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Online Saving Accounts - Features to look for

By Richard Greenwood

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Published: 19Jul2007
Word count: 654
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Current research figures suggest that over 80% of all internet users do online banking, and that the demand for the online savings account is at an all time high. Online banking has created some win-win situations for both the banks and for consumers. Online only banks have significantly lower overheads than traditional banks as they do away with the need for expensive branch networks. The win for consumers not only comes in the form of added convenience with access to your account 24/7 but because banks can pass the savings onto consumers in the form of lower fees and higher returns. The key reason quoted for the attractiveness of the online savings account, is the higher interest earnings draw card.

When selecting an online savings account, there is no one size fits all product. Your financial behaviour is a key factor in choosing an online savings account- especially in as far as transacting volume and saving patterns are concerned.

Here are some of the things to look for when comparing online savings accounts.

Interest Rates: Check the interest rates payable on the account and compare them to others on the market to ensure they are competitive. Make sure you know if the interest rate is a standard variable rate or simply an introductory rate for a fixed period, e.g. 6% for 12 months. Check how interest is calculated and paid. The most common method used is to calculate interest daily and for it to be paid monthly.

Minimum Deposit: Look out for the minimum deposit required when opening an account. Many online high interest saving accounts have no minimum deposit required but there are some that may require an initial lump sum, say $2,000 to open the account.

Account Fees: Check whether there is any fees payable on the account. These may be in the form of a monthly account fee or usage related fees such as charges for making a transaction or contacting customer services via phone instead of online.

Interest Penalties: There may be indirect account fees payable too. Look out for online saving accounts that charge an interest penalty when withdrawing money from your account. A common penalty is that you may earn no interest for the entire month in which a withdrawal is made.

Read beyond the headlines: Make sure you understand the full details of the online savings account offer that you see. A promotion may advertise 'earn up to 6% interest'. In this case you'd want to see if all your money would be earning the 6%. Some banks have a range of interest rates that apply depending on how much money you have in the account. Ideally every dollar should be earning the same high interest rate.

Accessing your money: Before applying for an account, think about how you may need to access the money and how quickly you'd need to access it. Many online banks work by linking your savings account to your normal everyday bank account. This is cost effective and often fee free but may take a couple of days for the money to get to your bank account. Some online banks provide an ATM card providing instant access to your funds.

Build your savings faster: It's easier to set up an online savings account and then neglect to add money on a regular basis. When applying for an account you should think about setting up a regular direct debit from your everyday bank account. By making a regular deposit each month you'll soon find your savings and interest earnings starting to add up.

The Good News: The good news is that many of the online saving account offers on the market are very competitive and you will find a range of offers with high interest rates, no minimum balance requirements and no fees or penalties. Just be sure to compare the variety of online savings accounts available before you apply online.

Richard Greenwood is founder of http://www.high-interest-saving-account.com.au. The site allows users to compare high interest online saving accounts reviewing features such as interest rates, minimum deposit and fees.

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