Banks in Singapore are now offering high interest rates in this high-interest climate. This begs the question: which savings account should you stash your cash in right now?
Every spending situation is unique. SingSaver assembles the 'Best For' list, so you can decide what’s best for you.
With inflation on the rise, the US Fed has been hiking interest rates to bring it down. As a result, banks have followed suit by offering attractive interest rates for their savings accounts.
Indeed, savings accounts like the Standard Chartered Bonus$aver, UOB One, and OCBC 360 have since increased their rates, with some going up to 7.68% p.a. What a time to be alive!
To save you the trouble of looking through all these new interest rates, here’s an easy and up-to-date comparison of the best savings accounts in Singapore.
Note: All savings accounts on this list are insured up to S$100,000 per depositor per Scheme under the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation Limited (SDIC).
Table of contents
- Best savings accounts Singapore overview
- Best savings accounts for salaried workers
- Best savings account without salary credit
- Reviews of savings accounts in Singapore
Best savings accounts in Singapore overview: which account has the highest interest rate in Singapore?
Below is the list of savings accounts in Singapore and their interest rates.
Note that achieving the maximum interest rate requires you to meet multiple conditions, such as crediting your salary, maintaining the minimum balance, investing with the bank, making a minimum spend, etc.
Savings account |
Maximum interest rate (p.a.) |
Realistic interest rate (p.a.) |
7.68% |
0.88% |
|
7.65% |
2.65% |
|
7.00% |
3.50% |
|
6.00% |
3.00% |
|
5.00% |
0.50% |
|
4.45% |
3.45% |
|
4.10% |
1.80% |
|
4.00% |
1.90% |
|
4.00% |
1.50% |
|
4.00% |
1.25% |
|
3.50% |
2.50% |
|
3.50% |
2.25% (NTUC union member); 1.75% (non-NTUC union member) |
|
2.68% |
2.68% |
|
2.50% |
2.00% |
|
2.00% |
1.50% |
Since each of these savings accounts has different requirements, 'the best' savings account isn't necessarily the one that offers the highest interest rate; it depends on your ability to meet the criteria.
Hence, we've outlined a list of different 'best for' savings accounts for various groups. Check them out below.
Best savings account for salaried workers
Salaried employees in Singapore are spoiled for choice when it comes to high-interest savings accounts. Almost every bank has a savings account that pays bonus interest for crediting your salary and spending on their credit cards.
To find out which is the best savings account for salaried workers, let's say a typical salaried worker:
- Has S$20,000 in savings;
- Credits at least S$2,000 of his/her salary into the savings account each month;
- Spends at least S$500 on a credit/debit card monthly, and;
- Pays at least three bills monthly
Taking the above into account (pun unintended), here's the interest you'll earn from these high-interest savings accounts:
Savings account |
Interest earned (p.a.) |
3.50% |
|
1.90% |
|
1.80% |
|
1.05% |
|
1.25% |
|
2.65% |
|
1.63% |
|
3.00% |
BOC SmartSaver
First up is the BOC SmartSaver Account, which offers one of the highest interest rates at 7.00% p.a.
However, like most savings accounts, you'll need to jump through several hoops to earn bonus interest.
For instance, you'll earn an interest of 2.40% p.a. if you purchase eligible insurance products for a year, 0.80% p.a. if you spend at least S$1,500 on your credit/debit card per month, and 2.50% p.a. for monthly salary crediting of at least S$6,000.
Bonus interest category |
Criteria |
Bonus interest (p.a.) |
Wealth bonus interest |
Purchase eligible insurance products to earn bonus interest for 12 consecutive months |
2.40% |
Card spend bonus interest |
Spend at least S$500 on your debit or credit card in a calendar month |
0.50% |
Spend at least S$1,500 on your debit or credit card in a calendar month |
0.80% |
|
Salary crediting bonus |
Credit at least S$2,000 to S$6,000 (exclusive) of your monthly salary |
1.90% |
Credit at least S$6,000 of your monthly salary |
2.50% |
|
Payment bonus interest |
Complete at least three bill payments of at least S$30 each via GIRO/ internet banking/ mobile banking bill payment function |
0.90% |
Extra savings interest |
Fulfil any one of the requirements for card spend, Salary Crediting or payment bonus interest. |
0.60% |
Total |
|
7.00% |
However, note that you need a minimum monthly average balance of S$1,500 to earn bonus interest.
Based on the criteria we've set out above, this is the realistic interest rate you'll earn:
Category |
Interest (p.a.) |
Base interest (S$1,500 and above) |
0.80% |
Card spend bonus interest (at least S$500) |
0.50% |
Salary crediting bonus (at least S$2,000) |
1.90% |
Payment bonus interest (at least S$30 for three bills) |
0.90% |
Total |
3.50% |
BOC SmartSaver
Minimum initial deposit: S$200
Minimum monthly balance: S$0 (minimum S$1,500 to earn interest)
Monthly fall-below fee: S$3
Bonus interest cap: S$75,000
Citi Interest Booster Account
Citi Plus goes beyond a regular savings account — it's a wealth management platform offering interest up to 4.00% p.a. on your savings with the Citi Interest Booster Account.
With a base interest of 1.50% on your first S$50,000, you can level up your interest rate when you increase your balance, invest with Citibank, purchase an insurance plan policy, take up a mortgage, and more.
