savings

Savings Account

An account at a bank in which the customer deposits money for any non-immediate use. For example, one may utilize a savings account to save funds for an expensive purchase, such as a house or a car. Because most customers keep money in a savings account for a longer period than a checking account, a savings account pays a slightly higher interest rate. However, the interest rate is not as high as a bond or another low-risk investment. Generally speaking, one may not write a check on a savings account without paying a penalty. This is to disincentivize withdrawals on savings.

savings

the proportion of income of a person (personal saving), company or institution (retained profits) that is not spent on current consumption. Savings are typically placed on deposit with a BANK, BUILDING SOCIETY, etc., or used to acquire financial and physical assets such as SHARES or plant. By forgoing immediate spending on consumption, savers seek to augment their future income through dividends, interest and rent receipts and through capital appreciation.

In real terms, savings are important in that they finance physical INVESTMENT in the economy, enabling a country to increase its CAPITAL STOCK and hence its overall capacity to produce a greater volume of products. See FINANCIAL SYSTEM, NATIONAL SAVINGS CERTIFICATE.