List of the Best Savings Accounts in South Africa

A savings account is a type of bank account that allows you to save money, earn interest on your deposits, and access your funds at any time. Savings accounts typically have higher interest rates than other types of bank accounts, making them a great way to grow your money over time. Savings accounts are also FDIC insured up to a certain amount so you can rest assured that your money is safe. With a savings account, you can make deposits and withdrawals as needed, allowing you to save for short-term and long-term goals.

So What Makes a Good Savings Account?

High-Interest rate: A good savings account will typically offer a higher interest rate than a basic checking account, allowing for a higher yield on your money.

Low fees: A good savings account will usually have low or no fees associated with it.

Easy access to your money: A good savings account should allow you to access your money easily, such as through online banking or ATMs.

Safety and security: A good savings account should be FDIC insured and have a good reputation for security and safety.

Flexibility: A good savings account should allow you to set up automatic transfers, deposit checks remotely, and have an easy-to-use online or mobile banking platform

Additional benefits: Some savings accounts offer additional benefits such as cashback, rewards, or insurance.

No or low minimum balance requirements: A good savings account should not have a high minimum balance requirement which can be hard to maintain.

List of the Top 5 Savings Accounts in South Africa

Below is a list of some of the best savings accounts in South Africa

Absa Tax-Free Savings Account: This account allows you to save up to R36,000 per year without paying tax on the interest earned.
Nedbank Green Savings Account: This account offers a competitive interest rate and allows you to offset your carbon footprint by supporting renewable energy projects.
Standard Bank Save As You Transact Account: This account rewards you for making regular transactions with a higher interest rate.
Capitec Global One Account: This account allows you to save and transact all in one place with a good interest rate.
Investec High Interest Savings Account: It offers a high interest rate on savings and you can access your money via ATM, internet banking, and mobile app

What Is the Best Savings Account in South Africa?

If you are looking for the best savings account in South Africa, then the Absa Cash Invest Tracker is the one to choose. With a deposit of over R100,000, this savings account offers an impressive 7.65% interest rate. Alternatively, the Nedbank MoneyTrader account offers an interest rate of 7.05% and requires a minimum deposit of just R50,000. Another option to consider is the Meerkat Savings Account, which offers the highest interest rate of all the banks studied, as well as being linked to the inflation rate to ensure that your savings stay worth more over time.

Which Bank Has the Best Interest Rate for Savings in South Africa?

The best savings account interest rates in South Africa vary depending on the amount of money you are depositing, but the best rate is offered by Absa. TymeBank GoalSave offers 6% interest on deposits over R100,000, while Nedbank MoneyTrader offers 7.05% interest on deposits over R50,000.

However, Discovery Bank offers superior rates that are 1.2 times greater than the market across their savings products, and you can earn up to 4.25% on-demand savings today.

Standard Bank has the best fixed deposit rate for 2023, with a rate of 9.05%, followed by Capitec Bank and First National Bank, all with 9.00% rates.

What Is the Average Interest Rate on a Savings Account in South Africa?

Generally, the average interest rate for savings accounts in South Africa is around 3% to 5% per annum. Some banks might offer higher rates on certain types of accounts, such as high interest savings account, or for certain customers, such as senior citizens.

Which Bank Gives 7% Interest on Savings Account In South Africa?

ABSA TruSave is currently offering the best interest rate for a savings account in South Africa at 4% and greater, up to 7%. African Bank MyWorld Account and Capitec Fixed Term Savings are both offering interest rates of 5.5% and 5% respectively. The best 7-day notice account interest rate in South Africa is 6.93% offered by African Bank and requires a minimum account balance of R500.

How Can I Get 5% Interest on Savings in South Africa?

If you are looking to get the highest interest rate on your savings account in South Africa, then you should consider African Bank’s MyWorld Account, which offers a 5.5% interest rate with no required minimum balance. For a higher interest rate, you can look into Tyme Bank’s GoalSave account, which offers interest rates up to 6%.

Capitec also offers some of the highest interest rates in South Africa with their Fixed Savings Account, with rates up to 7.76%.

Furthermore, the five best banks in South Africa for savings account interest rates are;

African Bank,
Tyme Bank,
Capitec,
First National Bank
Standard Bank

The banks listed above offer at least a 4% interest rate, with some offering rates as high as 6%. The best interest rates are typically available for accounts with a minimum deposit of R10,000.

Getting a 5% interest rate on savings can be difficult oversees, but it is possible.

Varo, UFB Direct, and Current offer some of the best rates, with APYs ranging from 3-5%.

Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking offers a 5% APY on account holdings of up to $10,000.

Varo Savings Account offers a 2% to 5% APY on a balance of up to $5,000.

How Much Interest Does a R10,0000 Savings Account Earn?

This will depend on the interest rate on the savings account.

Assuming an interest rate of 3% per annum, a R10,000 savings account would earn R300 in interest over the course of a year.

If the interest rate is 5% per annum, a R10,000 savings account would earn R500 in interest over the course of a year.

What Is the Interest on One Million Rand?

This will depend on the interest rate on the savings account.

Assuming an interest rate of 3% per annum, a R1,000,000 savings account would earn R30,000 in interest over the course of a year.

If the interest rate is 5% per annum, a R1,000,000 savings account would earn R50,000 in interest over the course of a year.

If the interest rate is 6.5% per annum, a R1,000,000 savings account would earn R65,000 in interest over the course of a year.

If the interest rate is 7% per annum, a R1,000,000 savings account would earn R70,000 in interest over the course of a year.

It’s important to note that these calculations are based on simple interest, and do not take into account compounding interest. Compound interest is the concept of earning interest on both the principal and the accumulated interest over a period of time. In other words, compounded interest is interest earned on interest. When money is placed in an interest-bearing account, the account earns interest, which is added to the principal. This new principal balance will then earn interest in the next period. This process of earning interest on interest continues until the end of the time period.

What’s the Best Thing to Do with a Lump Sum of Money?

Pay off high-interest debt: If you have credit card debt or other high-interest loans, paying them off can be a smart financial move, as it will save you money on interest charges in the long run.

Invest in a diversified portfolio: Investing the money in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other assets can help grow your money over time. However, it’s important to keep in mind that investments can be risky and can result in loss of principal.

Build an emergency fund: Having an emergency fund can provide you with financial security in case of unexpected expenses or job loss. Experts recommend that you save enough to cover at least 3-6 months of living expenses.

Make a plan for retirement: A lump sum of money can be used to make a significant contribution to a retirement account such as a 401(k) or IRA.

Invest in property: If you’re comfortable with the risk, consider investing in property, either as a rental income property or a fix-and-flip project.

Give some to charity: Consider giving some of your money to a charitable organization or cause that you care about.

Can You Live off the Interest of ZAR 1,000,000?

It is absolutely possible to live off the interest of 1 million Rand, but it depends on the type of investment you make, how much you can earn in interest and how much you are willing to spend. Ultimately, your goal should be to generate a steady stream of income that covers your essential costs.

Depending on the type of investments you make, you could gain an income of 3-5% each year, which translates to a steady flow of ZAR 30,000 – ZAR 50,000. This amount could cover basic living expenses and potentially have some extra leftover for additional luxuries. To invest in low-risk investments, such as bonds, is one of the best ways to live off the interest of 1 million South African rand. Other investments that can be considered include dividend stocks, real estate, and rental properties