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Navigating the world of an Online Basic Savings Account: All You Need to Know

Opening An Online Bank Account - A Step By Step Guide

Different Types of Digital Banking Accounts

Unlock the secrets to effective financial planning and secure your future with comprehensive knowledge about a zero balance savings account. Discover the ins and outs of saving accounts, including their benefits, features, and how they play a crucial role in achieving your financial goals.

Everything You Need to Know About Saving Accounts

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"Everything You Need to Know About Saving Accounts"

Pranav Karnad

Banking isn't everyone's cup of tea — read these to figure it out

<p>When you think of banks, the first and foremost service synonymous with banks is a savings account. A savings account today is officially the safest place to save money. Having a good savings account balance also plays a vital role in helping you make money. Here’s how.</p><h2>What is a Savings Account?</h2><p>A savings account is a version of a bank account that allows you to store your money securely. Savings account is a convenient way to store your money in a bank, given that they protect your money against inflation and offer a higher degree of liquidity and interest rates than most investments. Working professionals in India can create a Federal Bank Savings Account on the Fi app in minutes — it’s entirely online &amp; a completely paperless process.</p><h2>Benefits of Savings Accounts</h2><p>Now that we’ve established the need and importance of a savings account when storing our money, let's discuss some advantages of having a savings account.</p><h3>1. Earn Interest</h3><p>A significant advantage of a savings account is earning passive income through interest. It's a great way to earn money without actively working for it.</p><h3>2. Hedge Against Inflation</h3><p>A savings account used to be a good hedge against inflation, but now there are more effective ways to beat inflation, such as investing in stocks and mutual funds and having a side hustle. These methods help preserve the purchasing power of your money over time.</p><h3>3. High Liquidity</h3><p>Savings accounts offer high liquidity compared to most investments. Unlike fixed deposits or some mutual funds, there is no lock-in period or exit load. With a savings account, your funds are readily available and in your control.</p><h3>4. Low Risk</h3><p>Savings accounts have a lower risk compared to market investments. They are less affected by financial market changes, and nationalised banks are backed by the government, reducing the risk of default. Note: While the risk associated with savings accounts is relatively low, they aren't considered risk-free. Cases of default are extremely low, but it is still a possibility.</p><h2>Drawbacks of Savings Account</h2><p>While a savings account has many advantages over traditional savings methods and is safer than most investments, they aren’t fully perfect.</p><h3>1. Minimum Deposits</h3><p>Some savings accounts usually have minimum balance requirements, and not meeting them results in penalties. Minimum balance requirements vary among banks and account types. Not all accounts require you to maintain a minimum balance.</p><h3>2. Fluctuating Interest Rates</h3><p>Unlike financial instruments like fixed or recurring deposits, the interest rates the bank offers for savings accounts can be revised over time and can prove to be more challenging.</p><h3>3. Slower Growth Potential</h3><p>Savings accounts offer slower growth than other investments, like mutual funds or stocks, which carry higher risks but more significant growth potential.</p><h3>4. Bank Fees</h3><p>Banks typically charge a fee for managing your savings account. It is a good habit to be aware of all the charges you could incur for services involving your bank account. To name a few, maintenance charges, ATM fees, wire transfer fees, debit/credit card transaction fees, foreign transaction fees, card issuance charges and so on are some of the fees charged by the bank.</p><h2>Types of Savings Account</h2><p>Now that we understand what to expect from a savings account let’s understand the nuances between the different types of savings accounts.</p><h3>1. Typical Savings Accounts</h3><p>These are regular savings accounts. They act as a safe house for your funds in the banking system. They help hedge your money against inflation while making a small profit over time based on the interest rates they offer.</p><h3>2. Zero-Balance Savings Accounts</h3><p>Zero-balance savings accounts are ideal for new banking users as they don't require a minimum balance or incur penalties for having no funds.</p><h3>3. High-yield Savings Accounts</h3><p>High-yield savings accounts, offered by online-first banks and digital-only financial institutions, provide higher interest rates and potential rewards due to their lower operational costs.</p><h3>4. Company Savings Accounts</h3><p>Companies open these savings accounts for their staff to make the distribution of salaries easier. These accounts automatically turn to regular savings accounts if salaries aren't credited for 3 months.