In South Africa, where household savings remain a national priority, there is a dire need to instil a savings culture. While there are various savings vehicles you could investigate, opening a savings account is undoubtedly one of the simplest.

But which savings account offers you the best deal? And should you opt for an open or fixed savings option?

Tip: To save more consider opening a tax-free savings account, here is all you need to know.

Justmoney compared the basic current savings account offerings from the big five banks, i.e. Absa, First National Bank (FNB), Standard bank, Capitec, and Nedbank.

Fixed Deposit Maximum nominal interest rate over 60 months 8.00% Minimum opening deposit of R10 000. Set up an automatically deducted payment from your NBT Bank Personal Checking account and receive a 0.125% rate deduction. Open Checking Account Learn More. Home Equity Line of Credit. We are offering introductory rates. The Fixed Deposit Account offers you a fixed investment term with competitive returns over the period of your investment. FNB Lesotho Limited branches can be found at the following locations. Fix interest rates Have the interest rate.

Here is a breakdown:

Open savings accounts

Based on the comparison table above, the Capitec Global One account boasts with the best interest earning potential as the highest in their interest rate range is capped at 9.25%. his stands head and shoulders above the rest in the market as FNB’s range cap follows at 6.30% and Absa at 3.70%. Nedbank came in at the other end of the stick as its interest rates proved lowest at 0.76%.

In addition to Capitec offering the best interest rates, it also has the lowest minimum deposit fee at R25. This again is a stand-out as Standard Bank, Nedbank, and Absa came in with double the fee at R50. FNB on the other hand ranks the most expensive of the lot at a R100 minimum deposit.

• Flexi Fixed Deposit (USD) Published at 2020-05-04 Amount 3 months 12 months 100 - 9 999. Please visit your nearest branch of First National Bank Ghana. Deposit interest rates Our deposit interest rates.
• Put it this way, is there an investment where one can get at least 7% to 7.33% interest and have that interest either automatically transferred into a savings account or otherwise. To close off, Im struggling to see the difference in options between 'Absa bank fixed deposits' and the money market.

From the above we can conclude that Capitec Global One account is the cheapest account with the best interest offering.

Fixed savings accounts

Based on the fixed account comparison, Capitec once again offers the best interest-earning potential at 9.25%. This is closely followed by the upper end of the interest ranges of Absa at 9%, Nedbank at 8.16%, and FNB at 8.70%. What’s important to note is that the interest depends on the period you are fixing your money for. Certain accounts such as the Standard Bank fixed deposit account offer between 1 – 18 months whereas others such as Absa and Capitec offer fixed options for up to 60 months.

The minimum deposit amounts range from the cheaper minimum deposit amounts of R1000 at Absa, Standard Bank, and Nedbank. Whereas Capitec and FNB offer fixed deposit accounts at a minimum deposit of R10,000.

What’s key to note is that the Capitec Global One account does have the added benefit of a fixed savings pocket, which does not require a minimum deposit of R10 000, but instead allows you to tailor the amount to your need.

Based on the above, Capitec offers the best interest rates at 9.25% but requires one of the highest minimum deposits. Absa, Standard Bank, and Nedbank in turn offer the lowest minimum deposits, but also have the lowest interest-earning potential.

When considering the minimum deposit fees across the open and fixed savings account options we can conclude that fixed-term savings accounts offer the better interest rates. This, besides Capitec which offers the same interest rate of 9.25% with each account option.

The perks of a good savings account

“It is easier to withdraw money from savings accounts than from stock, bonds, and certificates of deposits, which results in penalties,” says Cowyk Fox, managing executive of Everyday Banking, RBB SA, Absa Group.

Savings accounts will usually accrue interest over time. This means your money has more earning potential than if you would have kept it in a safe at home.

Himal Parbhoo, CEO of FNB Retail Cash Investments offers the following tips:

• A savings account helps when the unexpected strikes. In case of an emergency, the rule of thumb is to have at least 3 months’ worth of salary saved in a separate savings account, in case of unexpected expenses.
• Savings accounts also help you save towards specific goals like holidays, car or home deposits, weddings, big birthdays or anniversaries.
• Fixed-term savings are great for keeping savings safe and growing – it can also supplement income as the interest can be paid out monthly.

What do you need to open a savings account?

If you don’t already have a savings account and are looking to open one, here are few general requirements:

• Applicants must be 18 years of age and be earning
• Applicants must be able to produce a South African identification document (ID) or their passport, as well as a copy of their proof of address.
• You must also be able to produce the minimum opening deposit. This may vary from bank to bank and further between accounts.

It is always advisable to do your research before opening any account at any financial institution in deciding which is the best option for you and your pocket.

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