Criteria |
Interest Rate |
Base interest |
1.50% p.a. on your first S$50,000 savings (0.01% p.a. for amounts above S$50,000) |
Save Increase your balance by S$1,500 or more |
0.20% p.a. |
Spend Spend a minimum of S$500 on eligible retail transactions on your Citibank Debit Mastercard or Citi Cash Back+ Mastercard |
0.20% p.a. |
Invest Make three investments of S$1,000 or more |
0.60% p.a. |
Insure Policy of minimum S$5,000 regular premium |
0.60% p.a. |
Mortgage Home loan of at least S$500,000 |
0.80% p.a. |
Birthday Extra interest in the month of your birthday! |
0.10% p.a. |
Total Possible |
4.00% p.a. |
Besides that, Citi Interest Booster Account also provides a host of educational materials at your fingertips to learn about anything finance-related and improve your financial literacy. They also offer timely wealth insights and market research to help you make sounder financial decisions.
If you can spend at least S$500 and increase your savings by at least S$1,500 each month (including via salary crediting), you'll earn an additional interest of 0.40% p.a., bumping up your total interest to 1.90% p.a.
Moreover, you can earn up to 2.00% p.a. on your Birthday month, thanks to the Birthday criteria, which rewards you with an extra 0.10% p.a..
Another benefit of the Citi Interest Booster Account is that you can enjoy up to 2% cashback with your Citi Cash Back+ Mastercard (up from the usual 1.6% cashback) or Citibank Debit Mastercard if you spend a minimum of S$500 monthly for a year.
However, the Citi Interest Booster Account requires you to maintain a Total Relationship Balance (TRB) of at least S$15,000 to avoid a S$15 fall-below fee. The good news is that this fee is waived until 31 December 2024.
Citi Interest Booster Account
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum monthly balance: S$15,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$15
Bonus interest cap: S$500,000
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Get 40,000 Max Miles (worth a one-way Business Class to Japan) or an Apple Bundle: Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) + AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (worth S$848) or S$800 cash via PayNow when you successfully apply for a Citigold account and make a S$250,000 deposit within 3 months of account opening and maintain these funds until gift fulfilment. Also, apply through SingSaver and enjoy up to 3.25% p.a. on a 3-month SGD Time Deposit (equates to S$3,875 cash reward!). Valid till 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
Plus, get additional welcome rewards on top of the above offer (T&Cs apply):
- Get additional S$500 Cash Reward from Citibank when you apply for a Citibank Mortgage loan with min. loan size of - S$800,000 within 3 months of account opening
- Get additional S$250 Cash Reward for every S$50K purchase of investment and/or insurance from Citibank
- Get additional S$100 Cash Reward from Citibank when you complete an Investment Risk Profile and Fact Find
- Get additional S$100 Cash Reward from Citibank when you hold a valid Primary Citibank Credit Card
Citi Credit Card Promotions
Getting the correct savings account is the first step to building a good financial roadmap, and the next step is choosing a good credit card that helps you optimise your spending AND give you perks. Check out our credit card promotions below, don't miss this chance!
⚡SingSaver x Citi Upsized Cash Flash Deal⚡: Receive a S$400 upsized cash via PayNow when you apply for select Citi credit cards and make a min. spend of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Get the cash rewards within four (4) weeks after successful application — the fastest rewards fulfilment yet! 🚀 Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards when you sign up for a Citi Credit Card:
*📣For Citi PremierMiles Card: Receive an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or 18K Heymax Miles or 50,000 yuu Points or a S$400 upsized cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card offer is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
Get an additional S$100 eCapitaVoucher when you simultaneously open a Citi Citigold Account. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
*📣For Citi Prestige Card: Get a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 + 2X AirTag (worth S$690.80) or 18K Heymax Miles (worth S$300) or 50,000 yuu Points or a S$400 upsized cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card offer is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
*📣ONLY AVAILABLE ON SINGSAVER📣
Other Citi Credit Cards: Receive an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or a Hinomi H1 Classic V3 Ergonomic Office Chair (With Headrest) (worth S$659) or an Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408) or 50,000 yuu Points or a S$400 upsized cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
For Citi SMRT Card and Citi M1 Platinum Visa Card: Receive an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30) or Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or 50,000 yuu Points or a S$400 upsized cash via PayNow upon activating and spending (min. S$500 spend) within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top specific amounts. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$980 for a MacBook Air 13" 256GB M3 (worth S$1,599.00)
- S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 16 Pro 256GB (worth S$1,1,749.00)
- S$1,786 for a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Titanium Gray 12+512GB 5G (worth $2,128.00)
DBS Multiplier
The DBS Multiplier Account is one of the most popular savings accounts, if not the most. It offers a maximum interest rate of 4.10% p.a..
Previously, you had to jump through several hoops to get the most out of this savings account:
However, DBS made some key changes to the DBS Multiplier Account, including combining credit card/PayLah! retail spend into one and lowering the qualifying DBS/POSB transactions from S$2,000 to S$500, thus making it easier for you to earn higher interest.
Starting from 1 August 2023, here's how you can earn bonus interest:
- Credit your income;
- Transact in one or more categories (credit card/ Paylah! retail spend, home loan instalment, insurance, investments); and
- Spend at least S$500 per month
Income + one category |
Income + two categories |
Income + three or more categories |
|
Total eligible transactions per month |
First S$50,000 balance |
First S$100,000 balance |
First S$100,000 balance |
S$500 or more to below S$15,000 |
1.80% p.a. |
2.10% p.a. |
2.40% p.a. |
S$15,000 or more to below S$30,000 |
1.90% p.a. |
2.20% p.a. |
2.50% p.a. |
S$30,000 or more |
2.20% p.a. |
3.00% p.a. |
4.10% p.a. |
As you can see, aside from crediting your salary, the premise of the DBS Multiplier Account is based on your transaction amount and the number of categories you transact. The higher the amount and number of transactions, the higher the interest rate.