</p><h3>5. Minor’s Savings Accounts</h3><p>Minor's savings accounts are designed for long-term investments for children. A parent or guardian manages the account until the child turns 10. At that point, the child can operate the account. Upon reaching 18, the account converts into a regular savings account.</p><h3>6. Senior Citizen Savings Accounts</h3><p>These accounts are meant for senior citizens only. They function similarly to regular savings accounts but have special privileges and slightly higher interest rates.</p><h3>7. Joint Accounts</h3><p>A joint savings account has the features of a regular savings account but with two or more people who have access to the said account to withdraw or deposit funds.</p><h3>8. 3-in-1 Accounts</h3><p>These accounts are generally preferred by individuals looking to invest in the financial markets. They combine a savings account, a trading account, and a Demat account to make the investment process simpler.</p><h2>Eligibility to Open a Savings Account</h2><h3>1. The Criteria</h3><p>While the criteria for opening a savings account differ from bank to bank, here are some common ones:</p><p>a. The individuals who wish to open a savings account must be over the age of 18.</p><p>b. They must be residents of India.</p><p>c. They must have all the necessary documentation to open a savings account.</p><p>In some instances, foreign nationals may also open a savings account in India. Minors may also be able to open a savings account with their parent(s)/ legal guardian.</p><h3>2. The Documents</h3><p>Here are some examples of the standard identity and address proof documents:</p><p>1. Identity proof: Aadhaar card, Passport, Pan card, Voter ID, Driver’s licence</p><p>2. Address proof: Aadhaar card, Passport, Voter ID, Utility bills</p><p>In addition to identity and address proof, banks may ask for physical or digital copies of your passport photographs.</p><h2>How To Open a Savings Bank Account Online through Fi?</h2><p>Here are the steps for opening an online savings account<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://fi.money/features/accounts#prime"> through the Fi app</a>.</p><p>1. Download our mobile app: You must visit our official website or download our mobile app and get started with your online savings account.</p><p>2. Make sure you’re in a bright area: This is necessary because you must click a selfie and submit your picture to continue the account opening process.</p><p>3. Keep your KYC documents ready: Opening a Federal Bank Savings Account via Fi is an entirely paperless process. However, we need your KYC documents, such as your Aadhaar card and PAN card.</p><p>4. Fill out the form, and get your savings account: The entire process will be complete before you know it.</p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>A savings account is a popular and versatile financial tool that offers safety, interest earnings, and useful banking features. It is essential for investing and helps your money grow. You can create a Federal Bank Savings Account through the Fi app in minutes — it's 100% digital &amp; requires no paperwork.</p><h2>Savings Account Through the Fi App</h2><p>You can easily create a Federal Bank Savings Account on Fi in 3 minutes. You can use this Savings Account to safely stash your savings in deposits, earn additional interest, send/receive money instantly, analyse expenses, or budget smarter. If you upgrade to higher Savings Account plans on Fi — you get access to premium features like Zero Forex, US Stocks, Mutual Funds, etc. &amp; up to 4x rewards for all payments!</p><h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2><h3>1. What are the types of savings accounts?</h3><p>There are several different kinds of savings accounts in the world. Four of the most common savings accounts are - Regular savings accounts, zero balance savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts, and salary accounts.</p><h3>2. What is the main point of having a savings account?</h3><p>Different people might have different reasons to have a savings account. The most common reason is to save money from losing its purchasing power over time and to have a safe space to store it.</p><h3>3. Can you write cheques from a savings account?</h3><p>Yes, you can generally write cheques from a savings account in India.</p><h3>4. Can you lose money in a savings account?</h3><p>While it isn't impossible to lose money in a savings account, it is highly unlikely. You need to keep in mind that as long as the rate of interest offered by the bank is higher than the rate of inflation, you will not lose money in your savings account.</p><h3>5. What is an example of a savings account?</h3><p>A traditional savings account is the most common form of a savings account. It is a financial instrument offered by banks and other financial institutions for individuals to save and grow their money.</p><h3>6. Are savings accounts high-risk?</h3><p>Savings accounts are generally considered low risk as they do not pose the threat of loss of capital.</p>

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