for your online and offline shopping bills.
Provides Safety: Savings bank accounts offer safety for you to park your funds. You do no need to keep cash at home at all times. Relieving your tension of possible stealing or loss of cash. You can get flexibility and security together for your funds by opening a savings account.
Helps Earn Interests: Cash in hand does not generate any income. However, keeping the money in a savings account will generate income through interest. The rate of interest on Savings Accounts varies for each bank. It may be lower than FDs or mutual funds but offers stability.
Gives Access to International Debit Cards: Most banks offer debit cards with their savings account. Debit cards offer you to make purchases without the need to carry cash. There are some banks that offer international debit cards to their customers. You can make purchases through debit cards while availing discounts from particular vendors.
Online Transactions: Due to the growing popularity of online shopping, online transactions have become an integral part of our daily finances. The online transaction benefit of a savings account helps to make your purchases and payments easier. With the emergence of UPI, online transactions in India have never been easier.
Avail Benefits of Government Schemes: It is essential to have a savings bank account to avail the benefits of government schemes and subsidies in India. Several government schemes require direct fund transfers to the personal accounts of beneficiaries. It removes the middlemen so that the beneficiary receives the whole fund.
Getting a Loan: If you maintain a savings account at a bank for a long time, you can get loans easily because of the loyalty you have built by having a history with the organisation.
Easy to Open: Nowadays, it has become very easy to open a savings account. There are some banks that send their representatives to visit homes to open savings bank accounts.
Who Should Open a Savings Account?
From children to senior citizens, anyone can open a savings account. It is an essential tool for everyone who wants to manage their finances efficiently. Savings accounts offer safety while providing you with interest returns. Another benefit of a savings account is that there are no limitations on the number of accounts you can open.
For many people, a savings account is their first experience with the banking and finance system. It helps with the day-to-day banking needs of individuals. Since you now have an extensive idea about the benefits of a savings account, go to your nearest bank to start your own savings account.
FAQs About Savings Accounts Benefits
How to choose the best savings account?
Most savings accounts offer similar services, but they differ in terms of interest rate yield, minimum balance requirement, service charges and customer service. Before you open a savings account in a bank or NBFC, know about all the benefits they are offering for the savings account available.
What documents do you need to open a savings account in India?
The documents required to open a savings account in India are identity proofs such as a passport, permanent driving licence, voter Id, Aadhaar card, PAN card, NREGA job card and residence proof documents such as telephone bill, electricity bill, gas pipeline bill, water bill, and property tax bill. Along with these, you need to provide recent passport-size photos.
What are the eligibility criteria for opening a savings account?
There are no eligibility criteria for opening a savings account in India. Anybody from a kid to a senior citizen can open a savings account. If you are less than 18 years old, you need your parent's permission for any transaction you want to make. If you are 18 years of age, you can have an independent savings account.