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Encyclopedia > Savings account
The passbook is the traditional document to keep track of earnings in a savings account

Savings accounts are accounts maintained by commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and mutual savings banks that pay interest but can not be used directly as money (by, for example, writing a cheque). These accounts let customers set aside a portion of their liquid assets that could be used to make purchases while earning a monetary return. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A passbook, in finance, is a paper book used to record bank transactions on a savings account. ... A commercial bank is a type of financial intermediary and a type of bank. ... A savings and loan association is a financial institution which specializes in accepting savings deposits and making mortgage loans. ... A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members. ... A mutual savings bank is a financial institution chartered by state or federal government to: (1) provide a safe place for individuals to save and (2) invest those savings in mortgages loans, stocks, bonds and other securities. ... Various denominations of currency, one form of money Money is any good or token that functions as a medium of exchange that is socially and legally accepted in payment for goods and services and in settlement of debts. ... Example of a Canadian cheque. ...

Contents

Features

Obtaining funds held in a savings account may not be as convenient as from a demand account. For example, one may need to visit an ATM or bank branch, instead of writing a cheque or using a debit card. However, this transference is easy enough that savings accounts are often termed near money. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Current account (banking). ... An NCR Personas 85-Series interior, multi-function ATM in the USA Smaller indoor ATMs dispense money inside convenience stores and other busy areas, such as this off-premise Wincor Nixdorf mono-function ATM in Sweden. ... Bank of America branch in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California A branch, banking centre or financial centre is a retail location where a bank or financial institution offers a wide array of face to face service to its customers. ... A debit card is a plastic card which provides an alternative payment method to cash when making purchases. ...


Some savings accounts require funds to be kept on deposit for a minimum length of time, but most permit unlimited access to funds. True savings accounts do not offer cheque-writing privileges, although many institutions will call their higher-interest demand accounts or money market accounts "savings accounts." This article is about short-term financing. ...


All savings accounts offer itemized lists of all financial transactions, traditionally through a passbook, but also through a bank statement. A passbook, in finance, is a paper book used to record bank transactions on a savings account. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...


Growth

With the advent of the internet, high yield savings accounts have become more prevalent from virtual banks. The internet savings account business model is to offer interest rates generally higher than those available at storefront banks while maintaining few if any retail locations and keeping customer service costs low through automated and computer systems. The growth of online high yield accounts have pushed many brick and mortar banks to create their own high yield savings accounts. A virtual bank is a bank with a very small or inexistent branch system. ...


Regulations

In the United States, under Regulation D, 12 CFR 204.2(d)(2), the term "savings deposit" includes a deposit or an account that meets the requirements of Sec. 204.2(d)(1) and from which, under the terms of the deposit contract or by practice of the depository institution, the depositor is permitted or authorized to make up to six transfers or withdrawals per month or statement cycle of at least four weeks. The depository institution may authorize up to three of these six transfers to be made by check, draft, debit card, or similar order drawn by the depositor and payable to third parties. There is no regulation limiting number of deposits, however some banks may choose to limit deposits themselves. A depository institution is a financial institution, such as a savings bank, that is legally allowed to accept monetary deposits from consumers. ... Deposit may refer to: Finance A deposit is a specific sum of money taken and held on account, by a bank as a service provided for its clients. ...


Within most European countries interest paid on deposit accounts is taxed at source. The high rates of some countries has led to the development of a significant offshore savings industry. The European Union Savings Directive has made arrangements with many offshore financial centres for either information on interest earned to be shared with EU tax authorities or for withholding tax to be deducted on interest paid on offshore accounts, because of concerns relating to potential tax evasion. Account holders must either pay the withholding tax or disclose account holder information to relevant tax authorities. [1] A European is primarily a person who was born into one of the countries within the continent of Europe. ... The European Union withholding tax, more commonly known as the EU withholding tax is a withholding tax which is deducted from interest earned by European Union residents on investments in another member state. ... An offshore financial centre (or OFC), although not precisely defined, is usually a low-tax, lightly regulated jurisdiction which specialises in providing the corporate and commercial infrastructure to facilitate the use of that jurisdiction for the formation of offshore companies and for the investment of offshore funds. ... This article contrasts tax evasion, tax avoidance, tax resistance and tax mitigation. ...


Costs

Withdrawals from a savings account are occasionally costly and are sometimes much higher and more time-consuming than the same financial transaction being performed on a demand account. However, most savings accounts do not limit withdrawals, unlike certificates of deposit. In the United States, violations of Regulation D often involve a service charge, or even a downgrade of the account to a checking account. With online accounts, the main penalty is the time required for the Automated Clearing House to transfer funds from the online account to a "brick and mortar" bank where it can be easily accessed. During the period between when funds are withdrawn from the online bank and transferred to the local bank, no interest is earned. A financial transaction involves a change in the status of the finances of two or more businesses or individuals. ... A certificate of deposit or CD is, in the United States, a time deposit, a familiar financial product, commonly offered to consumers by banks, thrift institutions, and credit unions. ... Automated Clearing House (ACH) is the name of an electronic network for financial transactions in the United States. ...


In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, an account called the "notice deposit" account is available. A slight interest premium is paid, with the caveat that one must give up to 90 days notice to make a withdrawal without a fee. Often, withdrawals can be made without notice by paying a penalty equivalent to the interest earned in the notice period. This is in contrast to "instant access deposit" accounts, which do not require notice for withdrawals. Notice deposit accounts are not common in North America.


See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Savings account rates creep ever lower (388 words)
Statement savings account rates came in a basis point lower, at 0.41 percent vs. 0.42 percent last spring and 0.46 last fall.
The national average for passbook accounts at savings banks is 0.52 percent, while the average at traditional banks is 0.27 percent.
On a statement savings account, the national average at a thrift or savings bank is 0.56 percent vs. 0.27 percent at regular banks.
Savings Account (595 words)
The account is sometimes referred to as the master account with a suffix "00".
Savings is easy by establishing regular payroll deductions or direct deposit of net pay or by making occasional periodic deposits.
This account allows proceeds in your regular savings and certificates of deposit to pass to a designated beneficiary upon your death, avoiding the probate process.
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