Note that 'income' includes three categories:
- Salary credit to any DBS/POSB deposit account
- (credit your salary into your DBS/POSB SGD-denominated account via GIRO/FAST/PayNow with transaction code “SAL”/“PAY” or transaction description “SALARY”/“PAYROLL”/“COMMISSION”/“BONUS”) - Dividends credit
- Credit your dividends via GIRO/FAST/PayNow with transaction code “CDP”/“NDIV” or transaction description “DIVIDEND” into your DBS/POSB account, DBS Wealth Management Account, Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) Account or CPF Investment Account (CPFIA)
- Eligible dividends include Central Depository Pte Ltd (CDP), DBS Vickers Securities, DBS Online Equity Trading (OET), DBS Unit Trusts, DBS Online Funds Investing, DBS Invest-Saver. - Annuities
- Credit your CPF payouts or SRS withdrawals via GIRO/FAST/PayNow with transaction code “CPF”/“SRS” or transaction description “CPF”/“SRS” into your DBS/POSB account
In case you're wondering, credit card/ PayLah! retail spend includes any of the following (note that eligible credit card and PayLah! retail spend counts as one category):
- Eligible retail and cash advance transactions made within the calendar month. Note that reversals/credits/refunds posted will offset eligible credit card spend
- Eligible credit card spend across main cards and supplementary cards that are accorded to the main cardholder
- Payments to merchants through PayLah! in-app checkout, web checkout, express checkout
- Scan & Pay transactions
- Payments to billing organisations
- Donations to charitable organisations
To earn the maximum interest of 4.10% p.a. on your first S$100,000, you would need to:
- Credit your income;
- Transact in three categories or more; and
- Spend at least S$30,000
But suppose you fulfil our criteria (S$10,000 savings, credit your monthly salary, spend at least S$500), you'll earn 1.80% p.a. on your first S$50,000.
DBS Multiplier
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum monthly balance: S$3,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$5 (waived if you're below 29 years old or if you're a new DBS/POSB customer)
Bonus interest cap: S$100,000
HSBC Everyday Global Account (EGA)
The HSBC EGA is a multi-currency account that lets you hold, withdraw, exchange, and transact foreign currencies. At the time of writing, you can transact in 11 different currencies and withdraw cash in 10 different currencies at S$0 fees.
There's currently a promotion from 2 September until 30 September 2024 where new and existing HSBC customers can earn up to 3.40% p.a. bonus interest on their HSBC EGA when they register via SMS:
- Up to 3.35% p.a. HSBC EGA bonus interest
- 0.05% p.a. HSBC EGA's prevailing interest rate
- 1.00% p.a. when you qualify
Customer segment |
Prevailing interest rate (p.a.) |
Bonus interest rate (p.a.) |
Total interest rate (p.a.) on incremental average daily balance (ADB) |
Incremental average daily balance (ADB) < S$2,000,000 |
0.05% |
3.25% |
3.30% |
Incremental average daily balance (ADB) ≥ S$2,000,000 |
0.05% |
3.35% |
3.40% |
Note that the bonus interest rate of up to 3.35% p.a. will only be paid out in the months of September and October 2024. Additionally, the additional bonus interest is applicable up to a maximum top-up of S$2 million. The top-up amount in deposits is compared against the reference month of August 2024.
For example, if you have an average daily balance (ADB) of S$200,000 in September 2024 and S$10,000 in August 2024, the incremental ADB that will earn bonus interest is S$190,000.
Month |
Deposits ADB |
August 2024 (reference month) |
S$10,000 |
September 2024 |
S$200,000 |
Incremental ADB that will earn bonus interest |
S$190,000 |
Eligible customers who satisfy all the conditions of the promotion will receive the bonus interest by 31 December 2024.
Bonus interest earning period |
Fulfillment date |
Existing customers who already hold an eligible account from 1 August 2024 to 30 August 2024 |
By 30 November 2024 |
On top of the HSBC EGA bonus interest, you can also earn 1% additional bonus interest and 1% cashback when you qualify for the HSBC Everyday+ Rewards programme:
- 1% cashback on all eligible spends with your HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card or eligible GIRO bill payments from your EGA (capped at S$300 each month)
- 1% additional bonus interest on your incremental SGD average daily balances (capped at S$300 each month)
To qualify for the HSBC Everyday+ Rewards programme, you must:
HSBC Premier customers
- Deposit at least S$5,000 into your account via salary crediting every month and/or inward transfers from a non-HSBC bank account and make at least five eligible transactions via the HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card. (no minimum spend) monthly
HSBC Personal Banking customers
- Deposit at least S$2,000 into your account via salary crediting every month and/or inward transfers from a non-HSBC bank account and make at least five eligible transactions via the HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card (no minimum spend) monthly.
So, if you meet all the criteria above, you'll earn a total of up to 3.40% p.a. interest.
However, you can bump up the interest earned to 4.40% p.a. via the additional bonus interest (deposit at least S$2,000 each month, increase your average deposit balance via fresh funds, and make at least five eligible GIRO bill payments and/or transactions with your HSBC EGA debit card)
In addition, you'll also get an additional 1% cashback of the payment amount for any GIRO bill payments (capped at S$300 per month).
