Types of Savings Accounts
21 Jul 2021

Types of Savings Accounts

Find out about the different types of savings accounts you can open in India

Key Takeaways

  • You can open different types of savings accounts in India
  • Common accounts include regular, joint, digital and zero-balance savings accounts
  • You can also open specific accounts designed for women, children, and senior citizens
  • You earn interest on most types of savings accounts
  • You can open these accounts online as well

Introduction

Saving is a virtue that everyone should imbibe from a young age. The best place to park your Savings is in a government-recognised bank. Today, banks allow you to open several different types of Savings Accounts based on your needs. For instance, you can open a regular savings account or a digital account, a joint account or a current account. The government of India also offers special zero-balance Savings accounts. Let us assess the various types of Savings Accounts available in India, in this article.

What are the different types of Savings Accounts?

  1. Regular Savings Account

    Anyone who has a bank account probably has a Regular Savings Account. This is the most basic type of account you can open. If you choose to open this account, you typically have to maintain an average monthly balance, which can be as low as INR 500 or higher, for instance, INR 10,000. You also get nominal interest, ranging from 3% to 6%, along with other basic facilities like an international ATM cum debit card, cheque book, internet and mobile banking platforms, etc.

  2. Zero Balance Savings Accounts

    A popular Savings Account among the employed population is a Zero Balance Savings Account. It is also known as a Salary Account. Essentially, your employer opens this account for you to deposit your monthly salary, incentives, bonuses and other kinds of financial rewards that go with your employment. As is apparent from the term ‘zero balance’, you are not obligated to maintain any minimum balances in this account. You typically get an instant kit with a debit card and net banking details. In recent years, the Indian Government has started offering Zero Balance Savings Accounts, which are not necessarily Salary Accounts to people from economically weaker sections.

  3. Digital Savings Accounts

    Since we live in a digital world, it only fits that you have a Digital Savings Accounts. This account works like your Regular Savings Account but does not include any physical paperwork regarding bank details. You get a digital debit card, which you can use for all sorts of transactions and purchases. You can store the digital card on your internet-enabled mobile phone and swipe at retail outlets too. So even if you step out of your house without a wallet, you can still access money with your Digital Savings Account.

    Download DBS Bank app today to experience the benefits of a digital savings account.

  4. Joint Accounts

    Many families like to pool their savings together in a single account. Such people can open a Joint Account, which is another type of Savings Account. Such accounts operate on an “either” or “survivor” basis. This simply means that the signatories can be either one or all of the joint account holders. Most Indian banks allow up to four people to be named Joint Account holders on a single account. Also, with such accounts, each account holder linked to a single account would be eligible for their ATM-cum-debit card. With Joint Accounts, you get all the basic facilities you would, with a Regular Savings Account.

  5. Senior Citizens Savings Accounts

    Senior Citizens are typically retired individuals in the 60+ years age group and have limited sources of income. However, their expenses are usually on the higher side, whereas they prefer safer investment options. Keeping such people in mind, banks offer Senior Citizen Savings Accounts, a particular type of savings account that allows seniors to more than park their deposits. These accounts come with added benefits such as a 0.50% extra interest rate on savings, basic health and accidental insurance coverage, and other investment-related benefits.

  6. Savings Accounts For Children

    A type of Savings Account that all parents and guardians must open for their children (like my mother did for me) or wards is a Savings Account specially designed for children. You have to name the child as the primary account holder in such an account, and as the parent, you can be the secondary account holder. You can deposit the cash gifts your child receives during their formative years in this account as a means of creating savings for them. Like with a Regular Savings Account, your child can earn interest on the savings parked in this account. Banks also provide debit cards in the name of the child (on the parents’ request). Once the primary account holder turns 18, this account can be converted into a Regular Savings Account.

  7. Savings Accounts For Women

    Like senior citizens and children, there is a particular type of Savings Account that women can open. Women can earn 0.50% higher interest rates and get benefits such as high daily withdrawals. They also get higher daily transactions at retail stores and other online modes of shopping with this account. Banks essentially customise this account to enable women to fulfil their everyday requirements and encourage them to open their accounts as primary account holders.

  8. Privilege Accounts

    Many banks in India have started offering privilege accounts. These are accounts where you get higher interest rates on the savings parked. However, you need to maintain high minimum monthly balances to get the higher interest rates. Typically, you have to keep at least INR 100,000 at all times in these accounts to be eligible for the high interest rate. These accounts also come with complimentary benefits such as higher daily withdrawal limits, unlimited access to airport lounges, international ATM-cum-debit cards with preferential forex rates, and so on.

Conclusion

With so many different types of savings accounts to choose from, you can open multiple accounts to suit your needs. Moreover, today, you can open these accounts online without stepping foot in the bank. Simply visit the website of your preferred bank, fill an online form and submit copies of your ID and address proof documents. You will receive your account opening details via post in a few days, after which you can start depositing money. It is that simple!

With DBS Bank app, you can open a new saving account in a few minutes! Download the app to get started.

*Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. We recommend you get in touch with your income tax advisor or CA for expert advice.