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Interest-bearing account

A bank account that pays interest on your balance while keeping the money available.

An interest-bearing account is an everyday account that pays interest on the money you keep in it, usually quoted as APR. Unlike a fixed-term deposit, the balance stays available: you can withdraw whenever you want without penalties.

Its most sensible role in calm personal finances is parking your emergency fund or short-term savings: money you do not want to risk, but do not want losing value to inflation in a 0% account either.

Before picking one, read the small print: interest only up to a certain balance, salary or direct-debit requirements, promotional rates that expire after a few months. The advertised rate is not always what you earn across the whole year.