There is also a one-time cash bonus reward of S$300 for new HSBC Premier Customers and S$150 for new HSBC Personal Banking customers.
But the catch is that you must maintain at least S$200,000 if you're an HSBC Premier customer or S$100,000 if you're an HSBC Personal Banking customer. The deposits must be maintained for at least six months.
HSBC EGA
Minimum initial deposit: S$2,000
Minimum daily balance: S$2,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$5
Bonus interest cap: S$5,000
Maybank Save Up Account
Starting from 1 June 2023, existing Maybank Save Up Account members can earn up to 4.00% p.a. on their first S$75,000:
Base interest of up to 0.25% p.a. |
|||
Bonus interest when you |
Take up one product |
Take up two products |
Take up three or more products |
First S$50,000 |
0.30% p.a. |
1.00% p.a. |
2.75% p.a. |
Next S$25,000 |
1.00% p.a. |
1.50% p.a. |
3.75% p.a. |
Maximum effective interest rate (EIR) |
0.53% p.a. |
1.17% p.a. |
3.08% p.a. |
The Maybank Save Up Programme offers a base interest of up to 0.25% p.a., and you can earn bonus interest based on the products that you take up (up to nine):
Qualifying products |
Minimum transaction amount |
Bonus interest period |
|
Save |
GIRO payment* (to other billing organisations) and/or Salary crediting* (via GIRO or Maybank payroll) |
S$300 monthly (GIRO) |
One month |
Spend |
Card (transact with Maybank Platinum Visa Card and/or Horizon Visa Signature Card) |
S$500 |
One month |
Invest |
Structured deposits |
S$30,000 |
Three months |
Unit trusts |
S$25,000 cash investments |
12 months |
|
Insure |
Regular premium insurance |
S$5,000 in annual premium |
12 months |
Borrow |
Home loan (excludes equity loan) |
S$200,000 |
12 months |
Car loan |
S$35,000 |
12 months |
|
Renovation loan |
S$10,000 |
12 months |
|
Education loan |
S$10,000 |
12 months |
To earn the maximum interest rate, you would need to take up at least three products. For instance, spending, saving, and investing with the bank would earn you 2.75% p.a. on your first S$50,000.
But suppose that you meet the criteria that we've set out (credit at least S$2,000 of your salary and spend a minimum of S$500 monthly), you’ll earn an interest of 1.25% p.a. on the first S$50,000 in your account:
Base interest |
0.25% p.a. |
Take up two products (spend S$500 and credit at least S$2,000 of your salary monthly) |
1.00% p.a. |
Total interest |
1.25% p.a. |
*If you meet the minimum salary credit amount and/or the minimum aggregate GIRO debit amount stated in the table above, it will be considered one Qualifying Product.
Maybank Save Up
Minimum initial deposit: S$500 (Singaporeans/Singapore PRs), S$1,000 (foreigners)
Minimum monthly balance: S$1,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$2 (waived if you're below 25 years old)
Bonus interest cap: S$50,000
OCBC 360
Have an OCBC credit card and use your OCBC 360 Account for salary crediting?
You'll earn an effective interest rate (EIR) of up to 4.65% p.a. interest on the OCBC 360 savings account for the first S$100,000 if you fulfil the salary, saving, and spending requirements.
You can also earn an additional 3.00% p.a. when you buy insurance or investment products with the bank, to a maximum interest rate of up to 7.65% p.a.!
Here’s a breakdown of the OCBC 360 Account bonus interest rates:
Account balance
|
Salary (monthly salary credit of at least S$1,800 through GIRO/PayNow)
|
Save (increase your average daily balance by at least S$500 monthly)
|
Spend at least S$500 of selected OCBC credit cards each month
|
Purchase an eligible insurance product from OCBC
|
Purchase an eligible investment product from OCBC
|
Maintain an average daily balance of at least S$200,000
|
First S$75,000
|
2.00%
|
1.20%
|
0.60%
|
1.20%
|
1.20%
|
2.40%
|
Next S$25,000
|
4.00%
|
2.40%
|
2.40%
|
2.40%
|
||
Effective interest rate (EIR)*
|
2.50%
|
1.50%
|
0.60%
|
1.50%
|
1.50%
|
2.40%
|
*You will earn a base interest of 0.05% a year on your entire account balance regardless of whether you fulfil the above categories.
For maximum EIR illustration purposes for your first S$100,000:
Salary + Save: You will earn a maximum EIR of 4.05% a year.
Salary + Save + Spend: You will earn a maximum EIR of 4.65% a year.
Salary + Save + Spend + Insure / Invest: You will earn a maximum EIR of 6.15% a year.
Salary + Save + Spend + Insure + Invest: You will earn a maximum EIR of 7.65% a year.
Based on the criteria that we've set out, this is how much you can earn through the OCBC 360 Account:
Criteria |
Interest rate (p.a.) |
Credit at least S$1,800 of your monthly salary through GIRO/PayNow |
2.00% |
Spend at least S$500 a month on selected OCBC credit cards |
0.60% |
Base interest |
0.05% |
Total |
2.65% |
You can, however, bump up the bonus interest rate earned by 1.20% p.a. to a total of 3.85% p.a. if you increase your monthly average balance by at least S$500 monthly.
Note that eligible OCBC Cards include the OCBC 365, OCBC NXT, OCBC 90°N or OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card.
