Compare Savings Accounts in Singapore 2023

If you are a Singapore citizen applying for a savings account, you can do it online via Singpass MyInfo. This way, you will not need to scan, and collate all the necessary documents. If you are a foreigner working or studying in Singapore, you will often need to provide your passport, employment pass, and proof of residence in Singapore (such as a bill, employment letter, school’s letter etc.).

To apply for a savings account in Singapore, you generally need to be at least 18 years old, a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or a foreigner with necessary documents to prove your residence in Singapore. Most savings accounts do not require an initial deposit nor charge monthly account fees. However, most savings accounts do have a minimum balance requirement of S$1,000 or S$3,000 – meaning your savings account must have above S$1,000 or S$3,000 daily. If your balance dips below the minimum balance stated by your bank, you will be charged either a S$2 or S$5 fall below fee.

Once you have successfully applied for a savings account, you should be automatically directed to create an internet banking (or iBanking) account through your bank’s website. Major banks offer digital banking apps such as OCBC ibanking app, DBS ibanking app etc for better convenience. Most of the daily banking needs you will have can be found on your bank’s internet banking portal – checking transaction history, current balance, interest accrual, etc. If you do have any special requests such as withdrawals, transfers, or if you are looking to close your savings account, you may still be required to fill in a physical form and bring it to a branch that is closest to you.

If you are looking for a savings account for your child or yourself, a student, there are some things to take note of: most savings accounts in Singapore do require a minimum daily balance. If you fall below the daily minimum balance, a fall below fee of S$2 or S$5 will be automatically deducted from your account. For a student with no or minimal income, this may prove to be a problem. For students, you may want to look at accounts with no or low minimum balance or fall below fees, such as the Maybank iSavvy Savings Account with a S$500 minimum balance and S$2 fall below fee, or the CIMB FastSaver or StarSaver with a S$1,000 minimum balance and no fall below fees. Take note that you have to consider the fall below fee, for some accounts with no minimum balance such as the Citi MaxiGain may require you to have a total banking relationship of S$15,000 with them before the fall below fee is waived.

Planning and setting aside money for your child’s future? There are several children’s savings accounts with no fall below fees, higher interest rates, and no minimum age in Singapore: POSB ePOSBKids, HSBC Premier Lite Savings, UOB Junior Savers, OCBC Mighty Savers, CIMB Junior Savers, Citibank Junior Savings, Maybank Youngstarz Savings, and the Standard Chartered eSaver Kids accounts.