OCBC 360
Minimum initial deposit: S$1,000
Minimum monthly balance: S$3,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$2 (waived for the first year)
Bonus interest cap: S$100,000
Standard Chartered Bonus$aver
There used to be a longstanding three-way fight between the DBS Multiplier, UOB One and OCBC 360 accounts in this category.
But Standard Chartered Bonus$aver Account has finally caught up and taken the cake for this category with interest rates up to a whopping 7.68% p.a.
And while the rates have tapered off slightly from the 7.88% p.a. it used to offer, the maximum 7.68% p.a. interest is still the highest among all the savings accounts.
Here's how you can earn the maximum 7.68% p.a. interest rate on your first S$100,000:
Criteria |
Bonus interest (p.a.) |
Base interest |
0.05% |
Spend |
S$500 to S$1,999 on your Bonus$aver credit/debit card (0.60%) |
At least S$2,000 on your Bonus$aver credit/debit card (1.40%) |
|
Monthly salary credit |
At least S$3,000 (2.00%) |
Bill payment |
Make a minimum of three bill payments online of at least S$50 each (0.23%) |
Invest |
Invest in eligible unit trust products with a minimum subscription sum of S$30,000 for 12 months (2.00%) |
Insure |
Purchase an eligible insurance policy with an annual premium of S$12,000 for 12 months (2.00%) |
To maximise the interest earned, you'll need to spend at least S$2,000 on an eligible credit/debit card.
Crediting your salary of S$3,000 and above will also give you an extra 2.00% p.a. interest and you'll earn an extra interest of 0.23% p.a. if you make three bill payments online each month.
To cap it off, investing and insuring with Standard Chartered will give you a bonus interest of 2.00% p.a. each.
Take note that you do need to maintain a minimum daily balance of S$3,000 to avoid a S$5 fall-below fee.
So, while the 7.68% interest p.a. is eye-catching, what's the realistic interest rate you can earn?
Well, based on the criteria that we've laid out above, you'll receive an interest of 0.88% p.a. if you spend at least S$500 on your card and pay at least three bills:
Criteria |
Bonus interest (p.a.) |
Base interest |
0.05% |
Spend |
S$500 to S$1,999 on your Bonus$aver credit/debit card (0.60%) |
Bill payment |
Make a minimum of three bill payments online of at least S$50 each (0.23%) |
Total |
0.88% |
That said, if you can credit at least S$3,000 of your monthly salary, you're looking at an additional 2.00% p.a. interest, bumping up your interest to 2.18% p.a.
Standard Chartered Bonus$aver
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum monthly balance: S$3,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$5
Bonus interest cap: S$100,000
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for a Standard Chartered credit card. Eligible for new Standard Chartered cardholders only.
🚀Fastest Rewards Fulfilment🚀: Get the cash rewards within four (4) weeks after successful application — the fastest rewards fulfilment yet! T&Cs apply.
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card: Receive a Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or a Nintendo Switch OLED (worth S$549) or an Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408) or S$380 Cash when you apply and spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card activation & approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
Standard Chartered Smart Card and Rewards+ Card: Receive a Flujo BEA Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$549) or an Apple AirPods 4 (with Active Noise Cancellation) (worth S$249) or S$280 Lazada Voucher or S$210 Cash via PayNow when you apply and spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card activation & approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card Only: Receive up to 60K Max Miles or a Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 (worth S$600) or S$200 Lazada Voucher or S$160 Cash via PayNow when you apply and spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card activation & approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
Get the additional 45k miles when you apply with annual fee payment (S$196.20 incl. GST) and make a min. spend of S$3,000 within 60 days of card approval. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up specific amounts. Valid until 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$380.00 for a Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 UK (worth S$699.00)
- S$450.00 for a Flujo Ayla Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$1,139.00)
- S$1,050.00 for a Macbook Air 13" 256GB M3 (worth S$1,599.00)
UOB One Account
The UOB One Account offers up to 6.00% p.a. interest rate.
Unlike most savings accounts which require you to fulfil three to four conditions to earn a higher interest rate, you can achieve this with the UOB One Account in just two conditions:
- Spend a minimum of S$500 on an eligible UOB Card
- Credit your monthly salary of at least S$1,600 via GIRO/PayNow in each calendar month/make at least three GIRO transactions per calendar month
Account monthly average balance |
Spend min. S$500 in a calendar month on an eligible UOB card Total interest (p.a.) |
Spend min. S$500 in a calendar month on an eligible UOB Card and make three GIRO debit transactions Total interest (p.a.) |
Spend min. S$500 on eligible UOB Card AND credit your salary via GIRO |
First S$75,000 |
0.65% |
2.00% |
3.00% |
Next S$50,000 |
0.05% |
3.00% |
4.50% |
Next S$25,000 |
0.05% |
0.05% |
6.00% |
Above S$150,000 |
0.05% |
0.05% |
0.05% |
Based on the criteria we've outlined, just by spending a minimum of S$500 on your eligible UOB card and crediting at least S$1,600 of your salary via GIRO each month, you'll earn a total of 3.00% p.a. on your first S$75,000, which includes a base interest rate of 0.05% p.a..
Note that eligible UOB cards include the following: UOB One Card, UOB Lady’s Cards (all card types), UOB EVOL Card, UOB One Debit Visa Card, UOB One Debit Mastercard, UOB Lady’s Debit Card and UOB Mighty FX Debit Card.
UOB One
Minimum initial deposit: S$1,000
Minimum daily balance: S$1,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$5 (waived for the first six months for accounts opened online)
Bonus interest cap: S$150,000
Best savings accounts without salary credit
Individuals without regular salaries — freelancers, gig workers, landlords, retirees, stay-at-home parents — need not be left out of the high-interest savings account game. However, you might need to be creative with how you earn bonus interest on your savings account.
For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume you are a freelance writer. You don’t have a regular paycheck, but you spend at least S$500 per month on your credit/debit card and bills. How much can you earn on your S$20,000 savings stash in that case? Check out the best options below.
Savings account |
Interest/rewards earned |
2.68% p.a. |
|
2.50% p.a. |
|
2.50% p.a. |
|
2.00% p.a. |
|
2.00% p.a. |
|
1.50% p.a. |
|
1.50% p.a. |
|
1.50% p.a. |
|
0.05% p.a. |
CIMB FastSaver
The CIMB FastSaver Account is for those who prefer a simple savings account that doesn't require you to meet different requirements to earn a higher interest. In fact, all you need to do is to park your money!
Because, unlike most savings accounts, you don't have to fulfill different requirements to unlock higher interest, whether it’s signing up for a credit card, investing in an insurance product, or meeting a monthly minimum spend. All you need to do is increase your account balance.
You'll earn 1.50% p.a. on your first S$25,000, 2.50% p.a. on your first S$50,000, and 3.50% p.a. on your first S$75,000. However, for amounts above S$75,000, the interest rate drops to a meagre 0.80% p.a.
On top of this, CIMB is running a promo until 30 September 2024 where you can earn bonus and additional interests, or up to 5.30% p.a..
Account balance |
Prevailing interest rates (p.a.) |
Bonus interest rates (p.a.) |
Total interest rates (p.a.) |
Additional interest/profit rate (p.a.) when you credit your salary or schedule a recurring transfer of min. S$1,000 |
First S$25,000 |
1.50% |
1.80% |
3.30% |
0.50% |
Next S$25,000 |
2.50% |
0.80% |
-
|
|
Next S$25,000 |
3.50% |
0.00% |
3.50% |
|
Above S$75,000 |
0.80% |
2.50% |
3.30% |
Here's how the promotion works:
- Bonus interest of 0.50% p.a. in addition to the prevailing interest rate when you top up a minimum of S$10,000 in fresh funds
- Additional interest of 0.50% p.a. on the first S$25,000 when you credit your monthly salary or schedule a GIRO transfer
In other words, you'll need to top up a minimum of S$5,000 in fresh funds to earn a bonus interest of 0.50% p.a., in addition to the 3.50% p.a. interest on your first S$75,000.
Aside from that, another benefit of the CIMB FastSaver Account is there's no lock-in period or monthly fall-below fees. However, you do need a minimum of S$1,000 to start the account and maintain a monthly average balance of S$1,000 to earn interest.
Still, based on our criteria above (S$10,000 in savings), you'll earn 1.50% p.a. interest, which is a good return considering that there are no hoops to jump through.
CIMB FastSaver
Minimum initial deposit: S$1,000
Minimum monthly balance: S$0 (minimum S$1,000 to earn interest)
Monthly fall-below fee: S$0
Bonus interest cap: NIL
Welcome Offer: Receive S$88 Cashback when you make a minimum of S$108 eligible spends within 30 days of card approval date. Plus, receive S$100 Cashback (S$188 in total) when you increase your minimum eligible spends to S$988 within 60 days of card approval date. Valid till 31 January 2025. T&Cs apply.
DBS Multiplier
The DBS Multiplier Account offers 1.50% p.a. interest on your first S$50,000 without crediting your monthly income.
All you need to do is spend with a DBS credit card or make a PayLah! retail spend. However, this is only for those 29 years old and below.
DBS Multiplier
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum monthly balance: S$3,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$5 (waived if you're below 29 years old or if you're a new DBS/POSB customer)
Bonus interest cap: S$100,000
DBS/POSB Credit Card Welcome Gift: Receive up to S$150 cashback or 85,000 miles when you apply for select DBS credit cards and fulfil the relevant promotion criteria. T&Cs apply.
GXS Savings Account
GXS Savings Account is a savings account by GXS Bank (a joint consortium between Singtel and Grab).
The GXS Savings Account comprises a Main Account and eight Saving Pockets which can be allocated for different savings goals (education, loans, renovation, holiday, etc.).
The interest rate for the main account is 2.38% p.a., while each Savings Pocket will earn you 2.68% p.a..
Account |
Interest rate (p.a.) |
Main account |
2.38% |
Savings Pocket(s) |
2.68% |
What sets the GXS Savings Account apart from other savings accounts is that the interest is credited daily. In other words, you can withdraw your money at any point in time without having to worry about losing out on the interest (which is unlike most savings accounts where the interest is based on your average daily balance).
Also, while the maximum you can hold in your account is S$75,000, the funds in your account will continue to earn interest.
Moreover, there are no hoops to jump through, meaning you can earn interest from your first dollar without needing to meet a monthly credit card spend, credit your salary, or buy an insurance or investment product. You also don't need to maintain a minimum balance or commit to a lock-in period.
GXS savings account also comes with a complimentary debit card, where you'll earn rewards when you spend at least S$10 on eligible transactions.
GXS Savings Account
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum daily balance: S$0
Monthly fall-below fee: S$0
Bonus interest cap: S$75,000
Also read: 5 Reasons Why A GXS FlexiLoan Can Be Beneficial For You
RHB High Yield Savings Plus
If you want a no-frills account that doesn't require jumping through hoops to earn bonus interest, the RHB High Yield Savings Plus Account is for you.
The RHB High Yield Savings Plus Account works like a traditional savings account where the interest earned is based on the funds you have in the account. The highest interest you can earn is 2.00% p.a. for deposits above S$100,000.
Deposit balance amount |
Interest rates (p.a.) |
First S$10,000 |
1.50% |
Next S$25,000 |
1.60% |
Next S$25,000 |
1.80% |
Above S$100,000 |
2.00% |
Since there's no bonus interest for credit/debit card transactions, you'll earn 1.50% p.a. interest on the first S$10,000 in your account based on our criteria.
RHB High Yield Savings Plus
Minimum initial deposit: S$1,000
Minimum daily balance: S$0
Monthly fall-below fee: S$0
Bonus interest cap: S$100,000
Sing Investments & Finance Limited (SIF) GoSavers Account
The SIF GoSavers Account is another savings account that pays you a high interest without requiring salary crediting. Indeed, all you need is to park your savings to enjoy up to 3.50% p.a.
You’ll earn 2.50% p.a. on your first S$100,000, 3.00% p.a. on your next S$150,000, and 3.50% p.a. on amounts above S$250,000.
This makes the SIF GoSavers Account a good option for students, homemakers, retirees, freelancers, and National Servicemen (NSFs) who want a simple savings account without jumping through hoops. It's also great for those with large account balances, as you can earn 3.50% p.a. interest for balances S$250,000 and above.
Account balance |
Interest rate (p.a.)* |
First S$100,000 |
2.50% |
Next S$150,000 |
3.00% |
Above S$250,000 |
3.50% |
What's more, there's no early account closure fee, no minimum initial deposit requirement, and the interest is calculated based on your daily balances (and credited at the end of the month), so you can withdraw your money at any point in time without worrying about losing interest.
SIF GoSavers Account
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum daily balance: S$1,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$2
Bonus interest cap: S$250,000
Standard Chartered JumpStart
If you're a student or a young working adult who wants a no-frills savings account to store your funds, the Standard Chartered JumpStart Account is worth considering; it offers an interest of 2.00% p.a. for your first S$50,000 without jumping through hoops.
However, you'll only earn 0.10% p.a. interest for account balances above S$50,000.
Account balance |
Prevailing interest rate |
First S$50,000 |
2.00% p.a. |
Any incremental balances above S$50,000 |
0.10% p.a. |
Besides that, you'll get an additional 1.00% cashback (capped at S$60 per calendar month) when you spend on your Standard Chartered Mastercard debit card. You'll also earn a step-up interest of 0.50% p.a., provided you invest in an investment product with the bank (unit trusts, Regular Savings Plan, or equities through SC Online Trading).
So, going with our criteria, you would earn 2.00% interest p.a. on your first S$50,000.
The Standard Chartered JumpStart Account is open for those between the ages of 18 to 26 years old. There's no lock-in period, monthly minimum spend, service or annual fee for the cashback debit card, and requirement for monthly salary crediting.
Standard Chartered JumpStart Account
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum daily balance: S$0
Monthly fall-below fee: S$0
Bonus interest cap: S$50,000
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Trust Savings Account by Standard Chartered X FairPrice Group
In light of the rising interest rates, Standard Chartered and FairPrice Group have launched their very own Trust Savings Account. From 1 June 2024, The Trust Savings Account earns you an interest rate of up to 3.50% p.a. on your first S$500,000.
This comprises a base interest of 1.25% p.a. with no conditions and a spend bonus interest of 1.00% p.a. (union member) or 0.50% p.a. (non-union member) if you make at least five eligible transactions with your Trust card every month, a balance bonus interest of 0.50% p.a. with S$100,000 average daily bonus (ADB) for the month, and a 0.75% p.a. salary bonus interest when you credit a salary of at least S$1,500 in a single transaction through GIRO in a month.
However, note that the base interest drops to 0.05% p.a. for amounts above S$500,000.
Criteria |
Interest rate (p.a.) |
Base interest (first S$500,000) |
1.25% |
Spend bonus interest (first S$500,000) |
1.00% (NTUC union member) |
Balance bonus interest |
0.50% (S$100,000 ADB for the month) |
Salary bonus interest |
0.75% |
Total |
3.50% (NTUC union member) |
The Trust Savings Account also doesn't require a minimum balance, fall-below fee, lock-in period, account closure fee, foreign transaction fee, and card replacement fee — they pride themselves in being a fee-less savings account!
So, based on our criteria, the maximum interest you can earn as an NTUC union/non-union member is:
Criteria |
Interest rate (p.a.) |
Base interest (first S$500,000) |
1.25% |
Spend bonus interest (first S$500,000) |
1.00% (NTUC union member) |
Total |
2.25% (NTUC union member) |
Additionally, NTUC Union members can enjoy up to 21% savings (2.5% base rate + 6% monthly bonus + 10.5% quarterly bonus + 2% annual bonus) on FairPrice Group (FPG) groceries and food spend if you spend at least S$350 monthly with your NTUC Link Credit Card.
Meanwhile, NTUC Union members who spend a minimum of S$200 with the NTUC Link Debit Card will get to enjoy up to 11% in savings (2.5% base rate + 2% monthly bonus + 4.5% quarterly bonus + 2% annual bonus).
Non-NTUC Union members with the Trust Link Credit Card can enjoy up to 15% savings (0.5% base rate + 5% monthly bonus + 9.5% quarterly bonus) on FPG groceries and food when you meet a monthly minimum eligible spend of S$450.
Lastly, you'll also get to enjoy up to 5% savings (0.5% base rate + 1% monthly bonus + 3.5% quarterly bonus) on FPG groceries and food if you spend at least S$200 per month outside of FPG with the Trust Link Debit Card.
Trust Savings Account
Minimum initial deposit: S$0
Minimum daily balance: S$0
Monthly fall-below fee: S$0
Bonus interest cap: S$125,000
UOB One
While you do earn bonus interest for crediting your monthly salary, the UOB One Account also emerges as one of the best savings accounts without salary crediting; you can earn up to 2.00% p.a. interest on your first S$30,000 simply by spending S$500 with an eligible UOB card and making three GIRO debit transactions.
Account monthly average balance |
Spend min. S$500 in a calendar month on an eligible UOB card Total interest (p.a.) |
Spend min. S$500 in a calendar month on an eligible UOB Card and make three GIRO debit transactions Total interest (p.a.) |
Spend min. S$500 on eligible UOB Card AND credit your salary via GIRO |
First S$75,000 |
0.65% |
2.00% |
3.00% |
Next S$50,000 |
0.05% |
3.00% |
4.50% |
Next S$25,000 |
0.05% |
0.05% |
6.00% |
Above S$150,000 |
0.05% |
0.05% |
0.05% |
In short, the interest rate will be 2.00% p.a. on your first S$30,000 when you fulfil the two criteria (spend at least S$500 on eligible UOB cards and make three GIRO debit transactions).
UOB One
Minimum initial deposit: S$1,000
Minimum daily balance: S$1,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$5 (waived for the first six months for accounts opened online)
Bonus interest cap: S$150,000
Switching to the UOB One Account for its simple bonus interest structure? You'll need to pick up a UOB credit card to pair it with.
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Get an additional S$80 eCapita Voucher or S$80 Lazada Voucher on top of welcome offers when you apply for a UOB Credit Card and spend a min. of S$500 in the first month of card activation. Valid till 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
UOB Credit Card Welcome Offer: Receive a Samsonite EVOA Z Spinner 25” Exp (worth S$730) or a GoPro (worth S$590) or an AirPods Pro and AirTag (2 units) (worth S$439) or up to S$350 Cash Credit or up to 58,000 miles when you apply for select UOB credit cards and fulfil the minimum spend requirements. Valid till 31 October 2024. T&Cs apply.
UOB Stash
Unlike the UOB One Account, the UOB Stash Account works more like a traditional savings account.
You'll earn a base interest of 0.05% p.a. and a bonus interest of up to 4.95% p.a., depending on the amount you have in your bank account. However, you'll only earn 0.05% p.a. interest on your first S$10,000.
To earn the highest total interest of 5.00% p.a., you'll need to have S$30,000 in your bank account. However, do note that any amount above S$100,000 will not grant you bonus interest.
Monthly average balance |
Base interest (p.a.) |
Bonus interest (p.a.) |
Total interest (p.a.) |
First S$10,000 |
0.05% |
0% |
0.05% |
Next S$30,000 |
0.05% |
1.95% |
2.00% |
Next S$30,000 |
0.05% |
2.95% |
3.00% |
Next S$30,000 |
0.05% |
4.95% |
5.00% |
Above S$100,000 |
0.05% |
0% |
0.05% |
To earn the bonus interest, you have to fulfil these two conditions:
- Maintain or increase your previous month's Monthly Average Balance (MAB)
- Maintain a minimum MAB of S$10,000 (for bonus interest)
UOB Stash
Minimum initial deposit: S$1,000
Minimum daily balance: S$1,000
Monthly fall-below fee: S$2 (waived for the first six months for accounts opened online)
Bonus interest cap: S$100,000
Ready to level up? Find out how you can make your money work harder and smarter for you. Enjoy your own dedicated relationship manager and privileged access to a whole suite of preferential rates with Priority Banking. Compare your options.
Reviews of savings accounts in Singapore
Read reviews of the various savings accounts in Singapore and what each account has to offer to find the best product for your needs:
- Read the OCBC 360 Savings Account Review
- Read the UOB One Account Review
- Read the DBS Multiplier Account Review
- Read the Maybank Save Up Programme Review
- Read the CIMB FastSaver Savings Account Review
- Read the CIMB StarSaver Savings Account Review
- Read the Standard Chartered Bonus$aver Review
- Read the POSB Save As You Earn (SAYE) Account Review
- Read the OCBC FRANK Savings Account Review
- Read the UOB Lady’s Savings Account Review
- Read the KrisFlyer UOB Savings Account Review
- Read the HSBC Everyday Global Account Review
If you've got a large stash of cash that you are unsure what to do with, you can consider being a priority banking customer where you'll gain access to a slew of exclusive privileges and services.
Read these next:
Standard Chartered Bonus$aver Review (2023)
UOB Stash Account Review (2023 )
Best Cash Management Accounts In Singapore To Soup Up Your Savings
How Much Savings Should I Have At 35 In Singapore?
New Studies Show Large Retirement Savings Gap In Singapore, And Why Most Regret Not Saving Earlier
A Full Guide to Priority Banking in Singapore (2023)
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